Abstract:
The invention is a method and apparatus for quicker, easier and more injury-free skinning of small to medium size game utilizing a dual fish skinner in conjunction with game skinning attachment, whose spike provides support and accessibility.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for skinning small to medium game, particularly squirrel. Squirrel is a common name applied to members of the rodent family Sciuridae, classified in the phylum Chordata, subphylum Vertebrata, class Mammalia, order Rodentia, suborder Sciuromorpha. 
     Squirrels and other small mammals must be skinned in order to obtain the meat, or product, therein. Traditionally, a squirrel is placed on the ground and the head is secured with a free hand, while the other hand attempts to make incisions to remove the skin. The body of the squirrel is free to move as incisions are made to remove the skin, and often requires a foot, or another person, to be used to further stabilize the game by securing the tail or posterior. Bending and folding over, while using three limbs, is a cumbersome process, and skinning the game on the ground risks soiling the meat when introduced to the ground. 
     Alternatively, the head of the squirrel may be secured by nailing it to a stationary object, such as a board or tree. Unfortunately, when utilizing this method, a portion of the squirrel is concealed, as it is positioned against the stationary object. This, in turn, requires additional handling and repositioning to remove the skin. Skinning a squirrel is challenging, as it must be properly secured to provide both stability and tension to the squirrel, which allows for more precise, safe, and effective incisions. Often, the squirrel slides along the nail or attachment points as incisions are being made, thus rendering the exercise more fraught with danger and inconvenience. 
     Obvious downsides exist in the current method of skinning squirrel, as are described above. The consequences of these skinning methods are increased injuries associated with the skinning, reduced productivity, and a poorly executed skin removal, all of which lead to an increased need for a revised method and apparatus with minimized cost and complexity, which the present invention addresses. 
     The present invention of a skinning apparatus and method is thus a much-improved mode of handling the skinning process, since it enables a person seeking to skin squirrel the ability to skin the animal while it remains fixed in a comfortable location, freeing up a hand to provide additional support and work. Utilizing the current invention, the entire process can be accomplished in a safe and effective manner, without repositioning the animal from its initial position. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     One object of the invention is to provide a method for skinning small to medium sized game. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for skinning small to medium sized game. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for skinning small to medium sized game with a reduced injury occurrence. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus which provides a quicker method of skinning small to medium sized game. 
     Other objects and advantages of this invention shall become apparent from the ensuing descriptions of the invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, a method and apparatus for quicker, easier and more injury-free skinning of small to medium sized game utilizing a dual fish skinner apparatus in conjunction with a game skinning attachment, which includes a spike to provide support and accessibility, is disclosed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of this invention. However, it is to be understood that this embodiment is intended to be neither exhaustive, nor limiting of the invention. They are but examples of some of the forms in which the invention may be practiced. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the dual fish skinner. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the game skinning attachment. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the game skinning attachment affixably attached to the dual fish skinner. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Without any intent to limit the scope of this invention, reference is made to the figures in describing the various embodiments of the invention.  FIGS. 1-3  show various aspects of exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for skinning squirrel. 
       FIG. 1  depicts the skinning apparatus  100  having mounting base  101  for mounting to a surface, such as a tree, pole, wall or other object using securing devices  102  such as bolts, screws or nails. Generally, the face  1010  of mounting base  101  would be perpendicular to the surface below the user&#39;s feet, and substantially flat, however this is not required. From face  1010  of mounting base  101  bilaterally extends main support  103 , which is substantially parallel to the face  1010  of mounting base  101 , and has first opposite end  1031  and second opposite end  1032 . Operatively connected to said first opposite end  1031  at an angle between forty-five degrees and one hundred thirty-five degrees relative to main support  103  is first secondary support  1041 , which extends away from and is substantially perpendicular to face  1010  of mounting base  101 . Operatively connected to said second opposite end  1032  at an angle between forty-five degrees and one hundred thirty-five degrees relative to main support  103  is second secondary support  1042 , which extends away from and is substantially perpendicular to face  1010  of mounting base  101 . An exemplary embodiment of first secondary support  1041  and second secondary support  1042  would both have an angle of ninety degrees relative to main support  103 , positioning first secondary support  1041  and second secondary support  1042  parallel to each other and perpendicular to face  1010  of mounting base  101 . 
     A first leg  1051  is operatively connected to first secondary support  1041  and extending downward at an angle between seventy-five degrees and one hundred twenty degrees relative to first secondary support  1041 . A second leg  1052  is operatively connected to second secondary support  1042  and extending downward at an angle between seventy-five degrees and one hundred twenty degrees relative to second secondary support  1042 . An exemplary embodiment of first leg  1051  and second leg  1052  would both have an angle of one hundred degrees relative to first secondary support  1041  and second secondary support  1042  respectively, both extending downward and parallel to each other. 
     A first arm  1061  is operatively connected to first leg  1051  at an angle between twenty degrees and eighty degrees relative to first leg  1051  and is angled upward and away from first leg  1051 , wherein first leg  1051  and first arm  1061  form a first wedge  1071 . A second arm  1062  is operatively connected to second leg  1052  at an angle between twenty degrees and eighty degrees relative to second leg  1052  and is angled upward and away from second leg  1052 , wherein second leg  1052  and second arm  1062  form a second wedge  1072 . An exemplary embodiment of first wedge  1071  and second wedge  1072  would both be approximately fifty-five degrees and parallel to each other. A portion or all of the dual fish skinner  100  can also be textured to add additional gripping properties if desired. Additionally, a barb or noose can be added to spike  113 . 
       FIG. 2  depicts game skinning attachment  108  having ring support beam  109  with first polar end  1091  and second polar end  1092  and extending a distance approximately equal to the distance between first arm  1061  and second arm  1062 . A first ring  1101  is attached to first polar end  1091  wherein an aperture formed by first ring  1101  is sized to affixably attach onto first arm  1061 . A second ring  1102  is attached to second polar end  1092  wherein an aperture formed by second ring  1102  is sized to affixably attach onto second arm  1062 . Ring support beam  109  is further comprised of a game mounting extension  111 , which is attached to at least two points between first polar end  1091  and second polar end  1092 , being positioned in a substantially perpendicular configuration to face  1010  of mounting base  101 , and extending away from face  1010  of mounting base  101 . An exemplary embodiment of game mounting extension  111  would be an equilateral triangle centered medially on ring support beam  109 , attached at first point  1111  and second point  1112 . A spike  113  is operatively attached to game mounting extension  111  and configured at an angle between thirty degrees and eighty degrees to game mounting extension  111  and is angled upward and towards face  1010  of mounting base  101 . An exemplary embodiment of spike  113  would be approximately at a sixty-five degree angle to game mounting extension. A portion or all of the game skinning attachment  108  can also be textured to add additional gripping properties if desired. 
       FIG. 3  depicts the game skinning attachment  108  connected to the skinning apparatus  100 , which is properly secured by affixably attaching first ring  1101  onto first arm  1061  and second ring  1102  onto second arm  1062  so that spike  113  is facing upwards and towards face  1010  of mounting base  101 . 
     In operation, game  114  is placed on game skinning attachment  108  by placing spike  113  on the underside of the jaw  115  of game  114  and forcing the spike  114  through the skin of game  114  until the jaw is firmly resting on and within game mounting extension  111 . In this way, game  114  will be firmly secured and suspended. After further stabilize the game by providing downward tension from the posterior, an incision is made through the upper portion of the spine  115  of game  114 . This incision is then elongated laterally in both directions. Lastly, using hands or pliers, the skin of game is gripped below and near the initial spinal incision and pulled downward, thereby removing the greater portion of the skin of the game  114  and revealing the meat or product. Thus, a quicker, safer, easier skinning has been performed. 
     It should be noted that though squirrel have been recited as the animal to be skinned herein, any suitable animal having similar physical characteristics that could benefit from this apparatus or method should be construed as being able to employ and take advantage of the present invention. Such other species include rabbit, nutria, gopher, chipmunk, prairie dogs, chinchilla, mink and the like. The invention can be resized to fit the appropriate species as needed, so long as the proportions remain the same. 
     Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments 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.