Post driver safety latch

Abstract

A safety latch for supporting a post in a post driver while the post is being driven into the ground. A post-engaging roller is mounted on a lever arm that is pivotally attached to the post driver and moveable between a released position for positioning of a post in the post driver and a working position where the roller is in supporting engagement with the post. A spring biases the roller to maintain supporting engagement with the post while it is driven. In a preferred embodiment, the spring is part of an over-center device for biasing the safety latch to both the released and working positions depending on which side of center the lever arm is positioned.

1 . A post driver safety latch, comprising: 
 (a) mounting apparatus secured to the post driver;    (b) a lever arm mounted on the mounting apparatus for pivotal movement;    (c) engagement means on the arm member for engaging and supporting the post; and    (d) biasing means for biasing the arm member toward the post driver to maintain the engagement means in supporting engagement with the post.    
   
   
       2 . A post driver safety latch as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the engagement means comprises a roller.  
   
   
       3 . A post driver safety latch as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the biasing means comprises an over-center apparatus.  
   
   
       4 . A safety latch for supporting a post inside a post driver, comprising: 
 (a) mounting apparatus secured to the post driver;    (b) a lever arm mounted on the mounting apparatus for pivotal movement between a released position and a working position;    (c) post engagement apparatus movable with the lever arm between a released position and a working position in supporting engagement with the post; and    (d) a spring biasing the arm member toward the working position to maintain the post engagement apparatus in supporting engagement with the post.    
   
   
       5 . A safety latch as defined in  claim 4 , further comprising an over-center apparatus wherein the spring biases the lever arm toward the released position when the lever arm is on a first side of the center position and toward the working position when the lever arm is on the other side of the center position.