Abstract:
An apparatus for a hunter having a preformed body with a plurality of adjustable supports to brace the body in an upright position. The device has removable wheels and is foldable for transport. It may be pulled over land or ice. Accessories are an overhead awning and a removable side skirt. The apparatus is easily assembled.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is related to provisional application No. 61/005,747 filed Dec. 7, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to an apparatus to be used by hunters and fishermen and more particularly to a cart-like device which has removable wheels and a handle for cart-type use and which serves as a seat for a hunter or for use in a duck blind. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Prior Art 
         [0005]    Hunters and fishermen are exposed to the elements for long periods of time and the hunters/fishermen need a means to be seated and to be camouflaged from birds and animals. Folding chairs are not practical and are difficult to transport. Also needed is a means to transport decoys, equipment, food and the game which have been shot. 
         [0006]    Most commercially available devices are a foldable chair with a camouflage cover. Transport means presently available are sleds and wheeled devices. The applicant is not aware of any devices which can serve both functions. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a single apparatus which can serve to transport a hunter&#39;s equipment, haul the hunter&#39;s kill and also serve as a seat for the hunter and have a camouflage covering to screen the hunter. 
         [0008]    In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, there is disclosed an apparatus for a hunter, comprising a wheeled cart for hauling a kill, such as a deer&#39;s carcass. The cart has a preformed body with walls surrounding a base. The body has a forward end and a rearward end and a member articulatable relative to the cart at the forward end thereof. The cart may be positioned substantially vertical with the member at an acute angle thereto to brace and support the cart, such that the hunter may sit in the cart, using the rearward end of the cart as a chair, or using the cart as part of a duck blind, thereby providing a single piece of equipment useful as a cart or sled, a chair and a blind. The member also serves as a handle to pull or push the cart. 
         [0009]    These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the enclosed drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the body of the apparatus. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the body of the apparatus. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a view of the rearward end of the apparatus. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the top of the apparatus. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the apparatus standing in a vertical position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the apparatus standing in a vertical position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective rear view of the apparatus standing in a vertical position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the apparatus with the members partially extended. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the apparatus with the members fully extended. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the disassembled apparatus with the member folded adjacent to the body and the wheels within the body. 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing the disassembled apparatus loaded in the back of a vehicle. 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing supports on the body to which a side skirt is attached. 
           [0022]      FIG. 13  is a side view showing supports having a camouflaged overhead awning and a camouflaged side skirt. 
           [0023]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing the apparatus being pulled by a hunter. 
           [0024]      FIG. 15  is a front view of a hunter sitting in the apparatus with grass and bushes attached to the apparatus as camouflage. 
           [0025]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the apparatus floating on a body of water. 
           [0026]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the apparatus used for fishing on a frozen body of water. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the body  10  of the apparatus has a base  12  with walls  14  surrounding the base  12 . A plurality of longitudinal ribs  16  are formed on the base  12  to provide strength to the base. The wall  14  on the forward end  18  of the body is formed at an acute angle (approximately 25°) with respect to the base  12 . The top surfaces of the side walls are at a greater distance from the base near the forward end  18  and near the rearward end  20  than in the center of the respective side walls. It is preferred that the body be decorated or colored with a camouflage pattern. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIGS. 5-9 , an axle is attached to the rearward end  20  of the body and a pair of wheels  22  are removably received on the axle. It is preferred that the wheels be twenty inch airless foam composite. A first member  24  is attached to the forward end  18  of the body  10 , the first member being articulatable with respect to the body. Preferably, the first member  24  is u-shaped with two substantially parallel arms. Each arm is pivotably connected to an opposite side of the body  10 . The cart may be positioned substantially vertically with the first member at an acute angle thereto to brace and support the body such that a hunter may sit in the body using the rearward end of the body as a seat of a chair. 
         [0029]    If desired, a second member  26 , preferably u-shaped is nested between the wheels  22 , at the rearward portion of the body  10 . The second member  26  is articulatable with respect to the body  10 . The second member provides a second brace when the cart is placed in a vertical position with the rearward end proximal to the ground. This positioning is used when the cart is disposed in a chair or duck blind position. 
         [0030]    To provide greater stability, a third member  28 , preferably u-shaped may be articulatably connected to the rearward end  20  of the body  10 . Each arm of the u-shaped member is pivotally connected to an opposite side of the body  10 . 
         [0031]    A cushion  30 , preferably formed from a plastic foam, is attached to the base  12  and the wall of the body which forms the rearward end  20  of the body. The cushion serves as a seat for the hunter when the body is in the chair or duck blind position. In cold weather the foam cushion provides insulation for the hunter. 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the first, second and third members are adjustable in length. The members may be formed of telescoping sections which are incrementally adjustable to accommodate hunters of varying heights. Preferably, the members are formed from aluminum. 
         [0033]    The apparatus may be disassembled and compactly folded as shown in  FIG. 10 . The wheels  32  may be removed and stored in the body  10 . The articulatable members  24 ,  26 ,  28  are folded to be adjacent to and substantially parallel to the length of the body  10 . In the folded position, the open body of the apparatus may be used to store decoys and other devices which the hunter would use in the field. Also, the disassembled folded apparatus may be loaded in the back of a vehicle for ease of transportation of the apparatus ( FIG. 11 ). 
         [0034]    Accessories for the apparatus include a side skirt  32  and an overhead awning  34 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , a top bar  36  for the skirt  32  is a u-shaped frame with the ends of the legs of the frame connectable to the front of the body  10  approximately midway between the forward end  18  and the rearward end  20  of the body. A bottom bar  38  for the skirt  32  is a second u-shaped frame with the ends of the legs of the frame connectable to the rearward end  20  of the body. Each leg of the top bar  36  has one end of a resilient member  40  connected thereto. The opposite end of the resilient member  40  is connected to the body  10  near the forward end  18 . The resilient member may be a ¼ inch marine grade bungee. A fabric skirt  32  is removably attached between the top bar  36  and the bottom bar  38 . The resilient members  40  support the top bar  36  so that the skirt always hangs vertically around the front of the body  10  to protect the hunter seated on the body from inclement weather. The skirt preferably has a camouflage pattern formed thereon to reduce the visibility of the apparatus ( FIG. 13 ). 
         [0035]    The overhead awning  34  has a u-shaped frame  42  with the ends of the arms of the frame connectable to the body  10  of the apparatus. The awning is formed from fabric which is connected to the frame  42  and to the forward end  18  of the body. Preferably, the fabric has a camouflage pattern formed thereon to reduce the visibility of the apparatus. The awning may be folded downwardly to provide shade for the hunter seated within the apparatus. In inclement weather the awning reduces the amount of rain or snow which enters the body  10  of the apparatus. 
         [0036]    Another feature of the apparatus is the ability to use the first member  24  as a handle to pull or push the apparatus ( FIG. 14 ). With the wheels attached to the rearward end of the body, the apparatus may be moved over almost any type of terrain. The adjustable length of the first member enables persons of differing heights to adjust the length to a convenient length. When the apparatus is being pulled, the body may be used to hold decoys or the hunter&#39;s kill such as a deer or birds. If the wheels are removed, the apparatus can be pulled as a sled and can even be pulled over ice. 
         [0037]    In the field, grass, tree branches and other natural vegetation may be attached to the apparatus as shown in  FIG. 15  to make the apparatus less visible to animals and birds. The apparatus is taken to a selected location and the apparatus is set up by adjusting the members to a desired length. The versatile apparatus may be set up as a duck hunting blind, a coffin blind for hunting geese or a blind for deer hunters. The apparatus may be set up on land, in a marsh and may even be floated in water to reach shallow water where most duck boats cannot go ( FIG. 16 ). Still a further use is for ice fishing ( FIG. 17 ). 
         [0038]    The present invention is an all season, all weather versatile transformer that serves as a gear and game hauling cart that can be configured with ease as a full scale hunting blind or fishing shanty with built in seating. The waterproof device is constructed of environmentally safe materials and can be used on land, in the marsh or on ice. 
         [0039]    Obviously, many modifications may be made without departing from the basic spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than has been specifically described herein.