Abstract:
A cover device useful for hunting is disclosed. The device includes a deployable canopy including canopy fabric, a plurality of ribs providing structure to the canopy fabric, and a bracket. The bracket includes a bracket axle connecting with each of the ribs, wherein the axle permits the ribs to alternatively be arranged in a deployed state with the ribs fanned out and stretching the canopy fabric and a collapsed state with the ribs being in a parallel configuration. The device further includes a gripping plate configured to be attached to a post.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This disclosure claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/082,472 filed on Nov. 20, 2014 which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure is related to an object for use in hunting. In particular, the disclosure is related to a device used to provide a rapidly deployed shelter for a hunter. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure. Accordingly, such statements are not intended to constitute an admission of prior art. 
         [0004]    Hunters, in particular deer hunters, need to stand or sit outside in cold weather for long periods. Weather can be difficult. Snow can fall from trees. 
         [0005]    Hunters that own a field are known to construct permanent shelters out of plywood or other materials. Such shelters provide the hunter with shelter from weather, wind, and cold. Such shelters additionally provide the hunter with cover, making it difficult for deer and other animals to see the hunter. 
         [0006]    In the alternative to permanent shelters, hunters use deployable tree stands to elevate the hunter off of ground level. Known tree stands frequently include a lightweight seat and tension straps that can loop around and secure the seat to a tree trunk. 
         [0007]    Camping tents are known providing shelter for a camper. Tents typically rest upon the ground. Tents can include nylon, cloth fabric, or other fabric materials stretched over tent poles providing structure for the tent. Tent poles are known to be made of fiberglass, wood, and other similar rigid and lightweight materials. Tents are frequently constructed of lightweight and compact materials, such that a tent can be easily carried within a backpack and deployed at a campsite. 
         [0008]    Hunting blinds are known in the art with similar to tent constructions. Exemplary hunting blinds can include fabric stretched over structural poles and can include an open or opening window for the hunter to shoot through. 
         [0009]    Hunters can use a firearm, a bow, or a crossbow to hunt an animal. Different hunting tools can have different space requirements to operate, for example, with a bow hunter requiring clearance to vertically align the bow and pull the bow string. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0010]    A cover device useful for hunting is disclosed. The device includes a deployable canopy including canopy fabric, a plurality of ribs providing structure to the canopy fabric, and a bracket. The bracket includes a bracket axle connecting with each of the ribs, wherein the axle permits the ribs to alternatively be arranged in a deployed state with the ribs fanned out and stretching the canopy fabric and a collapsed state with the ribs being in a parallel configuration. The device further includes a gripping plate configured to be attached to a post. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    One or more embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary deployable canopy configured to be strapped to a tree and provide cover to a person sitting thereunder, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates the deployable canopy of  FIG. 1  in profile, focusing upon a bracket holding canopy ribs with the ribs illustrated in a parallel, collapsed state, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  illustrates the bracket and gripping plate of  FIG. 2  from end views, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary alternative embodiment of a deployable canopy, including a one-piece bracket and gripping plate, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  illustrates the deployable canopy of  FIG. 4  affixed to a tree trunk with a deployable hunter&#39;s perch additionally affixed to the tree trunk below the deployable canopy, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary alternative embodiment of a deployable canopy including hunting blind walls affixed to the canopy, with the blind walls configured to be staked into the ground, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary one-piece bracket and gripping plate, including a hinged bracket arm, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary alternative embodiment of a deployable canopy including various camouflage elements, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary hunter&#39;s perch utilizing a two-piece gripping plate and perch mounting plate assembly, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary gripping plate including a plurality of convenience features mounting to mounting holes in the gripping plate, in accordance with the present disclosure; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  illustrates the deployable canopy of  FIG. 4  including hunting blind walls affixed to the canopy, wherein the blind walls are configured to be used with a hunter&#39;s perch on a tree trunk, in accordance with the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary deployable canopy configured to be strapped to a tree and provide cover to a person sitting under the canopy. Deployable canopy  10  is illustrated including canopy fabric  20 , ribs  30 , rib bracket  40 , gripping plate  50 , mounting strap  60 , and deployment tethers  70 . Ribs  30  are attached to rib bracket  40  at bracket axle  42  and are free to pivot with respect to rib bracket  40 , such that the ribs can alternate between a deployed, fanned out state and a parallel, collapsed state. In the deployed state, canopy fabric  20  is stretched out to provide maximum coverage under deployable canopy  10 . In the collapsed state, deployable canopy  10  is provided in a compact form such as can easily be put into a cylindrical carry/storage bag. 
         [0024]    Canopy fabric  20  includes rib enclosures  22  configured to receive ribs  30 . According to one embodiment, rib enclosures  22  can include cylindrically shaped pockets formed in or attached to the canopy fabric  20 . In other embodiments, strips of material, metallic rings attached to the canopy fabric  20 , or other similar structures can be used to attach ribs  30  to canopy fabric  20 . Deployment tethers  70  are attached to deployable canopy  10  such that pulling on tethers  70  causes the canopy to expand into the deployed state. Canopy fabric  20  can be constructed of nylon or other polymer materials similar to modern tent materials known in the art. In another embodiment, canopy fabric  20  can be constructed of cloth or some other fabric known in the art. Canopy fabric  20  can be a single color. Canopy fabric  20  can include a camouflage pattern. Canopy fabric  20  can include a transparent or translucent plastic material. 
         [0025]    The canopy can be configured in a number of different shapes. The deployable canopy  10  of  FIG. 1  is illustrated as a portion of a circle. Other non-limiting examples of shapes can include rectangles, squares, triangles, ovals, and trapezoids. The canopy is preferably waterproof 
         [0026]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , rib bracket  40  and gripping plate  50  are a two-piece design such that that gripping plate  50  can be installed to a tree trunk or other structure, and rib bracket  40  can be selectively attached or removed from the gripping plate  50 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , rib bracket  40  includes one or more mushroom shaped tabs configured to fit into a slot in gripping plate  50 . Gripping plate  50  can include gripping features configured to increase retention of the gripping plate  50  to bark of a tree. 
         [0027]    Mounting strap  60  is attached to gripping plate  50  and is configured to be wrapped around a tree trunk or similar structure, be cinched down, and provide retention of the gripping plate  50  to the tree trunk. Buckle  64  is configured to be attached to buckle / cinching mechanism  62  such that tension can be created in strap  60 . 
         [0028]    Ribs  30  can be made of any of a number of materials. According to one embodiment, ribs  30  can be metallic, for example, constructed of steel, aluminum, or other commonly available metals or alloys. In another example, ribs  30  can be constructed with fiberglass poles, such as are commonly known in the art. Such fiberglass poles are constructed according to methods known in the art and can include metallic attachments on one side or the other. For example, a fitting over one side of the fiberglass pole can include a hole configured to receive bracket axle  42  of  FIG. 1 . In another embodiment, ribs  30  can be constructed of a polymer such as a thermoplastic. In some embodiments, ribs  30  are flexible, enabling a hunter to reach up, bend the ribs down to clear snow or rain from a top of the deployable canopy  10 , and then permit the ribs  30  to elastically return to their original position. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2  illustrates the deployable canopy of  FIG. 1  in profile, focusing upon a bracket holding canopy ribs with the ribs illustrated in a parallel, collapsed state. Bracket  40  is illustrated including bracket arms  43  and a bracket center  44 . Additionally, mating gripping plate Bracket arms  43  include a hole configured to receive bracket axle  42 . Bracket center  44  includes features for mounting bracket  40  to a gripping plate. In the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the features include mushroom shaped tabs  45  configured to fit a slot formed in a mating gripping plate. 
         [0030]    Ribs  30  are illustrated attached to bracket axle  42  and rotated into a parallel configuration, with all of ribs  30  pointed in a same direction relative to bracket  40 . Canopy fabric  20  is folded over ribs  30  similarly to how fabric of an umbrella is folded up when the umbrella is closed in a collapsed state. 
         [0031]    Gripping plate  50  is illustrated in side view including slot  52  configured to receive tabs  45  and mounting strap  60 . Mounting plate  50  further includes gripping features  54  embodied as sharp triangular posts configured to dig into and/or grip tree bark as mounting strap  60  is tightened. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  illustrates the bracket and gripping plate of  FIG. 2  from end views. Bracket  40  is illustrated including bracket center  44  including two tabs  45 . Ends of bracket axle  42  are visible on top and bottom of bracket  40 . Gripping plate  50  includes slot  52  including a wide interior channel and a narrower exterior channel configured to receive and hold tabs  45  as they are slid down slot  52 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary alternative embodiment of a deployable canopy, including a one-piece bracket and gripping plate. Deployable canopy  100  is illustrated including canopy fabric  120 ; ribs  130 ,  132 ,  134 ,  136 ,  137 ,  138 , and  139 ; one-piece bracket and gripping plate  140 ; mounting strap  160 ; and deployment tethers  170  and  171 . Deployable canopy  100  is illustrated installed to tree trunk  102 , with one-piece bracket and gripping plate  140  engaged to the tree trunk by tension created by mounting strap  160 . 
         [0034]    Ribs  130 ,  132 ,  134 ,  136 ,  137 ,  138 , and  139  are sized corresponding to the rectangular shape of canopy fabric  120 . Deployment tether wings  150  and  151  are attached to or extend from canopy fabric  120  on either side of the canopy fabric and attach to deployment tethers  170  and  171 , respectively. Deployment tethers  170  and  171  are attached at tether knot  172  keeping tension in the tethers, thereby keeping the deployable canopy  100  in a deployed state. 
         [0035]    Mounting strap  160  is illustrated attached and under tension through attachment and cinching of buckle/cinching mechanism  162 . A number of strap cinching devices and methods are known in the art, and the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein. 
         [0036]      FIG. 5  illustrates the deployable canopy of  FIG. 4  affixed to a tree trunk with a deployable hunter&#39;s perch additionally affixed to the tree trunk below the deployable canopy. Deployable canopy  100  is illustrates attached to tree trunk  102  with mounting strap  160 . Hunter&#39;s perch  180  is illustrated attached to tree trunk  102  with mounting strap  182 . Any known embodiment of a hunter&#39;s perch can be used with the presently disclosed deployable canopy. 
         [0037]    Deployable canopies can be mounted high in a tree, with a hunter&#39;s perch located just below the canopy. In other embodiments, deployable canopies can be mounted close to the ground.  FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary alternative embodiment of a deployable canopy including hunting blind walls affixed to the canopy. Deployable canopy  200  is illustrated attached to fence post  202  with mounting strap  260  and one-piece bracket and gripping plate  240 . Hunting blind walls  210  and  220  are illustrated attached to canopy fabric  205  of deployable canopy  200  with exemplary zipper attachment features  214  and  224 , respectively. In other embodiments, hunting blind walls can be formed unitarily with canopy fabric  205  or can attach with snaps, Velcro, or any other attachment mechanism known in the art. Hunting blind walls  210  and  220  each include a hunting window  212  and  222 , respectively. It will be appreciated that similar walls can be attached on the other two sides of the deployable canopy  200 , such that the hunter is entirely concealed within the hunting blind walls. In place of tether lines or strings, deployable canopy  200  is kept in a deployed state with a flexible fiberglass pole  206  installed to pockets  204  formed in canopy fabric  205 . Hunting blind walls can include ground stake tabs  230  enabling use to ground stakes  232  to keep the walls from flapping in the wind. 
         [0038]      FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary one-piece bracket and gripping plate, including a hinged bracket arm. One-piece bracket and gripping plate  640  is illustrated, including gripping features  642  and bracket axle  646 . Mounting strap  660  is illustrated attached to one-piece bracket and gripping plate  640 . One-piece bracket and gripping plate  640  further includes a hinge feature  644 , permitting easy disassembly and/or adjustment of the bracket. A number of different gripping feature configurations are envisioned, and the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular examples provided herein. 
         [0039]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary alternative embodiment of a deployable canopy including various camouflage elements. Square-shaped deployable canopy  300  is illustrated, including ribs  342 ,  344 ,  346 , and  348 . Camouflage pattern  370  of a pattern known in the art is printed upon the surface of the canopy fabric. In addition, material tabs  350  are illustrated sticking up from a surface of the canopy fabric. Material tabs  350  break up the straight line profile of the top of the canopy when viewed from a distance. further, hanging ribbons  360  are provided hanging around a perimeter of deployable canopy  300 , further providing visual cover for the hunter. Bracket  340  can be attached to a tree, a post, a wall of a shed, or any other structure through mounting straps or other fastening method. In embodiments where the post is non-living thing, nails, bolts, or other fasteners can be used to mount bracket  360  to the post. 
         [0040]      FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary hunter&#39;s perch utilizing a two-piece gripping plate and perch mounting plate assembly. Hunter&#39;s perch  400  is illustrated including perch mounting plate assembly  410  and attachment features  412 . Mounting plate  420  is illustrated including slot  422  configured to receive and hold attachment features  412 . A plurality of straps  460  can be used to affix mounting plate  420  to tree trunk  402 . It will be appreciated that similar configurations could be used to support a line worker working on telephone pole utilities or suspend a seat wherever a pole or tree trunk is provided. 
         [0041]      FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary gripping plate including a plurality of convenience features mounting to mounting holes in the gripping plate. Gripping plate  500  is illustrated including slot  510  and gripping features  540 . Convenience features  550  and  552  are illustrated embodied as bent wire sections including one of any number of hooks and rings. Convenience features  550  and  552  include straight sections  551  and  553 , respectively, configured to fit within mounting holes  520  provided in gripping plate  500 . A hunter can hang objects such as binoculars or deer antlers from convenience features  550  and  552 . Slot  530  is provided to enable routing a mounting strap to the plate  500 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 11  illustrates the deployable canopy of  FIG. 4  including hunting blind walls affixed to the canopy, wherein the blind walls are configured to be used with a hunter&#39;s perch on a tree trunk. Deployable canopy  100  is illustrated including mounting strap  160  installed to tree trunk  102 . Hunter&#39;s perch  180  is illustrated installed to tree trunk  102  under canopy  100 . Hunter&#39;s perch  180  is commonly referred to as a tree stand. Canopy  100  includes or is connected to blind walls  190  and  192 . Blind wall  192  includes a window  194 . Blind walls  190  and  192  can hang freely. In the alternative, blind walls  190  and  192  can include wire or pole structures or can be tied or otherwise secured to either perch  180  or tree trunk  102  under perch  180 . 
         [0043]    In the illustrations, mounting features including tabs are provided on the bracket and a slot is provided on the gripping plate. One will appreciate that the features could be reversed, with tabs on the gripping plate and an inverted slot on the bracket. Other similar mechanical joining features known in the art could be used to join a bracket and a gripping plate, and the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the examples provided herein. 
         [0044]    The disclosed deployable canopy can be configured specially for use with firearms, crossbows, or bows, for example, providing clearance for use of the particular hunting instrument. 
         [0045]    The disclosure has described certain preferred embodiments and modifications of those embodiments. Further modifications and alterations may occur to others upon reading and understanding the specification. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.