Abstract:
The present invention relates to an apparatus for use with field dressing an animal. The apparatus is a cavity expander used to spread open the body cavity of an animal after the animal has been field dressed enabling the carcass to cool. The cavity expander is adjustable and includes inner and outer members which are slidably disposed in a telescopic relationship. A detent mechanism, attached to one of the members selectively engages the other member to hold the members in a fixed relationship to achieve a desired overall length of the cavity expander.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for use with field dressing an animal and, more specifically, to an apparatus for spreading open the body cavity of an animal after the animal has been field dressed to allow it to cool.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    After a game animal is taken, the animal is typically field dressed, which involves opening the body cavity of the animal and removing the internal organs. Once the internal organs are removed, is necessary to hold the body cavity open to enable it to cool.  
           [0003]    In the past, once the animal was field dressed, a hunter would often use a stick found on the ground or broken off a nearby tree or bush to prop open the body cavity. Obviously, such a procedure has its drawbacks, specifically finding the right length and type of stick.  
           [0004]    Given the inherent drawbacks of using a stick to prop open the body cavity, other types of body cavity spreading devices were developed to prop open the body cavity. These devices are used when field dressing the animal or afterward to keep the body cavity open. Many of these devices are cumbersome, bulky and are often difficult to carry into the field. In addition, several of the prior art carcass spreaders or cavity expanders while adjustable, in that they fit a multitude of animal sizes, are not very compact. Specifically, such adjustable carcass spreaders often require a large support rod upon which the various engagement arms are secured.  
           [0005]    Thus, there remains a need in the art for a compact, simple and easy to use carcass spreader for use by a hunter either during or after field dressing an animal.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention is a cavity expander for spreading or holding open the body cavity of an animal. The cavity expander includes inner and outer members, wherein the members are slidably disposed in a telescopic relationship. A detent mechanism, attached to one of the members, selectively engages the other member such that the members can be positioned and held in variable positions to achieve a desired overall length of the cavity expander. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cavity expander according to the present invention shown engaging the sides of an animal carcass to spread or hold the body cavity open;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a cavity expander according to the present invention; and  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the cavity expander according to the present invention illustrating one type of detent mechanism and one type of end cap for use there with.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a partial cross-section view of the cavity expander according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention illustrating an additional detent mechanism and end cap suitable for use with the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is a partial cross-section view of the cavity expander according to a further alternative embodiment of the present invention illustrating an additional detent mechanism and end cap suitable for use with the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is a partial cross-section view of the cavity expander according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention illustrating an additional end cap suitable for use with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]    Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawing, there is shown a cavity expander  10  according to the present invention holding open or expanding the body cavity of an animal carcass  12 . The cavity expander  10  includes a first or outer member  14  and a second or inner member  16 . As shown in FIG. 2, the second or inner member  16  is sized such that it fits and slides in a reciprocal manner within the first or outer member  14  in a telescopic relationship.  
         [0014]    As shown in FIGS. 2-3 both the outer  14  and inner  16  members are cylindrically shaped tubular members wherein the inner member  16  slidably fits within the outer member  14 . The first or outer member includes an engagement end  18  and a receptacle end  20 . The second or inner member  16  also includes an engagement end  22  and a leading end  24 . As illustrated, the leading end  24  of the inner member  16  is inserted into the receptacle end  20  of the outer member  14 . Accordingly, as the inner member  16  slides within the outer member  14 , the overall length of the cavity expander  10  will vary.  
         [0015]    A detent mechanism, seen generally at  30 , is used to secure the respective inner  16  and outer  14  members to one another and to maintain the desired overall length of the cavity expander  10 . As shown herein, the detent mechanism  30  includes a support member  32  inserted within the leading end  24  of the inner member  16 . A spring arm  34  attaches to the support member  32  and has a button  36  located on one end thereof.  
         [0016]    It should be understood that the spring arm  34  provides the necessary bias to urge the button  36  outwardly through an aperture  38  in the leading end  24  of the inner member  16 . Other mechanisms which operate to urge the button  36  outward through the aperture  38  also come within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0017]    As illustrated in FIG. 2, the outer member  14  includes a plurality of apertures  40  located longitudinally thereon. These apertures  40  form a part of the detent mechanism  30  in that they cooperate with the button  36  to secure the position of the outer member  14  with respect to the inner member  16 . To adjust the overall length of the cavity expander  10 , the button  30  is depressed or pushed inward until it is below the inner surface  28  of the outer member  14  and thus the outer member  14  is disengaged and uncoupled from the inner member  16  and the inner member  16  is free to move within the outer member  14 . Accordingly, the respective outer member  14  and inner members  16  may be repositioned, after which the button  36  is released and allowed to extend outward through the nearest aperture  40  on the outer member  14  to engage and couple the outer and inner members  14 ,  16 . FIGS. 4-5 show further embodiments of detent mechanisms suitable for use with the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a threaded fastener  52  extending through aperatures  54 ,  56  in the outer  14  and inner  16  members. A nut, such as a wing nut  58 , engages the threaded fastener  52  to secure it in place. FIG. 5 shows a twist/cam lock type detent mechanism  30  having a support member  60  and a cam  62  secured for rotation on the support member  60  by a pivot pin  64 . As the inner member  16  is axially rotated it causes the cam  62  to rotate and engage the inner surface  28  of the outer member  16  and creates a wedge or binding force which locks the respective outer  14  and inner  16  members in position. It should be understood that any detent mechanism  30  which operates to secure the outer  14  and inner  16  members in position, comes within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0018]    As shown in FIGS. 2-3 the cavity expander  10  further includes end caps  42  placed on the respective engagement ends  18 ,  22  of the outer  14  and inner  16  members. The end caps  42  may take various configurations. As shown in the present embodiment, the end caps  42  included a reduced diameter post portion  44  sized to fit within the engagement ends  18 ,  22  of the outer  14  and inner  16  members. The end caps  42  further include an engagement portion  46  having a non-slip surface or configuration that contacts the animal carcass  12 . The engagement portion  46  shown in FIGS. 2-3, includes a plurality of inclined plate-like members  48  extending outwardly and forming a pointed end  50  which engages the carcass  12  to secure the cavity expander  10  in position.  
         [0019]    It should be understood that the end caps  42  may have a variety of engagement portion  46  configurations as long as they operate to prevent the cavity expander  10  from slipping or moving once inserted into the animal carcass  12 . As shown in FIG. 4, the engagement portion  46  may have a knurled configuration. Further, in FIGS. 3-5 the end caps  42  are shown inserted within the engagement ends  18 ,  22  of the outer  14  and inner  16  members, however as shown in FIG. 6 the end caps  42  may have a cup shape and be placed over the respective engagement ends  18 ,  22  of the respective outer and inner members  14 ,  16 .  
         [0020]    As shown in FIG. 5, the end caps  42  may be reversible, in that the engagement portions  46  are inserted within the outer  14  and inner  16  members, prior to use. Wherein the post portion  44  of the end caps  42  extends outward. Prior to use, the engagement portion  46  of the respective end caps  42  is withdrawn from within the respective outer  14  and inner  16  members, the end cap  42  is reversed or rotated, and the post portion  44  is inserted into the engagement end  18 ,  22  of the outer  14  and inner  16  member. This enables the engagement portion  46  to remain within the cavity expander  10  during transport and prior to use thus reducing the likelihood of it snagging or catching on the hunters clothing or gear during transport. Finally, the end caps  42  can be made of any material suitable to provide a non-slip surface or configuration.  
         [0021]    It will thus be seen that the objects of the invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the foregoing specific embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the scope of the following claim.