Abstract:
The present invention is a taxidermy mannequin which includes an optional ear engagement area formed on a head portion, a lock plate which is secured to the ear engagement area, and an ear liner which is connected to the lock plate. The connection between the lock plate and the ear liner is such that a taxidermist may work with the ear and animal skin before securing the ear liner to the lock plate. Furthermore, a multiple ear butt system is provided where the taxidermist may select from multiple ear butts, wherein different ear butts position the ear in different orientations relative the head.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The invention relates generally to a taxidermy mannequin for modeling an animal skin. More particularly, the invention relates to an improvement in taxidermy mannequin ear support. Specifically, the invention relates to a modular taxidermy mannequin ear assembly whereby an ear liner is easily and adjustably attached to a head portion of the taxidermy mannequin without the use of adhesive or clay. 
     2. Background Information 
     Taxidermy is the act of mounting or reproducing dead animals for display (e.g. as hunting trophies) or for other sources of study. Taxidermy can be done on all species of animals including mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The methods that taxidermists practice have been improved over the last century, heightening taxidermic quality. The animal is first skinned in a process similar to removing the skin from a chicken prior to cooking. This can be accomplished without opening the body cavity so the taxidermist usually does not see internal organs or blood. The skin is tanned and repaired and then placed on a mannequin for assembling the mount. 
     Generally, the taxidermist sews and glues the animal skin to a mannequin so as to replicate a realistic body pose and shape of the animal. Typical taxidermy mannequins include an integrated body and head, with sockets for eyes. However, visible body parts which are not retained with the skin are replaced by artificial means, such as the teeth and eyes. In a modern deer head mount, for example, the only natural parts of the animal used are the antlers and the skin. All of the other organs and tissues are recreated with man-made materials. The eyes are made from glass, the eyelids are sculpted from clay, the soft tissues of the nose and mouth are sculpted from epoxy or wax, and the mannequin is made from polyurethane foam or other materials. Clay and glue are used to secure these items to the mannequin head. Ear liners are produced to replace the ear cartilage and slide into an ear sheath created by removing the cartilage. The protruding end of the ear liners are typically attached to the head by clay and glue. 
     Taxidermists spend a large amount of time cutting, applying clay, and gluing features to the mannequin to achieve a realistic animal look. Over time, clay and glue lose their shape and adherence to the mannequin and the overall realistic look of the mounted animal deteriorates. Taxidermists spend a large amount of this time particularly on the ear portion of an animal model. The ear liner must be inserted into the ear cavity of the animal skin, and then affixed to the mannequin while the skin is draped over the ear liner. The skin is typically connected in one large piece and is heavy and unwieldy when working on each ear. When the animal ear skin is satisfactorily attached to the ear liner, the end of the ear liner must be affixed to the mannequin head. The ear liner is heavy from draping the animal ear skin overtop and threading the ear liner through the ear sheath, making it hard to secure to the animal mannequin head. As discussed previously, clay and glue are used to secure the ear liner to the animal head, but this is an efficient process and leaves the ears susceptible to becoming detached from the mannequin head over time, destroying the look of the animal model. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention is to provide a taxidermy mannequin ear assembly which is modular in nature and including elements which may be individually handled by the taxidermist to more easily form the animal ear skin around the model. 
     The present invention broadly comprises a modular taxidermy ear system which includes a lock plate having a first mount connector, an ear liner having a second mount connector, and an ear butt formed to receive a portion of the ear liner therethrough. The second mount connector is formed to engage with the first mount connector to secure the ear liner to the lock plate. 
     The present invention also broadly comprises multiple ear butts whereby different ear butts may be used with a single lock plate and a single ear liner to position the ear liner in different orientations. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode in which Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth in the following description and is shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims. 
         FIG. 1  is a side profile view of a taxidermy mannequin with an animal skin secured thereon to form a finished animal mount; 
         FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1  with the animal skin removed and a modular taxidermy mannequin ear assembly of the present invention secured to a head portion of the mannequin; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a lock plate of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a view taken on line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a bottom plan view the lock plate of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the present invention with parts shown in cross-section; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross sectional view of an ear liner and a ear butt of the present invention secured to the lock plate; and 
         FIG. 9  is a side profile view similar to  FIG. 2 , having a different ear butt and ear liner orientation. 
     
    
    
     Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-9 , there is shown a modular taxidermy ear assembly in accordance with the present invention and generally indicated at  10 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a preferred embodiment of modular taxidermy assembly  10  includes an ear engagement area  12  formed on a head portion  14  of a taxidermy mannequin  16 , a lock plate  18 , an ear butt  20 , a featured surface insert  22 , and an ear liner  24 . Ear engagement area  12  includes a recess  26  and a pair of holes  28 , each sized to receive a screw  30  passed through a hole  32  included in lock plate  18  to secure lock plate  18  to ear engagement area  12 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , lock plate  18  is formed in a generally flat, plate-like structure having a first side  33  and opposed second side  35 . Lock plate  18  further includes a first mount connector  34 , shown particularly in the preferred embodiment having female elements comprising a first aperture  36 , a second aperture  38 , and having a rail aperture  40  extending therebetween. Apertures  36 ,  38 , and  40  are defined by lock plate  18  and are shown having a particular shape, but may be defined in any desired shape. An angled surface  42  and  44  is formed on first side  33  of lock plate  18 , with angled surface  42  proximate second aperture  38  and angled surface  44  proximate rail aperture  40 . An angled surface  46  is formed on second side  35  of lock plate  18  proximate each of holes  32 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , ear butt  20  includes a flat surface  48 , an outer contoured surface  50  extending from flat surface  48 , and an inner surface  52  extending from flat surface  48  and defining a channel  54 . Channel  54  extends entirely through ear butt  20  and generally from a first side  56  of ear butt  20  to a second side  58 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  7 , and  8 , ear liner  24  includes a first portion  60 , a second portion  62 , and a second mount connector  64  proximate second portion  62 . Second mount connector  64  is shown particularly in the preferred embodiment having male elements and proximate second portion  62 , and comprising a rod  66  extending from second portion  62  with a generally spherical joinder element  68  affixed thereto. First portion  60  includes an ear recess  70  forming a pocket  72  proximate second portion  62 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , featured surface insert  22  includes a first side  74  and a second side  76 , and is sized to fit in pocket  72  with second side  76  abutting the surface of ear liner  24  in pocket  72  and first side  74  facing outwardly. 
     In operation, a taxidermist either selects taxidermy mannequin  16  having ear engagement area  12  previously formed, or the taxidermist may form ear engagement area  12  by shaving down a flat area proximate the anatomically correct position for an animal ear, creating holes  28  for screws  30 , and forming is recess  26 . After ear engagement area  12  is formed, the taxidermist will secure lock plate  18  thereto. Lock plate  18  is secured to ear engagement area by screws  30  passing through holes  32  and into holes  28  where they are frictionally retained. First side  33  of lock plate  18  is secured proximate ear engagement area  12 , while second side  35  of lock plate  18  faces outwardly from taxidermy mannequin  16 . This positions angled surface  42  and angled surface  44  proximate recess  26 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , this further positions angled surface  46  facing outwardly to complementarily receive screws  30  and retain the outermost portion of screws  30  therein to maintain an even surface on second side  35  of lock plate  18 . 
     After lock plate  18  is secured to head portion  14  of taxidermy mannequin  16 , the taxidermist inserts first portion  60  of ear liner  24  into an animal ear skin by any means common in the art to simulate the firm cartilage of an animal ear as understood in the art. As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , first portion  60  of ear liner  24  is generally ear shaped and formed to match the anatomical shape of the particular animal the taxidermist is modeling. First portion  60  of ear liner  24  supports the skin of the tip of the animal ear, and wraps into ear recess  70 , while second portion  62  and second mount connector  64  do not directly support the animal ear skin. 
     When the taxidermist is satisfied that the animal ear skin is sufficiently secured and modeled upon first portion  60  of ear liner  24  the taxidermist engages ear liner  24  with ear butt  20  by the following method. As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the taxidermist inserts second mount connector  64  into channel  54  at second side  58  and presses ear liner  18  until second mount connector  64  extends outwardly from first side  56  of ear butt  20 ; second portion  62  resides in channel  54  generally abutting inner surface  52 ; and first portion  60  extends outwardly from second side  58  of ear butt  20 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the contours of inner surface  52  complement the shape of second portion  62  to provide a fitted abutment. 
     After ear butt  20  is properly fitted to ear liner  24 , ear liner  24  is secured to lock plate  18  by engaging second mount connector  64  with first mount connector  34 . As shown particularly in the preferred embodiment in  FIGS. 4-8 , second mount connector  64  is comprised of rod  66  and joinder element  68 , which extend outwardly from second portion  62 . First mount connector  34  is a keyhole slot comprised of first and second aperture  36  and  38 , respectively, and rail aperture  40  extending therebetween. To secure ear liner  24  to lock plate  18 , the taxidermist inserts joinder element  68  into first aperture  36 . First aperture  36  is sized to allow joinder element  68  to pass therethrough and into recess until rod  66  resides within first aperture  36 . The taxidermist then moves ear liner  24  so that rod  66  slides along angled surface  44  within rail aperture  40  and into second aperture  38 . Second aperture  38  is sized to disallow joinder element  68  to pass therethrough, thus holding ear liner  24  engaged with lock plate  18 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , angled surface  42  surrounding second aperture  38  is sized to complementarily receive a leading edge  78  of joinder element  68  and prevent joinder element  68  and rod  66  from inadvertently slipping into rail aperture  40  and further into first aperture  36  where ear liner  24  may disengage with lock plate  18 . When engaged, ear liner  24  acts to hold ear butt  20  pressed against lock plate  18 , thereby pinning ear butt  20  between ear liner  24  and lock plate  18 . When second mount connector  64  is engaged with first mount connector  34 , joinder element  68  resides in recess  26  and frictionally holds ear liner  24  and ear butt  20  to lock plate  18 , thereby providing a releasable connection between modular taxidermy ear system  10  and head portion  14  of taxidermy mannequin  16 . First and second mount connectors  34  and  64 , respectively, are shown in the preferred embodiment having apertures  36 ,  38 , and  40 , rod  66 , and joinder element  68 , however, mount connectors  34  and  36  may be formed having any similar connection elements and styles, including a snap fit, press fit, or frictional engagement. 
     After ear liner  24  is satisfactorily engaged with lock plate  18 , the taxidermist continues to mount the animal skin onto head portion  14  of taxidermy mannequin  16  in any means common in the art. As shown in  FIG. 8 , ear butt  20  includes outer surface  50  which is contoured and complementarily formed to provide an anatomically accurate base for the animal ear skin when second mount connector  64  is engaged with first mount connector  34 . 
     At any desired point in the taxidermy process after ear liner  24  is engaged with lock plate  18  the taxidermist may insert featured surface insert  22  into pocket  72  of ear liner  24 . When featured surface insert  22  is fitted into pocket  72 , first side  74  faces outwardly to display contoured and anatomically correct surface features to simulate the anatomically correct projections of the inner ear cartilage of an animal, such as the concha, tragus, antitragus. Second side  74  of featured surface insert  22  fittably abuts the surface of ear liner  24  which forms pocket  72  and is frictionally held therein. 
     After ear liner  24 , ear butt  20 , and lock plate  18  are engaged to secure modular taxidermy ear system  10  to head portion  14  of taxidermy mannequin  16 , the taxidermist may finish building the animal model using any method common in the art. Ear liner  24  is firmly secured to head portion  14  and is not susceptible to the common forms of degradation such as loss of adhesion for adhesive or clay-based affixation methods. Furthermore, ear liner  24  may be easily disengaged from lock plate to adjust the positioning of particular elements or the animal skin itself. 
     A main feature of the present invention is the ability of the taxidermist to efficiently configure the ear placement on the animal model from the formation of outer surface  50  and second side  58  of ear butt  20  and channel  54  extending therethrough. As shown in  FIG. 2 , outer surface  50  and second side  58  of ear butt  20  is formed to position ear liner  24  in a particular orientation  80 , wherein ear recess  70  of first portion  60  is facing the same direction as head portion  14  of taxidermy mannequin  16 . The opening of channel  54  proximate second side  58  requires ear liner  24  to face in orientation  80  to be fittably received therein. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , a second ear butt  82  is formed to position ear liner  24  in a different orientation  84  when viewed in relation to orientation  80 . A channel (not shown) opening proximate a second side  88  of ear butt  82  positions ear liner  24  in orientation  84 , wherein ear recess  70  faces away from the direction head portion  14  of taxidermy mannequin  16  is facing. The opening of the channel of ear butt  82  requires ear liner  24  to face in orientation  84  to be fittably received therein. Thus, using a single ear liner  24  and a single lock plate  18 , the taxidermist may support ear skin in different orientations  80  and  84  by selecting either ear butt  20  and  82 , respectively, to provide a desired position of the animal ear skin. Ear butt  20  and  82  may be formed to give ear liner  24  any position relative head portion  14 . This allows the taxidermist to customize and tailor modular taxidermy ear system  10  to conform to the particular animal skin and desired finished animal model. 
     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
     Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.