AU2018101856A4 - Post Pulling Plate - Google Patents

Abstract

A post pulling plate comprising a planar body with a hole for accepting the post. A hole on a first side of the post hole allows for attachment of a chain or rope to pull up the first side of the plate to grab the post on either side allowing it to be raised. Internal teeth help with gripping the post. Once the post has been raised, the second side of the device is lifted via a hole on a second side to dislodge the post.

Description

Post Pulling Plate

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to an improved plate for assisting in pulling posts out of the ground.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION [0002] Post pulling plates in various forms are well known, such as that disclosed in US patent publication US 9,556,642 B1. Typically a post pulling plate comprises a plate with a first hole for accepting the post and a second hole for attaching a chain attachment. As the chain is lifted the plate will lift on one side and engage with the post and subsequently lift the post. Whilst such plates are effective in many applications they are prone to bind onto a post, particularly wooden posts and are difficult to remove once a post has been lifted.

[0003] The object of this invention is to provide a post pulling plate that is easy to disengage from a post to alleviate the above problems, or at least provide the public with a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] In a first aspect the invention provides a device for pulling a post out of the ground, comprising a planar body with a first hole for accepting a post, a second hole disposed at a first end of the body for attaching a first chain to raise the first end of the body to engage the first hole with the post, and a third hole disposed at a second end of the body for attaching a second chain to raise the second end of the body to disengage the first hole from the post.

[0005] Preferably the first hole further comprises a series of notches defining teeth to engage the post.

[0006] The device may comprise further holes to allow attachment of additional chains to manoeuvre the device.

[0007] It should be noted that any one of the aspects mentioned above may include any of the features of any of the other aspects mentioned above and may include any of the features of any of the embodiments described below as appropriate.

2018101856 29 Nov 2018

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows.

[0009] Figure 1 shows a post pulling plate according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0010] Figure 2 shows close up detail of a post pulling plate engaging a post.

[0011] Figure 3 shows a post pulling plate in use.

[0012] Figures 4A, 4B and 4C show three different embodiments of the invention.

DRAWING COMPONENTS [0013] The drawings include the following integers.

post pulling plate (first embodiment) post pulling plate (second embodiment) post pulling plate (third embodiment) body post hole top edge bottom edge notches teeth lifting hole freeing hole auxiliary holes

100 post

101 ground

200 chain

210 plate attachment

220 hook

2018101856 29 Nov 2018

300 front end loader

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0014] The following detailed description of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings and the following description to refer to the same and like parts. Dimensions of certain parts shown in the drawings may have been modified and/or exaggerated for the purposes of clarity or illustration.

[0015] The present invention provides a post pulling plate that is both effective in gripping and raising a post, and then disengaging the post once lifted.

[0016] A post pulling plate according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown as 10 in Figure 1. The plate 10 comprises a planar body 20, typically made of hardened steel, with a post hole 30 for accepting a post to lift. The post hole 30 preferably includes several notches 36 defining teeth 38 to aid in gripping a post. Disposed on a first side of the post hole 30 is a lifting hole 40 that allows for attachment of a chain or rope to facilitate lifting of the plate and a post in the post hole. Typically a chain for lifting is attached to the plate via a D-shackle passing through the lifting hole. A freeing hole 50 disposed on a second side of the lifting hole 40 allows for attachment of a chain or rope to facilitate removal of the plate from a post in the post hole. Again, typically a chain is attached to the plate via a D-shackle passing through the freeing hole.

[0017] Figure 2 shows close up detail of a post pulling plate 10 engaging a post 100. The plate 10 is at an angle to the post 100 as one side of the plate has been lifted up using lifting hole 40 (by means not shown), until the top edge 32 engages with a first side of the post, and the bottom edge 34 engages with a second side of the post. Engagement of the plate with the post is enhanced by the teeth and notches in the plate. From such a position, further lifting of the plate will lift the post in union, extracting it from the ground. Once the post has been lifted, the plate 10 can be disengaged from the post 100 by lifting the plate on a second side using freeing hole 50.

[0018] Figure 3 shows the typical arrangement used to pull a post 100 out of the ground 101 using the post pulling plate 10, a chain 200 and a lifting device, in this case

2018101856 29 Nov 2018 a front end loader 300. A first end of a chain 200 is first attached to the lifting hole 40 of the pulling plate 10 with the aid of a shackle 210. The second end of the chain is fitted with a hook 220. The hook 220 is attached to the bucket of front end loader 300 and the pulling plate lowered over the post 100, with the post passing through the post hole 30 of the pulling plate. Many other arrangements of chains, shackles hooks, ropes and lifting machines could easily be used to attach to the lifting hole and lift the pulling plate. As the pulling plate is lifted by the front end loader the pulling plate 10 will tend to tilt as shown, with the top edge 32 of the post hole engaging with the post 100 on the side being lifted, and the bottom edge 34 of the post hole engaging with the post 100 on the opposite side (as discussed above with the aid of Figure 2). Practical tests have shown the engagement between the pulling plate 10 and post 100 is sufficient to allow posts with large portions buried under ground, even those set in concrete, to be lifted free. Engagement of the plate 10 with the post 100 is further enhanced by the notches 36 and teeth 38 around the periphery of the post hole.

[0019] After a post 100 has been lifted it is possible that the pulling plate 10 binds with the post and is difficult to manually disengage. In such a situation the freeing hole 50 is used. Typically the chain 200 used to lift the post is detached from the lifting hole 40 and attached to the freeing hole 50. As the chain is then lifted the pulling plate 10 disengages from the post 100.

[0020] The pulling plate has been described above according to a first embodiment 10, which is shown again in Figure 4A with a second embodiment 11 shown in Figure 4A and a third embodiment 12 shown in Figure 4C. The various embodiments may be made in different sizes corresponding to different size posts. Typically plate 11 will be used with small posts, plate 10 with medium size posts and plate 12 with large posts. Each of the embodiments include a planar body 20 with a post hole 30, lifting hole 40 and freeing hole 50. This allows for the plate to engage a post, be lifted, and be freed from a post. The simplest embodiment of the plate 11 has no further features. Plates 10 and 12 include notches 36 defining teeth 38. Plate 12 further includes auxiliary holes 60, which allow for attachment of further chains or ropes to the pulling plate that allow the plate and post being held to be manoeuvred or secured.

[0021] The reader will now appreciate the present invention which provides a post pulling plate that can effectively grip and raise a post, and then be easily disengaged from the post once lifted.

2018101856 29 Nov 2018 [0022] Further advantages and improvements may very well be made to the present invention without deviating from its scope. Although the invention has been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus. Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of the common general knowledge in this field.

[0023] In the present specification and claims (if any), the word comprising and its derivatives including comprises and comprise include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

Claims (3)

1. A device for pulling a post out of the ground, comprising a planar body with a first hole for accepting a post, a second hole disposed at a first end of the body for attaching a first chain to raise the first end of the body to engage the first hole with the post, and a third hole disposed at a second end of the body for attaching a second chain to raise the second end of the body to disengage the first hole from the post.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein the first hole further comprises a series of notches defining teeth to engage the post.

3. A device as in claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising additional holes to allow attachment of additional chains to manoeuvre the device.