A gambrel for hanging an animal to be butcher or skinned, the gambrel having an adjustable length suspension bar from which lines extend to be wrapped around the legs of the animal to be butchered or skinned. The adjustable length suspension bar consists of one elongated member inserted into another elongated member. Each elongated member has a slot through which each end of a gambrel suspension line is extended into and retained within each elongated member so that the geometry of the gambrel suspension line remains the same when length of the adjustable length suspension bar is changed to accommodate different sized animals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention relates to a gambrel. A gambrel is a rack-like device used, for example, by hunters to hoist and suspend a slain animal for field dressing. The gambrel holds the animal it in a suspended position, usually by the hind legs of the animal. A gambrel is often hung by a rope or chain from a fixed overhead object such as a tree branch. A winch system can be used to hoist heavy animals. Inventors have devised a wide variety of solutions to the problems involved with holding animals of various sizes and weights off the ground and suspending them for butchering, see for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,710,766; 4,909,555; 7,341,506; and 9,247,754. Despite the advances made in the art there remains a need for a simple portable device that is not only adjustable but also is adaptable for dressing almost any animal from ducks to large feral hogs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention is the discovery of a gambrel that is not only adjustable but also is adaptable for dressing almost any animal from ducks to large feral hogs. In a general sense, the instant invention is a gambrel for hanging an animal to be butcher or skinned, the gambrel comprising an adjustable length suspension bar from which lines extend to be wrapped around the legs of the animal to be butchered or skinned. The adjustable length suspension bar consists of one elongated member inserted into another elongated member. Each elongated member has a slot through which each end of a gambrel suspension line is extended into and retained within each elongated member so that the geometry of the gambrel suspension line remains the same when length of the adjustable length suspension bar is changed to accommodate different sized animals.

More specifically the instant invention is a gambrel, comprising: (a) a first elongated member comprising a passageway thereinto along the longitudinal axis of the first elongated member, the first elongated member also comprising a slot therethrough into said passageway, said slot being along said longitudinal axis of the first elongated member, the first elongated member further comprising a first aperture therethrough into said passageway, said first aperture located near the entrance of said passageway opposite said slot; (b) a second elongated member comprising a passageway thereinto along the longitudinal axis of the second elongated member, the second elongated member also comprising a slot therethrough into said passageway, said slot being along said longitudinal axis of the second elongated member, the second elongated member further comprising a first aperture therethrough into said passageway, said first aperture located near the entrance of said passageway into said second elongated member opposite said slot, the second elongated member dimensioned to slide into the first passageway of the first elongated member; (c) a gambrel suspension line having a first end and a second end, the first end of the suspension line extending through the slot of the first elongated member to terminate within the passageway of the first elongated member with an end portion larger than the width of said slot, the second end of the suspension line extending through the slot of the second elongated member to terminate within the passageway of the second elongated member with an end portion larger than the width of said slot; (d) a first animal leg suspension line having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first animal leg suspension line extending through the first aperture of the first elongated member to terminate within the passageway of the first elongated member with an end portion larger than the diameter of said aperture, the second end of the first animal leg suspension line terminating with a hook; (e) a second animal leg suspension line having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second animal leg suspension line extending through the first aperture of the second elongated member to terminate within the passageway of the second elongated member with an end portion larger than the diameter of said first aperture, the second end of the second animal leg suspension line terminating with a hook. In a preferred embodiment, the gambrel further comprises: (f) a second aperture through said second elongated member said second aperture located near the end of said second elongated member opposite the end comprising said first aperture of said second elongated member; (g) a push button positioned to extend from within the passageway of the second elongated member through the second aperture of the second elongated member; and (h) a plurality of additional apertures through said first elongated member, said additional apertures arrayed to sequentially coincide with said push button as said second elongated member is slid into said first elongated member. The gambrel suspension line preferably comprises stainless steel wire cable, the first and second animal leg suspension lines preferably comprise stainless steel wire cable and the hooks of the first and second animal leg suspension lines are preferably stainless steel egg shaped snap hooks.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now toFIG. 1, therein is shown a side view drawing of a highly preferred gambrel10of the instant invention comprised of adjustable length bar comprised of square painted aluminum tubing sections11and12, bar suspension cable13, first animal leg suspension cable14, second animal leg suspension cable15, first cable14having a first end and a second end, the first end of first cable14being attached near one end of the telescoping bar11, the second end of first cable14being attached to first hook16, second cable15having a first end and a second end, the first end of second cable15being attached near the other end of the telescoping bar12, the second end of second cable15being attached to second hook17. The adjustable length bar11/12ofFIG. 1is shown at its shortest adjusted length.

Referring now toFIG. 2, therein is shown a perspective view of the detail of cable14attached to hook16by crimped ferrule18. Referring now toFIG. 3, therein is shown a side view drawing of the detail of cables13and14, bar section11, crimped ferrules18and washers19. In use, cable14is pulled back through an aperture in the bottom of bar section11while cable13is pulled back through a slot in the top of bar section11so that washers19and crimped ferrules18are pulled inside bar section11. Referring now toFIG. 4, therein is shown a partial perspective end view of the detail of cable15emerging from the aperture in bar12.

Referring now toFIG. 5, therein is shown spring button20removed from bar section12. Referring now toFIG. 6, therein is shown spring button20inserted into bar section12so that spring button20emerges through aperture12ain bar section12. Referring now toFIG. 7, therein is shown a partial perspective view of bar section12inserted into bar section11so that spring button20snaps into aperture11ain bar section11. Referring now toFIG. 8, therein is shown details of the top of bar section11including apertures11a, slot11band longitudinal axis11c. Apertures11aand slot11bare preferably chamfered on both sides. Referring now toFIG. 9, therein is shown details of the top of bar section12including slot12band longitudinal axis12c. Slot12bis preferably chamfered on both sides. Referring now toFIG. 10, therein is shown cable14to be wrapped around the leg of an animal and held in place by hook16.

Referring again toFIG. 1the length of adjustable length bar11/12is adjusted by pressing button20and pulling or pushing bar sections11/12to lengthen or shorten the bar length to correspond to the animal being butchered. Cables14and15are wrapped around the legs on the animal with the hooks16and17engaged as shown for cable14inFIG. 10. The weight of the suspended animal tightens the cables around the legs to securely suspend the animal during the butchering of the animal. An important benefit of the instant invention is the combination of the adjustable length bar with the legs of an animal secured by the cables wrapped around the legs of the animal and secured by the hooks. The heavier the animal, the more secure the cables hold the legs. However, even the legs of smaller animals such as ducks are securely held by the cables and hooks of the instant invention.

Referring again toFIGS. 8 and 9, the slots11band12bin the top of the bar sections11and12provide an important benefit to the instant invention over prior art cable gambrels such as the SKIN-IT-RITE cable gambrel from Skin It Rite LLC, Alvin Tex. which does not provide an adjustable length bar or the XTENDIBLE CINCH GAMBREL from Hawk Hunting LLC, Frankenmuth Mich. which does provide an adjustable length bar but hangs the gambrel in a relatively unsteady single point manner from a central eyebolt. As the bar of the instant invention is lengthened or shortened in the instant invention, the ends of suspension cable13slide along slots11band12bin cable sections11and12thereby maintaining a constant distance between the ends of the suspension cable at the bar and a steady balanced position for the adjustable length bar of the instant invention. Since suspension cable13is independent of leg holding cables14and15, the length of cables14and15are maintained constant as the bar of the instant invention is lengthened or shortened.

The components of the instant invention can be made of any suitable material. However, it is preferable that the lines of the instant invention be stainless steel wire cables and the hooks be stainless steel egg shaped snap hooks. As stated above, bar sections11and12are preferably made from square aluminum tubing and coated with a durable paint finish. Bar section11for the gambrel shown inFIG. 1is about 1.25×1.25 inch OD and about sixteen inches long. Bar section12for the gambrel shown inFIG. 1is about 1×1 inch OD and about sixteen inches long.

CONCLUSION

While the instant invention has been described above according to its preferred embodiments, it can be modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the instant invention using the general principles disclosed herein. Further, the instant application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.