Abstract:
A hand-propelled or vehicle-towed convertible deer cart incorporates side walls that are locked vertically when collapsed to a first geometry of very small size for storage and transport, and also when readily reconfigured for use as a larger transport cart or trailer. When further reconfigured for use as a hunting stand, the side walls are pivoted from vertical to horizontal and form a part of a larger platform in combination with the cart bed. A pair of ladders may be stored within the cart bed when configured as a transport cart. The ladders are pivoted about their longitudinal axis to convert to the larger transport cart, and then extended to full-length ladders in the hunting stand geometry.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention pertains generally to land vehicles that are wheeled and convertible, which may be stabilized and handle-propelled by an attendant or alternatively articulated with a towing vehicle, and having laterally spaced wheels and a receptacle body. In a more specific manifestation, the invention pertains to a hand-propelled or vehicle-towed cart which may be collapsed to very small size for storage and transport, and may further be readily reconfigured for use as a transport cart or trailer, and may further be reconfigured for use as a hunting stand. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     At least some early civilizations, at or predating recorded times, were believed to be relatively nomadic, generally traveling about over relatively large distances both hunting and gathering food. In many cases, early records suggest that man used simple clubs, spears and other basic tools to assist with hunting. There are locations where early man may have also used natural features such as cliffs or the like off which individual animals or herds may have been driven. These types of hunting techniques required very close range or proximity with the hunted animals, and so could be expeditiously conducted at nearly any location, even in relatively close proximity with a permanently-located or temporary village or residence. 
     More modern equipment has been developed that permits a hunter to be at substantially greater distances from the game being hunted. Exemplary equipment includes various firearms such as rifles and pistols which will fire ammunition hundreds or even thousands of yards. These modern firearms enable a hunter to seek out a relatively concealed location, and then wait for game to pass within reasonable shooting range. The hunter will commonly travel to and from a relatively remote hunting location, and remain relatively stationary there. A hunter may also preferably set up at a small elevation above the ground. This elevation often provides the hunter with a broader view, and may also in some situations reduce the likelihood of being seen or smelled by the game. The elevation also may provide a better shooting angle, depending upon the surrounding topography. A portable stand permits improved hunting in changing locations or in locations where it is not possible or feasible to set up a permanent stand. 
     A modern hunter will also frequently bring with additional hunting equipment beyond the primary weapon, which might for exemplary purposes be a bow or firearm. The hunter may prefer to bring items of safety, convenience and recreation, such as flashlights, survival kits, food and beverages, different firearms, extra munitions, knives or other cleaning or butchering tools, game calls, extra garments for varying temperatures and possible precipitation, camping gear, binoculars, and many other diverse items selected by an individual hunter as being desirable. If game is in fact killed or bagged, the game will need transported out from the remote location, along with any supplies not yet consumed or spent. Since some hunting locations may be accessible by motorized vehicle and others may only be accessed on foot, it is desirable to enable a hunter to easily transport as much or as little gear as the hunter may prefer, using whatever method is most convenient and desired for a given hunting location. 
     Once the hunt is finished, many hunters may drag any harvested game from the remote hunting location, either manually or with the assistance of a motorized vehicle such as an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) or the like. Unfortunately, manually dragging a larger animal is extremely strenuous, and is harmful to the hide or pelt of the animal. An ATV relieves the manual effort, but still requires that the animal be carefully secured, and the hide or pelt will still be harmed. 
     Artisans have heretofore recognized the desirability of porting supplies into and out of a remote location, along with porting any killed game out of the remote location. The broader concept of a convertible cart and hunting stand is disclosed, for exemplary purposes in U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,271 by Borries et al, entitled “Hunting stand and game carrier,” the teachings which are incorporated herein by reference. This patent describes a convertible cart and stand which allegedly may collapse for storage, but there is no illustration of how the components are rearranged to enable the deployed and collapsed positions. 
     A large number of additional patents illustrate other prior art carts and platforms, the teachings of each which are additionally incorporated herein by reference, including: U.S. Pat. No. 2,732,118 by Reinhardt, entitled “Movable elevated work platform supporting structure;” U.S. Pat. No. 3,282,375 by Ray, entitled “Mobile stand for hunters convertible to a hand cart;” U.S. Pat. No. 3,289,787 by McSwain, entitled “Collapsible hunting shelter;” U.S. Pat. No. 3,336,999 by McSwain, entitled “Hunting stand;” U.S. Pat. No. 3,352,379 by Riggs, entitled “Combination tree stand and game cart;” U.S. Pat. No. 3,353,629 by Brunes, entitled “Pack frame and tree seat structure;” U.S. Pat. No. 3,422,923 by Lund, entitled “Convertible combination platform and step for ladders;” U.S. Pat. No. 3,954,155 by Guidara, entitled “Stepladder dolly;” U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,040 by Fails, entitled “Deer stand and game carrier;” U.S. Pat. No. 4,321,982 by Strickland, entitled “Tree climbing-hunting and game cart device;” U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,737 by Cory et al, entitled “Game carrier;” U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,456 by Rohde, entitled “Lookout convertible to a compact dolly;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,064,020 by Eagleson, entitled “Device for hunting large and small game;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,908 by Freund, entitled “Ladder treestand and trailer rit;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,236,062 by Laney, entitled “ATV support rack apparatus;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,732 by Daniels, entitled “Portable folding tree stand;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,556 by Mullin, entitled “Multipurpose hunting cart;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,192 by Thompson, entitled “Manual pull-type carrier for transporting a large game carcass;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,492,196 by Michno, entitled “Portable deer cart and tree stand;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,720 by Stringer, entitled “Portable game cart;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,780 by Bambrough, entitled “Ladder-based cart apparatus;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,008 by Beardslee, entitled “Convertible tree stand;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,673,928 by Jury, entitled “Folding portable cart;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,687,978 by Rhodes et al, entitled “Foldable load conveyance apparatus;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,882 by Griffith et al, entitled “Combination hunting stand and game carrier apparatus;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,538 by Magyar, entitled “Foldable portable tree stand;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,582 by Kauffman et al, entitled “Convertible hunting utility cart;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,676 by Harbin, entitled “Accessory for allowing use of a tree stand as a game carrier;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,278 by Myers, entitled “Multiple use convertible elevated stand and cart;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,284 by Smith, entitled “Elevatable stands for physically challenged hunters;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,864 by Smith, entitled “Game transporting system;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,968 by Hollingsworth, entitled “Collapsible hunting cart apparatus;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,787 by Mason, entitled “Rough terrain carrier;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,375,200 by Harter, entitled “Wheeled carrier and seat assembly for use while hunting with decoys;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,481,529 by Voorhies, entitled “Climbing tree stand;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,707 by Berry, entitled “Combination tree stand, blind and equipment carrier;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,557,867 by Angstadt, entitled “Portable multi-activity outdoor recreation apparatus;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,529 by Darling, entitled “Versatile portable cart;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,688,635 by Watts, entitled “Multi-purpose deer-hunting cart;” U.S. Pat. No. 6,811,180 by Molliere, entitled “Combination work and recreation cart;” U.S. Pat. No. 7,017,939 by Darling, entitled “Versatile portable cart;” U.S. Pat. No. 7,185,737 by Smith et al, entitled “ATV accessories;” and U.S. Pat. No. 7,296,959 by Davis, entitled “Deer stand and deer carrier rack for an ATV.” Additionally, Webster&#39;s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary, Second Edition copyright 1983, is incorporated herein by reference in entirety for the definitions of words and terms used herein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a first manifestation, the invention is a wheeled and convertible deer cart having laterally spaced wheels; and a receptacle body having a bed and side walls that extend generally perpendicular to the bed in a first configuration and a second configuration, and which are pivotal to extend generally parallel to the bed in a third configuration. A pair of ladders are received within the bed in the first configuration, the pair of ladders pivotal and spaced distally at opposed ends of the bed in a second configuration and also in the third configuration. The ladders are compacted in the second configuration and extended in the third configuration. The first configuration defines a utility cart, the second configuration defines a utility cart larger than the first configuration, and the third configuration defines a stand. 
     In a second manifestation, the invention is, in combination, an articulated transport cart and human harness. The articulated transport cart has at least two ground traversing wheels; a bed carried upon the ground traversing wheels; and a ball receiver coupled to the bed and moveable therewith. The human harness has a body member engaging a human body and moveable therewith; and a ball coupled to the body member. The ball and ball receiver are coupled for relative motion therebetween. 
     In a third manifestation, the invention is a wheeled cart convertible between a compact trailer geometry, a deer cart geometry, and a deer stand geometry. The cart has a load-supporting bed. At least one side wall adjacent to the load-supporting bed is pivotal with respect thereto between co-planar with the load-supporting bed and perpendicular thereto. At least one wheel is supported by the at least one side wall and is pivotal therewith respect to the load-supporting bed. At least one ladder is adjacent the load-supporting bed and pivotal with respect thereto. At least one leg member is supporting the at least one ladder at an angle with respect to the load-supporting bed. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention solve inadequacies of the prior art by providing a hand-propelled cart which may be collapsed to very small size for storage and transport, and may further be readily reconfigured for use as a transport cart or trailer, and may further be reconfigured again for use as a hunting stand. 
     A first object of the invention is to provide a mobile cart that may be propelled by a human operator through rough terrain, underbrush, and woods, and which may be used to transport game, equipment, injured individuals, and other diverse and potentially heavy loads. A second object of the invention is to provide alternative methods of coupling to a source of motive power, including the provision of both human push-pull and motive vehicular couplings to permit a hunter to access a hunting location by either walking or driving a motorized vehicle, while still enjoying the remaining benefits of the present invention. Another object of the present invention is to enable a hunter to actively hunt while transporting a cart designed in accord with the teachings of the present invention. A further object of the invention is to enable a completely self-contained generally rectangular utility trailer to be quickly and easily converted to a mobile cart suitable for transporting large game and other objects, and further to a free-standing stand of sufficient height to permit hunting deer or other game therefrom, preferably manually without the need for tools. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention can be understood and appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a preferred embodiment convertible deer cart configured in a utility cart geometry in accord with the teachings of the present invention from a side plan view. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart of  FIG. 1  reconfigured to a deer transport cart geometry in accord with the teachings of the present invention from a side plan view. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart of  FIG. 1  reconfigured to a free-standing deer stand geometry in accord with the teachings of the present invention from a front plan view. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart of  FIG. 1  configured in a utility cart geometry in accord with the teachings of the present invention from a rear plan view. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates alternative positioning of the front ladder termination, visible for exemplary purposes in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate intermediate steps in the conversion of the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart configured in a utility cart geometry of  FIG. 1  to a deer transport cart of  FIG. 2  from side plan views. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart of  FIG. 2  configured to a deer transport cart geometry in further combination with a preferred embodiment walking harness, in accord with the teachings of the present invention from a side plan view. 
         FIGS. 9-11  illustrate the extension of front ladder  20  from a fully folded configuration of  FIG. 9  such as found in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 - 8  to a partially folded configuration of  FIG. 10 , to a fully extended configuration of  FIG. 11  as found in  FIG. 3 , each from side plan view. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates front ladder  20  in a fully extended configuration of  FIG. 11  and as found in  FIG. 3  from a front plan view. 
         FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate several intermediate steps in the progression of the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart from a deer transport cart configuration as illustrated in  FIG. 2  to a free-standing deer stand geometry such as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , each from simplified front plan view, and illustrating alternative, progressive positions by dashed line. 
         FIG. 15  illustrates the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart of  FIG. 3  as configured to a free-standing deer stand geometry in accord with the teachings of the present invention from a side plan view, and further including stabilizing straps. 
         FIG. 16  illustrates the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart of  FIG. 2  as configured to a deer transport cart geometry in accord with the teachings of the present invention from a front plan view. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a preferred embodiment convertible deer cart configured in a utility cart geometry  10 . A tongue  134  may optionally be provided to couple to motorized vehicles through a typical hitch pin, or through any other suitable coupling technique, to the balance of the utility cart geometry  10 . Side wall  120  is, for exemplary purposes and not limited thereto, fabricated from expanded metal. Defining the boundaries of side wall  120  are boundary members  92 ,  94 ,  96 , and  98 . Extending in a plane generally parallel to side wall  120  is wheel  118 . Vertical wheel support member  102  extends generally about wheel  118 , and in the preferred embodiment may serve as one anchor point for an axle (visible in  FIG. 4 ) extending through wheel  118 . Vertical wheel support member  102  forms a right angle coupling with horizontal wheel support member  100 , which in turn terminates at coupling  226  (visible in  FIG. 4 ). Coupling  226  may slide upon member  146  and may therefore be removed vertically therefrom. Coupling  226  may further be pinned, bolted, or otherwise fastened to member  146  to lock the two in relative position. In the preferred embodiment, all connections are made using wire lock pins where the pin passes through appropriate holes in each member to be coupled, and a wire loop wraps around the pin to secure the pin against disconnect. The wire lock pins may be further secured against accidental drop or loss through wire lanyards or the like anchored to adjacent members. Wire lock pins with or without lanyards are well known in the hardware industry, and combine ease of installation with secure fastening while simultaneously not requiring any tools for fastening or removal. 
     Riser members  124 ,  126  extend partially vertically along side wall  120 , and are used to form a pivotal coupling with members  160 ,  162 , respectively, to permit side wall  120  to be pivoted from the vertical configuration shown in  FIG. 1  to the horizontal configuration shown in  FIG. 3 . As also visible in  FIG. 3 , and also apparent from  FIG. 4 , there are corresponding components on the opposite side of utility cart geometry  10 , including side walls  121 , boundary members  93 ,  95 ,  97 ,  99 , wheel  119 , vertical wheel support member  103 , horizontal wheel support member  101 , coupling  227 , member  147 , riser members  125 ,  127  and members  161 ,  163 , each which operate in exactly the same manner as the even numbered counterparts generally visible in the side view of  FIG. 1 . 
     Continuing with the description of components visible in  FIG. 1 , riser members  124 ,  126  may optionally serve as a temporary holder for feet  122 ,  123  ultimately used in the free-standing deer stand configuration  12  of  FIG. 3 . To help maintain member  146  in vertical orientation shown in  FIG. 1  relative to boundary member  98 , a reinforcing triangle  116  is further provided. Pockets  80  and  82  may additionally be provided, for exemplary purposes fabricated from square tubing with the center opening extending longitudinally parallel to the ground and normal (perpendicular) to the plane of the paper. 
     As may be apparent from  FIG. 1 , this utility cart configuration  10  defines a space between wheels  118 ,  119  in which various cargo may be carried. In most applications, unused components will additionally be carried in the space between wheels  118 ,  119 . This will include ladders  20 ,  30 , terminating respectively with terminations  138 ,  136 , each visible at least in part in  FIG. 1 , and also various members  140 - 143 , and  148 - 155  visible in  FIG. 4 . A seat bottom  168  and top  170  are pivotally interconnected, and will ultimately find utility in deer stand configuration  12  illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 15 . Likewise, a pair of stops  128 ,  130  are visible in  FIG. 1 , again finding utility as ladder pivot stops in the deer stand configuration  12  illustrated in  FIG. 15 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart of  FIG. 1  reconfigured to a deer transport cart geometry  11 . By way of the present illustrations and description pertaining thereto, the conversion of the present invention from one geometry to another is enabled by maintaining the numbering of identical components, so that a person reasonably skilled in the art may simply follow the movement of components as configuration geometries are changed. To reconfigure the deer transport cart geometry  11  from utility cart geometry  10 , ladders  20 ,  30  are each pulled out from between wheels  118 ,  119 , and then terminations  138 ,  136  may be rotated about their longitudinal axes as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , such that they now extend upward rather than downward as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . This may alternatively be achieved by flipping ladders  20 ,  30  about their longitudinal axis. Next, ladders  20 ,  30  at ladder segments  104 ,  110  are pinned pivotally adjacent to bed boundaries  222 ,  224 , respectively. This leads to the arrangement visible in  FIG. 6 . Next, leg members  140 ,  142 ,  144  are coupled together, in the preferred embodiment at particular holes using the wire lock pins described herein above, to yield a predetermined length of the combined leg members  140 ,  142 ,  144  as shown in  FIG. 7 . The combined leg members  140 ,  142 ,  144  are then coupled directly to member  146  and fixedly coupled therewith. This stage of assembly is as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Next, ladders  20 ,  30  are elevated, and coupled to leg members  140 ,  142 ,  144  to yield the arrangement of  FIG. 2 . To complete the deer transport cart geometry  11  of  FIG. 2 , tongue  134  may be coupled through bracing members  132  to ladder  20 , and the few remaining unused components  148 ,  150  strapped using flaccid fasteners  214 ,  218  onto the coupled assembly of leg members  140 ,  142 ,  144 . Deer transport cart geometry  11  does not require the use of tongue  134  and bracing members  132  when manually pushed or pulled. In fact, terminations  138 ,  136  serve as manual grasping points which may be used to either push or pull the preferred embodiment cart about. In this preferred embodiment, small protrusions  212 ,  216  are provided, which may for exemplary purposes be tubular components. Flaccid fasteners  214 ,  218 , which may for exemplary purposes comprise hook and loop (Velcro™ or the like) straps, are securely affixed respectively to small protrusions  212 ,  216  by riveting or any other suitable fastening means. Once again, there are comparable components on the opposing side of the preferred embodiment cart, including protrusion  213  visible in  FIG. 16 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart of  FIG. 2  configured to a deer transport cart geometry  11  and in further combination with a preferred embodiment walking harness  40  to yield a harness pulled cart geometry  13 . Harness  40 , for exemplary purposes only, might include a shoulder strap  190 , back strap  188 , belt  192 , each which are designed to securely engage person  300 . An L-shaped bracket  186  supports ball  184 , which most preferably resembles hitch balls in common use today coupling trailers to automobiles. This type of ball, in combination with suitable ball receiver  182 , permits a wide range of relative angular displacement, while still maintaining L-shaped bracket  186  adjacent to extension  180  to thereby couple pushing or pulling movement from person  300  to termination  138 . A suitable clamp or other type of coupler  178  is fastened to and preferably releasably clamps to termination  138 . This harness pulled cart geometry  13  has much utility for a hunter who is on the move, but who wishes to be able to carry a firearm or other weapon in a ready position. In fact, person  300  may pivot relative to extension  180  nearly through a full circle, in the event game is spotted. 
     Conversion from deer transport cart geometry  11  to a free-standing deer stand geometry  12  illustrated in  FIG. 3  requires the extension of ladders  20 ,  30 , which is illustrated by the extension of front ladder  20  for exemplary purposes in the sequence of  FIGS. 9-11 .  FIG. 9  illustrates a fully folded configuration such as found in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 - 8 , but in much greater detail. Through the alternative dashed lines, termination  138  is removed from ladder segment  104 , and then ladder segment  108  is pivoted in the direction illustrated by arrow  900 , ultimately into a coaxial alignment with ladder segment  104  as illustrated by  FIG. 10 . Bracket  902  nests about bracket  904 , and, owing to the illustrated geometries, bracket  904  will stop against bracket  902  when ladder segment  108  is coaxial with ladder segment  104 . Next, ladder segment  106  is unfolded as shown by arrow  1000 , again pivoting bracket  908  within bracket  906  and ultimately bringing ladder segment  106  into coaxial alignment with ladder segments  104 ,  108 , where bracket  908  will engage with and stop against bracket  906 . Finally, termination  138  is placed into ladder segment  106  distal to ladder segment  108 , to form a foot as may be best visible in  FIG. 15 . This fully extended configuration is shown by  FIG. 11  from side view, and  FIG. 12  from a front plan view. As evident in  FIG. 12 , each ladder segment  104 - 108  may carry any number of rungs  174  which are provided to facilitate a person climbing each ladder segment. Once extended, ladder  20  will be pivoted into engagement with stop  130 , and ladder  30  will be pivoted into engagement with stop  128 . Straps  194 ,  196  may be used through buckles  256 ,  258  to exert force on ladders  20 ,  30 , keeping the ladders tightly engaged with stops  128 ,  130  and rigid therewith. 
       FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate several intermediate steps in the progression of the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart from a deer transport cart geometry  11  as illustrated in  FIG. 2  to a free-standing deer stand geometry  12  as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , each from simplified front plan view, and illustrating alternative, progressive positions by dashed line. The order of sequence between  FIGS. 13 and 14  is not critical to the operation of the present invention. In other words, the rearrangements of  FIG. 14  may be made either before or after those of  FIG. 13 . As  FIG. 13  illustrates, once ladders  20 ,  30  are extended and locked, through the motion shown by arrow  1300  the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart may be stood up into vertical position.  FIG. 14  illustrates the pivoting of wheel assemblies in the direction of arrow  1400  about riser members  124 ,  125 ,  126 , and the fourth riser, not illustrated, each which may be pinned (and therefore pivotal about the pin longitudinal axis) with members  160 - 163 . 
     To finish the conversion, leg members  140 ,  142 ,  144  and leg members  141 ,  143 ,  145  are adjusted to a second predetermined length through pin holes, and are then coupled to members  146 ,  147 , respectively. Feet  122 ,  123  are placed to terminate the leg members. Seat base  168  and back  170  are mounted upon pedestal  172 , and the framework  148 ,  150 ,  154  may then be inserted into pockets  80 ,  82 , and like pockets on the opposed side panel which are not visible in the illustrations, and then assembled to form a railing which may optionally serve as a gun rest. 
     The preferred embodiment convertible deer cart may be manufactured from a variety of materials, including metals, resins and plastics, ceramics or cementitious materials, or even combinations or composites of the above. The specific material used may vary, though special benefits are attainable if several important factors are taken into consideration. Firstly, the apparatus preferably will should be sufficiently light to enable more convenient transport, but must maintain sufficient strength to support a person upon seat bottom  168  in normal use when in the free-standing deer stand geometry  12  as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 15 . Most preferably, the preferred embodiment convertible deer cart will also be weather resistant and sufficiently durable to withstand the particular climate for the intended application, including any forces that may be applied that could tend to fracture or shear any components used therein. In the preferred embodiment, ordinary carbon still may be powder coated, dip coated, painted, or otherwise treated. More expensive metal alloys may, of course, also be used, but cost will be of consideration. Metal alloys will include all metal alloys that are suitable, with aluminum and stainless steel being merely exemplary. 
     In consideration of the various alternative geometries  10 - 12  illustrated herein, the incorporation of color coding, dots, labels or other indicia on or adjacent to coupled components to illustrate proper placement of pins and components is further contemplated herein. Such indicia may be used as appropriate to facilitate the reconfiguration of the preferred embodiment into any of the various geometries. 
     While the foregoing details what is felt to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, no material limitations to the scope of the claimed invention are intended. Further, features and design alternatives that would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be incorporated herein. The scope of the invention is set forth and particularly described in the claims herein below.