The present disclosure relates to the field of taxidermy. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to a fixture or jig for use by taxidermists when preparing an animal for display.
The practice of taxidermy provides a process for hunters and fisherman to display their catch. Taxidermy is also used to prepare display animals for visual enjoyment in museums. Traditionally, the skin is removed from the deceased animal. The skin is then tanned to preserve the skin or fur of the animal. The taxidermist then employs their skill and artistry to assemble the skin on a foam pre-form or manikin, and applies additional synthetic elements, such as eyes, to recreate a life-like representation of the original animal.
The present disclosure is directed to a fixture for use by taxidermists during preparation of an animal. The fixture includes a base, such as a plate, bar, or sheet formed of metal, wood, composite, polymer, or other material. The base extends along a length direction and in a height direction. The fixture includes at least two supports adjustably attached to the base for selective adjustment along the length of the base. The supports are also adjustably attached to the base for selective adjustment in the height direction. The supports accept and securely hold threaded rods extending from the feet of an animal pre-form. The high degree of adjustability of the disclosed fixture allows the fixture to be almost universally used with a significant majority of pre-forms. The high degree of adjustability also allows the fixture to support the pre-forms in a wide range of positions for access by the taxidermist.
This disclosure also includes a method of supporting an animal pre-form of the type having at least two rods extending from at least the feet of the pre-form. The method may include providing a fixture. The fixture has a base extending along a length direction and in a height direction, and at least two supports extending upwardly relative to the base. The method includes adjusting at least one of the supports along the length direction relative to the base to match a lengthwise spacing of the rods of the pre-form, and adjusting at least one of the supports in the height direction relative to the base to match a height-wise offset of the rods of the pre-form. The pre-form is then secured to the fixture by attaching the rods to the fixture.
These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art, after reading the following description of the preferred embodiments, when considered in conjunction with the drawings. It should be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed.
The foregoing and still other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed explanation of embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Exemplary embodiments of this disclosure are described below and illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views. The embodiments described provide examples and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Other embodiments, modifications and improvements of the described embodiments, will occur to those skilled in the art, and all such other embodiments, modifications and improvements are within the scope of the present invention. Features from one embodiment or aspect may be combined with features from any other embodiment or aspect in any appropriate combination. For example, any individual or collective features of method aspects or embodiments may be applied to the apparatus, product or component aspects or embodiments and vice versa.
In many cases, taxidermists support the tanned skin of an animal using a pre-form or manikin that may be made from foam, plastic, or other materials. Pre-forms may be purchased from supply companies, such as McKenzie Taxidermy Supply, to imitate an extensive range of animal species, sizes, and poses. In other cases, pre-forms may be hand-crafted by the taxidermist himself. In many cases, the pre-forms, particularly the full body manikins, include rods extending from the feet thereof. These rods may be threaded like a bolt for engagement with a properly sized nut. Traditionally, these rods are provided for use when the completed animal is mounted to a display stand.
The shape and size of animal pre-forms make them awkward to hold and properly position as the taxidermist attempts to apply the skin. Some taxidermists have been known to craft disposable stands uniquely constructed based on the particular pre-form being used for a given project. Applicant has determined that there is a need for a more permanent and universally adjustable solution in the form of an adjustable fixture to accommodate a wide range of animal sizes, species, and poses while providing hands-free access to the pre-form from several angles.
As used herein, the term “skin” should be considered broadly as the natural portion of an animal being preserved and displayed during the taxidermy process. Therefore, the term “skin” may include, and be used interchangeably with: skin, fur, feathers, scales, hide, etc.
As used herein, the term “pre-form” may be used interchangeably with the term “manikin”. Pre-forms are formed prior to applying the skin. Pre-forms may be created by the taxidermist or pre-made and purchased from a supply company. Pre-forms may be life-size or less than life-size, such as half-size. For purposes of this disclosure, pre-forms preferably represent the full body or substantially the full body of the imitated animal. However, in some embodiments, pre-forms of less than the full body, such as hoods, heads, heads and shoulders, etc., may be used with the disclosed fixtures.
Turning to the figures,
The base 20 is a plate, bar, or sheet formed of metal, wood, composite, polymer, or other suitable strong and rigid structural material. The base 20 extends along a length direction L and in a height direction H (see
The fixture 1 shown in
The base 20 may include a pair of legs 24 attached to the bottom portion of the base 20. The legs 24 may be included for supporting the fixture 1 upon a work surface, such as a table or the floor. The legs 24 are preferably removable, foldable, or otherwise adjustable relative to the base 20 so that the legs 24 do not obstruct use of the fixture 1 when the legs 24 are unnecessary for supporting the fixture 1. In the embodiment shown, the legs 24 are removable by being bolted to the base 20.
As best seen in
The base 20 may include a lateral adjustment slot 28 along the length direction, as best seen in
The supports 40 may include an attachment plate 44 with one or more openings 48 or slots therein. The attachment plate 44 connects with the rods 110 of the pre-form 100. The attachment plate 44 has a width W (best seen in
The supports 40 may each include a support post 52. The attachment plate 44 may be fixed to the top of the support post 52. In other embodiments, the attachment plate 44 may be joined to the top of the support post 52 by any form of swivel connector known in the art, to provide additional degrees of freedom of movement. In one embodiment, the support post 52 has a circular cross section to allow the support post 52 to rotate about its length (an axis parallel to the height direction), and allow the attachment plate 44 to swivel relative to the base 20, as seen in
As best seen in
In the illustrated embodiment, a set screw 72 threadably passes through the post attachment sleeve 64. When the set screw 72 is in a tightened position, the support post 52 and attachment plate 44 are held at a fixed height above the base 20. When the set screw 72 is in a loosened position, the support post 52 may be adjusted in the height direction, rotated about its length, or removed from the bracket 56 completely.
It should be understood that this disclosure describes one embodiment as provided in the accompanying figures. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the functions and advantages provided by the fixture 1 as described herein may be provided by other mechanical joints and connectors known in the art that would provide the same or substantially similar ability for the supports 40 to be selectively adjustable along both the length direction and in the height direction relative to a base 20.
One skilled in the art will also understand that the use of the fixture 1 may be described in terms of a method of supporting a pre-form 100 used during taxidermy. First, the pre-form 100 is understood to have at least two rods 110 extending from feet, or other portions of the pre-form 100. A fixture 1 according to this disclosure is provided such that the fixture 1 comprises a base 20 extending along a length direction and in a height direction, and at least two supports 40 extending upwardly relative to the base 20. The method of supporting continues by adjusting at least one of the supports 40 along the length direction relative to the base 20 to match a lengthwise spacing of the rods 110 of the pre-form 100, and adjusting at least one the supports 40 in the height direction relative to the base 20 to match a height-wise offset of the rods 110. Once the fixture 1 has been adjusted to match the size, spacing and posture of the pre-form 100, the rods 110 are joined to the attachment plates 44 by passing the rods 110 through the opening 48 and securing the rods 110 with a wing-nut, nut or other fastener.
Although the above disclosure has been presented in the context of exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62118509 | Feb 2015 | US |