Abstract:
A hunting assembly for dragging game or predators such as coyotes or bobcats. A belt or waste strap which carries one, two, or more drag pouches or other containers is secured around the hunter&#39;s waist. A drag cord with a loop at the end thereof is retained and carried by each of the containers. The drag cords are extended from the containers for dragging the game or predators to the hunter&#39;s vehicle or camp or to any other location.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to apparatuses, assemblies and methods for dragging game or for dragging coyotes, bobcats or other predators. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When hunting game or predators such as coyotes or bobcats, it will often be necessary for the hunter to drag the game or predators a considerable distance to the hunter&#39;s vehicle or camp or to some other location. 
     One device used heretofore for dragging coyotes is referred to as a coyote handle. The coyote handle typically comprises a rope or other dragging cord which is connected at one end to a hand grip which is formed, for example, from a piece of wood or bone. A loop is provided in the other end of the dragging cord for placement around the animal&#39;s head, muzzle, and/or front feet. 
     Another type of coyote dragging device, referred to as a coyote drag, comprises a drag rope or other dragging cord which extends from a shoulder strap. The left or right arm of the hunter is inserted through the shoulder strap for placement of the shoulder strap on the hunter&#39;s shoulder. 
     Yet another type of dragging device, typically used for larger game, comprises a rope or other dragging cord which extends from an upper body harness or vest which is placed around both of the hunter&#39;s shoulders. 
     Unfortunately, each of these prior devices occupies the hunter&#39;s hand, arms, and/or shoulders, thus preventing or restricting the use of the hands, arms, and/or shoulders for other purposes such as carrying a rifle and/or other items, wearing a back pack, wearing or placing other items on the hunter&#39;s upper body, moving brush or limbs while walking, clearing obstacles from the path, etc. 
     A need therefore exists for an effective, low cost device for dragging game or predators which will also free the hunter&#39;s hands, arms, shoulders, and upper body for other purposes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an apparatus and an assembly for dragging game and predators which satisfy the needs and alleviate the problems discussed above. Although also useful for dragging larger animals, the inventive apparatus and assembly are particularly well suited for dragging predators, such as coyotes or bobcats, and other animals of similar or smaller size. 
     In one aspect, there is provided an apparatus for dragging game or predators comprising: a container having a holding structure for holding the container on a belt or waist strap; a dragging cord which is receivable in the container for storage and is extendable from the container for dragging a dead animal; and a loop provided at the distal end of the dragging cord for placement around a portion of the body of the dead animal. 
     In another aspect, there is provided an assembly for dragging game or predators comprising: a belt or waste strap and one or more containers carried by the belt or waist strap. Each of the containers has a dragging cord which is receivable in the container for storage and is extendable from the container for dragging game or predators. Also, each dragging cord has a loop provided at the distal end of the dragging cord for placement around a portion of the body of a dead animal. 
     Further aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon examining the accompanying drawings and upon reading the following Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view illustrating an embodiment  2  of the inventive apparatus for dragging game or predators. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of the inventive apparatus  2 . 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view illustrating an embodiment  100  of the inventive apparatus for dragging game or predators. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the use of an embodiment  200  of the inventive assembly for dragging game or predators. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An embodiment  2  of the inventive apparatus for dragging game or predators is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The inventive dragging apparatus  2  comprises: a container  4 ; a holding structure  6 , preferably on the back side of the container  4 , for holding the container  4  on a belt or waist strap; a dragging cord  8  which is receivable in the container  4  for storage and is extendable from the container  4  for dragging the game or predator; and a loop  10  which is provided at the distal end  12  of the dragging cord  8  for placement around the around the neck, muzzle, front feet, and/or other portion of the body of the dead animal. 
     The container  4  includes an opening  14  with a cover  16  for opening and closing the opening  14 . The opening  14  is preferably located in the top of the container  4 . The dragging cord  8  can be coiled and placed into the container  4  through the opening  14  for storage. Subsequently, when the dragging cord  8  is needed for use, the cover  16  can be opened and the coiled portion of the dragging cord  8  can be removed from the container  4  and extended to the animal. However, the proximal end  18  of the dragging cord  8  is retained by the container  4  to hold the proximal end  18  of the dragging cord  8  secure when pulling the dragging cord  8  to drag the animal. 
     Although any type of container  4  can be used which is suitable for placement on a belt or waist strap and which has sufficient strength for retaining the proximal end  18  of the dragging cord  8  when dragging the animal, the container  4  will preferably be a pouch, most preferably of a military type, with a small eyelet or other reinforced opening  20  through which the proximal end  18  of the dragging cord  8  is received and retained. The retaining opening  20  for the dragging cord  8  can be provided through the bottom  22 , the back  24 , or any other desired portion of the container  4 . A knot, bead, washer, or other retaining structure  26  is provided in or on the proximal end portion  18  of the dragging cord  8  to prevent the proximal end portion  18  of the dragging cord  18  from being pulled through the retaining opening  20  of the container when dragging the animal. 
     A buckle, snap, Velcro attachment, or other fastener  28  is preferably provided on the container  4  for fastening the container cover  16  in closed position when the dragging cord  8  is stored in the container  4 . 
     As used herein and in the claims, the term “dragging cord” refers to any rope, line, cable, ligature, or other type of cord having sufficient strength for dragging the game or predator. The loop  10  provided at the distal end  12  of the dragging cord  8  will preferably be expandable, for placing the loop  10  on and removing the loop  10  from the animal, and contractible for tightening the loop  10  around the animal when dragging. The loop  10  can be a noose tied in the distal end portion  12  of the dragging cord  8  or any other type of expandable and contractible loop provided in or on the distal end  12  of the dragging cord  8 . 
     The holding structure  6  provided on the container  4  can be a loop for receiving a belt or waist strap, a clip which is attachable to a belt or waist strap, or any other type of structure which is effective for retaining the inventive dragging apparatus  2  on a belt or waist strap. Alternatively, the container  4  of the inventive dragging apparatus  2  can be permanently attached to a belt or waist strap by sewing, riveting, or other permanent attachment. 
     An alternative embodiment  100  of the inventive dragging apparatus is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The inventive dragging apparatus  100  is similar to the embodiment  2  described above except that, in the inventive apparatus  100 : (a) the proximal end of the dragging cord  108  is attached to a self-winding reel  130 ; (b) the self-winding reel  130  is removably positionable or permanently positioned in the container  104 ; and (c) when the dragging cord  108  is wound in storage position by the self-winding reel  130 , a distal end portion  112  of the cord  108  projects through an eyelet or other opening  120  provided through the bottom, through the front, or through any other desired portion of the container  104 . The distal end portion  112  of the cord  108  which projects through the opening  120  includes the loop  110 . 
     The resulting self-winding dragging cord  108  can be extended to the animal for attachment and dragging but will then automatically return to its wound storage position within the container  104  when the animal is released. The self-winding reel  130  will preferably employ a spring coil mechanism such as commonly used in tape measures and other devices. 
     In yet another alternative embodiment, the self-winding reel  130  has a reel housing  132  which will itself act as the container for the dragging cord  108  so that the reel housing itself is directly attached or attachable to the belt or waist strap. 
     An embodiment  200  of the assembly provided by the present invention for dragging game or predators is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The inventive assembly  200  comprises: (a) a belt or waist strap  202  which is worn around the waist of the hunter  204  and (b) one or more, preferably a plurality, of the inventive dragging apparatuses  2  or the inventive dragging apparatuses  100  carried on the back side of the belt or waste strap  202 . In  FIG. 4 , two of the inventive dragging apparatuses  100  are shown as being carried on the belt or waste strap  202 . As also illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the loop  110  of the dragging cord  108  of one of the dragging apparatuses  100  has been placed around the neck of a coyote  206  for dragging. 
     The use of a plurality of inventive dragging apparatuses  2  or  100  in the inventive assembly  200  allows the hunter  204  to drag two, three, or more predators or other animals  206  at one time while also keeping the hands, arms, and shoulders of the hunter  204  free for other purposes. 
     Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes and modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such changes and modifications are encompassed within this invention as defined by the claims.