Patent ID: 7328923

Claim:
A tool for grasping and lifting an elongated object, the tool comprising: a graspable lift member having a body and a positioning member extending from the body; a slidable pin member positioned on the lift member, the pin member having a first end and a graspable second end, the pin member being movable from a first position to a second position closer to the lift member; and a rotatable grapple having an interior space capable of receiving the elongated object, the grapple being attached to the lift member for movement with respect to the lift member from a grapple first position to a grapple second position, the grapple having a pin member reception opening for receiving the pin member first end when the pin member and the grapple are each in the first position, such that the pin member retains the grapple in the first position; and further such that the grapple is free to rotate to the second position when the pin member is moved to the pin member second position, the grapple being open to accept the elongated object while in the grapple second position, the elongated object being secured within the grapple and the lift member positioning member when the grapple is moved to the first position.