Patent ID: 7537428

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a boom operatively pivotally attached to a prime mover about a first axis; a frame operatively pivotally attached to the boom about a second axis; a sub-frame operatively rotatably attached to the frame about a third axis, said sub-frame having a first rotational position with respect to the frame and a second rotational position approximately ninety degrees from the first rotational position; a locking mechanism for selectively locking the sub-frame in at least the first rotational position thereof; a first grapple arm operatively pivotally attached to the sub-frame about a fourth axis and being moveable between an open first grapple arm position and a closed first grapple arm position; a second grapple arm operatively pivotally attached to the sub-frame about an axis coincident with or parallel to the fourth axis, the second grapple arm being moveable between an open second grapple arm position and a closed second grapple arm position; and a member operatively rigidly attached to the frame, the member being spaced from the third axis in a direction towards the prime mover, the member extending in a downwardly direction from the frame when the sub-frame is in the first position thereof wherein the member is a heel for contacting and helping balance an elongated object being held by the first and second grapple arms when the first and second grapple arms are closed; and a tooth operatively attached to the frame, said tooth extending from the frame in a direction transverse to the direction that the heel extends from the frame.