Squirrel skinner and method

The invention is a method and apparatus for quicker, easier and more injury-free skinning of small to medium size game utilizing a dual fish skinner in conjunction with game skinning attachment, whose spike provides support and accessibility.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for skinning small to medium game, particularly squirrel. Squirrel is a common name applied to members of the rodent family Sciuridae, classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Rodentia, suborder Sciuromorpha.

Squirrels and other small mammals must be skinned in order to obtain the meat, or product, therein. Traditionally, a squirrel is placed on the ground and the head is secured with a free hand, while the other hand attempts to make incisions to remove the skin. The body of the squirrel is free to move as incisions are made to remove the skin, and often requires a foot, or another person, to be used to further stabilize the game by securing the tail or posterior. Bending and folding over, while using three limbs, is a cumbersome process, and skinning the game on the ground risks soiling the meat when introduced to the ground.

Alternatively, the head of the squirrel may be secured by nailing it to a stationary object, such as a board or tree. Unfortunately, when utilizing this method, a portion of the squirrel is concealed, as it is positioned against the stationary object. This, in turn, requires additional handling and repositioning to remove the skin. Skinning a squirrel is challenging, as it must be properly secured to provide both stability and tension to the squirrel, which allows for more precise, safe, and effective incisions. Often, the squirrel slides along the nail or attachment points as incisions are being made, thus rendering the exercise more fraught with danger and inconvenience.

Obvious downsides exist in the current method of skinning squirrel, as are described above. The consequences of these skinning methods are increased injuries associated with the skinning, reduced productivity, and a poorly executed skin removal, all of which lead to an increased need for a revised method and apparatus with minimized cost and complexity, which the present invention addresses.

The present invention of a skinning apparatus and method is thus a much-improved mode of handling the skinning process, since it enables a person seeking to skin squirrel the ability to skin the animal while it remains fixed in a comfortable location, freeing up a hand to provide additional support and work. Utilizing the current invention, the entire process can be accomplished in a safe and effective manner, without repositioning the animal from its initial position.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

One object of the invention is to provide a method for skinning small to medium sized game.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for skinning small to medium sized game.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for skinning small to medium sized game with a reduced injury occurrence.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus which provides a quicker method of skinning small to medium sized game.

Other objects and advantages of this invention shall become apparent from the ensuing descriptions of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a method and apparatus for quicker, easier and more injury-free skinning of small to medium sized game utilizing a dual fish skinner apparatus in conjunction with a game skinning attachment, which includes a spike to provide support and accessibility, is disclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Without any intent to limit the scope of this invention, reference is made to the figures in describing the various embodiments of the invention.FIGS. 1-3show various aspects of exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for skinning squirrel.

FIG. 1depicts the skinning apparatus100having mounting base101for mounting to a surface, such as a tree, pole, wall or other object using securing devices102such as bolts, screws or nails. Generally, the face1010of mounting base101would be perpendicular to the surface below the user's feet, and substantially flat, however this is not required. From face1010of mounting base101bilaterally extends main support103, which is substantially parallel to the face1010of mounting base101, and has first opposite end1031and second opposite end1032. Operatively connected to said first opposite end1031at an angle between forty-five degrees and one hundred thirty-five degrees relative to main support103is first secondary support1041, which extends away from and is substantially perpendicular to face1010of mounting base101. Operatively connected to said second opposite end1032at an angle between forty-five degrees and one hundred thirty-five degrees relative to main support103is second secondary support1042, which extends away from and is substantially perpendicular to face1010of mounting base101. An exemplary embodiment of first secondary support1041and second secondary support1042would both have an angle of ninety degrees relative to main support103, positioning first secondary support1041and second secondary support1042parallel to each other and perpendicular to face1010of mounting base101.

A first leg1051is operatively connected to first secondary support1041and extending downward at an angle between seventy-five degrees and one hundred twenty degrees relative to first secondary support1041. A second leg1052is operatively connected to second secondary support1042and extending downward at an angle between seventy-five degrees and one hundred twenty degrees relative to second secondary support1042. An exemplary embodiment of first leg1051and second leg1052would both have an angle of one hundred degrees relative to first secondary support1041and second secondary support1042respectively, both extending downward and parallel to each other.

A first arm1061is operatively connected to first leg1051at an angle between twenty degrees and eighty degrees relative to first leg1051and is angled upward and away from first leg1051, wherein first leg1051and first arm1061form a first wedge1071. A second arm1062is operatively connected to second leg1052at an angle between twenty degrees and eighty degrees relative to second leg1052and is angled upward and away from second leg1052, wherein second leg1052and second arm1062form a second wedge1072. An exemplary embodiment of first wedge1071and second wedge1072would both be approximately fifty-five degrees and parallel to each other. A portion or all of the dual fish skinner100can also be textured to add additional gripping properties if desired. Additionally, a barb or noose can be added to spike113.

FIG. 2depicts game skinning attachment108having ring support beam109with first polar end1091and second polar end1092and extending a distance approximately equal to the distance between first arm1061and second arm1062. A first ring1101is attached to first polar end1091wherein an aperture formed by first ring1101is sized to affixably attach onto first arm1061. A second ring1102is attached to second polar end1092wherein an aperture formed by second ring1102is sized to affixably attach onto second arm1062. Ring support beam109is further comprised of a game mounting extension111, which is attached to at least two points between first polar end1091and second polar end1092, being positioned in a substantially perpendicular configuration to face1010of mounting base101, and extending away from face1010of mounting base101. An exemplary embodiment of game mounting extension111would be an equilateral triangle centered medially on ring support beam109, attached at first point1111and second point1112. A spike113is operatively attached to game mounting extension111and configured at an angle between thirty degrees and eighty degrees to game mounting extension111and is angled upward and towards face1010of mounting base101. An exemplary embodiment of spike113would be approximately at a sixty-five degree angle to game mounting extension. A portion or all of the game skinning attachment108can also be textured to add additional gripping properties if desired.

FIG. 3depicts the game skinning attachment108connected to the skinning apparatus100, which is properly secured by affixably attaching first ring1101onto first arm1061and second ring1102onto second arm1062so that spike113is facing upwards and towards face1010of mounting base101.

In operation, game114is placed on game skinning attachment108by placing spike113on the underside of the jaw115of game114and forcing the spike114through the skin of game114until the jaw is firmly resting on and within game mounting extension111. In this way, game114will be firmly secured and suspended. After further stabilize the game by providing downward tension from the posterior, an incision is made through the upper portion of the spine115of game114. This incision is then elongated laterally in both directions. Lastly, using hands or pliers, the skin of game is gripped below and near the initial spinal incision and pulled downward, thereby removing the greater portion of the skin of the game114and revealing the meat or product. Thus, a quicker, safer, easier skinning has been performed.

It should be noted that though squirrel have been recited as the animal to be skinned herein, any suitable animal having similar physical characteristics that could benefit from this apparatus or method should be construed as being able to employ and take advantage of the present invention. Such other species include rabbit, nutria, gopher, chipmunk, prairie dogs, chinchilla, mink and the like. The invention can be resized to fit the appropriate species as needed, so long as the proportions remain the same.