Abstract:
A protective case that resists fractures, punctures, deformations, and other failures for use with a wildlife surveillance system is provided. The protective case includes a cooperating base and cover. The base and cover define a cavity therebetween, which houses the wildlife surveillance system. The base and cover interlock with each other, providing multi-dimensional stability of the entire assemblage. In addition, the protective case is made from a material that can endure manipulations, handling, or attacks from various wildlife animals, including, e.g., bears and others.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to apparatus for scouting potential hunting areas and determining game patterns and, more particularly, structures for enclosing and protecting wildlife surveillance system. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Apparatus for scouting potential hunting areas and determining game patterns, particularly without disturbing animal activity, are generally well known in the art. Typically, the apparatus includes a film or digital camera and a passive infrared sensor (e.g., a motion/heat sensor) that is adapted to sense movement and, in response, activate the camera focused on the area in which the sensor detects movement. Oftentimes, these devices include a delay timer with multiple settings to match specific conditions or locations, thus eliminating multiple exposures or other non-desired events. Moreover, such apparatus preferably includes high/low sensitivity settings to allow adjustment of the camera&#39;s effective range in order to photograph or record game at any distance up to, for example, sixty (60) feet. 
         [0005]    In addition, such systems are typically mounted in an enclosure that is adapted to be strapped to, for example, a tree or other mounting substrate. However, the components of the surveillance apparatus must periodically be accessed to, e.g., check battery status, check digital storage media, change film, or otherwise. Accordingly, the enclosure is typically designed for ready entry to its interior. For example, a door may be included to provide access to its interior. Moreover, the enclosure typically includes openings or windows to accommodate, for example, a view path for the camera and sensor of the apparatus. Also, all the components are preferably sealed in the enclosure to protect the components from the environment. 
         [0006]    Typically, the protection from the elements and sealed configuration is facilitated by making the housing components from various polymeric materials. The polymeric components are connected to each other with intervening seals, thus providing the sealed assemblage. Such polymeric materials do not corrode and are desirably lightweight. 
         [0007]    To make its appearance inconspicuous, the enclosure is typically appropriately colored/contoured to camouflage the unit. Because the surveillance apparatus is oftentimes left out in the woods for extended periods of time, the camouflage not only hides the unit from unsuspecting game, it also helps to prevent theft of, or tampering with, the apparatus. Nevertheless, even if camouflaged, security is a concern. 
         [0008]    Most known units typically also include a latch and locking mechanism, thus making it difficult to break into the enclosure which houses the expensive surveillance apparatus, including the sensor, camera, and electronics. However, known systems do not always address the problem of theft of the entire apparatus from where it is mounted. Although the camouflage look of the enclosures in conjunction with the enclosure locking mechanisms is oftentimes sufficient to avoid theft of the units, such is not always the case. 
         [0009]    Regardless of the particular locking mechanism employed, occasionally, the enclosure can be subjected to forces that are so large in magnitude that the unit can be separated from its respective locking mechanism or mounting substrate by exceeding the material property limitations of the enclosure. In other words, due to the polymeric or lightweight metallic material of the enclosure, when subjected to relatively large forces, the enclosure itself can break, puncture, fracture, crush, deform, and/or otherwise fail, which often ruins the complex and expensive components of the wildlife surveillance system. 
         [0010]    Some end use environments expose wildlife surveillance systems to a higher likelihood of encountering relatively large forces. Such large forces can result from or be delivered by, e.g., storms or other extreme weather conditions. Moreover, various wildlife animals will, on occasion, meddle with the wildlife surveillance systems, subjecting them to large forces. 
         [0011]    For example, some wildlife animals, including the American black bear and others, can at times be rather inquisitive or curious about items it does not typically encounter in its habitat. Accordingly, upon discovering a wildlife surveillance system, an American black bear may investigate, examine, or otherwise explore, the device. Since the wildlife surveillance systems are typically mounted and secured, frequently locked, to a tree or other mounting substrate, the bear can become aggravated or frustrated if it tries to remove the system from the, e.g., tree. 
         [0012]    Correspondingly, an American black bear will, on occasion, resort to handling the wildlife surveillance system aggressively or forcefully. In light of the size and strength of American black bears, mature bears often being between 400-600 pounds or more, they are capable of exerting very large forces upon the surveillance system. Bear teeth and claws have relatively small surface area(s), enabling bears to transfer great loads and forces through rather localized applications. 
         [0013]    Accordingly, meddling bears can severely damage the polymeric or thin metallic enclosure of a wildlife surveillance system. Biting, scratching, striking, or attacking can break, puncture, fracture, crush, deform, and/or otherwise compromise the integrity of the enclosure. The forces delivered by bears are so large that failures of the enclosures tend to be catastrophic failures, whereby the enclosures and the remainder of the wildlife surveillance systems are rendered inoperable. 
         [0014]    Therefore, the art of wildlife surveillance systems was in need of a protective case that can encapsulate a surveillance system enclosure, ensuring security as well as protection for the system in its entirety. The protective case should be capable of enduring from large-scale localized and other applications of force, delivered by bears or otherwise, whereby the protective case absorbs the energy and the integrity of the wildlife surveillance system remains intact, during use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The preferred embodiments are directed toward a protective case for use with a wildlife surveillance system. The protective case resists fractures, punctures, deformations, and other failures to a greater extent than does the wildlife surveillance system itself, or its enclosure or housing. 
         [0016]    According to one aspect of the preferred embodiment, the protective case includes a base for attaching the enclosure to a mounting substrate and a cover removably attached to the base. A cavity is defined between the base and the cover and configured for housing the wildlife surveillance system. An interlocking connector is provided for slidingly engaging the base and the cover with each other. 
         [0017]    In another aspect of this embodiment, the interlocking connector includes corresponding pairs of slots and tabs. 
         [0018]    According to another aspect of this embodiment, the interlocking connector includes a tab having a downwardly extending leg portion. 
         [0019]    According to yet another aspect of this embodiment, multiple interlocking connectors are provided on opposing lateral portions of the protective case. 
         [0020]    In another aspect of this preferred embodiment, the protective case has a perimeter defining a perimeter length, and the protective case includes multiple interlocking connectors extending about a major portion of the perimeter length. 
         [0021]    According to another aspect of this embodiment, the cover has an upper wall that defines a recessed edge portion. 
         [0022]    According to another aspect of this embodiment, the base has an upper wall with an elongate lip protruding therefrom. 
         [0023]    In a further aspect of this embodiment, the base includes multiple sidewalls and at least one of the sidewalls has a slot configured to receive a portion of the wildlife surveillance system therein. 
         [0024]    In yet another aspect of this embodiment, the cover has a front wall with at least one opening permitting a non-obscured path between a portion of the wildlife surveillance system and the surrounding area. 
         [0025]    According to another preferred embodiment, a protective case for housing a wildlife surveillance system has a base and a cover. At least one of the base and cover is made from a material that differs from the material of the wildlife surveillance system, or its enclosure. In this embodiment, the base and/or cover material has a yield strength value greater than that of the wildlife surveillance system or its enclosure. The yield strength value of the base and/or cover material is sufficiently great in magnitude to reduce occurrences of failure when the protective case experiences localized forces that would cause failure of the surveillance system enclosure. 
         [0026]    According to another aspect of this preferred embodiment, the base and/or cover has a yield strength value of at least about 14 MPa. 
         [0027]    In a further aspect of this embodiment, at least one of the base and the cover is made of a material having a thickness dimension of at least about 14 gauge. 
         [0028]    In another aspect of this preferred embodiment, at least one of the base and the cover is made of a material having a thickness dimension of at least about 12 gauge. 
         [0029]    According to another aspect of this preferred embodiment, at least one of the base and the cover is made of a material having a thickness dimension of at least about 0.095 inch. 
         [0030]    In yet another aspect of the preferred embodiment, at least one of the base and the cover is made from a ferrous material. 
         [0031]    According to another aspect of this preferred embodiment, at least one of the base and the cover is made of steel. 
         [0032]    In another aspect of this preferred embodiment, at least one of the base and the cover is made of aluminum. 
         [0033]    According to yet another preferred embodiment, a protective case that includes a base, a cover, and a lock mechanism is provided for housing a wildlife surveillance system having user controls. In this embodiment, user controls of the surveillance system are inaccessible when the cover is secured to the base. 
         [0034]    According to another aspect of this preferred embodiment, the lock mechanism includes multiple interfacing shackle plates, wherein each shackle plate is configured to receive a padlock shackle therethrough. 
         [0035]    In another aspect of this preferred embodiment, a lateral plate is provided which reduces accessibility to a shackle extending through the shackle plates. 
         [0036]    According to another aspect of this preferred embodiment, the base includes a lower wall with a slot extending thereinto. Ideally, a portion of the lock mechanism projects into the lower wall slot. 
         [0037]    These and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0038]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a protective case for use with a wildlife surveillance system according to the present invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 2  is an exploded isometric view of the protective case of  FIG. 1 , along with a suitable wildlife surveillance system; 
           [0040]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the base shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0041]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the cover shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of the cover shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of the base shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 7  is a bottom plan view of the protective case shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0045]      FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of a variant of the protective case shown in  FIG. 1 , with an alternative configuration of the lock assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0046]    With initial reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a protective case  10  for a wildlife surveillance system  50  is shown. The protective case  10  includes a back segment or base  100  and a front segment or cover  200 , which, in combination, generally encapsulate the surveillance system  50  therein. A pair of lock guard assemblies  150 ,  250  associated with base  100  and cover  200 , respectively, mate so that corresponding openings of assemblies  150 ,  250  are able to receive a lock  300  (e.g., a padlock) when mounted to a tree and locked, a shackle  302  of lock  300  cannot readily be accessed, thus keeping the unit secure, as described further below. 
         [0047]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , surveillance system  50  can be any of a variety of known wildlife surveillance systems. Surveillance system  50  can include a variety of desired features including, e.g., a camera window  52 , a Fresnel lens  54 , a flash lens  56 , and various user controls  58 , all housed within an enclosure  60 . In some implementations, the enclosure  60  includes an elongate rib  70  that extends outwardly from a medial portion of the enclosure, about a major portion of the enclosure  60  perimeter. Accordingly, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the rib  70  can extend along lateral sidewalls and across an upper wall of the enclosure  60 . The enclosure  60  can further include one or more projections, extending from a lower part of rib  70 , toward the back of the surveillance system  50 . 
         [0048]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , base  100  defines a void space or pocket that houses at least a portion of surveillance system  50  therein. Base  100  includes a generally planar back panel  115 . Back panel  115  can include an access hole  116 , for permitting access to mounting hardware on the back of the surveillance system  50 , and one or more apertures  117  to facilitate mounting of base  100  to a suitable mounting substrate. Preferably, base  100 , and thus protective case  10 , is mounted to a tree or other wooden substrate by way of lag bolts or other suitable hardware extending through the apertures  117  of back panel  115 . 
         [0049]    Turning now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , lower wall  120  extends perpendicularly from a lower edge of the back panel  115 , toward the surveillance system  50 . In some embodiments, the lower wall  120  includes one or more elongate slots, such as slots  122 . Slots  122  extend parallel to each other, through the thickness dimension of lower wall  120 . As shown, they extend only partially across the width of lower wall  120 , whereby the slots  122  do not extend to and reach the back panel  115 . 
         [0050]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  6 , upper wall  125  extends parallel to and in the same direction as lower wall  120 . A projection or lip  126  extends from the edge of upper wall  125 , such that the upper wall extends outwardly beyond the remainder of base  100 . Lip  126  has a downwardly turned edge that partially defines an opening or channel  127  underneath the lip  126 . Channel  127  is sized, adapted, and configured to accept and hold rib  70  of the surveillance system  50 . 
         [0051]    Sidewalls  130  and  140  extend from opposing lateral edges of back panel  115 , toward surveillance system  50 . Each of sidewalls  130 ,  140  joins with upper wall  120  at a respective first end and each joins with lower wall  130  at a respective second end. The sidewalls  130  and  140  can also include apertures  170  through which lag bolts and/or other suitable mounting hardware extend. 
         [0052]    Flanges  132  and  142  are connected to the sidewalls  130  and  140 , respectively. They extend generally away from each other, yet are coplanar, and provide mounting structure that cooperates with corresponding mounting structure on the surveillance system  50  and/or cover  200 . 
         [0053]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 6 , flanges  132 ,  142  include opening  133  and  143 , near the lower wall  120 . The openings  133 ,  143  extend through parts of flanges  132 ,  142  and preferably also through parts of sidewalls  130 ,  140 . Openings  133 ,  143  are configured to receive the projections  80  of surveillance system  50 , whereby the projections  80  and openings  133 ,  143  cooperate to support the load of surveillance system  50  by way of the respective portions of flanges  133 ,  143  and sidewalls  130 ,  140 . 
         [0054]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , each of flanges  132  and  142  includes multiple elongate slots  134 ,  144  that interface with corresponding mounting structure on cover  200 , enabling the cover  200  to removably attach to the base  100 . The slots  134 ,  144  are adapted and configured to function as, e.g., components of an interlocking connector assembly, which is explained in greater detail hereinafter. Preferably, the slots  134 ,  144  are generally aligned with each other along the respective flange  132 ,  142 . 
         [0055]    Referring again to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  6 , part of a lock mechanism, e.g., lock guard assembly  150 , is attached to the lower wall  120 . Lock guard assembly  150  includes a front plate  152 , extending downwardly from a bottom surface of lower wall  120 , adjacent its outer edge. Lateral plate  154  and shackle plate  156  also extend from the bottom surface of lower wall  20 . The lateral plate  154  and shackle plate  156  are perpendicular to the front plate  152  and are connected to opposing sides thereof. In other words, as viewed from below and as seen in  FIG. 7 , the lock guard assembly  150  defines a generally U-shaped profile. 
         [0056]    Turning now to  FIG. 6 , an aperture  157  extends through shackle plate  156  and is sized, adapted, and configured to receive a shackle of a padlock therethrough. Preferably, lateral plate  154  is longer than shackle plate  156 . In this configuration, the lateral plate  154  substantially reduces access to a padlock shackle from the side, which makes cutting or otherwise defeating the padlock shackle relatively more difficult. 
         [0057]    Referring next to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4 , cover  200  defines a void space or pocket that houses the remainder of surveillance system  50  therein. Cover  200  includes a generally planar front panel  215  which has multiple openings  216 . Each of the openings  216  is shaped, sized, and configured to overlie and permit suitable operation of various components and features of the surveillance system  50 . In other words, the opening  216  is configured in a manner that corresponds to the characteristics of, e.g., camera window  52 , Fresnel lens  54 , and flash lens  56  of the surveillance system  50 . 
         [0058]    Turning now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a lower wall  220  extends perpendicularly from a lower edge of the front panel  215 , back toward the surveillance system  50 . At the top of cover  200 , referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an upper wall  225  extends parallel to and in the same direction as lower wall  220 . A depression  226  extends into the upper wall  225  and is adapted and configured to receive lip  126  of base  100  therein. 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  5 , a pair of sidewalls  230  and  240  extends from opposing lateral edges of front panel  215  toward surveillance system  50  ( FIG. 2 ). Each of sidewalls  230 ,  240 , spans the entire distance between upper wall  220  and lower wall  230 . 
         [0060]    With specific reference to  FIG. 5 , multiple tabs  244  project outwardly from the respective sidewalls  230 ,  240 , and function as components of the interlocking connector assembly between the base  100  and cover  200 . Each of the tabs  244  is dimensioned for receipt into a respective slot  144  of the base  100 . The tabs  244  have downwardly extending legs  245  that define ramped surfaces  246 . 
         [0061]    The void space between the ramped surfaces  246  and the respective edges of sidewalls  230 ,  240  appears angular from a side profile. Accordingly, the clearance between the leg  245  and the sidewall  230 ,  240  edge decreases nearer the interaction of leg  245  and the sidewall  230 ,  240 . In this configuration, when the tabs  244  are received by slots  144 , the void space between the ramped surfaces  246  and the respective sidewall  230 ,  240  edges captures the thickness of the base  100  flanges  130 ,  140  at the bottom of the slots  134 . Accordingly, tabs  244  serve as, e.g., load bearing hooks that suspend the cover  200  from the base  100  by catching the flanges  130 ,  140  through slots  144 . 
         [0062]    Referring again to  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  5 , lock guard assembly  250  is provided at the bottom of cover  200  and cooperates with lock guard assembly  150  which, in combination, define a lock mechanism that secures the cover  200  to the base  100 . The lock guard assembly  250  is attached to the lower wall  220  and includes a front plate  252 , a lateral plate  254 , and a shackle plate  256 . Front plate  252  extends downwardly from a bottom surface of lower wall  220 , adjacent its outer edge. Lateral plate  254  and shackle plate  256  connect to and extend from outer edges of the front plate  252 . Thus, like the lock guard assembly  150 , assembly  250  defines a generally U-shaped profile, when viewed from below and as seen in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0063]    Turning now to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , an aperture  257  extends through shackle plate  256  and is sized, adapted, and configured to receive a shackle of a padlock therethrough. Here too, like the corresponding components of lock guard assembly  150 , preferably, the lateral plate  254  is longer than shackle plate  256 . This substantially reduces access to a padlock shackle, from the side, which makes cutting or otherwise defeating the padlock shackle relatively more difficult. 
         [0064]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 ,  5 , and  7 , preferably lateral plate  254  and shackle plate  256  extend outwardly beyond tabs  244 , but in any event are received into slots  122  in the base  100  lower wall  120 . Accordingly, in the complete assemblage of the protective case  10 , parts of lock guard assembly  250  are received by slots  122  such that the front plates  252  and  152  lie adjacent and coplanar with each other. In such configuration, the first and second lock guard assemblies  150 ,  250  are substantially mirror images of each other, reflected about the shackle plates  156 ,  256 . 
         [0065]    Turning again to  FIGS. 1 and 7 , lock guard assemblies  150 ,  250  together define a lock assembly that thwarts access to a padlock shackle, when a padlock is secured through the shackle plates  156 ,  256 . Furthermore, since protective case  10  is attached to a mounting substrate, accessing a padlock shackle from behind the protective case  10  is burdensome or onerous as well. 
         [0066]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , in some implementations, the front plates  152 ,  252  and lateral plates  154 ,  254  are not provided. As desired, the shackle plates  156 ,  256  can project downwardly from lower walls  120 ,  220 , respectively, parallel to the back and front walls  115 ,  215  of the base  100  and cover  200 . 
         [0067]    Notably, the protective case is preferably made of a metallic material and has only two distinct components, the base  100  and cover  200 . Accordingly, each of the base  100  and cover  200  can be made from a single blank of metallic sheet material. The blank(s) is then pressed, stamped, sheared, braked, forged, and/or otherwise formed to arrive at the base  100  and cover  200  configurations. 
         [0068]    The base  100  and cover  200  are preferably made from a ferrous material such as mild steel, but can be made from any of a variety of suitable metallic materials, e.g., aluminum, steel, stainless steel, titanium, magnesium, and their respective alloys. The thickness dimensions and other characteristics of the various components are selected based on the particular material(s) from which the base  100  and cover  200  are made, and the corresponding material properties and characteristics. In any event, the material utilized enables the assembled protective case  10  to exhibit the desired strength and durability, e.g., to endure and withstand large applications of localized force, commensurate to forces the protective case  10  could endure during a bear attack. For example, protective case  10  can be made from sheet steel that is about 14 gauge, optionally about 12 gauge, optionally about 0.05 inch or thicker preferably greater than about 0.095 inch, optionally other thicknesses as desired based on the specific properties of the particular material. For example, materials having relatively greater yield strength values can provide the desired use characteristics at relatively thinner dimensions, whilst materials having relatively lesser yield strength values require relatively thicker dimensions to provide the same desired use characteristics. In any event, the protective case  10  is preferably made from material(s) having greater yield strength than the enclosure  60  of surveillance system  50 , such that the protective case  10  can survive a bear attack with little, if any, fracture type failures, or other failures which could result in damaging the surveillance system  5 . The yield strength of protective case  10  can be at least about 14 MPa, at least about 16 MPa, at least about 20 MPa, and/or other values as desired. 
         [0069]    In light of the above and referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4 , to use the protective case  10 , the user first selects the desired location for observing or monitoring wildlife. Base  100  is secured to a tree or other suitable mounting substrate, for example, by way of lag bolts or other suitable hardware extending through apertures  117 . The surveillance system  50  is installed in the base  100  by first sliding rib  70  into channel  127 , then inserting projections  80  into openings  133 ,  143 . 
         [0070]    Still referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 , cover  200  is then mounted to base  100 , over surveillance system  50 . Tabs  244  are aligned with slots  144 , and inserted thereinto. Simultaneously, lateral plate  254  and shackle plate  256  of lock guard assembly  250  are aligned with respective ones of slots  122  in the lower wall  120  of base  100 . When the tabs  244 , lateral plate  254 , and shackle plate  256  are fully inserted into slots  144  and  122 , respectively, the cover  200  is urged downwardly. Doing so forces the ramped surfaces  246  of tabs  244  against the lateral flanges  132 ,  142  of the base  100 , whereby the tabs  144  hook onto the base and the cover  200  is secured thereto. Then, as desired, the shackle of a padlock is inserted through the apertures  157 ,  257  of the shackle plates  156 ,  256 , and the padlock is secured with limited access thereto other than to the portion of the lock that allows a user to unlock the lock. 
         [0071]    As this point, when the cover  200  is attached to base  100 , it is apparent that the protective case  10  has significant multi-dimensional stability and rigidity between the cover  200  and base  100 . Such multi-dimensional stability results from, e.g., the various interlocking components and mechanical interfacing relationships of (i) tabs  244  and slots  144 , (ii) lip  126  and depression  226 , (iii) shackle plates  156  and  256 , (iv) lateral and shackle plates  254 ,  256  and slots  122 , (v) a padlock shackle and shackle plates  156  and  256 , and/or (vi) other interacting components of the protective case  10 . 
         [0072]    Although the best mode contemplated by the inventors of carrying out the present invention is disclosed above, practice of the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the lock mechanism of the case can be any suitable locking arrangement that provides security similar to the interlocking shackle arrangement described herein. Moreover, though the lock mechanism is described as being integral to the protective case, lock mechanisms adapted to be coupled to the protective case are also contemplated. It will be manifest that various additions, modifications and rearrangements of the features of the present invention may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept.