Pole bridle

1. A pole bridle for facilitating the manipulation of a pole by a hoist, said hoist including a flexible member, and said pole bridle comprising:

plates configured for placement in spaced-relation about said pole; and

retaining members coupled to an outer surface of said plates, said retaining members being configured to retain said flexible member in encircling-relation about said pole, and said retaining members including means for translating an axial force to a transverse force, said transverse force directing said plates against said pole.

2. A pole bridle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plates exhibit a convex shape.

3. A pole bridle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plates exhibit a planar shape.

4. A pole bridle as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said plates comprises:

a first leg; and

a second leg adjoining said first leg at a common edge, said first and second legs being configured to abut adjacent sides of said pole.

5. A pole bridle as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

each of said plates includes an inner surface on a side opposite said outer surface; and

said pole bridle further includes a slip-resistant material adhered to said inner surface of said each plate.

6. A pole bridle as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

each of said plates includes an eye;

said pole bridle further comprises linking means directed through said eye of said each plate; and

a connector for coupling a first end of said linking means to a second end of said linking means for loose retention of said plates about said pole.

7. A pole bridle as claimed in claim 6 wherein said eye extends from said outer surface of said each plate.

8. A pole bridle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said retaining members are lift hooks.

9. A pole bridle as claimed in claim 8 wherein said lift hooks are weld-on hooks bonded to said outer surface of each of said plates.

10. A pole bridle as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said retaining members includes latch means to prevent disengagement of said flexible member from said each retaining member.

11. A pole bridle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said each of said plates includes a first region and a second region, said first region exhibiting a first thickness that is greater than a second thickness of said second region, and one each of said retaining members is coupled to one each of said plates at said first region.

12. A pole bridle as claimed in claim 1 further comprising linking means coupling said plates together in aligned-relation.

13. A pole bridle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said each of said plates exhibits a rectangular shape having a length that is greater than a width, said length being configured for axial alignment with said pole.

14. A pole bridle for facilitating the extraction of a circular pole from a fixed, embedded upright position by a pole puller, said pole puller including a flexible member, and said pole bridle comprising:

convex plates configured for placement in spaced-relation about said circular pole, each of said convex plates including an eye;

linking means directed through said eye of said each convex plate;

a connector for coupling a first end of said linking means to a second end of said linking means for loose retention of said circular plates about said pole; and

retaining members coupled to an outer surface of said plates, said retaining members being configured to retain said flexible member in encircling-relation about said circular pole, wherein an upward force imposed on said flexible member creates a transverse force on said plates to direct said plates against said pole.

15. A pole bridle as claimed in claim 14 wherein:

each of said plates includes an inner surface on a side opposite said outer surface; and

said pole bridle further includes a slip-resistant material adhered to said inner surface of said each plate.

16. A pole bridle as claimed in claim 14 wherein said retaining members are lift hooks.

17. A pole bridle as claimed in claim 14 wherein each of said retaining members includes latch means to prevent disengagement of said flexible member from said each retaining member.

18. A pole bridle as claimed in claim 14 wherein said each of said concave plates exhibits a rectangular shape having a length that is greater than a width, said length being configured for axial alignment with said circular pole.

19. A pole bridle for facilitating the extraction of a pole from a fixed, embedded upright position by a pole puller, said pole puller including a flexible member, and said pole bridle comprising:

plates configured for placement in spaced-relation about said pole, each of said plates exhibiting a rectangular shape having a length that is greater than a width, said length being configured for axial alignment with said pole;

linking means coupling said plates together in aligned-relation; and

lift hooks coupled to an outer surface of said plates, said lift hooks being configured to retain said flexible member in encircling-relation about said pole, and said lift hooks including means for translating an axial force to a transverse force, said transverse force directing said plates against said pole.

20. A pole bridle as claimed in claim 19 wherein said each of said plates includes a first region and a second region, said first region exhibiting a first thickness that is greater than a second thickness of said second region, and one each of said lift hooks is coupled to one each of said plates at said first region.

21. A pole bridle as claimed in claim 19 wherein:

each of said plates includes an eye;

said pole bridle further comprises second linking means directed through said eye of said each plate; and

a connector for coupling a first end of said second linking means to a second end of said second linking means for loose retention of said plates about said pole.