Levering Post Removal Device And Method Of Use

Abstract

A levering post removal device for pulling a post from the ground includes a base plate to which a fulcrum is attached. A beam is rotatably attached to the fulcrum so that short and long segments of the beam extend toward a first edge and past a second edge of the base plate, respectively. A coupler, which comprises at least one biting element, is attached to a tether extending from the short segment distal from the fulcrum. The coupler is slidably attachable to a post positioned proximate to the first edge of the base plate, positioning the biting element to selectively engage the post. Application of a downward force to the long segment causes the biting element to engage the post and an upward force upon the post. The biting element disengages from the post upon raising of the long segment, whereupon the coupler slides down the post.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A levering post removal device comprising:
 a base plate positionable upon the ground such that a first edge of the base plate is positioned proximate to a post to be pulled from the ground;   a fulcrum attached to the base plate between the first edge and a second edge of the base plate;   a beam rotatably attached to the fulcrum, such that a short segment of the beam extends toward the first edge of the base plate and a long segment of the beam extends past the second edge of the base plate, such that the beam is rotatable in a plane substantially perpendicular to the base plate;   a tether attached to and extending from the short segment distal from the fulcrum; and   a coupler comprising at least one biting element attached to the tether distal from the beam, the coupler being configured for slidably attaching to the post, positioning the biting element for selectively engaging the post, wherein the long segment is configured for grasping in one or both hands of a user, positioning the user for intermittently applying a downward force to the long segment, such that the biting element engages the post with each application of downward force, such that an upward force is applied to the post for pulling the post upwardly, and such that the biting element disengages from the post upon raising of the long segment, whereupon the coupler slides down the post.   
     
     
         2 . The levering post removal device of  claim 1 , wherein the base plate is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         3 . The levering post removal device of  claim 1 , further including a cutout positioned in the base plate proximate to the first edge of the base plate, wherein the cutout is configured for insertion of the post as the base plate is positioned upon the ground, such that the first edge of the base plate is positioned past the post. 
     
     
         4 . The levering post removal device of  claim 3 , wherein the cutout is substantially circular. 
     
     
         5 . The levering post removal device of  claim 1 , wherein the fulcrum comprises:
 a pair of uprights attached to and extending substantially perpendicularly from the base plate; and   an axle rotationally attached to and extending between the uprights distal from the base plate, such that the axle is substantially parallel to the first edge and the second edge of the base plate, the beam being attached to the axle.   
     
     
         6 . The levering post removal device of  claim 5 , further including a tube attached to and extending bidirectionally from the axle, the tube being positioned substantially equidistant from the uprights, the beam being positioned through and attached to the tube. 
     
     
         7 . The levering post removal device of  claim 5 , further including a pair of side plates, each side plate being attached to a respective upright and to the base plate, such that the side plates rigidify the pair of uprights. 
     
     
         8 . The levering post removal device of  claim 7 , wherein each side plate is triangular. 
     
     
         9 . The levering post removal device of  claim 7 , further including a crossbeam attached to and extending between the uprights, the crossbeam being positioned between the pair of side plates and the axle. 
     
     
         10 . The levering post removal device of  claim 9 , wherein the uprights and the crossbeam comprise angle iron. 
     
     
         11 . The levering post removal device of  claim 1 , wherein the coupler comprises:
 a coupling plate;   a first hole positioned in the coupling plate and being circumferentially larger than the post, the at least one biting element comprising opposed edges of the first hole, wherein the first hole is configured for insertion of the post; and   a connector attached to the coupling plate and to the tether.   
     
     
         12 . The levering post removal device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the tether comprises a chain; and   the connector comprises a second hole through which a terminal link of the chain is positioned.   
     
     
         13 . The levering post removal device of  claim 12 , further including:
 a connecting plate attached to the short segment of the beam distal from the fulcrum; and   a third hole positioned in the connecting plate, a proximal link of the chain being positioned through the third hole.   
     
     
         14 . A levering post removal device comprising:
 a base plate positionable upon the ground such that a first edge of the base plate is positioned proximate to a post to be pulled from the ground, the base plate being substantially rectangular;   a cutout positioned in the base plate proximate to the first edge of the base plate, wherein the cutout is configured for insertion of the post as the base plate is positioned upon the ground, such that the first edge of the base plate is positioned past the post, the cutout being substantially circular;   a fulcrum attached to the base plate between the first edge and a second edge of the base plate, the fulcrum comprising:
 a pair of uprights attached to and extending substantially perpendicularly from the base plate, the uprights comprising angle iron, 
 an axle rotationally attached to and extending between the uprights distal from the base plate, such that the axle is substantially parallel to the first edge and the second edge of the base plate, 
 a tube attached to and extending bidirectionally from the axle, the tube being positioned substantially equidistant from the uprights, 
 a pair of side plates, each side plate being attached to a respective upright and to the base plate, such that the side plates rigidify the pair of uprights, each side plate being triangular, and 
 a crossbeam attached to and extending between the uprights, the crossbeam being positioned between the pair of side plates and the axle, the crossbeam comprising angle iron; 
   a beam rotatably attached to the fulcrum, such that a short segment of the beam extends toward the first edge of the base plate and a long segment of the beam extends past the second edge of the base plate, such that the beam is rotatable in a plane substantially perpendicular to the base plate, the beam being positioned through and attached to the tube;   a tether attached to and extending from the short segment distal from the fulcrum, the tether comprising a chain;   a coupler comprising at least one biting element attached to the tether distal from the beam, the coupler being configured for slidably attaching to the post, positioning the biting element for selectively engaging the post, wherein the long segment is configured for grasping in one or both hands of a user, positioning the user for intermittently applying a downward force to the long segment, such that the biting element engages the post with each application of downward force, such that an upward force is applied to the post for pulling the post upwardly, and such that the biting element disengages from the post upon raising of the long segment, whereupon the coupler slides down the post, the coupler comprising:
 a coupling plate, 
 a first hole positioned in the coupling plate and being circumferentially larger than the post, the at least one biting element comprising opposed edges of the first hole, wherein the first hole is configured for insertion of the post, and 
 a connector attached to the coupling plate and to the tether, the connector comprising a second hole through which a terminal link of the chain is positioned; 
   a connecting plate attached to the short segment of the beam distal from the fulcrum; and   a third hole positioned in the connecting plate, a proximal link of the chain being positioned through the third hole.   
     
     
         15 . A method of removing a post comprising the steps of:
 providing a levering post removal device comprising:
 a base plate, 
 a fulcrum attached to the base plate between a first edge and a second edge of the base plate, 
 a beam rotatably attached to the fulcrum, such that a short segment of the beam extends toward the first edge of the base plate and a long segment of the beam extends past the second edge of the base plate, such that the beam is rotatable in a plane substantially perpendicular to the base plate, 
 a tether attached to and extending from the short segment distal from the fulcrum, and 
 a coupler comprising at least one biting element attached to the tether distal from the beam, the coupler being configured for slidably attaching to the post, positioning the biting element for selectively engaging the post; 
   positioning a first edge of the base plate upon the ground proximate to a post to be pulled from the ground;   slidably attaching the coupler to the post;   grasping the long segment of the beam in one or both hands of a user;   applying a downward force to the long segment, such that the biting element engages the post and such that an upward force is applied to the post for pulling the post upwardly;   raising the long segment, such that biting element disengages from the post and the coupler slides down the posts; and   repeating the application of the downward force and the raising of the long segment until the post is removed from the ground.