Pinching fingers attachment for utility vehicles

An assembly capable of attachment to a vehicle, the assembly comprising:

• a first boom, a second boom, at least one lift cylinder for raising and lowering the booms and at least one implement cylinder for rotating forward and backward an implement when attached to the vehicle;
• the implement including:
• a first claw;
• a second claw rotatably attached to the first claw so that the first claw and the second claw may be opened and closed relative to one another;
• a third claw;
• a fourth claw rotatably attached to the third claw so that the third claw and the fourth claw may be opened and closed relative to one another;
• a first linkage for connecting the first claw to the first boom so that the first claw and the second claw may be opened and closed when the implement is rotated;
• a second linkage for connecting the third claw to the second boom so that the third claw and the fourth claw may be opened and closed when the implement is rotated;
• and
• an equalizing connector connecting to both the first linkage and the second linkage, the equalizing connector providing the first claw with limited independent movement relative to the third claw, and a coupling connecting to and immobilizing the second claw relative to the fourth claw.

A vehicle comprising:

• a first power means for moving the vehicle forward and backward;
• a boom having a first end and a second end, the first end of the boom pivotally connected to the vehicle at a first pivot point so that the boom is capable of rotational movement about the first pivot point, allowing the second end of the boom to be vertically raised and lowered relative to the vehicle;
• an implement having a first claw, a second claw rotatably attached to the first claw so that the first claw and the second claw may be opened and closed relative to one another, a third claw and a fourth claw rotatably attached to the third claw so that the third claw and the fourth claw may be opened and closed relative to one another;
• a second power means for raising and lowering the implement relative to the vehicle;
• a first linkage connecting the first claw to the boom so that the first claw and the second claw may be opened and closed when the implement is rotated;
• a second linkage connecting the third claw to the boom so that the third claw and the fourth claw may be opened and closed when the implement is rotated;
• an implement cylinder for rotating the implement relative to the vehicle, the rotation of the grappler implement operating to open and close the first claw and the second claw relative to one another and to open and close the third claw and the fourth claw relative to one another;
• a pressure equalizing connector having a first end attached to the first linkage and a second end attached to the second linkage, the pressure equalizing connector operating to equalize the pressure on the first claw and the third claw when the implement is rotated.

A method of operating a pinching implement attached to a first boom and a second boom,

• the method comprising the steps of:
• extending an implement cylinder to open the pinching implement;
• withdrawing the implement cylinder to close the pinching implement, the pinching
• implement comprising:
• (a) a first claw;
• (b) a second claw rotatably attached to the first claw so that the first claw and the second claw may be opened and closed relative to one another;
• (c) a third claw;
• (d) a fourth claw rotatably attached to the third claw so that the third claw and the fourth claw may be opened and closed relative to one another;
• (e) a pressure equalizing connector having a first end attached to the first linkage and a second end attached to the second linkage, the pressure equalizing connector operating to equalize the pressure on the first claw and the third claw when the implement cylinder is withdrawn.