Abstract:
A collapsible blind and decoy apparatus ( 10 ) for attracting wild game wherein the apparatus ( 10 ) includes a blind/decoy unit ( 12 ) supported by a collapsible framework unit ( 11 ). The blind/decoy unit ( 12 ) includes a blind/decoy member ( 50 ) having a first sheet ( 51 ) of material ( 52 ) that is at least semi-transparent with a front surface ( 56 ) that is provided with an opaque decoy element ( 55 ) that is contoured, colored and configured to resemble a selected species of wild game for the purpose of attracting wild game towards the apparatus ( 10 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to the field of collapsible blinds for hunting in general, and in particular to a collapsible blind whose primary function is to act as a decoy to attract wild game. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,590,699; 5,214,872; 5,522,168; 5,572,823; and 5,787,632, the prior art is replete with myriad and diverse hunting blind constructions. 
     While all of the aforementioned prior art constructions are more than adequate for the basic purpose and function for which they have been specifically designed, they are uniformly deficient with respect to their failure to provide a simple, efficient, and practical collapsible blind construction whose primary function is to provide a decoy for wild game. 
     As most hunters are aware, the use of decoys for big game animals such as elk and deer is extremely effective; however, the transport of the decoy to a particular site or location can be so difficult and/or cumbersome as to make this task either impossible or impractical for most purposes. 
     As a consequence of the foregoing situation, there has existed a longstanding need among hunters for a new and improved collapsible blind whose primary purpose and function is to serve as a decoy for wild game, and the provision of such an construction is the stated objective of the present invention. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Briefly stated, the collapsible decoy and blind apparatus that forms the basis of the present invention comprises in general, a framework unit that is collapsible and supports a combined blind/decoy unit. 
     As will be explained in greater detail further on in the specification, the most important aspect of this invention revolves around the blind/decoy unit which includes a first sheet of at least partially transparent material having a front surface which is provided with an opaque decoy element that is contoured, colored, and configured to resemble a selected species of wild game. The light transmissive properties of the first sheet of material gives a three dimensional appearance to the decoy element such that when transparent material is employed as the first sheet of material, the decoy element will acquire a stand alone visual appearance. When a partially transparent sheet of material is employed as the first sheet of material, any hunter movement that occurs behind the blind/decoy unit will be attributed by an approaching game animal as emanating from the decoy element. 
     In addition, the framework unit includes a collapsible framework member mounted on a collapsible support shaft member, whereby the support shaft member folds in half and the framework member and the blind/decoy unit are collapsible in a quasi-folding umbrella fashion to facilitate the transport of the apparatus to a desired hunting location. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other attributes of the invention will become more clear upon a thorough study of the following description of the best mode for carrying out the invention, particularly when reviewed in conjunction with the drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the collapsible blind and decoy apparatus that forms the basis of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a cut away perspective view of a generally two dimensional version of the apparatus; 
     FIG. 3 is a cut away perspective view of a generally three dimensional version of the apparatus; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus in the fully collapsed state; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus in the partially erected state; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus in the substantially erected state; and 
     FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus in the fully erected state. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As can be seen by reference to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, the combined blind and decoy apparatus that forms the basis of the present invention is designated generally by the reference number  10 . The apparatus  10  comprises in general a framework unit  11 , and a blind/decoy unit  12 . These units will now be described in seriatim fashion. 
     As can best be appreciated by reference to FIG. 7, the framework unit  11  comprises a collapsible framework member  20  having a plurality of articulated support arms  21  that are pivotally connected to both the outboard end  31  of the upper portion  32  of a collapsible support shaft member  30  and the exterior periphery of a slidably collar element  40 . 
     In addition, each of the support arms  21  comprise a plurality of rib elements  22  through  25  that are pivotally and slidably associated with one another to form a quasi-umbrella style arrangement. Furthermore, each of the rib elements  21  include a first rib element  22  having an inboard end pivotally connected to the outboard end  31  of the upper portion  32  of the collapsible shaft member  30 . A second rib element  23  has an inboard end pivotally connected to the slidable collar element  40  on the upper portion  32  of the collapsible shaft member  30 . The outboard end of the first rib element  22  is slidably disposed on the intermediate portion of the second rib element  23 . A third rib element  24  having an inboard end pivotally and slidably connected to the intermediate portion of the first rib element  22  and a fourth rib element  25  whose inboard end is pivotally connected to the outboard end of the third rib element and having an intermediate portion which is pivotally connected to the outboard end of the second rib element  23 . 
     As can be seen by reference to FIGS. 4 through 7, the collapsible support shaft member  30  is provided with a lower portion  33  that is pivotally connected as at  34  so that the support shaft member  30  will form a generally L-shaped support leg arrangement for the four armed framework member  20  when the framework member  20  is fully deployed. 
     In addition, both the framework member  20  and the support shaft member  30  are capable of being collapsed into a very compact configuration both for transport to and from the field, as well as for storage purposes. 
     Turning now to FIGS. 1 through 3,  6  and  7 , it can be seen that the decoy/blind unit  12  comprises a decoy/blind member  50  that includes a generally rectangular sheet  51  of camouflage material  52 . The rear surface  53  of the rectangular sheet  51  is provided with a plurality of pockets  54  which are dimensioned to receive the outboard ends of each of the support arms  21  of the collapsible framework member  20 . 
     In addition, the decoy/blind member  50  further comprises a decoy element  55  that is provided on the front surface  56  of the rectangular sheet  51 . In the first version of the preferred embodiment in FIG. 2, the decoy element  55  is fabricated from lightweight flexible foam rubber  57  or the like that will provide depth and contours to the decoy element  55 . In the second version of the invention the decoy element  55  is fabricated from a thin sheet of opaque material  58 . In both versions, the decoy element  55  has the outline, coloration and appearance of a selected species of wild game. 
     At this juncture, it should be noted that in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the decoy element  55  is opaque while the camouflage material  52  is at least semi-transparent to provide depth perception to an animal observing the decoy element  55 . Furthermore, when the apparatus  10  is employed both as a blind and a decoy, this semi-transparency not only allows hunters hidden behind the apparatus  10  to observe an approaching animal, but also causes the animal to attribute any motion that occurs in an obscured fashion behind the decoy element to be animated movement caused by the decoy element  55 . This feature is particularly helpful when a hunter begins to raise either a firearm or bow and arrow preparatory to taking a shot at an animal, and it also coincides exactly with that point in time when an animal would most likely be spooked by the movement, but for the presence of the decoy element  55 . 
     It should also be noted that this invention also contemplates fabricating sheet  51  from transparent material in those instances where the apparatus  10  is only intended to function as a decoy and in this particular instance, the decoy element  55  will present a stand alone appearance with the background vegetation and landscape being clearly visible to the game animal. 
     Although only an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims. 
     Having thereby described the subject matter of the present invention, it should be apparent that many substitutions, modifications, and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that the invention as taught and described herein is only to be limited to the extent of the breadth and scope of the appended claims.