Abstract:
A highly portable, modular hunting blind which adapts to different hunting areas by utilizing local grass and other vegetation for 3-D camouflage and cover purposes. The blind is ideally of a light weight material, such as plastic, and includes adjustable angles for natural cover, and a number of vegetation straps that adjust to any natural cover the hunter chooses to use, such as grass, corn, brush, or tree limbs. This allows hunters to place natural cover at angles that create a secure 3-D effect and allows hunters and game to see through this natural environment eliminating the undesirable “blob” affect caused by dark fabric material, while breaking the hunter&#39;s profile.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority in and incorporates by reference U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/602,333, filed Feb. 23, 2012. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a system and method for providing an adaptive hunting blind capable of being used in multiple locations, and more specifically to a hunting blind that is highly portable and is concealed using grasses, plants, and other vegetation local to a chosen hunting location. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Temporary hunting structures aimed at providing camouflage and cover, commonly referred to as hunting blinds, are popular amongst hunters. Existing blinds include blinds that are similar to a camping tent, blinds which can float on the water, and other popular models such as “coffin blinds.” 
     Existing blinds are constructed using a fabric or canvas type materials for covering and camouflage. There are major problems with using such materials. Fabric adds weight to the line and can create irregular patterns which animals can detect. Similarly, fabric can cause a darkened effect that creates a “blob” site and causes a silhouette effect rather than a natural 3-D effect like grasses and natural environmental camouflage. Fabric is wholly “unnatural,” and while existing blinds go to great lengths to use fabric to create a “natural” appearance, fabric is limited. 
     Most fabric blinds have vegetation straps to help control the camouflage, but these straps can cause an unnatural and cumbersome look due to the size and weight of the vegetation. Further, this setup tends to eliminate the desired 3-D effect of the camouflage, forcing hunters to constantly rebuild the blind throughout the day as the sun shifts and winds move pieces of the blind around. 
     Existing blinds, such as coffin blinds or pop-up blinds, are built with flaps that are pushed open, sprung open or are dropped in when an animal is near and the hunter decides it is time to fire his weapon. The sudden movement of the flap or lid will often cause birds to “flare,” making them much more difficult targets. Any excessive moving parts or unnatural elements decrease the effectiveness of a hunting blind. The flaps and lids can also interfere with a hunter&#39;s ability to quickly target and fire upon birds or other animals. 
     Existing permanent and semi-permanent blinds are often great during the first days of hunting use. However, that cover tends to be knocked down and pressed into the ground by snow and other environmental changes, leading to an unnatural look. Further, permanent and semi-permanent blinds do not allow a hunter to reposition throughout a hunting trip, and some hunting areas forbid the use of permanent or semi-permanent blinds. 
     What is desired is a highly-portable hunting blind which is capable of adapting to the natural camouflage of a hunting environment without unnecessary and unnatural moving parts, such as flaps or lids, hindering the hunter&#39;s ability to target and fire upon prey. Heretofore there has not been available a hunting blind system with the advantages and features of the present invention. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a highly-portable hunting blind which adapts to different hunting areas by utilizing local grass and other vegetation for 3-D camouflage and cover purposes. The blind is ideally of a light weight material, such as plastic, and includes adjustable angles for natural cover, and a number of vegetation straps (typically comprising bungee or elastic cords) that adjust to any natural cover (such as grass, corn, brush, or tree limbs) the hunter chooses to use. This allows hunters to place natural cover at angles that create a secure 3-D effect and allows hunters and game to see through this natural environment eliminating the undesirable “blob” affect caused by dark fabric material, while breaking the hunter&#39;s profile. 
     The present invention is primarily comprised of at least two bases which each contain a number of stretchable vegetation strips. The bases may be joined at a hinged point or along a third member, and can be folded together or otherwise stacked and stored for quick storage and transport. A number of anchors or stakes are stored within the bases of the blind which allow the blind to be temporarily affixed to the earth. 
     An aspect of the present invention utilizes a blind material which allows the portable blind to float atop water for use when hunting water fowl or other animals in or near the water. The anchors or stakes stored within the blind can be removed or repositioned such that the buoyant blind becomes anchored to the bottom of the body of water in which it is placed. 
     The present invention can be used in conjunction with existing hunting blinds to create larger, more natural blinds with greater 3-D concealment for maximum seclusion. The invention may also be used on boats or water-faring craft to allow hunters additional range when hunting on or near the water. 
     An aspect of the present invention includes a hinge joining two separate bases of the blind. This allows for quick storage and ensures that the blind can be reconfigured at multiple angles for optimum seclusion and coverage. 
     The present invention is a multi-use blind suitable for waterfowl hunting, field hunting, archery hunting, primitive hunting, deer hunting, turkey hunting, predator hunting, and/or positive concealment by law enforcement, bird watching, boats, military, filming wild life, etc. and in general, the pursuit of all game and non-game animals. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating various objects and features thereof. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an embodiment of the present invention in a typical environment. 
         FIG. 2A  is an isometric view of an embodiment of the present invention in a closed position. 
         FIG. 2B  is an isometric view of an embodiment of the present invention in an open position. 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a modular element of an embodiment of the present invention from a rear-side view. 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a modular element of an embodiment of the present invention interacting with the typical environment from a front-side view. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a front elevation of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a rear elevation of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a side elevation of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention as taken about the line in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 11  is a top plan view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, utilizing three modular elements. 
         FIG. 12  is an isometric view of another alternative embodiment of the present invention, including forked hook elements for interacting with the preferred environment. 
         FIG. 13  is an isometric view of another alternative embodiment, including indentions in the front, side, and rear faces of a modular element for receiving large bungee cords or tie-down elements. 
         FIG. 14  is an isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 13  including a bungee cord tie-down element. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     I. Introduction and Environment 
     As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
     Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientated in the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof. Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction of travel, if appropriate. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning. 
     II. Preferred Embodiment or Aspect Portable Hunting Blind System  2   
     A preferred embodiment of the hunting blind system  2  will be set up in an area where the user intends to hunt game, such as water fowl, deer, or other popular fauna. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a hunter  3  will set up behind the blind system  2  after placing camouflage  18 , such as various local foliage, against the blind bases  4  or through the straps  16  inserted through the various holes  10  within the bases  4 . The camouflage  18  is placed against both the front face  20  and the rear face  22  of the base  4  to produce a three-dimensional camouflage effect that produces a superior camouflage technique when hunting. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the hunting blind  2  is primarily comprised a pair of modular bases  4 . In a preferred embodiment, these bases  4  are hinged about a single hinge post  14 , allowing the bases  4  to be folded to a number of angles, or folded together for transport and/or storage.  FIG. 2A  displays the hunting blind system  2  in a compact storage configuration, whereas  FIG. 2B  displays the hunting blind system  2  where the pair of bases  4  are opened to a desired angle. 
       FIG. 3  displays a stand-alone modular base  4  made up of a front face  20 , a rear face  22 , a top face  24 , a first end  26 , a second end  28 , and a bottom face  30 . The base  4  includes a pair of boundary hinges  6  on one end and a center-hinge  8  on the other. Each hinge has a hinge post insert  12  passing through the center. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , each base  4  contains a number of cut-aways or holes  10  to allow the vegetation strap(s)  16  to be laced through the bases  4 . These straps are preferably of elastic or a similar material, and allow the bases  4  to be covered in camouflage  18  such as grass, twigs, branches, brush, or other vegetation. Ideally this vegetation  18  will be from the same or similar area where the user intends to hunt. The holes  10  should be placed in the modular base  4  near each of the ends  26 ,  28  and throughout the front  20  and rear  22  surfaces of the base  4 , such that complete camouflage coverage is possible and the hinged portion of the blind  2  does not remain uncovered and unnatural-looking. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6  and more clearly in  FIG. 9 , each base  4  has a pair of stake inserts  32  for receiving a stake  34 . These stakes  34  should be sufficiently long enough to allow the blind  2  to be placed in a shallow body of water. The bases should remain on the surface of the water while the anchor stakes penetrate the soil beneath the water. The stakes  34  may also be used on dry land to prevent the blind from moving due to wind or contact from the hunter. 
     In an optional embodiment, a relief (not shown) may be carved into the bottom face  30  or any side face of the bases  4  to store the stakes when not in use. A third stake  34  may be stored in a third recessed area in either one of the bases. When the bases are bent away from one another to form an angle, the stakes may be removed from the recesses and should provide an anchor point at each of the three corners of the triangle formed by the bases, as shown in  FIG. 2B . 
     Another optional feature includes a shoulder strap (not shown). A strap may be affixed, temporarily or permanently, to each modular base  4 , and would be used to ease carrying. 
     The modular bases  4  should be made of a light-weight, semi-buoyant material, allowing the blind to function in shallow water. The material may be selectively flexible to allow additional shapes to be formed from the blind. The ultimate purpose of the blind is to create a natural-looking shape using camouflage  18  and natural angles such that an animal will not be spooked by the blind. 
       FIGS. 5-10  provide additional detail about a preferred embodiment blind system  2 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the “inserts”  10 , or holes, are slightly tapered to ensure the vegetation straps  16  do not slip during use. 
     III. Alternative Embodiment Hunting Blind System  52   
       FIG. 11  shows an alternative embodiment hunting blind system  52 . In this figure, three modular bases  4  are linked by a pair of hinge posts  14 . This allows a hunter to set up a larger hunting station and maintain natural angles and vegetation. Any number of modular bases  4  can be linked together in this way to form a hunting station of any desired size and shape. 
     IV. Alternative Embodiment Hunting Blind System  102   
       FIG. 12  shows an alternative embodiment hunting blind system  102 . This system is identical to the preferred embodiment above, except that it also utilizes camouflage hooks  104  which can hold natural vegetation to further obscure the hunting blind system  102  and the hunter  3  behind it. The hooks  104  include a hook shaft  106 , an upper forked leg  108 , and a lower forked leg  110 . The upper forked leg  108  may include multiple prongs, and is designed to hold long grasses, twigs, and other vegetation. The lower forked leg  110  is shaped to fit over the modular base  4 . Ideally, the hook  104  would fit over the base  4  and rest next to an insert  10 . A tie  112  can be threaded through the insert  10  and used to secure the hook  104  in place. 
     Alternatively, the hooks  104  can be used to store the hunter&#39;s gear while the blind  102  is in use. If the blind is positioned in water as described above, it is necessary to ensure that the hunter&#39;s gear stays dry. This includes bags, ammunition, rifles, bows, animal calls, and other hunting accessories. This feature would also be useful when the blind is not placed in water, as it would allow the hunter to organize gear and keep it out of the way and off of the ground. 
     V. Alternative Embodiment Hunting Blind System  152   
       FIGS. 13 and 14  show yet another alternative embodiment hunting blind system  152 . In this embodiment, the modular bases  154  include a pair of grooves  156  on the front face  170 , rear face  172 , first side  176 , and second side  178 . In the preferred embodiment there would be one groove  156  running in parallel with the lines of inserts  160  along the front  170  and rear  172  faces. The top face  174  and bottom face  180  do not have grooves. The grooves allow a long bungee cord  158  to slip over the entire modular base  154 , or the bungee cords may be fastened using S-hooks  159  or a similar quick attachment. This bungee cord can be used to hold vegetation  18  for camouflage purposes. Alternatively, synthetic vegetation, cloth strips, or other typical hunting camouflage elements may be used for camouflage. 
     Similar to the embodiment previously mentioned, the bungee cord is capable of holding camouflage elements against both the front face  170  and the rear face  172  of the base  154 . This produces a three-dimensional camouflage effect that provides a superior hunting advantage. 
     It is to be understood that the invention can be embodied in various forms, and is not to be limited to the examples discussed above. The range of components and configurations which can be utilized in the practice of the present invention is virtually unlimited.