Abstract:
A hunting blind includes a housing unit having a flexible sheet of camouflage material stored therein on a shaft that is rotatably mounted on the housing unit. The shaft can be locked against rotation or permitted to rotate as desired to permit deployment of the camouflage material. Straps are attached to the housing unit. The straps are connectable to supports, such as trees or the like.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the general art of hunting, and to the particular field of hunting blinds. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     Many hunters use blinds. Most presently available hunting blinds are difficult and time-consuming to set up and/or to dismantle. For this reason, some hunters may set up a hunting blind and then leave it. This may be inconvenient, restrictive, expensive and wasteful. 
     While the art contains several examples of portable hunting blinds, these blinds have several drawbacks. For example, the portable hunting blinds that are presently available may not be easy and quick to set up and dismantle. Furthermore, these presently available hunting blinds may not be amenable to use in a wide variety of environmental or terrain conditions and thus may not be as versatile as desired. Some hunting blinds simply cannot be set up on some terrain. 
     Because presently available hunting blinds are not as versatile as desired, their appeal is limited to a small segment of the purchasing public. 
     Therefore, there is need for a hunting blind that is versatile. 
     Also, some presently available hunting blinds are not easy to transport because they are bulky, or because they are heavy, or both. Again, this limits the segment of the purchasing public that is interested in prior art hunting blind. 
     Therefore, there is need for a hunting blind that is easy to transport. 
     Emergency situations often arise out of doors. For example, inclement weather may suddenly arise. Such weather ranges from simple showers to torrential downpours. It is almost always desirable to have shelter in such conditions. However, if a shelter is difficult to set up, a person may be tempted to simply ride out the storm rather than go to the trouble of erecting a shelter. This is especially true if the problem occurs while the person is in difficult terrain. 
     Therefore, there is need for a hunting blind that is easy to erect in an emergency situation. 
     PRINCIPAL OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a main object of the present invention to provide a hunting blind that is versatile. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a hunting blind that is easy to transport. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a hunting blind that is easy to erect in an emergency situation. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a hunting blind that is easy and quick to erect and dismantle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     These, and other, objects are achieved by a portable hunting blind that comprises a housing unit; a shaft rotatably mounted in the housing unit; flexible camouflage material connected to the shaft to be wound around the shaft when the shaft rotates in a winding direction and to be unwound from the shaft when the shaft is rotated in an unwinding direction; a lock on the shaft to prevent rotation of the shaft when the lock is engaged, the shaft being movably mounted on the housing unit to move between a locked position with the lock engaged to prevent rotation of the shaft and an unlocked position with the lock disengaged to permit rotation of the shaft in either the winding direction or the unwinding direction; mounting elements on the housing unit which are attachable to a first support; and mounting elements on the flexible camouflage material that are attachable to a second support. 
     The hunting blind embodying the present invention can be erected anywhere there are two spaced-apart supports, such as two trees, or one tree and a fence post, or two fence posts or the like. The hunting blind is easily erected by simply attaching straps to one support, releasing the blind, stretching the blind to an adjacent support, attaching the blind to the adjacent support, tightening the blind, and locking it. The blind is easily dismantled by reversing the just-described process. The blind is contained in a housing that is easy to pack and transport. Thus the blind embodying the present invention is very easy to transport, erect, and dismantle and can be used anywhere. The blind is thus very versatile and can be used by a wide variety of people. The blind can be quickly set up in an emergency situation as well. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hunting blind embodying the present invention in a partially deployed condition. 
     FIG. 2 shows a portion of the hunting blind of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an elvational view of the hunting blind of the present invention in a stored condition with straps deployed for illustration purposes. 
     FIG. 4 shows the hunting blind embodying the present invention in a set up configuration between two adjacent supports. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the hunting blind embodying the present invention in a set up configuration as an emergency cover. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to the Figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a portable hunting blind  10  which is very versatile and portable. Hunting blind  10  comprises a housing unit  12 . Housing unit  12  includes a cylindrical wall  14  having a first end  16 , a second end  18 , and a longitudinal axis  20  which extends between the first end  16  of the wall  14  and the second end  18  of the wall  14 . Wall  14  includes an outer surface  22  and an inner surface  24 . An elongate opening  26  is defined through the wall  14  and extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis  20  of the wall  14 . 
     A first retaining cap  30  is mounted on the cylindrical wall  14  near the first end  16  of the wall  14 . First retaining cap  30  includes an inner surface  32  located adjacent to the inner surface  24  of the wall  14  and an outer surface  34 . The first retaining cap  30  further includes a shaft-accommodating hole  36  defined therethrough and a cylindrical shaft-accommodating collar  38  is mounted thereon on the outer surface  34  of the first retaining cap  30 . Shaft-accommodating collar  38  includes a first end  40  mounted on the outer surface  34  of the first retaining cap  30  and a second end  42  spaced apart from the first end  40  of shaft-accommodating collar  38  in the direction of the longitudinal axis  20  of the wall  14  of the housing unit  12 . A longitudinal axis  44  extends between the first end  40  of shaft-accommodating collar  38  and the second end  42  of shaft-accommodating collar  38 . Longitudinal axis  44  is co-linear with longitudinal axis  20  of the wall  14  of the housing unit  12 . A rim  48  is located on the first end  40  of shaft-accommodating collar  38 , and a notch  50  is defined in the rim  48  of shaft-accommodating collar  38 . The notch  50  extends from rim  48  toward the second end  42  of shaft-accommodating collar  38 . 
     A second retaining cap  60  is mounted on the cylindrical wall  14  near the second end  18  of the wall  14 . Second retaining cap  60  includes an inner surface  62  located adjacent to the inner surface  24  of the wall  14  and an outer surface  64 . Second retaining cap  60  further includes a shaft-accommodating hole  66  defined therethrough and a cylindrical shaft-accommodating collar  70  is mounted on the outer surface  64  of the second retaining cap  60 . Shaft-accommodating collar  70  includes a first end  72  mounted on the outer surface  64  of the second retaining cap  60 , a second end  74  spaced apart from the first end  72  of shaft-accommodating collar  70  in the direction of the longitudinal axis  20  of the wall  14  of the housing unit  12 . A longitudinal axis  76  extends between the first end  72  of shaft-accommodating collar  70  and the second end  74  of shaft-accommodating collar  70 . Longitudinal axis  76  of shaft accommodating collar  70  is co-linear with the longitudinal axis  20  of the wall  14  of the housing unit  12 . A rim  78  is located on the first end  72  of shaft-accommodating collar  70 . 
     A shaft  80  extends through shaft-accommodating collar  38  and along the longitudinal axis  20  of the housing unit  12  and through shaft-accommodating collar  70 . Shaft  80  has a first end  82  located adjacent to the rim  48  of shaft-accommodating collar  38  and a second end  84  located adjacent to the second end  74  of shaft-accommodating collar  70 . A longitudinal axis  86  of the shaft  80  extends between the first end  82  of the shaft  80  and the second end  84  of the shaft  80 . The longitudinal axis  86  of the shaft  80  is co-linear with the longitudinal axis  20  of the cylindrical wall  14  of the housing unit  12 . Shaft  80  is rotatably mounted on the housing unit  12  by the first and second shaft-accommodating collars  38 ,  70  to rotate in directions  80   a  and  80   b  about the longitudinal axis  86  of the shaft  80 . Shaft  80  is also movably mounted on the housing unit  12  to move in the direction of the longitudinal axis  86  of the shaft  80  in directions  80   c  and  80   d  between a locked position shown in solid lines in FIG.  3  and an unlocked position indicated in dotted lines designated by the numeral  88  in FIG.  3 . 
     A locking pin  90  is mounted on the shaft  80 . The locking pin  90  is located on the shaft  80  near notch  50  defined in shaft-accommodating collar  38 . The locking pin  90  is located in the notch  50  when the shaft  80  is in the locked position and the locking pin  90  is spaced apart from the notch  50  when the shaft  80  is in the unlocked position. 
     A retaining pin  92  is fixed on the shaft  80 . The retaining pin  92  is located inside the housing unit  12  near the first retaining cap  30 . 
     A spring abutment flange  94  is mounted on the shaft  80  and abuts the retaining pin  92 . 
     A compression spring  96  surrounds the shaft  80 . The compression spring  96  has a first end  98  which abuts the spring abutment flange  94  and a second end  100  which abuts the inner surface  22  of the first retaining cap  30 . Compression spring  96  biases the shaft  80  away from the first end  16  of the cylindrical wall  14  of the housing unit  12  toward the second end  18  of the cylindrical wall  14  of the housing unit  12  to bias the shaft  80  toward the locked position of the shaft  80  and away from the unlocked position of the shaft  80 . 
     A handle  102  is fixedly mounted on the second end  84  of the shaft  80  and is used to rotate the shaft  80  as will be understood from the teaching of the present disclosure. 
     A shaft-unlocking unit  110  is mounted on the housing unit  12 . Shaft-unlocking unit  110  includes two pivot pins, such as pivot pin  112 , fixed to the cylindrical wall  14  adjacent to the second end  18  of the cylindrical wall  14 . Unit  110  further includes a U-shaped handle  116  which has a first leg  118  pivotally connected to one pivot pin at a proximal end  119  of the first leg  118  and a second leg  120  pivotally connected to a second pivot pin of the two pivot pins at a proximal end (not shown, but identical to proximal end  119 ) of the second leg  120 . A bight section  122  has a first end  124  connected to a distal end  126  of the first leg  118  and a second end  128  connected to a distal end  130  of the second leg  120 . The handle  116  is movable between a shaft-locking position in which the bight section  122  of the handle  116  is spaced apart from the longitudinal axis  20  of the housing unit  12  with the bight section  122  of the handle  116  being spaced apart from the second end  84  of the shaft  80  and a shaft-unlocking position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 in which the bight section  122  of the handle  116  intersects the longitudinal axis  20  of the housing unit  12  and the longitudinal axis  86  of the shaft  80  with the second end  84  of the shaft  80  in abutting contact with the bight section  122  of the handle  116  when the handle  116  is in the shaft-unlocking position. The shaft  80  is held in the unlocked position against the bias of the compression spring  96  with the locking pin  90  being spaced apart from the notch  50  in the rim  48  of shaft-accommodating collar  38  by the abutting contact between the second end  84  of the shaft  80  and the bight section  122  of the handle  116  when the handle  116  is in the shaft-unlocking position. The shaft  80  moves into the locked position with the locking pin  90  in the notch  50  on in the rim  48  of shaft-accommodating collar  38  under the influence of the bias of the compression spring  96  when the bight section  122  of the handle  116  is moved away from abutting contact with the second end  84  of the shaft  80  when the handle  116  is moved from the shaft-unlocking position into the shaft-locking position. 
     A flexible camouflage blind element  140  has a first end  142  fixed to the shaft  80  and a second end  144 . The blind element  140  is adapted to be wound around the shaft  80  when the shaft  80  is rotated in a first direction and to be unwound from the shaft  80  when the shaft  80  is rotated in a second direction. The blind element  140  has surface indicia  146  thereon. The blind element  140  extends from inside the housing unit  12  to outside the housing unit  12  through the elongate opening  26  defined through the cylindrical wall  14  of the housing unit  12 . 
     In one form of the portable hunting blind  10 , the blind element  140  is mesh, and in another form, the blind element  140  is water-impervious material, such as plastic. The second form of the blind element  140  is used to protect a user from rain or the like as will be understood from the teaching of the following disclosure. 
     A plurality of first mounting straps, such as strap  150 , are fixed to the second end  144  of the blind element  140 . Each first mounting strap  150  includes a body  152 , a first strap end  154  fixed to the second end  144  of the blind element  140 , a second strap end  156  spaced apart from the first strap end  154 , and a snap fastener  158  which releasably couples the second strap end  156  to the body  152  of the first mounting strap  150 . 
     A plurality of D-rings, such as D-ring  160 , are mounted on the outer surface  22  of the cylindrical wall  14  of the housing unit  12 . 
     A plurality of second mounting straps, such as strap  170 , are mounted on the D-rings  160 . Each second mounting strap  170  includes a body  172 , a first strap end  174 , a second strap end  176 , and a snap fastener  178 . 
     As can be understood from the teaching of the present disclosure, portable hunting blind  10  is carried to a selected location with the blind element  140  stored inside the housing unit  12 . As indicated in FIG. 4, once a suitable location is selected, mounting straps  170  are attached to a first structure, such as a tree T. The handle of unit  110  is operated to unlock shaft  80  and the blind element  140  is pulled out of the housing unit  12 . The blind element  140  is stretched across gap G between tree T and second tree T 2 . Mounting straps  150  are then attached to second support, such as tree T 2 . Handle  102  is then rotated to tighten the blind element  140  between the trees, and the handle of unit  110  is returned to a shaft-locking position to lock shaft  80  against rotation. The blind  10  is disassembled by reversing the just-described process. It is noted that while two adjacent supports have been mentioned, those skilled in the art will understand that the supports need not be adjacent to each other. For example, the blind element  140  can be wrapped around an element that is located between the two supports that are being used for the system or can cover elements located between the two supports or the like. 
     A second form of the portable hunting blind is indicated as blind  10 ′ in FIG.  5 . Blind  10 ′ is mounted on a support, such as a tree T 3 , adjacent a tree-mounted stand S. Blind  10 ′ includes water-impervious material  200  on or in place of blind element  140 . The housing  12  is mounted on tree T 3  using straps  170  and blind element  200  is stretched from the housing unit  12  after moving the handle of unit  110  in the manner described above for blind  10  to unlock the shaft  80  of blind  10 ′. Once the blind element  200  has extended over stand S, the blind element  200  is attached to stand S using straps  150  as hereinbefore described with regard to blind  10  to attach the blind element  140  to an element E of the stand or to a separate element that, itself, is mounted on the stand as is suitable. The handle of unit  10 ′ can then be operated to apply the appropriate amount of tension to blind element  200 , and then handle of unit  110  of blind  10 ′ moved back into the shaft-locking position. An emergency shelter is thus easily and quickly formed. As will be understood from the teaching of the foregoing disclosure, the portable hunting blind  10  of the present invention can be easily and quickly assembled in nearly any location and is easily portable and stored. 
     It is understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.