Abstract:
A method and fixtures for holding natural or artificial material which can be used by hunters or other nature observers to construct a camouflage screen. The fixture may include a clamp which can be attached to any existing stand, support structure or other tree branch as necessary to obtain optimal concealment, or a stake which can be anchored in the ground. Each clamp has two branch holders, which may be arranged at alternating angles or rotatably connected to the clamp. Each stake may have one or more branch holders, which may be fixed or rotatable. The branch holders may have set screws with knobs permitting branches to be secured at the optimal angle and position to conceal the hunter or nature observer and to resemble the growth pattern of natural foliage. The branch holders may also be rotatable to allow the user to further customize the camouflage screen.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/142,517, filed Jan. 5, 2009. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to the field of camouflage devices for use in an outdoor environment to conceal a hunter or other nature observer from wildlife. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Hunters and others who spend time in natural settings to observe animals have long realized the importance of concealing themselves from game being hunted and from other potentially dangerous wild animals. Hunters and other nature observers have therefore developed scent camouflage techniques and visual camouflage techniques. 
     Camouflaged clothing as well as camouflage-printed material covers for tree stands or blinds are commercially available. Branch holders that are attached to tree stands or blinds were introduced as a more natural appearing alternative than the camouflage-printed material covers which tend to have sharp perimeter lines that may be visible to wildlife and which may be difficult to match to the particular foliage of a given location. Such branch holders are generally designed to hold individual branches in a fixed position on a tree stand, blind or other man-made structure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is an apparatus and method for adjustably positioning camouflaging branches on or in front of objects to be camouflaged. In one embodiment, a clamp is provided with at least one branch holder, and the clamp can be clamped to a tree stand, a tree branch or other supporting structure for holding branches in any of a number of different positions, as desired by the user. In another embodiment, a stand with at least one movable branch holder is provided, which can be staked to the ground In the preferred embodiments, the branch holders can be secured in various orientations and positions as desired by the user. These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be more fully understood by reference to the description of the preferred embodiments and appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment branch clamp; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the clamp; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment clamp to a support such as a portion of a tree stand. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a tree stand mounted on a tree with a preferred embodiment clamp clamped to the tree stand. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of an embodiment of the clamp with a star-shaped jaw. 
         FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment with a locking knob for adjustment of branch holder. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a preferred embodiment clamp with a receiving plate and spring button for adjustment of the branch holder, with one side of the clamp shown in a broken line to simplify the drawing. 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of a preferred embodiment clamp with a receiving plate and spring button for adjustment of the branch holder. 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of the stake branch holder embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The preferred embodiment branch holder clamp  10  can be used to construct a camouflage screen using either natural materials found at the site of construction or natural or artificial branches or other materials that can be carried to the site where the camouflage screen will be used ( FIGS. 1 and 3 ). Clamp  10  is small, portable, movable even when filled with branches, and readily adjustable to fit different sizes and types of branches and to be affixed to different locations without necessitating the use of any tools or specialized equipment. Further, clamp  10  is capable of holding branches in such a position so as to make them appear to be natural growth which comes from a single base in a fan-like arrangement. 
     Clamp  10  comprises opposing clamping sides  12  and  14  pivotally joined on pivot axle  13 , and biased to a clamping position by a spring  15 . The clamping ends  12   a  and  14   a  grasp the element to which clamp  10  will be attached. On each side of the clamp  12  and  14  a branch holder  16  is attached which is capable of receiving the end of a natural or artificial branch element  18 . In one embodiment, branch holders  16  are secured to clamping sides  12  and  14  by techniques such as welding, adhesion with adhesives or the like. In another embodiment, as further described below, the branch holders  16  are secured to the clamping sides  12  and  14  by techniques which allow the branch holders  16  to be rotated and secured at various angles to provide more realistic branch coverage. The branch holders  16  can be oriented at alternating angles, whether fixed or adjustable, such that the branch elements  18  will be oriented in a fan-like arrangement ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ). 
     Each branch holder  16  includes an elongated screw  20  which, when threaded through the side of the branch holder can be tightened to hold branch elements  18  of different sizes and thicknesses securely in the desired orientation by being tightened to provide friction against the branch element  18 . Screw  20  is threaded through any side of the branch holder  16  which is not attached to a side of the clamp  12  or  14 . Each screw  20  has an adjustment knob  22  fastened on the end of the elongated screw  20  which is outside of the branch holder  16  such that the elongated screw  20  can be tightened to hold the branch element  18  quickly and securely by hand. 
     Clamp  10  is a spring clamp or other type of clamp which can preferably be secured without the use of tools. The clamp  10  will be of a size sufficient to be clamped to the frame of a support structure, such as a standard tree stand or blind used by hunters or nature observers, or to be clamped to any existing foliage in natural surroundings, such as a spring clamp with a length of about six (6) inches. The portion of the clamp  10  to be secured to the tree stand, blind, natural foliage or other support structure may be shaped in a star-like pattern, as shown in  FIG. 6 , with teeth  24  extending into the portion of the clamp  10  where the clamp  10  will surround a tree stand or blind. The star pattern of teeth  24  allows the clamp to be secured at various angles around the support structure and allows for greater security of the clamp  10  in different orientations. 
     Branch holders  16  can be elongated pipe-like shapes of a size sufficient to receive one end of a branch element  18 , for example, elongated hollow tubes with a circular, square or rectangular cross section of about one (1) inch. When fixed, such branch holders  16  will be oriented at about opposing 45 degree angles such that the branches  18  which are inserted into the branch holders  16  are oriented in a fan-like arrangement similar to two branches of natural foliage originating from the same base. 
     If additional variability of the positioning of the branches  18  is desired, the branch holder  16  may be adjustably connected to the clamp  10 , allowing for the user of the clamp  10  to alter the direction of orientation of the branch holders  16 . One manner of providing adjustability is to provide a tab  26  on the branch holder which extends parallel and adjacent to the clamp  10 , with corresponding holes in the tab  26  and the clamp  10  such that a locking knob  28  can be inserted through the corresponding holes in the tab  26  and clamp  10 , where the locking knob  28  is a hand-turned bolt which allows the orientation of the branch holder  16  to be manually adjusted by allowing the user to loosen the locking knob  28 , rotate the branch holder  16  to the desired orientation, and then re-tighten the locking knob  28 . 
     Adjustability may also be achieved by placing a spring button  30  on the outer surface of each opposing side of the clamp  12 ,  14 , preferably toward the clamping end of the clamp  10  from the branch holder  16 . A plate receiver  32  is rotatably attached to the clamp  10  about axle  33 . The plate receiver  32 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , is preferably in a semi-circular in shape, with openings  34  spaced around the perimeter of the plate receiver  32 . The openings  34  are of a size and shape to engage the spring button  30  on the clamp  10 , such that the branch holder  16  may be rotated and located in specific orientations such that it is latched into place by the spring button  30  extending through an opening  34  on the plate receiver  32 . 
     Clamp  10 , branch holder  16 , elongated screw  20 , branch adjustment knob  22  and any other visible element of the invention may also be covered in a low sheen rustic color or textured paint such that the elements will blend into natural surroundings. 
     Thus, preferred embodiment clamp  10  facilitates the placement of branch holders at alternating or movable angles on a clamp device which is easily portable, movable and attachable to a tree stand, blind or other natural or manmade supporting structure without the use of tools; provides an elongated screw threaded through the branch holders which are capable of being turned and tightened against natural or artificial branch elements using branch adjustment knobs which can be turned by hand; and provides the ability to hold both natural and artificial branch elements at a desired position and orientation by positive friction of the elongated screw against the end of the branch inserted into the branch holder and by allowing the rotation of the branch holder to be selected by the user. 
     In use, branch holding and positioning clamps  10  are sufficiently small and compact that they can be carried in the user&#39;s pocket, or in small belt packs or backpacks. When the user arrives at the desired location, he or she can clamp branch holder clamps  10  to any convenient supporting structure. For example, he or she might clamp clamps  10  to a portion of a blind or a tree stand ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). Alternatively, clamps  10  can be clamped to existing branches of a tree, or other supporting member. Duck hunters can clamp the clamps to a portion of a boat. The user can then insert the ends of branches taken from the area, or artificial branches which have been carried to the spot, into the tubes comprising branch holders  16 . The branches can then be clamped into various positions within branch holders  16  by tightening screws  20  against the branch  18 . Thus the branches  18  can be positioned not only by varying the positions at which the clamps can clamp onto the supporting structure, but also by adjusting the rotational orientation of the branch holders or to some extent by adjusting the camouflaging branches  18  within branch holders  16 . Screw members  20  also prevent the branches  18  from falling out of the branch holder clamp assembly  10 . 
     In another preferred embodiment, the branch holders  16  as described herein may be attached to an assembly other than a clamp  10 , such a stake assembly  50  with stakes  52  and a cross-piece  54 . One branch holder  16  or several branch holders  16  may be attached to the stake assembly  50 . The branch holders  16  may be connected rotatably to the stake assembly  50  using the mechanisms described above or any other known method so that natural or artificial branches  18  may be positioned in a fan-like arrangement to provide cover for a hunter on the ground or elsewhere where a screen of coverage is desired. The branch holders  16  may also have screws threaded through a side of the branch holder  16  to allow the user to fine-tune the position of the branches  18  and secure them in place. 
     While the current embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the disclosure and scope of the present invention. With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. For example, several different types of clamp could be used to practice the present invention, and any number of different stake configurations and sizes could be used to practice the present invention. Additionally, any number of branch holders placed at any angles could be located on the clamp or stake assembly such that a natural-looking camouflage is achieved. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.