Bale lifter and carrier attachment

Claim 1

A lifting and carrying device for bales of hay or the like resting on the ground, said device being attachable to any self-propelled vehicle, and comprising: a. a frame; b. means operable to mount said frame on said vehicle for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis transverse to the line of travel of said vehicle, c. a pair of prongs fixed on said frame and projecting therefrom in parallel relation, the vertical planes of said prongs being parallel to said line of vehicle travel and transversely spaced apart relative thereto, d. operating means carried by said vehicle and operable to pivot said frame relative to said vehicle from a position in which said prongs are horizontal and may be inserted into said bale by propelling said vehicle, to a position in which said prongs are inclined upwardly toward their free ends, whereby said bale is lifted above the ground and is urged onto said prongs by gravity, said operating means being operable to move said prongs to a generally vertical, upwardly projecting position, and, e. a bale unrolling device operable to unroll cylindrical bales of hay, and comprising a pair of generally horizontal arms disposed in transversely spaced apart relation, means for mounting one end of each of said arms on each of said prongs so as to be horizontally pivotal on said prong and to extend generally at right angles to said prong, a head member carried at the opposite end of each of said arms for rotation on a horizontal axis transverse to said arm and generally coaxial with a cylindrical bale, and including secondary prongs insertable into said bale in generally parallel relation to its axis, and releasable means connecting said arms exteriorly of said bale and operable to prevent separation of said arms by pivotal movement of said arms relative to said prongs, whereby to secure said secondary prongs in engagement with said bale.