The present system relates generally to game trophy mounting devices and, more particularly, to a portable mount for positioning an extremity of an animal, and a method of operation thereof.
Game animal hunting is a popular sport and is practiced by many hunters and sportsmen (hereinafter sportsmen) in many regions of the world. After a game animal such as, for example, North American big and small game animals, African plains game, a bear, a deer, a goat, a ram, a llama, an ostrich, a seal, an elk, a white- or black-tail deer, a mule, a wild hog, a lion, an elephant, a moose, a bison, and other such animals (regardless of region or continent). is felled or “bagged,” it is common practice to take a “trophy” picture with the felled animal with or without the sportsman who “bagged” the animal and/or members of his hunting entourage. This is often difficult in field conditions, as the felled animal's body and extremities thereof are difficult to position in order to obtain a desirable photograph of the animal. Further, trophy pictures often depict the felled animal with extended body parts such as the animal's head lying on the ground, which is not realistic and does not provide a desirable photograph. Moreover, as large game animals are heavy, it is difficult to properly position the animal's body and extended portions thereof for a trophy photograph. Lastly, this process is even more difficult when hunting alone or when the hunter is disabled and is incapable of (or has great difficulty) positioning a felled animal for a photograph.
Accordingly, there is a need for a portable apparatus which can properly support and/or position a felled animal and/or extended body parts, e.g., head and/or neck, of the animal for capturing a trophy photograph of the animal.
Further, there is a need for an apparatus and/or a method which can accurately and easily position one or more anatomical parts (e.g., extended body parts) of a felled animal so that a desirable photograph of the felled animal may be captured.
Therefore, it is an object of the present system to solve the above-noted and other positioning problems common in the field when hunting game animals and to provide an apparatus and a method for properly positioning one or more parts of a felled animal for capturing a photograph (e.g., still and/or video) of the felled animal.
In one embodiment, a positioning apparatus includes an apparatus for positioning an extremity of an animal including a base part having a cavity and an adjusting mechanism, one or more legs attached to the base part, an extension member structured and arranged so as to fit within the cavity of the base part and engage the adjusting mechanism, an upper part attached to the extension member, the upper part having bifurcated ends and a center section for holding the extremity of the animal in a desired position.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present system, the positioning apparatus may include one or more legs.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present system, the positioning apparatus may also include an adjusting mechanism that includes one or more of a friction mechanism, a ratcheting mechanism, and a rack-and-pinion mechanism.
In accordance with still yet another embodiment of the present system, the adjusting mechanism of the positioning apparatus may include a first threaded member which is attached to the base part, a second threaded member having first and second ends and a threaded part which is situated between the first and second ends, the second threaded member structured and arranged to screwably attach to the first threaded member and apply a force to the extension member which is suitable for holding the second member in a desired location relative to the base part, and a handle attached to the second threaded member and suitable for grasping by a user.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present system, the positioning apparatus may further include the bifurcated ends separated from each other so as to form upright members which are hingedly attached to the upper part.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present system, the positioning apparatus may include legs that are hingedly located relative to the base part.
In accordance with still yet another embodiment of the present system, the positioning apparatus may further include openings situated in one of the legs and the upright members.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present system, the positioning apparatus may also include upright members that pivot in a single plane.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present system, the positioning apparatus including the base part and the upper part may include an adjustment mechanism having two or more gussets each having one or more holes, one or more stop members extending between the gussets and positioned at an end of a corresponding gusset, one or more pins extending through at least one of the holes in the gussets and a corresponding opening of the openings situated in one of the legs and the upright members.
Further, in a method for positioning a felled animal for a trophy photograph (e.g., still and/or video), the method may include the acts of placing the positioning apparatus in a desired position under the extremity of the animal, positioning the extremity of the animal between bifurcated ends of an upper part of the positioning apparatus such that the upper part of the positioning apparatus supports the extremity of the animal from underneath the animal, and raising the extremity of the animal to a desired position using the positioning apparatus.
In accordance with an aspect of the present system, the method may include the act of adjusting the height of the positioning apparatus so that the extremity of the animal is supported at a desired height.
In accordance with another aspect of the present system, the method may include the act of pivoting one or more of a leg and an upright member of the positioning apparatus into a desired position before the placing step.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present system, the method may include the act of adjusting the height of the position by sliding the upper part relative to a lower part of the support apparatus.
In accordance with still yet another aspect of the present system, the method may include locking the adjusting mechanism in a desired position using a frictional force applied to an extension member of the upper part.
Further, the apparatus according to the present system may also be used to position an extremity (e.g., an animals head, etc.) relative to the animal's body such that, for example, the animal's head may be inline with the body or may be situated at desired angle relative to the body. Moreover, apparatus according to the present system may also be used to adjust the height of an animal's extremity or parts thereof.
Various other features, aspects, and advantages of the present system will become more apparent with reference to the following description and appended claims.
Embodiments of the present system will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In the drawings the same reference numerals have been used to indicate corresponding features.
Preferred embodiments of the present system will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. For the sake of clarity, certain features of the system will not be discussed when they would be apparent to those with skill in the art.
A front view illustration of a positioning apparatus according to the present system is shown in
The body retaining member 120 is attached to (or formed integrally with) the extension part 104 and is shaped and sized so as to be able to hold a desired body part of an animal (e.g., an extension such as a neck, head, leg, etc.) in a desired location. Accordingly, the body retaining member 120 can include one or more upright members 106 which can terminate at ends 108. The one or more upright members can form all or part of any suitable shape (or parts thereof) suitable for holding an extremity of an animal. For example, suitable shapes can include a “V,” “C,” “U”, “Y”, or other shapes. Further, the upright members can be separated from each other (e.g., at a given point) by a predetermined distance and have a length and/or define an angle which can be predetermined (and or adjusted) so as to be suitable for holding an extremity of a desired game type or animal (e.g., lion). Although not shown, the body retaining member 120 can include one or more fixed and/or adjustable upright members.
The height of the positioning apparatus according to the present system is adjusted by sliding the extension part 104 relative to the base part 102. Accordingly, the height (and/or angle, depending upon embodiment) of the body retaining member 120 can be adjusted as indicated by arrow 117.
The adjustment mechanism 118 can use any suitable mechanism to adjustably lock the extension part 104 in a desired position relative to the base member. Suitable mechanisms can include, for example, a friction fit, a key (e.g., a pin (such as a clevis pin a threaded rod, bolt, etc.) and hole (either threaded or unthreaded) arrangement), a gear (e.g., a rack and pinion), etc., as desired. Accordingly, the adjustment mechanism 118 can include a threaded member 114, a turning mechanism such as, for example, a handle 110 (or other mechanism to turn the threaded member 114 such as a bolt head a screw head, etc.) and a threaded area structured and arranged to receive the threaded member 114. The threaded area can include a nut which is attached to the base part 102 using any suitable method (e.g., welding, pressure fitting, bonding, a threaded fitting, etc.). However, it is also envisioned that the threaded area may be formed integrally with the base part 102 by threading a wall of the base part 102 such that the threads are structured and arranged to screwably receive the threaded member 114. In operation, the threaded member 114 can be rotated (e.g., using the handle 110, a drive mechanism—not shown, etc.) so as to adjust a force which it can apply against a side wall 104S of the extension part 104. When a sufficient force is applied against the side wall 104S of the extension part 104, the extension part 104 will be “locked” in position relative to the base part 102. Likewise, by rotating the threaded member 114 in an opposite direction, the threaded member 114 will move in an opposite direction and, thus, reduce (or eliminate) the force which is applied against the wall 104S of the extension part 104. Accordingly, the extension part 104 can then be slideably positioned (and/or adjusted) relative to the base part 102. However, it is also envisioned that the threaded member may fit into one or more holes or detents which can be part of the extension part. Although not shown, the force applied to the extension part 104 by the threaded member may be applied via a shoe (e.g., a friction shoe) and/or other elements (e.g., a cam mechanism) so as to provide a desired frictional force if necessary. Moreover, although not shown, a linkage arrangement may also be used to transfer a force suitable for locking the extension part in a desired position. Further, it is also envisioned that the threaded member can include a set screw. Moreover, the end of the set screw may include any suitable type end for locking the extension part in a desired position with minimal force. Accordingly, the set screw can include a flat point, a domed point, a cone point, a knurled cup point, a dog point, or combinations thereof, as desired. Further, the legs according to the present system may include a taper such that they may be driven into the ground more easily and/or may include a flat surface having an area which may provide additional support (e.g., in sandy areas). The flat surface may be fixed, removable and/or adjustable, such that it may be positioned at the end of one or more of the legs or may be positioned a predetermined distance from one or more ends of a corresponding leg. Accordingly, the leg may be driven into the ground by a desired amount and then supported, in part, by the flat surface. Further, although the handle depicted as part of the adjustment mechanism 118 is circle in shape, it is to be understood that the handle maybe any shape, e.g., triangular, square, elliptical, etc., or any other desirable shape, e.g., a cylindrical bar (solid or hollow), flat stock (such as flat steel), conventional window crank, etc.
A side view illustration of the positioning apparatus of
A cross section view illustration of the positioning apparatus taken along lines 1C of
A cross section view illustration of the positioning apparatus shown in
A detailed cross sectional view illustration of the positioning apparatus shown in
A detailed cross sectional view illustration of the positioning apparatus shown in
A detailed cross sectional view illustration of the positioning apparatus shown in
An exploded front view illustration of another positioning apparatus with an extended adjusting mechanism is shown in
An exploded side view illustration of the positioning apparatus shown in
An exploded front view illustration of a positioning apparatus with a pin type adjusting mechanism is shown in
An exploded front view illustration of a positioning apparatus with an alternative locking mechanism is shown in
A cross section view illustration of the positioning apparatus taken along lines 3B of
An exploded front view illustration of a positioning apparatus with a third leg is shown in
An exploded side view illustration of the positioning apparatus shown in
An exploded front view illustration of a positioning apparatus with folding legs and upright members is shown in
The positioning apparatus 500 includes a base part 502, an extension part 504, and an adjustment mechanism 518.
The base part 502 is similar to the base part 102 shown in
The extension part 504, similarly to the base part 502, may include adjustable gussets 546 which are situated and arranged so as to form an area for receiving upright members 506. The upright members 506 can be adjustably (e.g., pivotably, rotatably, hingedly, etc.) attached to the gussets 546 using any suitable method. For example, the upright members 506 can be attached to the gussets using one or more attachment element such as hinges, pins, bolts, rods, screws, rivets, hinges, linkages, etc. Accordingly, each of the gussets can include a hole through which a part of the attachment element passes. Likewise each of the upright members 506 can include a hole through which the attachment element passes. As shown in
An exploded side view illustration of the positioning apparatus shown in
An exploded front view illustration of the positioning apparatus shown in
Thus, according to the present system, a low-cost, stable, and easy-to-use positioning apparatus that can be easily operated and used is provided.
Certain additional advantages and features of this system may be apparent to those skilled in the art upon studying the disclosure, or may be experienced by persons employing the novel system and method of the present system, chief of which is that a more stable and easy-to-use trophy-photo positioning apparatus which can be easily carried and operated is provided. Another advantage of the present system is that conventional tripod bases can be easily modified to incorporate the features and advantages of the present system.
Further, although various embodiments of the present system are shown in the drawings and/or described in the corresponding text, with the proper discretion, one or more elements of one or more embodiments may be combined with and/or replaced by one or more elements of a different embodiment. For example, the base part having fixed legs of
While the system has been described with a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the original claimed system, and it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing specification and drawings be taken as illustrative and not in an exclusive sense.