Portable game support

A portable game support uses a frame made from horizontal, vertical and diagonal frame members. The frame members have opposite ends, and have attachment points on the ends. The attachment points are U-shaped connectors that have overlap and compression sections. The compression section has a connector port, or hole, through the section and the frame member. The connector can be a bolt, washers, and a nut, or a bolt and a cotter pin. The frame is supported against a vertical object through a pair of horizontal support straps having a first and a second opposite ends that have attachment points to matching attachment points where the straps are attached to the vertical frame member. The horizontal frame member can be four feet in length and the vertical and diagonal frame members can be three feet in length. The frame members can be formed from tubular metal. The horizontal frame member can have a D-ring with an attached pulley to assist in lifting the animal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many offerings exist by which the game animal may be hung from various objects for field processing. The devices offered, however, do not solve all problems associated with ensuring the animal will be held securely and not be subject to external forces, such as wind. When the animal sways, then there is danger to the hunter from being struck by the animal, especially while using a knife. Additionally, when the animal sways, poor sanitary practices can occur.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a portable game support for use in connection with processing game animals. The portable game support has particular utility in connection with field processing of the animal by holding the animal above the ground securely and safely. Additionally, reducing lateral movement, decreases the probability of the animal swaying, then the possibility that exists that the animal will be processed ineffectively, which can lead to infection from bacteria released from the animal, is reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The use of portable game hangers is known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,455 to Breedlove discloses a portable animal hoist. However, the Breedlove '455 patent does not provide two fastening devices for securing the device to a tree, and has further drawbacks of requiring the teeth of the lower support device to grip into the tree to aid in resisting lateral forces.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,695,688 to Owen et al. discloses a “tree winch” portable game hoist that is attached to a tree to facilitate processing the animal. However, the Owens '688 patent does not provide the lateral support of the present device, and additionally does not provide the ability to choose an end pulley as desired.

While the above-described devices fulfill their respective and particular objects and requirements, they do not describe a portable game support that provides for the advantages of the present invention; therefore, a need exists for an improved portable game support, particularly one that includes reduced lateral movement, ease of set-up and light weight construction, and the ability of the end user to choose the lifting mechanism that best suits his individual needs.

In this respect, the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of portable game hoists now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved portable game support, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved portable game support which has all the advantages of the prior art mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a portable game support which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof.

To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a game animal support that is formed from a horizontal frame member, a vertical frame member, and a diagonal frame member. The horizontal frame member, vertical frame member and diagonal frame members have first and second opposite ends. The vertical frame member first end has an attachment point to the horizontal frame member first end. The diagonal frame member first end has an attachment point to the horizontal frame member second end and the diagonal frame member second end has an attachment point to the vertical frame member second end. The pair of horizontal support members are attached to the vertical frame member, and are adjustable to support the portable game support. The horizontal support members can be ratchet straps that are tightened or loosened to fit the tree or post.

The horizontal frame member second end can have a pulley attachment point, such as a D-ring or an eyebolt, and the pulley attachment point can have an attached pulley. The attachment points can be U-shaped connectors that have an overlap section and a compression section, where the compression section would have a connector such as a bolt, a flat washer, a lock washer, and a nut, and a hole through the compression section and also through the frame where the compression section overlaps.

The invention may also include the connector being a bolt having a hole at the other end and a cotter pin sized to fit within the hole to keep the bolt secure and inserted. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved portable game support that has all of the advantages of the prior art portable game hoists and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved portable game support that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved portable game support that has a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such portable game support economically available to the buying public.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new portable game support that provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a portable game support for increased safety while field processing game. This allows the game to be processed with decreased concern for bacterial infection from improper sanitary conditions.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a portable game support for improved lateral support. This makes it possible to reduce sway caused by wind or other environmental factors.

Numerous objects, features and advantages of the portable game support will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the portable game support when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the portable game support in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

These together with additional objects of the portable game support, along with various novel features that characterize the invention are particularly pointed out in the claims forming a part of this disclosure. For better understanding of the portable game support, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, refer to the accompanying drawings and description.

The same reference numbers refer to the same parts throughout the various figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of the portable game support of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral10.

InFIG. 1, a new and improved portable game support10of the present invention for hanging game for field processing is illustrated and will be described. More particularly, the portable game support10has a horizontal frame member12, a vertical frame member18and a diagonal frame member26. The horizontal frame member12has a first end14and a second end16. The vertical frame member18has a first end20and a second end22. The diagonal frame member26has a first end28and a second end30. The vertical frame member first end20has an attachment point24to the horizontal frame member first end14. The diagonal frame member first end28has an attachment point24to the horizontal frame member second end16and the diagonal frame member second end30has an attachment point24to the vertical frame member second end22. There are a pair of horizontal support members32having an attachment means34to the vertical frame member18, the horizontal support members32being adjustable to support the portable game support. The pair of horizontal support members32can be straps64that have a first end66and a second opposite end68, the opposite strap ends66and68have an attachment means70to a matching attachment means72on the attachment34on the vertical frame member18. The attachment means70can be hooks that attach to the matching attachment means72, which would be slots that the hooks would engage. The attachment points24can be U-shaped connectors40that have an overlap section42and a compression section44, wherein the compression section44can have a connector46and a connector port48, the connector port48has first end50and an opposite second end52and is defined by a port-confining wall54. The connector46can be an externally threaded bolt56, a flat washer58, a lock washer60, and an internally threaded nut62.

FIG. 2is a top view of the portable game support, taken essentially along the lines2-2ofFIG. 1. The horizontal frame member12has a first end14and a second end16. The attachment points24can be U-shaped connectors40that have an overlap section42and a compression section44. There are a pair of horizontal support members32having an attachment means34to the vertical frame member18, the horizontal support members32being adjustable to support the portable game support. The pair of horizontal support members32can be straps64that have a first end66and a second opposite end68, the opposite strap ends66and68have an attachment means70to a matching attachment means72on the attachment34on the vertical frame member18. The attachment means70can be hooks that attach to the matching attachment means72, which would be slots72that the hooks70would engage.

FIG. 3is a cross sectional view of the portable game support, taken essentially along the lines3-3ofFIG. 1, and showing the diagonal frame member26attachment to the vertical frame member18. The attachment points24can be U-shaped connectors40that have an overlap section42and a compression section44, wherein the compression section44can have a connector46and a connector port48. The connector port48has a first end50and an opposite second end52and is defined by a port-confining wall54. The connector46can be an externally threaded bolt56, a flat washer58, a lock washer60, and an internally threaded nut62.

FIG. 4is a cross sectional view of the portable game support, taken essentially along the lines4-4ofFIG. 1, and showing the diagonal frame member26attachment point24to the horizontal frame member12. The attachment points24can be U-shaped connectors40that have an overlap section42and a compression section44, wherein the compression section44can have a connector46and a connector port48. The connector port48has first end50and an opposite second end52and is defined by a port-confining wall54. The connector46can be an externally threaded bolt56, a flat washer58, a lock washer60, and an internally threaded nut62.

FIG. 5is a perspective view of the portable game support, showing the device in use. The horizontal frame member12has a first end14and a second end16. The vertical frame member18has a first end20and a second end22. The diagonal frame member26has a first end28and a second end30. The vertical frame member first end20has an attachment point24to the horizontal frame member first end14. The diagonal frame member first end28has an attachment point24to the horizontal frame member second end16and the diagonal frame member second end30has an attachment point24to the vertical frame member second end22. The pair of horizontal support members32would have attachment means34to the vertical frame member18, and are adjustable to support the portable game support. The pair of horizontal support members32can be straps56that have a first end58and a second opposite end60with attachment points62to matching attachment points64at the strap attachment point to the vertical frame member. The horizontal frame member second end16can have a pulley attachment point36, and the pulley attachment point36can have an attached pulley support38. The pulley attachment point36can be a D-ring or an eyebolt. The attachment points24can be U-shaped connectors40that have an overlap section42and a compression section44, wherein the compression section44can have a connector46and a connector port48. The connector port48has a first end50and an opposite second end52, and is defined by a port-confining wall54. The connector46can be an externally threaded bolt56, a flat washer58, a lock washer60, and an internally threaded nut62, as shown.

The support is formed from a horizontal frame member, a vertical frame member, and a diagonal frame member. The horizontal, vertical, and diagonal frame members have first and second opposite ends. The vertical frame member first end has an attachment point to the horizontal frame member first end. The diagonal frame member first end has an attachment point to the horizontal frame member second end and the diagonal frame member second end has an attachment point to the vertical frame member second end. The pair of horizontal support members are attached to the vertical frame member, and are adjustable to support the portable game support. The pair of horizontal support members can be straps that have first and second opposite ends with attachment points to matching attachment points at the strap attachment point to the vertical frame member. The horizontal frame member second end can have a pulley attachment point, such as a D-ring or eyebolt, and the pulley attachment point can have an attached pulley. The attachment points can be U-shaped connectors that have an overlap section and a compression section, wherein the compression section can have a connector and a connector port, the connector port has opposite first and second ends and being defined by a port-confining wall. The connector can be an externally threaded bolt, a flat washer, a lock washer, and an internally threaded nut, or a bolt and cotter pin assembly.

In use, it can now be understood that the support is formed from horizontal, vertical, and diagonal frame members. The frame members have first and second ends where the frames are attached. The portable game support uses a pair of horizontal support members attached to the vertical frame member, and are adjustable to support the frame to the tree or post. The pair of horizontal support members can be ratchet straps that have hooks that attach to matching slots on the strap attachment area of the vertical frame member. The horizontal frame member second end can have a pulley attachment point, such as a D-ring or eyebolt, and can have an attached pulley. The attachment points can be U-shaped connectors that have an overlap section and a compression section. The compression section can have a connector and a connector port. The connector port has opposite first and second ends and being defined by a port-confining wall. The connector can be a bolt, a series of washers, and a nut, or a bolt and cotter pin assembly.