Patent Application
20070251561
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to concealment structures such as hunting blinds. More particularly, the present invention relates to a camouflaged concealment structure apparatus including a plurality of spaced-apart telescopically adjustable support poles and a fabric panel mounted on the support poles, in which the height of each support pole can be independently adjusted.
2. Description of the Background Art
When out in the field for moderate or long periods, hunters often spend time in hunting blinds to disguise themselves from game, and also to protect themselves from inclement weather.
Similarly, naturalists, nature photographers, and environmental scientists often work out in the field, such as in forest or wilderness areas. Naturalists often wish to approach wild animals as closely as possible without being detected, in order to photograph or observe the animals in their natural habitat, while disturbing them as little as possible. Accordingly, these people also find blinds and related camouflage covers useful.
Many designs for hunting blinds are known. Class 135, subclass 900 is provided in the U.S. Patent Classification System for the listing of hunting blinds and related shelters.
Fargason, U.S. Pat. No. 5,983,913 discloses one example of a hunting blind.
Adams, U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,673 discloses another design for a portable insulated modular shelter, which is usable as a hunting blind, ice fishing shelter, or wildlife observatory. Several other known designs for hunting blinds, ice fishing shelters and similar enclosures are referred to and discussed in the background section of the Adams '673 reference.
Eastman, U.S. Pat. No. 6,941,961 discloses a hunting blind including an outer fabric shell and a scent-dampening liner inside of the shell.
Other outdoor concealment structures or similar devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,265,261 (Barker), 4,683,672 (Davis), 4,700,731 (Smith), 5,062,234 (Green), 5,414,950 (Johnson, Sr.), 5,487,402 (Clary), and 5,609,176 (Weeks).
The U.S. Pat. No. 5,414,950 reference to Johnson, Sr. describes a hunting blind with a height-adjustment feature, although fixed frame sections of the blind design in this reference require an entire frame section to move as an integral unit.
A number of different designs are known for height-adjustable tent poles, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,656,494 (Cornett et al.), 3,833,012 (McAllister), and 5,593,239 (Sallee).
Although the known devices have some utility for their intended purposes, a need still exists in the art for a flexibly adjustable concealment structure. In particular, there is a need for an improved concealment structure in which individual sections of the structure are independently height-adjustable, to allow a user to customize the structure for a particular application or use.
The present invention fills the above need by providing an improved concealment structure in which individual sections of the structure are independently height-adjustable, to allow a user to customize the structure for a particular application or use.
A portable concealment apparatus according to a selected illustrative embodiment of the invention includes a flexible fabric panel member having an upper section, a lower section, and a foldably collapsible midsection. The lower section of the fabric panel member has a plurality of tubular sleeves formed therein, and a plurality of channels are formed in the upper section of the fabric panel member. A respective channel is situated above each sleeve to accommodate a support member in the fabric panel.
The fabric panel member may, optionally, have a plurality of simulated foliage cutouts thereon, to create a three-dimensional effect, and to better camouflage a user.
The concealment apparatus also includes a plurality of support members, which fit into the sleeves and channels of the fabric panel member to provide support thereto. Each of the support members includes a hollow lower tube with a pointed tip portion at a lower end thereof. The pointed tip is provided for insertion into earth, gravel or a similar substrate during installation, in order to stabilize the apparatus.
Each of the support members also includes a connector attached to a top portion of the lower tube. The connector has a hollow bore formed therethrough, and may be formed of a flexibly resilient material such as rubber or a suitable elastomer. The connector provides a junction between the lower tube and an upper pole.
Each of the support members also includes an upper pole that passes through the connector, and fits slidably and telescopically within the lower tube. The position of the upper pole in the lower tube is independently adjustable by a user for each support member.
In an assembled configuration of the apparatus, each channel of the fabric panel member receives part of an upper pole of a respective support member therein, and each sleeve of the fabric panel member receives a medial portion of a corresponding lower tube therein. The midsection of the fabric panel member is free from attachment to the support member, and in a lowered position of a support member, the midsection of the fabric panel member is folded over in front of the lower section thereof.
As a result of the independent adjustability of each of the support members, the effective height of the panel member is independently adjustable at each support member, in an installed configuration of the apparatus.
In one embodiment of the invention, the upper pole is held in place in the connector by friction therebetween. In another embodiment hereof, the connector includes a threaded outer collar which can be rotated to tighten the connector and to temporarily fix the position of the upper pole in the lower tube.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the reader is referred to the following detailed description section, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description and in the drawings, like numbers refer to like parts.
Referring now to the drawings, a portable concealment apparatus according to a selected illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 10 in
The support members 20 are interchangeable and are substantially identical to one another, and are therefore each given the same reference number 20 herein.
In the depicted embodiment, the fabric panel member 11 is held up by two outside support members 20, and is folded around five medial support members 20 to define six substantially planar panel segments 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, in the installed configuration of the structure.
As shown in
A respective channel 28 is situated above each sleeve 26 to accommodate a respective support member 20 in the fabric panel member 11.
As seen best in
Each of the support members 20 includes a hollow lower tube 30 with a pointed tip portion 31 at a lower end thereof. The pointed tip portion 31 is provided for insertion into earth, gravel or a similar substrate during installation, in order to stabilize the apparatus 10.
Each of the support members also includes a connector 34, which is attached to a top portion of the lower tube 30 by gluing or the like. The connector 34 has a hollow bore 35 formed therethrough to slidably receive the upper pole 32, and may be formed of a flexibly resilient material such as rubber or a suitable elastomer. The connector provides a junction between the lower tube and the upper pole 32, and may be configured to resiliently press against the upper pole at the hollow bore, to create an interference fit therebetween.
Each of the support members 20 also includes an upper pole 32 that passes through the connector 34, and which fits slidably and telescopically within the lower tube 30, as shown in the inset portion of
In an assembled configuration of the apparatus, each channel 28 of the fabric panel member 11 receives part of an upper pole 32 of a respective support member 20 therein, and each sleeve 26 of the fabric panel member receives a medial portion of a corresponding lower tube 30 therein, as shown in
As a result of the independent adjustability of each of the support members 20, the effective height of the fabric panel member 11 is independently adjustable at each support member, in an installed configuration of the apparatus.
In one embodiment of the invention, the upper pole 32 is held in place in the connector 34 by friction therebetween.
In another embodiment hereof, as shown in
Although the present invention has been described herein with respect to a number of specific illustrative embodiments, the foregoing description is intended to illustrate, rather than to limit the invention. Those skilled in the art will realize that many modifications of the preferred embodiment could be made which would be operable. For example, while the drawings and description herein have been primarily directed to a panel-type open top apparatus, it will be understood that an enclosed tent-type apparatus could also be made using the support members and fabric panel member hereof, and would be operable.
All such modifications, which are within the scope of the claims, are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention.
