Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to a cooler for transferring a game head. In one aspect, a game head transfer device is provided. The device includes a body having an opening on an upper portion that is configured to receive a game head into the body, wherein a first portion and a second portion of the game head extend from the opening of the body when the body is in an opened position and a closed position. The device further includes one or more flap members configured to narrow the opening of the body between the first portion and the second portion of the game head. The device also includes one or more closing members configured to narrow the opening of the body adjacent a side of the first portion and a side of the second portion of the game head that extend from the opening.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/324,717, filed Dec. 13, 2011, which claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/422,497, filed Dec. 13, 2010, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a cooler. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a cooler for transferring a game head. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    During the hunting season, a hunter will hunt wild game animals, such as a buck. After the hunter has killed a wild game animal, the hunter may want to transport the head (e.g., game head) of the wild game animal from the hunting location to a taxidermist in order to mount the game head. It is important to keep the game head cool and protect the game head during transport so that the game head will not get damaged. There is a need therefore for a method and an apparatus to cool and transport the game head from the hunting location. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention generally relates to a cooler for transferring a game head. In one aspect, a game head transfer device is provided. The game head transfer device includes a body having an opening on an upper portion that is configured to receive a game head into the body, wherein a first portion and a second portion of the game head extend from the opening of the body when the body is in an opened position and a closed position. The game head transfer device further includes one or more flap members configured to narrow the opening of the body between the first portion and the second portion of the game head that extend from the opening. The game head transfer device also includes one or more closing members configured to narrow the opening of the body adjacent a side of the first portion and a side of the second portion of the game head that extend from the opening. 
         [0007]    In another aspect, a method of using a game head transfer device is provided. The method includes the step of inserting a game head into an opening of the device, wherein a first portion and a second portion of the game head extend from the opening. The method further includes the step of narrowing the opening of the device between the first portion and the second portion of the game head that extend from the opening. The method also includes the step of further narrowing the opening of the device adjacent a side of the first portion and a side of the second portion of the game head that extend from the opening. 
         [0008]    In yet another aspect, a cooler for a game head is provided. The cooler includes an insulated body having a transport area that is configured to receive a game head into the body such that a portion of the game head extends from an opening of the insulated body when the insulated body is closed. The cooler further includes a first flap member and a second flap member that are configured to close around the portion of the game head that extends from the opening. The cooler also includes a first closing member and a second closing member that are configured to narrow the opening of the insulated body. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are views illustrating a game head transfer device. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a view illustrating the game head transfer device in an open position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a view illustrating the game head transfer device with a game head. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a view illustrating the game head transfer device in a closed position with the game head. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are other views illustrating the game head transfer device in the closed position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    The present invention generally relates to a cooler for transferring a game head. The cooler will be described herein for the transfer of the game head from a hunting location. It is to be understood, however, that the cooler may also be used for other purposes when the cooler is not transporting the game head, such as cooling and transferring items, such as food and drinks. To better understand the novelty of the cooler of the present invention and the methods of use thereof, reference is hereafter made to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0016]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are views illustrating a game head transfer device  100 . Generally, the game head transfer device  100  is used to cool and transfer a game head  150  ( FIG. 4 ). The game head transfer device  100  includes a front portion  105 , side portions  110 , a back portion  115 , a top portion  120  and a closed bottom portion  125 . The portions  105 ,  110 ,  115 ,  120 ,  125  have waterproof surfaces and include insulation between the surfaces. In one embodiment, the insulation in portions  105 ,  110 ,  115 ,  120 ,  125  is made from foil bubble insulation, PET aluminum bubble insulation, aluminum foam insulation or any other insulation products known in the art. Further, the portions  105 ,  110 ,  115 ,  120 ,  125  are made from flexible material which allows the portions  105 ,  110 ,  115 ,  120 ,  125  to conform to the items stored within the game head transfer device  100 . The flexible material of the portions  105 ,  110 ,  115 ,  120 ,  125  also allows the game head transfer device  100  to collapse into a smaller configuration when the game head transfer device  100  is not in use. In one embodiment, the bottom portion  125  includes reinforcement members that are configured to maintain the shape of the bottom portion  125  and support the game head  150 . As shown, the side portions  110  of the game head transfer device  100  may include buckles  135  that are used to secure the game head transfer device  100  in a closed position. The front portion  105  and the back portion  115  may include handles  190  for use in carrying the game head transfer device  100 . 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, the game head transfer device  100  may include an optional side pocket  155  on the front portion  105  for storage. The side pocket  155  may have a closing member, such as a zipper. There may be a similar side pocket  155  on the back portion  115 . An outside surface of the side pocket  155  may be used for attaching a logo, emblem or symbol. In one embodiment, the portions  105 ,  110 ,  115 ,  120 ,  125  are made from a thermal material that changes color as the temperature changes within the game head transfer device  100 . In one embodiment, an optional temperature gauge may be disposed within the front portion to indicate the temperature within the game head transfer device  100 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a view illustrating the game head transfer device  100  in an open position. The portions  105 ,  110 ,  115 ,  120 ,  125  define a body having a transport area  130  that is configured to hold the game head  150  (or other items). As shown in  FIG. 3 , the transport area  130  has an initial predefined shape, such as a square or a rectangle, but any geometric shape may be used without departing from principles of the present invention. 
         [0019]    The top portion  120  includes a first side  160  and a second side  165 . Each side  160 ,  165  includes a closing member  170 , such as a zipper, which is used to close the transport area  130 . Each side  160 ,  165  further includes a closing flap  175  that extends from a point below the closing member  170  to a point in the transport area  130 . In the embodiment illustrated, the closing flap  175  extends substantially along the entire length of the respective side  160 ,  165 . Generally, the closing flaps  175  are used to seal or close the top portion  120  of the game head transfer device  100  when the game head  150  is in the transport area  130 , as will be described herein. 
         [0020]    The closing flaps  175  have a fixed end that is attached to the top portion  120  and a free end. The free end of the closing flaps  175  are configured to rotate around the fixed end to any number of positions. The free end of the closing flaps  175  include releasable connection members  195  on an inner portion of the respective flap  175 , such as Velcro, that is used to secure the free end of the closing flap  175  on the first side  160  to the free end of the closing flap  175  on the second side  165 . In other words, the releasable connection members  195  are configured to mate with each other to seal or close the top portion  120  of the game head transfer device  100  when the game head  150  is in the transport area  130 . As such, the closing flaps  175  provide a first means for closing or sealing around the game head  150 , and the closing member  170  provides a second means for closing or sealing around the game head  150 . In one embodiment, a connection member (not shown) may be disposed on the inner surface of the portions  105 ,  110 ,  115  that is configured to engage the releasable connection members  195  to secure the free end of the closing flaps  175  in place when the closing flaps  175  are not in use. The connection members may be any type of connection member known in the art, such as Velcro or clips. Although the game head transfer device  100  in  FIG. 3  shows two flaps  175 , any number of flaps  175  may be used without departing from principles of the present invention. In one embodiment, a single flap is used on the first side  160  that has a fixed end and a free end. The single flap has releasable connection members on an inner portion of the free end of the single flap that is configured to engage releasable connection members on the second side  165 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a view illustrating the game head transfer device  100  with the game head  150 . In comparing  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , the transport area  130  has been reconfigured to accommodate the game head  150 . The flexible material of the portions  105 ,  110 ,  115 ,  120 ,  125  allow the transport area  130  to conform to the game head  150 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , a portion  140  (e.g., antlers) of the game head  150  extends from the game head transfer device  100 . The portion  140  may include a first portion (e.g., first antler) and a second portion (e.g., second antler). The closing flaps  175  and the closing members  170  are configured to allow the portion  140  of the game head  150  to protrude outside of the game head transfer device  100 , while at the same time closing the top portion  120  to maintain a cool temperature within the game head transfer device  100 . As shown, the closing flaps  175  close the top portion  120  to a point  145  adjacent each outer side of the portion  140  of the game head  150  extending outside of the game head transfer device  100 . The closing flaps  175  may be configured to also close an area  185  between the first portion and the second portion of the game head  150  extending outside of the game head transfer device  100  ( FIG. 6 ). The closing flaps  175  are also configured to stabilize (or hold) the game head  150  in a position within the transport area  130 . The flexibility of the arrangement of the closing flaps  175  allows the game head transfer device  100  to be used for different sized game heads and/or antlers. 
         [0022]    The game head transfer device  100  may also include a removable inner liner (not shown) that fits in the transport area  130 . The inner liner may be made from a flexible material and the inner liner may be removed from the game head transfer device  100  for easy clean-up after usage. The game head transfer device  100  may also include pockets inside the transport area  130  for cooling material such as ice. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 5-7  are views illustrating the game head transfer device  100  in a closed position. As shown, the closing members  170  have been closed to a point  180  on each side of the portion  140  of the game head  150  that protrudes outside of the game head transfer device  100 . The closing members  170  enclose the closing flaps  175  (and the point  145 ) to add additional closure of the top portion  120  adjacent the sides of the portion  140 . The closing members  170  also provide additional support to maintaining the game head  150  within the transport area  130 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , one closing member  170  is disposed on one side of the portion  140  of the game head  150 , and another closing member  170  is disposed on the other side of the portion  140  of the game head  150 . The closing member  170  arrangement allows for both sides of the portion  140  of the game head  150  to be closed. The flexibility of the arrangement of the closing flaps  175  and the closing members  170  allows the game head transfer device  100  to accommodate different sized game heads. 
         [0024]    While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.