Multifunctional grapple-heel combination device for use with a manipulation machine

1 . A grapple-heel rack for use with a grapple, said grapple-heel rack comprising:

(a) a frame having a nose, a heel, and first and second side rails spanning between said nose and said heel; and

(b) a universal joint for associating said nose with said grapple, said universal joint having three axes of non-powered rotation between said nose and said grapple, the three axes all perpendicular to each other.

2 . The grapple-heel rack of claim 1 further comprising:

(a) a first angle-enabler catch associated with said first side rail, said first angle-enabler catch positioned between said nose and said heel, a first catch notch formed between said first angle-enabler catch and said first side rail; and

(b) a second angle-enabler catch associated with said second side rail, said second angle-enabler catch positioned between said nose and said heel, a second catch notch formed between said second angle-enabler catch and said second side rail.

3 . The grapple-heel rack of claim 1 further comprising at least one heel bar associated with said heel, said at least one heel bar spanning between said first and second side rails.

4 . The grapple-heel rack of claim 1 further comprising:

(a) a nose connector connecting said first and second side rails at said nose, said universal joint supported by said nose connector; and

(b) at least one heel bar connecting said first and second side rails at said heel.

5 . The grapple-heel rack of claim 1 further comprising:

(a) a nose connector connecting said first and second side rails at said nose, said grapple supported by said nose connector; and

(b) at least one heel bar connecting said first and second side rails at said heel.

6 . The grapple-heel rack of claim 1 further including said grapple, said grapple having a neutral position, said grapple rotatable around an axis of rotation to a plurality of non-neutral positions, and said grapple-heel rack comprising a mechanical grapple return system for, in use, returning said grapple from one of said non-neutral positions to said neutral position.

7 . The grapple-heel rack of claim 1 , a mechanical grapple return system comprising:

(a) an expandable/contractible member having a heel end and a nose end, a flexible member having a heel end and a nose end, a heel end fixer, and at least one universal joint link or grapple link associated with said universal joint or said grapple;

(b) said expandable/contractible member heel end being associated with said heel end fixer to fix the expandable/contractible member heel end in a position relative to the frame;

(c) said expandable/contractible member nose end being associated with said flexible member heel end; and

(d) said flexible member nose end being associated with at least one of said universal joint and said universal joint link or grapple link.

8 . The grapple-heel rack of claim 1 , a mechanical grapple return system arranged to exert a return force on one of said grapple and said universal joint, at a location offset from an axis of rotation so that said exerted force causes said grapple to rotate about said axis of rotation.

9 . The grapple-heel rack of claim 1 , said first and second side rails being closer together near said nose than near said heel.

10 . The grapple-heel rack of claim 1 , said frame having a top and a bottom, said first and second side rails being closer together near said top than near said bottom.

11 . The grapple-heel rack of claim 1 , said first and second side rails having a step configuration with at least three levels separated by connecting lengths.

12 . The grapple-heel rack of claim 1 further comprising a storage sub-rack projecting at least generally forward from said frame of said grapple-heel rack.

13 . The grapple-heel rack of claim 1 further comprising a rack/machine connector, said rack/machine connector interconnectable with a machine/rack connector of a manipulation machine.

14 . The grapple-heel rack of claim 1 further comprising a rack/machine connector, said rack/machine connector interconnectable with a machine/rack connector of a manipulation machine having a boom support and a thumb.

15 . The grapple-heel rack of claim 1 , said grapple-heel rack being self-contained and self-supported.

16 . The grapple-heel rack of claim 1 further comprising a mechanical grapple return system associated at a first end to one of said grapple and said universal joint, and associated at a second end to said frame.

17 . The grapple-heel rack of claim 1 , said universal joint further comprising a first pivot, a second pivot, and a rotating socket.

18 . A method for using a grapple-heel rack with a grapple and a manipulation machine, said manipulation machine having a boom support and a thumb, said method comprising:

(a) providing said grapple-heel rack, said grapple-heel rack comprising:

(i) a frame having a nose, a heel, and first and second side rails spanning between said nose and said heel;

(ii) said grapple attached to said nose using a universal joint; and

(iii) a mechanical grapple return system arranged to exert a return force on one of said grapple and said universal joint, at a location offset from an axis of rotation so that said exerted force causes said grapple to rotate about said axis of rotation, said mechanical grapple return system comprising:

an expandable/contractible member having a heel end and a nose end, a flexible member having a heel end and a nose end, a heel end fixer, and at least one universal joint link or grapple link associated with said universal joint or said grapple;

a pulley associated with at least one of said first and second side rails, said flexible member runs forward and backward over said pulley;

said expandable/contractible member heel end being associated with said heel end fixer to fix the expandable/contractible member heel end in a position relative to the frame;

said expandable/contractible member nose end being associated with said flexible member heel end; and

said flexible member nose end being associated with at least one of a universal joint link associated with said universal joint and a grapple link associated with said grapple; and

(b) implementing a hold in which a load is handled by said grapple-heel rack.

19 . The method of claim 18 , said step of providing said grapple-heel rack further comprising providing said mechanical grapple return system associated at a first end to one of said grapple and said universal joint, and associated at a second end to said frame.

20 . The method of claim 18 , said universal joint further comprising, a universal joint for associating said nose with said grapple, said universal joint having three axes of non-powered rotation between said nose and said grapple, the three axes all perpendicular to each other.

21 . A grapple-heel rack and a grapple, said grapple-heel rack comprising:

(a) a frame having a nose, a heel, and first and second side rails spanning between said nose and said heel;

(b) a nose connector connecting said first and second side rails at said nose;

(c) a universal joint connecting said grapple to said nose connector via said universal joint, said universal joint having three axes of non-powered rotation between said nose and said grapple, the three axes all perpendicular to each other; and

(d) said grapple having a neutral position, said grapple rotatable to a plurality of non-neutral positions, a mechanical grapple return system for returning said grapple from one of said non-neutral positions to said neutral position.

22 . The grapple-heel rack of claim 21 , said mechanical grapple return system comprising:

(a) an expandable/contractible member having a heel end and a nose end, a flexible member having a heel end and a nose end, a heel end fixer, and at least one universal joint link or grapple link associated with said universal joint or said grapple;

(b) said expandable/contractible member heel end being associated with said heel end fixer to fix the expandable/contractible member heel end in a position relative to the frame;

(c) said expandable/contractible member nose end being associated with said flexible member heel end; and

(d) said flexible member nose end being associated with at least one of said universal joint link or grapple link.

23 . The grapple-heel rack of claim 22 , further comprising a pulley associated with at least one of said first and second side rails, said flexible member runs forward and backward over said pulley.

24 . The grapple-heel rack of claim 21 , said mechanical grapple return system associated at a first end to one of said grapple and said universal joint, and associated at a second end to said frame.

25 . The grapple-heel rack of claim 21 , said universal joint further comprising a first pivot, a second pivot, and a rotating socket.