A grappler apparatus, comprising:
- first and second clamping arms which include trigger-reception regions,
- first pivot means, connected to said clamping arms, for permitting said clamping arms to be interchangeably oriented in an open position and a closed position,
- spring means, including a first spring end and a second spring end, said first spring end connected to said first clamping arm and said second spring end connected to said second clamping arm, said spring means for providing a closing force for moving said clamping arms from the open position to the closed position,
- trigger means, in contact with said trigger-reception regions of said clamping arms, for retaining said clamping arms in the open position and for releasing said clamping arms and permitting said clamping arms to move to the closed position,
- wherein said trigger means includes a stop portion, a guide portion, and a trip portion, said trigger means having a first operating position and a second operating position with respect to said first and second clamping arms,
- in said first operating position of said trigger means, said stop portion is in a first position which is engaged with said trigger-reception regions of said clamping arms and prevents said clamping arms from moving from the open position to the closed position, said guide portion is in contact with said first pivot means in a first position, and said trip portion is in an untripped first position extending away from said clamping arms, permitting said trip portion to contact an object below said clamping arms,
- in said second operating position of said trigger means, obtained after said trip portion has been pushed up by an object below said clamping arms, said trip portion is in a tripped or second position which is out of engagement with said trigger-reception regions of said clamping arms whereby said clamping arms are permitted to close, said guide portion is in contact with said first pivot means in a second position, which is above said first contact position with said first pivot means, and said stop portion is in a second position which is disengaged from said trigger-reception regions of said clamping arms, whereby said clamping arms are permitted to move from the open position to the closed position by a closing force exerted by said spring means,
- wherein said stop portion of said trigger means is engaged with topside portions of said clamping arms when said clamping arms are oriented in the closed position, such that said stop portion serves as a first limit stop member for closure of said clamping arms in the closed position, and
- wherein one of said first and second clamping arms includes a second limit stop member adapted to engage the other of said clamping arms to limit the degree of openness when said clamping arms are in the open position.