Apparatus for loading and storing large bales

A bale loader apparatus for loading and storing large bales, the apparatus comprising:

• a base frame adapted at a loader end for attachment to a loader vehicle operative to move the base frame up and down;
• right and left fork frames;
• a right fork pair configured to be inserted into a first large bale and attached to the right fork frame and extending away from the loader end of the base frame;
• a left fork pair configured to be inserted into a second large bale and attached to the left fork frame and extending away from the loader end of the base frame;
• a right actuator operative to pivot the right fork pair with respect to the base frame upward and outward to the right of a path of the loader vehicle from a lowered right position to a raised right position;
• a left actuator operative to pivot the left fork pair with respect to the base frame upward and outward to the left of the path of the loader vehicle from a lowered left position to a raised left position;
• a right parallel arm linkage pivotally connected at inner ends of the right parallel arm linkage to the base frame about upper and lower right base pivot axes located on a right inner line sloping upward and outward to the right with respect to the path of the loader vehicle, the right parallel arm linkage pivotally connected at outer ends of the right parallel arm linkage to the right fork frame about upper and lower right fork pivot axes located on a right outer line sloping upward and outward to the right with respect to the path of the loader vehicle, and wherein the right inner line and right outer line are substantially parallel;
• and
• a left parallel arm linkage pivotally connected at inner ends of the left parallel arm linkage to the base frame about upper and lower left base pivot axes located on a left inner line sloping upward and outward to the left with respect to the path of the loader vehicle, and the left parallel arm linkage pivotally connected at outer ends of the left parallel arm linkage to the left fork frame about upper and lower left fork pivot axes located on a left outer line sloping upward and outward to the left with respect to the path of the loader vehicle, and wherein the left inner line and left outer line are substantially parallel,
• wherein the right parallel arm linkage and left parallel arm linkage are configured to maintain the corresponding right and left fork pairs substantially parallel to a ground surface when in an operating position.