Abstract:
A ground hunter&#39;s portable footrest and/or shooting harness comprising a pair of adjustable harness members which are tethered together so that the harness members may be slipped beneath the hunter&#39;s feet and over the hunter&#39;s knee/thigh area. The harness members are length-adjustable to accommodate an individual&#39;s requirements. The invention not only serves a portable footrest to reduce knee, leg and foot fatigue but also provides a stable shooting platform.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates a footrest and shooting harness and more particularly to a portable footrest and shooting harness for a ground hunter. Even more particularly, this invention relates to a ground hunter&#39;s portable footrest and shooting harness which is light-weight, durable, easy to pack and easy to use. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A ground hunter is a hunter who sits on the ground, usually with the hunter&#39;s back against a tree, in a semi-shooting position. It is necessary for the hunter to sit on the ground for long periods of time in one position. Sitting on the ground for long periods of time causes discomfort to the knees, legs and feet and makes for a poor shooting position. To the best of Applicant&#39;s knowledge, the prior art is devoid of any portable footrest and shooting harness which may be used for a ground hunter which not only enables the hunter to sit comfortably in one position for long periods of time but which also provides a very solid shooting platform. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The portable footrest and shooting harness for a ground hunter who is in a sitting position is disclosed. The harness includes a first elongated, flexible strap member having first and second ends and inner and outer surfaces. A first slide member is secured to the first end of the first strap member. A first strip of loop fasteners (Velcro™) is secured to the outer surface of the first strap member so that its second end is spaced from the second end of the first strap member. A second strip of hook fasteners (Velcro™) is secured to the outer surface of the first strap member between the second end of the first strip of loop fasteners and the second end of the first strap member. The second end of the first strap member slidably extends through the first slide member so that the second strip of loop fasteners may be adjustably secured to the first strip of loop fasteners thereby creating a first closed harness member, having upper and lower portions and inner and outer portions. 
         [0004]    The footrest and shooting harness also includes a second elongated flexible strap member having first and second ends and inner and outer surfaces. A second slide member is secured to the first end of the second strap member. A third strip of loop fasteners is secured through the outer surface of the second strap member so that its second end is spaced from the second end of the second strap member. A fourth strip of hook fasteners is secured to the outer surface of the second strap member between the second end of the third strip of loop fasteners and the second end of the second strap member. The second end of the second strap member slidably extends through the second slide member so that the fourth strip of loop fasteners may be adjustably secured to the third strip of loop fasteners thereby creating a second closed harness member having upper and lower portions and inner and outer portions. Preferably, the inner surfaces of the upper portions of the first and second harness members have a rubberized, non-slip pad secured thereto. 
         [0005]    The inner portions of the first and second harness members are joined together between the upper and lower portions thereof to provide a tethered connection area therebetween. The upper portion of the first harness member is adapted to be positioned over the right knee/thigh of the sitting hunter with the lower portion of the first harness being adapted to extend around the bottom of the right foot of the sitting hunter. The upper portion of the second harness member is adapted to be positioned over the left knee/thigh of the sitting hunter with the lower portion of the second harness member being adapted to extend around the bottom of the left foot of the sitting hunter. 
         [0006]    Not only does the harness of this invention significantly reduce knee, leg and foot fatigue but also provides a very solid shooting platform since the tethered connection between the first and second harness members limits the outward movement of the knees of the hunter with respect to one another so that the hunter may place his or her arms or elbows on his/her knees, thereby providing the solid shooting platform. 
         [0007]    Although the portable footrest and shooting harness of this invention is ideally suited for use by a ground hunter, the invention is also useful for anyone who spends a considerable amount of time sitting on the ground such as a photographer, bird watcher, etc. The invention may also have application in the hospital/nursing home setting. 
         [0008]    It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a unique ground hunter&#39;s portable footrest and or shooting harness. 
         [0009]    A further object of the invention is to provide a ground hunter&#39;s footrest and/or shooting harness which is light-weight, durable, easy to pack and easy to use. 
         [0010]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a ground hunter&#39;s portable footrest and/or shooting harness which reduces knee, leg and foot fatigue, thereby enabling the hunter to sit comfortably still in one position for long periods of time and which also provides a very solid shooting platform. 
         [0011]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a ground hunter&#39;s portable footrest and/or shooting harness which is easily adjustable. 
         [0012]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a ground hunter&#39;s portable footrest and/or shooting harness which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance. 
         [0013]    These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     
    
     
       A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a ground hunter utilizing the portable footrest and/or shooting harness of this invention: 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a ground hunter utilizing the harness of this invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the portable footrest and/or shooting harness of this invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0017]    The numeral  10  refers to the ground hunter&#39;s portable footrest and/or shooting harness of this invention which will be referred to hereinafter simply as harness  10 . The harness  10  is designed to be used by a ground hunter  12  who is in the sitting position on the ground as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . This invention is also useful for anyone who spends considerable time sitting such as photographers, bird watchers, etc. There may also be an application for the invention in a hospital or nursing home setting. 
         [0018]    For purposes of description, the hunter will be described as including a right foot  14  and a right knee/thigh area  16 . The numeral  18  refers to the left foot of the hunter while the numeral  20  refers to the left knee/thigh area  20 . 
         [0019]    Harness  10  is comprised of adjustable closed harness members  22  and  24  which are joined together as seen in the drawings. Harness member  22  is comprised of an elongated flexible strap member  26  constructed from various materials such as nylon, cotton, polypropylene, etc. with varying widths and lengths. For purposes of description, strap member  26  will be described as having a first end  28 , a second end  30 , and inner surface  32  and an outer surface  34 . A first slide member  36  is secured to the first end  28  of the strap member  26 . A first strip of loop fasteners, having a first end  40  and a second end  42 , is secured to the outer surface  34  of the strap member  26  so that its second end  42  is spaced from the second end  30  of the strap member  26 . 
         [0020]    The numeral  44  refers to a second strip of hook fasteners having a first end  46  and a second  48 . The strip  44  is secured to the outer surface  34  of the strap member  26  between the second end  30  of the first strip of loop fasteners  38  and the second end  30  of the strap member  26 . As seen, the second end  30  of the strap member  26  slidably extends through the slide member  36  so that the second strip of hook fasteners  44  may be adjustably secured to the first strip of loop fasteners  38 , thereby creating a first closed harness member  22  having an upper portion  52 , lower portion  54 , inner portion  56  and outer portion  58 . 
         [0021]    Harness member  24  is comprised of an elongated strap member  60  comprised of nylon, cotton, polypropylene, etc. with a varying width and length. Strap member  60  includes a first end  62 , a second end  64 , an inner surface  66  and an outer surface  68 . The numeral  70  refers to a second slide member which is secured to the first end  62  of strap member  60 . A third strip of loop fasteners  72 , having a first end  74  and a second  76 , is secured to the outer surface  68  of the strap member  60  so that its second end  76  is spaced from the second end  64  of the strap member  60 . A fourth strip of hook fasteners  78 , having a first end  80  and a second end  82 , is secured to the outer surface  68  of the strap member  60  between the second end  76  of the third strip of loop fasteners  72  and the second end  64  of the strap member  60 . 
         [0022]    The second end  64  of the strap member  60  slidably extends through the slide member  70  so that the fourth strip of hook fasteners  78  may be adjustably secured to the third strip of loop fasteners  72  thereby creating the second closed harness member  24  having an upper portion  84 , a lower portion  86 , and inner portion  88  and an outer portion  90 . 
         [0023]    Preferably, a rubberized non-slip pad  92  is secured to the inner surface  32  of strap member  26  at the upper portion  52  thereof as seen in  FIG. 3  and a rubberized non-slip pad  94  is secured to the inner surface  66  of strap member  60  at the upper portion  84  thereof as seen in  FIG. 4 . Preferably the pads  92  and  94  have a length of approximately 14″ and will have the same width as the strap members  26  and  60 . Preferably, each of the strap members  26  and  60  has a length of approximately 75″ and a width of approximately 2″. The strap members may have varying widths and lengths. 
         [0024]    The inner portions  56  and  58  of harness members  22  and  24  are joined together by stitching  95  or the like for approximately 8″ to provide a “central tether” area  96 . 
         [0025]    Although the ends of the strap members  26  are joined together by hook and loop fasteners as described, they may be joined together by other adjustable means such as a cam buckle, strap adjuster and the same is true with respect strap member  60 . The orientation of the loop fasteners and hook fasteners may also be reversed if so desired. 
         [0026]    The adjustable features of the harness members  22  and  24  enables the device  10  to be adjusted to fit the individual liking or size since different individuals will require various lengths. Once the strap members have been adjusted, the closed harness will then be extended around the bottoms of the feet of the hunter and over the top of the knee/thigh areas of the hunter. The tension created on the closed harness configuration and in particular the “center tether” will provide a rest for the foot, leg and knee when in the sifting position. The length of the “central tether” is designed for two reasons. The first is to withstand the pressure of the opposing leg when the harness is in use. The second is to provide a way to fine tune the harness position for optimal shooting and comfort. When the closed harness is placed on the hunter&#39;s legs, the slide members or buckles  36  and  70  will be oriented toward the outside of the feet and the hook and loop fastener adjustment portion of the closed harness is oriented towards the outside of the hunter&#39;s legs so the straps may be adjusted if necessary. In essence, the harness members  22  and  24  tie the whole system together and act as a cradling leg harness, providing stability and support for the foot, knee and leg and a stable shooting platform. By relaxing the hunter&#39;s legs, it applies pressure to the harness automatically and effortlessly raises the boot tips of the hunter creating a comfortable footrest. It also relaxes the entire lower body, providing a cradling effect. To fine tune the position of the knees and legs, the hunter may adjust the “central tether” portion up or down, moving the tether portion up (toward the abdomen) causes the opening between the legs to narrow thereby bringing the knees together. By sliding the “central tether” portion down (toward the feet) causes the opening between the legs to widen thereby separating the knees further. Other adjustments may be made by simply moving one&#39;s feet closer or further from the body. This is useful for providing the optimal comfort position and perfect shooting position. In the shooting position, the tethered harness members limit the outward movement of the knees of the hunter thereby providing a solid platform on which the hunter may rest his/her arms or elbows. In the shooting position, the harness can be made more solid by simply pushing the hunter&#39;s toes forward which stabilizes the harness just prior to the shot, eliminating the need for finding that lone fence in the middle of the field or taking a standing shot. 
         [0027]    Although the invention is described as being particularly adapted for use with a hunter, the invention is also useful for anyone who spends much time sitting such as photographers, bird watchers, etc. As stated above, there may also be application for the invention in the hospital/nursing home setting. 
         [0028]    A hunter can go from walking with the harness on his shoulders to a solid “sitting shot” position in under eight seconds. 
         [0029]    Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.