Abstract:
A target tote provides a mobile platform which supports a life-size, three-dimensional decoy. A longitudinal tubular member supports one or more adjustable supports which are positionable on the longitudinal tubular member to accommodate decoys of different sizes. The target tote invention may also include a carcass carrier attached to the longitudinal tubular member, a T-shaped towing handle, and a yoke for attaching the longitudinal tubular member to the towing handle or to an all terrain vehicle. The T-shaped towing handle is stored within the longitudinal tubular member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates to a mobile platform for life-size, three-dimensional archery targets and hunting decoys, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a mobile platform which is towed behind an all terrain vehicle or pulled by a handle. As used herein, the term decoys will refer both to life-size, three-dimensional decoys and also to life-size, three-dimensional targets. The term target tote, as used herein, refers to a mobile platform for transporting either targets or decoys.  
         [0003]     2. Discussion  
         [0004]     Life-size targets and decoys are popular with hunters of deer, elk, and moose. Because the decoys are life-size, they are bulky to transport to a desired hunting destination. At the destination, the decoys must be secured while the hunter assumes a strategic position. Typically, the decoy mounted on two stakes which must be driven into the ground.  
         [0005]     Not all ground is suitable for location of the decoys. The presence of rock often prevents the use of stakes. Mud and sand are not sufficiently firm to provide an anchor to secure the decoys.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Applicant&#39;s target tote invention provides a mobile platform which supports one or more life-size, three-dimensional decoys. A longitudinal member supports one or more risers (also referred to herein as adjustable supports) on which the decoy is mounted. The risers are positionable on the longitudinal tubular member to accommodate decoys of different sizes. The target tote invention may also include a carcass carrier attached to the longitudinal tubular member and a stowable T-shaped handle.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of a life-size, three dimensional decoy mounted on a target tote according to the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a front plan view of applicant&#39;s target tote invention shown in  FIG. 1  wherein the wheels are mounted on separate axles.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a portion of applicant&#39;s invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of a life-size, three dimensional decoy mounted on another target tote according to the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a view of the target tote according to the present invention with a carcass carrier attached thereto.  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a detailed view of applicant&#39;s invention, partially cut away, showing the connection of applicant&#39;s invention to an all terrain vehicle.  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of applicant&#39;s invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is a front view of applicant&#39;s target tote invention wherein the wheels are mounted on a single axle and the transverse member containing the axle is attached to a collar which slides onto the longitudinal tubular member.  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  illustrates storage of a T-shaped towing handle in the longitudinal tubular member.  
         [0016]      FIG. 10  shows how the T-shape towing handle shown in  FIG. 9  is secured within the longitudinal tubular member  12  for storage.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     In the following description of the invention, like numerals and characters designate like elements throughout the figures of the drawings.  
         [0018]     Referring now to the drawings generally and to  FIGS. 1 and 2  in particular, a target tote  10  in accordance with the present invention supports a three-dimensional decoy D. A longitudinal tubular member  12  has a front end portion  14 , an intermediate portion  16 , and a rear end portion  18 . A transverse tubular member  20  is attached to the longitudinal tubular member  12  generally aft of the middle portion  16  and encloses an axle  22 . Wheels  24  are attached to the axle  22  enclosed within the transverse tubular member  20 . Two adjustable supports  26  support the decoy D. Each adjustable support  26  has a collar  28  and a vertical member  30  extending upwardly from the collar  28 . The collars  28  slide on the longitudinal tubular member  12  along arrow A to accommodate the dimensions of the decoy D. The collars  28  are just larger than the longitudinal tubular member  12  (see  FIGS. 2 and 7 ). The vertical members  30  are received by in the cavities C of the decoy D and the decoy D is supported by the adjustable supports  26 . The collars  28  are secured in place on the longitudinal tubular member  12  by thumb screws  32 .  
         [0019]     Still referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a front rest  34  positioned near the front end portion  14  of the longitudinal tubular member  12  keeps the longitudinal tubular member  12  in a generally horizontal alignment. The front rest  34  includes a collar  36  and a downwardly extending toe member  38 . The collar  36  slides on the longitudinal member  12  along arrow A and is secured in place by a thumb screw  32 .  
         [0020]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , a T-shaped handle  40  is used to pull the target tote  10  short distances. The T-shaped handle  40  has a transverse bar  42  attached to an upper end portion  44  of a handle member  46 . The handle member  46  has a lower end portion  48  containing a transverse bore  50 . The lower end portion  48  of the handle member  46  is received by a yoke  52  at the front end portion  14  of the longitudinal tubular member  12 . A mating transverse bore  54  in the yoke  52  mates with the transverse bore  50  in the lower end portion  48  of the handle member  46 . A pin  56  extends through the transverse bore  50  and the mating transverse bore  54  and is held in place by a key  58  (see  FIGS. 3 and 6 ). The upper end portion  44  and the transverse bar  42  move along arrow B as the T-shaped handle  40  pivots on the pin  56  within the yoke  52 . A transverse bore  60  near the upper end portion  44  of the handle member  46  is used to secure the T-shaped towing handle  40  within the longitudinal tubular member  12  for storage (see  FIGS. 9 and 10 ).  
         [0021]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , another target tote  70  according to the present invention includes a single adjustable support  74 . The adjustable support  74  includes a collar  28  which slides on the longitudinal support member  12  and is secured in place by a thumb screw  32 . The single adjustable support  74  includes an elongated upwardly extending vertical member  76  having a top portion  78 . The top portion  78  of the elongated upwardly extending vertical member  76  is received in a cavity C′ of the decoy D. The transverse bore  60  near the upper end portion  44  of the handle member  46  is used to secure the T-shaped towing handle  40  within the longitudinal tubular member  12  for storage (see  FIGS. 9 and 10 ).  
         [0022]     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a carcass carrier  100  includes a base member  102  which is attached to a collar  104 . The collar  104  slides on the longitudinal tubular member  12  and is secured by a thumb screw  32 . Swingout wing members  106  attached to ends of the base member  102  by hinges  108  swing along arrow C from a folded position for transporting the decoy D on applicant&#39;s target tote invention to a deployed position for supporting a carcass.  
         [0023]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the yoke  52  located at the front end portion  14  of the longitudinal tubular member  12  is attached to an all terrain vehicle hitch member H.  
         [0024]     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a detail of the adjustable support  26  illustrates the mounting of the collar  28  on the longitudinal tubular member  12 . The collar  28  is secured to the longitudinal tubular member  12  by the thumb screw  32 . The vertical member  30  extends upwardly from the collar  28 .  
         [0025]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6 , the transverse tubular member  20  is welded to the longitudinal tubular member  12 . Likewise, the base member  102  is welded to the longitudinal tubular member  12 . It will be understood by one skilled in the art that the transverse tubular member  20  and the base member  102  could be bolted to the longitudinal tubular member  12 .  
         [0026]     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , the wheels  24  are attached to a solid axle  23  disposed within the transverse tubular member  20 . The collar  28 , which is shown as welded to the transverse tubular member  20 , slides onto the longitudinal tubular member  12  and is secured in place by a bolt  80 . The bolt  80  is disposed through holes  86  in the collar  28  and holes  88  in the longitudinal tubular member  12 . A washer  82  and a nut  84  are used to attach the welded collar-transverse tubular member assembly to the longitudinal tubular member  12 .  
         [0027]     Referring now to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the handle member  46  of the T-shaped towing handle  40  slides into the longitudinal tubular member  12  and is secured in place by the pin  56 . The pin  56  extend through the transverse bores  54  in the yoke  52  and the transverse bore  60  near the upper end portion  44  of the handle member  46 . The key  58  holds the pin  56  in place.  
         [0028]     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.