Abstract:
What is disclosed is a portable hunting screen. The hunting screen comprises a frame, camouflage material, and an opening through which a weapon can be fired.

Description:
PRIORITY 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/055,131 filed on Feb. 10, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,216,644 to which this application claims priority. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a portable and compact camouflage blind used by hunters. An object of the present invention is to provide a hunter with adequate concealment during the fair chase of game whenever camouflage is necessary. The present invention may be utilized in many different ways. It may be used by an archer for concealment. In such an embodiment, it attaches directly to a compound bow used for archery. It is also contemplated that it may be used as a ground blind as a self-standing unit in conjunction with a bow, a rifle or a shotgun depending on the particular hunting season. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an overall plan view illustrating the use of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is an alternate perspective view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is another alternate perspective view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is an alternate view of the present invention during use. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a front view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a rear view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a hunting screen comprising a generally rectangular first frame that comprises pivoting joints for folding into a flat position, a generally rectangular second frame adapted to be rigidly connected to the first frame whereby the second frame is adjustable in size and forms an opening through which a weapon may be fired, an adjustable mechanism connected to the second frame adapted to connect to and support a weapon to be fired and camouflage material attached to the first frame in such a manner that the opening is not thereby obstructed. 
   The present invention also provides an alternate embodiment for use in situations where hunters have no ground cover or trees to hide behind. In this embodiment, the hunting screen is provided with a likeness of an animal on the front and a frame for attaching the weapon. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention will now be described in terms of the presently preferred embodiments thereof. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many obvious modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. 
   The present invention is directed to a hunting screen  10  as illustrated in the appended drawings. In the presently preferred embodiment, the hunting screen  10  is contemplated to be approximately 36″ in high and 24″ in wide. The bow screen  10  comprises a frame  12  that may be covered with camouflage material  14  that is presently available to suit any hunting condition. The camouflage material  14  provides visual concealment for a hunter. The frame  12  is constructed of an ultra-light composite material which is both durable and weather resistant. The camouflage material  14  is sewn onto the frame  12  in such a manner that it stretches over the frame  12  and thereby allows for easy installation and removal. The hunting screen  10  further comprises an opening  16  through which the hunter will fire the weapon. The opening  16  is readily adjustable in size to suit the hunter&#39;s need. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2 , the frame  12  is generally rectangular in shape. It is provided with a plurality of hinged joints  13  which allows the hunting screen  10  to be folded for easy transport as shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . 
   The opening  16  is formed by a second frame  17  that is generally rectangular is shape. The second frame  17  is rigidly connected to the frame  12  by means of posts  15 . The second frame  17  further comprises crossbars  19 . The crossbars  19  are adjustable and moveable so that the opening  16  is adjustable in size. The second frame  17 , as further explained below, is adapted in this embodiment to connect a compound bow  18  to the hunting screen  10 . The second frame  17  further comprises two swing arms  20 , which are used to connect to the weapon. 
   In the preferred embodiment, the hunting screen  10  is attached to the compound bow  18  by inserting the two swing arms  20  onto a forked fitting  22 . The forked fitting  22  is adapted to be threaded into the compound bow riser  19 . As is known to those of ordinary skill in the art, a bow stabilizer is usually installed into a bow screen. 
   Once the hunting screen  10  is attached to the compound bow  18 , the hunting screen  10  is ready for use by a hunter. In use, the hunting screen  10  will stand upright on its own, due to the points of contact  24  with the ground. A stabilizer rod  26  is connected from the hunting screen  10  to the compound bow  18  to ensure this position. A small fitting  28  is mounted to the compound bow  18  near the aiming site  19  to connect the bow  18  to the stabilizer rod  26 . 
   After use, the hunting screen  10  may be removed from the bow  18  by separating the swing arms  20  from the forked fitting  22 , and removing the stabilizer rod  20  from both the frame and the fitting attached to the bow. The swing arms  20  are then turned back toward the bow, so that they are out of the way for transportation. The stabilizer rod  20  can now be attached to the bow screen frame  14  by storage clips that are provided. 
   At this point, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the compound bow  18  may be set down on the ground upon the forked fitting  22 , which remains affixed on the compound bow and the top portion of the compound bow (usually a wheel or cam wheel). This position of the compound bow  18  is a convenient way for the hunter to set it down on the ground so that none of the accessories attached to the bow become entangled with any ground debris. 
   The hunting screen  10  can now be folded in half at the hinge joints  13  installed on the frame  12 . It then may be carried over the hunter&#39;s shoulder with a strap  25 , for easy transportation. The folded bow screen  10  is now approximately 18″×24″ with a total weight of about one pound. 
   An alternative embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . In this embodiment, the bow screen  100  may be used as a ground blind. The hunting screen  100  can be unfolded and locked into place by sliding four bushings  102  over folding fittings  104 . At this unfolded position the hunting screen measures approximately 24″×36″ and may be placed in such a manner to conceal a hunter. 
   It may also be used on it 36″ side in the semi-folded position to make it self standing. With a second bow screen, that can be clipped together, the ground blind can be set up in many different ways to suit the hunter&#39;s needs and to provide a larger concealment area. For example, the blinds can be arranged side to side, end to end, end to side, etc. 
   An alternate embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8  and will now be described in detail. When people hunt in areas where the terrain is flat and relatively treeless, such as the plains area of the Western United States, it is difficult for the hunters to conceal themselves from their prey. Consequently, when someone hunts in those areas, they often use cardboard likenesses that are shaped like the animals they are stalking. A hunter will hide behind the cardboard likeness until the animal approaches. At that point, the hunter must come out from behind the cardboard likeness to fire his or her weapon and thereby reveal his presence to the animal prior to firing the weapon. The hunting screen  200  illustrated in  FIG. 7  combines the utility of the previously described embodiment with the concept of using an animal likeness to allow the hunter to fire his or her weapon without revealing himself or herself to the prey. 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , the front of the alternate embodiment comprises a likeness of a deer or other animal. The likeness of the animal is printed or silk-screened onto a fabric material  202 . The fabric is typically a material that can accept silk screening or be painted with a photograph, although other similar materials can be used. 
   The fabric material  202  is fitted onto a tubular frame  204 . The tubular frame  204  is large enough to accommodate a generally life size likeness of the animal on the front thereof. The tubular frame  204  comprises a generally rectangular and adjustable opening  206 . The fabric material  202  comprises a similar opening  208  that is generally aligned with the opening  206 . The tubular frame  204  is joined to the fabric material  202  by stitching or welding. 
   The tubular frame  204  further comprises a mechanism to allow the hunter to mount a variety of weapons for firing through the opening  206 . In this embodiment, an adjustable cross-bar  209  is utilized similar to the cross-bar  19  in  FIG. 1 . The hunting screen  200  further comprises swing arms  210  for connecting a compound bow to the screen like the swing arms  20  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
   In use, the hunter would stand behind the hunting screen  200  with weapon attached and either wait for the prey to approach or move the hunting screen  200  closer to the prey. When the hunter is within striking distance of the prey, he can then fire his weapon without disclosing his presence to the prey. 
   Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the embodiments just described merely illustrate the principles of the present invention. Many modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of invention as set forth in the following claims.