Portable claw device

A portable claw device for engaging materials to be uplifted comprising, in combination:

• a cylindrical housing having an open upper end and an open lower end, the cylindrical housing having a pair of diametrically opposed vertical slots formed therein intermediate the upper end and lower end thereof, the open upper end having a pair of inverted U-shaped handles secured thereto;
• a pair of gripping claws, each of the gripping claws having a central upper end portion and a plurality of arcuate lower portion, each upper end portion coupled together by a cross bar, the cross bar slidably received within the pair of diametrically opposed vertical slots of the cylindrical housing, the cross bar having a vertical support bar extending upwardly from a central portion thereof, the vertical support bar having a lift line secured to an upper end thereof;
• a pair of lifting chains, each of the lifting chains having a first end and a second end, the first end secured to the cylindrical housing upwardly of the pair of diametrically opposed vertical slots, the second end secured to the arcuate lower portion of the pair of gripping claws.