Ground clearing apparatus

A ground clearing apparatus comprising:

• a. a box member comprised of a framework having a perimeter comprised of an upper edge, first and second side edges, and a lower edge;
• a plurality of base teeth protruding downwardly from the lower edge;
• a first hinge ear joined to the framework proximate to the upper edge and first side edge;
• and a second hinge ear joined to the framework proximate to the upper edge and second side edge;
• b. a grapple comprised of a first grapple arm hingeably attached to the first hinge ear of the box member;
• a second grapple arm hingeably attached to the second hinge ear of the box member;
• and a cross member joined to a distal end of the first grapple arm and to a distal end of the second grapple arm, and a plurality of grapple teeth extending outwardly from the cross member, the grapple being movable from a closed position in which the cross member is proximate to the lower edge of the box member to an open position;
• and
• c. a pair of first and second support arms, each of first and second support arms comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein:
• i. the proximal portion of the first support arm is a first member of a first four member box linkage, the first four member box linkage further comprising second, third, and fourth members, wherein:
• the first support arm is hingeably attached at a proximal end thereof to the second member of the first box linkage, which comprises a first fixed length frame member;
• the third member of the first box linkage is comprised of a first variable length linear actuator hingeably attached at a proximal end thereof to the second member;
• the fourth member of the first box linkage is comprised of a first fixed length bar member hingeably attached at a lower end thereof to a distal end of the proximal portion of the first support arm, and hingeably attached at a central region thereof to a distal end of the third member of the first box linkage;
• ii. the proximal portion of the second support arm is a first member of a second four member box linkage, the second four member box linkage further comprising second, third, and fourth members, wherein:
• the second support arm is hingeably attached at a proximal end thereof to the second member of the second box linkage, which comprises a second fixed length frame member;
• the third member of the second box linkage is comprised of a second variable length linear actuator hingeably attached at a proximal end thereof to the second member of the second box linkage;
• the fourth member of the second box linkage is comprised of a second fixed length bar member hingeably attached at a lower end thereof to a distal end of the proximal portion of the second support arm, and hingeably attached at a central region thereof to a distal end of the third member of the second box linkage;
• iii. the distal portion of the first support arm is a first member of a third four member box linkage, the third four member box linkage further comprising second, third, and fourth members, wherein:
• the first support arm is hingeably attached at a distal end thereof to a lower region of the box member, the box member forming the second member of the third box linkage;
• the third member of the third box linkage is comprised of a third fixed length bar member hingeably attached at a distal end thereof to an upper region of the box member;
• the fourth member of the third box linkage is comprised of the fourth member of the first box linkage hingeably attached at an upper end thereof to a proximal end of the third member of the third box linkage;
• and
• iv. the distal portion of the second support arm is a first member of a fourth four member box linkage, the fourth four member box linkage further comprising second, third, and fourth members, wherein:
• the second support arm is hingeably attached at a distal end thereof to the lower region of the box member, the box member forming the second member of the fourth box linkage;
• the third member of the fourth box linkage is comprised of a fourth fixed length bar member hingeably attached at a distal end thereof to the upper region of the box member;
• the fourth member of the fourth box linkage is comprised of the fourth member of the second box linkage hingeably attached at an upper end thereof to a proximal end of the third member of the fourth box linkage;
• wherein the grapple teeth are interspersed with the base teeth when the grapple is in the closed position.