Abstract:
A gambrel device includes a gambrel frame of a generally tri-angular shaped plate construction of steel or similar strength material that includes a top apex, oppositely disposed base apexes and a substantially flat back surface. A winch is mounted to a front surface of the gambrel frame and includes an electric motor and a winch drum operatively connected to the electric motor for driving the winch drum. A rigging cable extends from the winch drum and is threaded through an eyelet disposed at the top apex of the gambrel frame. The rigging cable may be secured to an existing structure and the winch is operated to hoist and suspend the gambrel frame from the structure. Further, the gambrel device may be utilized as a skid to relocate an animal by dragging the animal across a ground surface.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to hunting aids including gambrels, game dragging devices and game hoisting devices, and more particularly, relating to portable gambrel device for dragging and hanging an animal from an existing support structure. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In hunting it is important to dress an animal as soon as possible to prevent spoiling of the animal before the animal can be further processed. Typically, an animal is suspended from its hind legs with the legs spread to permit better access to the animal. A gambrel is a device that is well known to hunters and is used by hunters to suspend an animal from an existing support in the field for dressing. There exist gambrels of a myriad of constructions for solving various problems encountered when attaching an animal to the gambrel and suspending the animal from the gambrel. However, the basic structure of the gambrel has seen little change over the years. An equal challenge is the hoisting of the gambrel and animal into a suspended position from an overhead support. Accordingly, numerous designs of hoisting devices have been constructed to hoist a gambrel and animal for field dressing. 
     Further, relocating an animal from an inaccessible location is another challenge often encountered by a hunter. Frequently, an animal must be moved from creek bottoms, step hills, crevasses, thick brush, etc. before it can be field dressed. Accordingly, numerous devices have been developed to aid in dragging or moving an animal in the field. 
     While the existing devices fulfill their respective objectives and requirements, these devices have disadvantages. For example, existing gambrel designs are used for hanging and not well suited to be dragged across a ground surface. Existing hoisting devices are comprised of bulky and cumbersome constructions. Further, existing hoisting devices require manual labor in operating a winching device to hoist a gambrel and animal. Because of this, suspending large animals in the field can be quite difficult. Moreover, the existing devices are single function featured and require a hunter to carry all three separate devices in the field. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of gambrels, hoisting devices and dragging devices, embodiments of the invention provide a new gambrel construction wherein the same includes a hoisting construction integrated with the gambrel that can be utilized to hoist and suspend game or other objects from an existing support structure, and which can further be used to relocate game. 
     Embodiments of the present invention also provide a gambrel having an integrated electrically operated hoisting configuration including an electric winch. 
     Embodiments of the present invention also provide a gambrel having a construction providing a skid surface that is suitable to be dragged across a ground surface for locating an animal for the loading of the animal into a vehicle for transportation or processing. 
     To achieve these and other advantages, in general, in one aspect, a gambrel device includes a gambrel frame and an electric winch mounted to the gambrel frame and including an electric motor and a winch drum operatively connected to the electric motor. A rigging cable extends from the drum and is threaded through a guide eyelet disposed at top apex of the gambrel frame. 
     In general, in another aspect, the gambrel frame is comprised of a single plate of material and includes the top apex and oppositely disposed base apexes each of which are angled upwardly towards the top apex and sharpened into a point. The top apex is angled inwardly towards a front side of the gambrel frame and the guide eyelet is formed through the top apex. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. 
     Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following drawings illustrate by way of example and are included to provide further understanding of the invention for the purpose of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the invention. No attempt is made to show structural details of the embodiments in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. Identical reference numerals do not necessarily indicate an identical structure. Rather, the same reference numeral may be used to indicate a similar feature of a feature with similar functionality. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a front illustration of a gambrel device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a back illustration of the invention; 
         FIG. 3   a  is an enlarged detailed view of a top portion of the invention; 
         FIG. 3   b  is an enlarged detailed view of a top portion of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a front illustration of the invention attached to a horizontal support structure with a first rigging assembly configured to hoist and suspend an animal; 
         FIG. 5  is a front illustration of the invention attached to a horizontal support structure with a second rigging assembly configured to hoist and suspend an animal; 
         FIG. 6  is a side illustration of the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a side illustration of the invention attached to a vertical support structure and configured to drag an animal attached to the invention across the ground surface and/or to load into a vehicle for transportation; and 
         FIG. 8  is a partial illustration of an alternative configuration of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , there is illustrated a gambrel device  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Device  10  includes a gambrel  12  having a gambrel frame  14  to which is mounted an electrically powered winch  16 . The gambrel frame  14  is comprised of a single plate of steel or similar strong material and has a front side  18  and a back side  20 . The gambrel frame  14  is generally triangular-shaped and includes a centrally disposed top apex  22  and oppositely disposed base apexes  24  and  26  each of which are upwardly angled and sharpened to a point. Apexes  24  and  26  provide conventional gambrel hooks or structure utilized to hang an animal for storage and/or processing. The gambrel frame  14  further includes a centrally disposed hook aperture  28  which may be used in suspending or otherwise attaching the device  10  from a support as will be further described hereinafter. Hook aperture  28  may be cross-shaped as illustrated to engage a hook in an upward, downward or side to side engagement as desired during use of device  10 . 
     Winch  16  is mounted to the gambrel frame  14  to be disposed on the front side  18  thereof so at to permit the back side  20  to freely slide across a ground surface when the device  10  is used to drag an animal. Preferably, to lower the center of gravity and to balance the gambrel  12 , the winch  16  is mounted to the gambrel frame  14  at a generally intermediate position between apexes  24  and  26  and along a base edge  30  of the gambrel frame. Winch  16  includes an electrical winch motor  32  and a winch drum  34  that is attached to and driven by the winch motor to wind rigging cable  36  thereupon. A hook  37  is attached to the free-end of the rigging cable  36 . As best seen in  FIG. 3 , top apex  22  is angled inwardly with respect to the front side  18  of the gambrel frame  14  and includes a guide eyelet  38  through which the rigging cable  36  is threaded. Rigging cable  36  may be threaded through guide eyelet  38  by passing through slot  39  that connects the guide eyelet to a perimeter edge  41  of the gambrel frame. Guide eyelet  38  guides the rigging cable  36  as it is wound on the winch drum to ensure even winding. Additionally, as will be further described, inward angling of the top apex  22  allows the skidding of the gambrel  12  along a ground surface while preventing the top apex from digging into the ground surface. 
     As further illustrated in  FIG. 1 , device  10  includes a winch control, and in the embodiment illustrated here is a wired controller having hand control  40  that is connected to the electric motor  32  of the winch  16  by an electrical cable  42 . The electrical cable  42  may be detachably connected to the electric motor  32  through a suitable electrical connector. Hand control  40  includes control buttons  44  and  46  to control the operating direction of the electric motor  32 , e.g. depressing button  44  operates the electrical motor to wind the rigging cable  36  onto the winch drum  34  and depressing button  46  operated the electrical motor to unwind the rigging cable from the winch drum. The handle control  40  further includes a source of electrical power  48 , such as a battery, for providing electrical power to the electric motor  32  upon depressing either button  44  and  46 . Alternative electric power sources may be used, for example, the winch may be connected to the power source of an ATV or other vehicle. The electrical power source may also be in the form of a rechargeable battery that is similar to the battery packs utilized in portable electric power tools. 
     In an embodiment, device  10  includes a pair of leg cinches  50  and  52  that may used for securing the legs of animal attached to the gambrel  12 . Leg cinch  50  is attached to the gambrel frame  14  at a position that is approximate base apex  24  and along base edge  30 . Leg cinch  52  is attached to the gambrel frame  14  at a position that is approximate base apex  26  and along base edge  30 . In the embodiment illustrated, leg cinch  50  is comprised of a cable that is attached at one end to the gambrel frame  14  by threading through eyelet  54  and includes an adjustable loop at the opposite end. Similarly, leg cinch  52  is comprised of a cable that is attached at one end to the gambrel frame  14  by threading through eyelet  56  and includes an adjustable loop at the opposite end. Cinches  50  and  52  are configured to grasp the narrow portion of the animal&#39;s front or back legs, which allows the animal to be hung, dragged, relocated or loaded by the front or back legs. Additionally, a cinch  50  or  52  could be attached to eyelet  55  for securing the head or neck of the animal in lifting, transporting or processing, such as skinning. While cinch  50  and  52  are illustrated, cinches could be replaced by a chain, rope, S-hook or a combination thereof and/or other methods for animal specific application and remain within the scope of the invention. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , in one aspect, rigging for securing device  10  to a support such as a tree limb  58  includes rigging cable  36  and hook  37 . As shown, rigging cable  36  is wrapped around the circumference of the tree limb and secured is by latching hook  37  on the cable forming a loop about the tree limb. Alternatively, the rigging may include a line doubling pulley  60  that may be secured to the support  58  by a cable  62  or other suitable strapping. Rigging cable  36  is threaded through pulley  60  and secured by engaging hook  37  with hook aperture  28 , as illustrated. The rigging illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6  utilizes the mechanical advantaged provided by pulley  60  to lift heavier weights than possible with the rigging illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     From the foregoing description of the device  10  the use and advantages thereof may be readily understood. In one aspect, device  10  may be used to suspend an animal (not shown) in the field from a support structure, such as tree limb for field dressing. In this aspect, device  10  is secured to the support  58  as illustrated in  FIG. 4  or  FIGS. 5 and 6 . As discussed above, the animal may be hung from the gambrel  12  for processing and/or storage by inserting base apexes  24  and  26  through opposite legs of the animal. The legs may be secured by cinches  50  and  52  about each respective leg to further secure the animal. Once the animal is secured to the gambrel  12 , the animal may be hoisted and suspended from the support  58  by operating the electric winch  16  to wind the rigging cable  36  on the winch drum  34 . Once suspended from the support  58  by device  10  the animal may be field dressed. 
     Turning to  FIG. 7 , in another aspect, device  10  may be used to move an animal from a difficult or inaccessible location like a crevasse, creek bottom, steep hill, etc. to a more accessible location or to load the animal into a vehicle, e.g. the bed of a pickup truck. In the first instance, device  10  may be attached a support such as vertical support  59  or any other suitable support by rigging as described above with reference to  FIGS. 4 through 6 . The winch  16  is then operated to either move the animal or load the animal into a vehicle. 
     In the first instance, the design of the gambrel  12  permits position of the gambrel on the ground surface  63  with the back side  20  of the gambrel frame  14  in contact with the ground surface. An animal may be secured to the gambrel by it legs by cinches  50  and  52  or alternatively by its head using a cinch secured to central aperture  55 . The animal may be dragged across the ground surface by operating the winch  16  as described above. The back side  20  is substantially smooth and therefore is not prone to becoming caught on ground limbs, vegetation, etc. while being dragged across the ground. Additionally, angled apex  22  provides ramp at the forward end of the gambrel  10  that permits the gambrel to raise and lower while tension is on the rigging cable  36  further assisting in avoiding rocks and other objects that might snag the gambrel. The angled apex  22  also assists in sliding the gambrel  10  onto a transport vehicle, e.g. the bed of a pickup truck. 
     Turning to  FIG. 8 , there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein the winch controller of the device  10  is wireless and includes a wireless controller  64 , a power supply  66  and a wireless receiver  68 . The wireless controller includes control buttons  70  and  71  similar to the hand held controller  40 . The power supply  66  may be carried by the gambrel frame  14  or alternatively may be integrated with the winch  16 . The wireless receiver  68  is operatively connected to the power supply  66  and the electric motor  32  of the winch  16 . The wireless receiver  68  upon receiving a wireless control signal  72  from the wireless controller  64  operates to control the operating direction of the electric motor  32 , e.g. depressing button  70  operates the electrical motor to wind the rigging cable  36  onto the winch drum  34  and depressing button  71  operates the electrical motor to unwind the rigging cable from the winch drum. 
     The operation and use of the invention hereinabove described is evident to those skilled in the art to which it relates from a consideration of the foregoing. Accordingly, a detailed description of the operation and use of the invention is not required beyond the above description. It should also be apparent from the above description the gambrel  12  may be utilized in removing the hide of an animal. For example, the animal may be secured to the gambrel  12  for lifting with the hide of the animal secured to another suitable structure such that upon lifting of the animal through operation of the winch, the hide of the animal is removed simultaneously as the animal is lifted. 
     A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.