Patent ID: 8608132

Claim:
A fence post extractor for removing a fence post from the ground, comprising: a sleeve that extends along a sleeve axis, the sleeve having a lower open end, an upper open end, a rear wall, a front wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and an opening formed through the first side wall, the opening being spaced from each of the lower open end and the upper open end by at least part of the front wall of the sleeve, wherein the fence post is receivable within the sleeve; a clamping bar having a first end and a second end; a pivot joint that pivotally connects that the clamping bar to the sleeve the pivot joint including a first support plate connected to the first side wall, a second support plate connected to the second side wall, an aperture defined by the clamping bar, and an axle that is supported between the first and second support plates adjacent to the opening and extends through the aperture of the clamping bar; the clamping bar being pivotable between a first position and a second position, the clamping bar adapted to clamp the fence post between the second end of the clamping bar and the rear wall of the sleeve in the first position and to release the fence post with respect to the second end of the clamping bar in the second position, wherein the clamping bar extends through the opening through the front wall of the sleeve when the clamping bar is in the first position; and a powered lifting apparatus having an engaging portion that is engaged with the clamping bar, the engaging portion being selectively movable under power between a raised position and a lowered position, wherein movement of the engaging portion of the powered lifting device from the lowered position toward the raised position moves the clamping bar from the second position toward the first position, and movement of the engaging portion of the powered lifting device from the raised position toward the lowered position allows the clamping bar to move toward the second position.