Abstract:
A turkey spur sheath removal tool includes a first pivoting member, a second pivoting member, and a hinge connecting the first and second pivoting members. Each pivoting member includes a handle, a cutting blade, and a gripping region. The turkey spur sheath removal tool is useful for severing and removing the spur sheath from a turkey leg for cleaning or trophy purposes.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/320,243 filed Apr. 8, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The following includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art nor material to the presently described or claimed inventions, nor that any publication or document that is specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
       1. Field of the Invention 
       [0003]    The present invention relates generally to the field of shearing devices of existing art and more specifically relates to cutting tools. 
       2. Description of Related Art 
       [0004]    Turkey hunters may enjoy cutting off and keeping turkey spurs. Hunters may leave turkey spurs on the turkey&#39;s feet; however after time, the flesh on the feet begins to deteriorate. It may take an extensive amount of time to remove the spurs in the field, forcing the hunter to haul the turkey home or to a taxidermy shop for spur removal. A suitable solution is desired. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,026,613 to Carl R. Nelson relates to an animal dehorner. The described dehorner includes a dehorner for animal horns, which requires less effort on the part of the operator thereof, and which affords a less obstructed view, whereby the operator is enabled, following a first operation of removal of a horn, to more easily and accurately work upon the remaining stub and produce a natural polled appearance. A further object of the invention is the provision of removable and interchangeable handle bars, in an arrangement which enables using short or long handle bars, and removal of the bars, for compact storage and transportation of the device. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known cutting device art, the present disclosure provides a novel turkey spur sheath removal tool and method. The general purpose of the present disclosure, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a turkey spur sheath removal tool and method. 
         [0007]    The turkey spur sheath removal tool may include a first pivoting member, a second pivoting member, and a hinge connecting the first and second pivoting members. The first pivoting member may itself include a first proximal end, a first distal end, a first front side, a first back side, a first blade, a first handle, and a first concavity. The second pivoting member may include a second proximal end, a second distal end, a second front side, a second back side, a second blade, a second handle, and a second concavity. 
         [0008]    The first pivoting member and the second pivoting member are configured to close about a turkey spur, in such a way that squeezing the first and second handles in relation to each other cause the first and second blades to close in a scissoring action. In the same way, squeezing the first and second handles cause the first and second concavities to close as well. 
         [0009]    In preferred embodiments the handle ends of the pivoting members are longer than the blade ends, such that squeezing the handles provides sufficient leverage to operate the cutting and gripping functions of the blades and concavities. The hinge functions as a fulcrum for providing leverage to the blades and concavities when the handles are squeezed. The hinge is located between the blade end and the handle end of each pivoting member. In a first embodiment, the concavities for gripping a turkey spur sheath are located on the handle side of the hinge. In a second embodiment, the concavities are located on the blade side of the hinge. In either configuration, squeezing the handles imparts pressure on both the blades and concavities and any turkey spur sheath inserted therewithin, and the cutting device may be manipulated to impart either a squeezing or twisting force upon the turkey spur sheath. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the blades may be concave cutting edges, and may be chisel ground edges positioned inverse to each other so that the bevel or grind of one blade faces to the opposite side of the other. The blade edges contact each other when the handles are squeezed in a scissoring action. The blades may be constructed of a material sufficiently strong to effectively sever keratin and bone, such as a high-strength steel alloy. 
         [0011]    The concavities are configured to receive a turkey spur and tightly grip the spur sheath when the handles are squeezed. The concavities may include a high-friction surface, such as a rubber coating, which aids in gripping the spur sheath. The concavities are each hemispherically shaped, and are recessed into the body of each pivoting member. In this configuration, the cutting tool may be used to grip and subsequently twist the spur sheath to remove the turkey spur sheath from the bone spur. 
         [0012]    For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and methods of use for the present disclosure, a turkey spur sheath removal tool and method, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the cutting device during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the cutting device of  FIG. 1  during an ‘in-use’ condition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the cutting device of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the cutting device of 
           [0018]      FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating a method of use for removing turkey spur sheaths, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
       [0020]    The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    As discussed above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a cutting tool and more particularly to a turkey spur sheath removal tool and method as used to improve the efficiency and convenience for removal of turkey spur sheaths. 
         [0022]    Generally speaking, the turkey spur sheath removal tool disclosed herein provides turkey hunters with a spur sheath cutting device capable of cutting and removing turkey spur sheaths from their legs in an efficient manner The device features two handles designed to operate dual-rounded blades for cutting the spur sheath, as well as opposing gripping surfaces to remove the spur sheath from the bone spur. The device eliminates the need to haul a turkey home, allowing users to remove the spur sheaths and dispose of the unused portions of the turkey in a convenient manner The device allows hunters to collect spur sheaths off turkey legs for souvenirs, collections, and/or spur necklaces. The present invention also offers a much easier, safer, and more convenient method for removing spur sheaths from a turkey without leg bone or tissue decaying. 
         [0023]    The device may include two members each including a squeezable gripping handle, a rounded blade, and a gripping surface. There is a sharp-oval cutting edge on the nose of the cutting tool, slight offset, configured to cut the turkey spur sheath from the leg. There is a hemispherical concavity placed near the hinge configured to grip the spur sheath and twist it off the bone mass. The device enables hunters to quickly cut and cleanly extract spur sheaths from the legs with no bone, eliminating the need to take the legs home. The device allows hunters to keep spur sheaths without leg bone or tissue decay. 
         [0024]    In a preferred embodiment, the device may be constructed using steel and other suitable materials. The device may feature a 4″ long handle, a 1.25″ diameter cutting nose, and approximately 1.5″ of straight body with an oval grip. 
         [0025]    Referring now more specifically to the drawings by numerals of reference, there is shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , various views of a cutting device  100 .  FIG. 1  shows a cutting device  100  during an ‘in-use’ condition  150 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Here, the cutting device  100  may be beneficial for use by a user  140  to remove turkey spur sheaths. 
         [0026]    According to one embodiment, the cutting device  100  may be arranged as a kit  105 . In particular, the cutting device  100  may further include a set of instructions  155 . The instructions  155  may detail functional relationships in relation to the structure of the cutting device  100  (such that the cutting device  100  can be used, maintained, or the like, in a preferred manner). 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  shows cutting device  100  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As above, the cutting device  100  may include first pivoting member  110  and second pivoting member  120 , being pivotably connected by hinge  130 . First pivoting member  110  and second pivoting member  120  are configured to close about turkey spur sheath  142 ; cutting tool  100  being configured to remove turkey spur sheath  142 . 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 2  showing cutting device  100  in an in-use condition. First pivoting member  110  may include first proximal end  118  and first distal end  119 . Second pivoting member  120  may include second proximal end  128  and second distal end  129 . First pivoting member  110  and second pivoting member  120  may be configured to grip turkey spur sheath  142  and impart a twisting force to snap off turkey spur sheath  142 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the cutting device  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. First pivoting member  110  may further include first blade  112 , first handle  114 , and first concavity  116 . Second pivoting member  120  may further include second blade  122 , second handle  124 , and second concavity  126 . First pivoting member  110  and second pivoting member  120  may be pivotably connected by hinge  130 . 
         [0030]    First handle  114  of first pivoting member  110  and second handle  124  of second pivoting member  120  cause first blade  112  of first pivoting member  110  and second blade  122  of second pivoting member  120  to close when manipulated, particularly in a squeezing action. Likewise, first handle  114  of first pivoting member  110  and second handle  124  of second pivoting member  120  cause first concavity  116  of first pivoting member  110  and second concavity  126  of second pivoting member  120  to close when manipulated. 
         [0031]    First proximal end  118  of first pivoting member  110  and second proximal end  128  of second pivoting member  120  are preferably longer than first distal end  119  of first pivoting member  110  and second distal end  129  of second pivoting member  120 ; first proximal end  118  of first pivoting member  110  and second proximal end  128  of second pivoting member  120  being configured to apply sufficient leverage upon first blade  112  of first pivoting member  110  and second blade  122  of second pivoting member  120  for severing turkey spur sheath  142 . 
         [0032]    Hinge  130  is configured to transmit leverage from first handle  114  of first pivoting member  110  to first blade  112  of first pivoting member  110 , and from second handle  124  of second pivoting member  120  to second blade  122  of second pivoting member  120 . Hinge  130  may be pinned. Hinge  130  is located between first proximal end  118  of first pivoting member  110  and first distal end  119  of first pivoting member  110 , and accordingly, is located between located between second proximal end  128  of second pivoting member  120  and second distal end  129  of second pivoting member  120 . 
         [0033]    First pivoting member  110  and second pivoting member  120  comprise levers configured to squeeze and twist turkey spur sheath  142 . First blade  112  of first pivoting member  110  and second blade  122  of second pivoting member  120  comprise chisel ground, concave cutting edges. First pivoting member  110  and second pivoting member  120  comprise scissors including high-strength steel blades configured to sever keratin. Other suitably equivalent materials may be used. 
         [0034]    First blade  112  of first pivoting member  110  is disposed on first pivoting member  110 , while second blade  122  of second pivoting member  120  is disposed on second pivoting member  120 . First blade  112  of first pivoting member  110  and second blade  122  of second pivoting member  120  make contact when first handle  114  of first pivoting member  110  and second handle  124  of second pivoting member  120  are squeezed. 
         [0035]    First concavity  116  of first pivoting member  110  and second concavity  126  of second pivoting member  120  each preferably include high friction material coating configured to grip turkey spur sheath  142 . First concavity  116  of first pivoting member  110  and second concavity  126  of second pivoting member  120  comprise hemispherical voids in first pivoting member  110  and second pivoting member  120  configured to receive turkey spur sheath  142 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the cutting device  100  of  FIG. 1 , according to an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, both first blade  112  of first pivoting member  110  and first concavity  116  of first pivoting member  110  are located on first distal end  119  of first pivoting member  110 . Likewise, both second blade  122  of second pivoting member  120  and second concavity  126  of second pivoting member  120  are located on second distal end  129  of second pivoting member  120 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram  550  illustrating a method for removing a turkey spur  500 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the method for removing a turkey spur sheath  500  may include one or more components or features of the cutting device  100  as described above. As illustrated, the method for removing a turkey spur sheath  500  may include the steps of: step one  501 , applying first blade  112  of first pivoting member  110  and second blade  122  of second pivoting member  120  of cutting device  100  about either side of turkey spur sheath  142 ; step two  502 , squeezing first handle  114  of first pivoting member  110  and second handle  124  of second pivoting member  120  of cutting device  100  to sever turkey spur sheath  142 ; step three  503 , rotating cutting device  100  to sever turkey spur sheath  142 ; and step four  504 , twisting cutting device  100  to break and remove turkey spur sheath  142 . Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, design preference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost, available materials, technological advances, etc., other arrangements such as, for example, placement of the cutting blades and gripping concavities, or configuration of the handles, etc., may be sufficient. 
         [0038]    It should be noted that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as design preference, user preferences, marketing preferences, cost, structural requirements, available materials, technological advances, etc., other methods for removing a turkey spur sheath (e.g., different step orders within above-mentioned list, elimination or addition of certain steps, including or excluding certain maintenance steps, etc.), are taught herein. 
         [0039]    The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.