Abstract:
The present invention consists of an gambrel that can be easily and quickly hung from a variety of mounts to allow for quick, safe, reliable field dressing of slaughtered animals. It will automatically adjust to the size and weight of the slaughtered animal. The gambrel has, at most, two pivot points, which enhances the overall strength of the apparatus. It has a weight-bearing lower cross member which operates to distribute the weight of the slaughtered animal across the entire gambrel and provides for additional strength. The gambrel&#39;s hooked mounting mechanism also adds versatility in field dressing the animal.

Description:
This utility patent application takes priority from Provisional patent Application No. 60/461,508 filed Apr. 9, 2003, for “A Self-Adjusting Apparatus for Hanging a Carcass.” 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   Applicant&#39;s invention relates to a device for hanging a carcass, allowing a hunter to field dress the animal. More particularly, it relates to a portable gambrel which automatically adjusts to the proper size for the animal being dressed. 
   2. Background Information 
   Hunters often desire to field dress an animal they have slaughtered. Field dressing an animal reduces the weight that a hunter must carry making it easier to manipulate and handle. Field dressing also helps prevent contamination. Field dressing is most easily accomplished by suspending the animal by its hind legs via a gambrel. Conventional gambrels are difficult to use because they are overly complex, difficult to mount, do not easily adjust for varying sizes and weights of animals, and have weak joints which collapse when subjected to heavy loads. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention consists of an apparatus that can be easily and quickly hung from a variety of mounts to allow for quick, safe, reliable field dressing of slaughtered animals. 
   The present invention provides a novel apparatus that will automatically adjust to the size and weight of the slaughtered animal. 
   The present invention also provides for, at most, two pivot points which enhances the overall strength of the apparatus. 
   The present invention further provides for a weight-bearing lower cross member which operates to distribute the weight of the slaughtered animal across the entire gambrel and provides for surpassing strength. 
   The present invention still further provides for a hooked mounting mechanism which provides for versatility in field dressing the slaughtered animal. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1 . is a front elevation view of the present invention in a first, retracted position. 
       FIG. 2 . is a front elevation view of the invention in a second, extended position. 
       FIG. 3 . is an partial, side perspective view of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4 . is a top perspective view of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to the figures in which like referenced features indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views. The references are: 
   
     
       
             
             
           
         
             
                 
             
           
           
             
               10 
               gambrel 
             
             
               12 
               support hook 
             
             
               14 
               central bar 
             
             
               16 
               upper cross member 
             
             
               16a 
               upper cross member first plate 
             
             
               16b 
               upper cross member second plate 
             
             
               18 
               upper cross member cylinder 
             
             
               20 
               first prong arm 
             
             
               22 
               second prong arm 
             
             
               24 
               first prong arm pivot 
             
             
               26 
               second prong arm pivot 
             
             
               28 
               first prong 
             
             
               28a 
               first prong tapered end 
             
             
               30 
               second prong 
             
             
               30a 
               second prong tapered end 
             
             
               32 
               lower cross member 
             
             
               32a 
               lower cross member first end 
             
             
               32b 
               lower cross member second end 
             
             
               34 
               first lower cross member collar 
             
             
               36 
               second lower cross member collar 
             
             
               38 
               first notch 
             
             
               40 
               second notch 
             
             
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   Attention is first directed to  FIG. 1  which illustrates a gambrel ( 10 ) in a first, retracted position. The gambrel ( 10 ) has a support hook ( 12 ) operable to hang the gambrel ( 10 ) by a chain, rope, cable, a stationary object, or other supporting means (not shown). The support hook ( 12 ) is connected to the first end (no reference number) of the central bar ( 14 ) of the gambrel ( 10 ). The central bar ( 14 ) extends downwardly when the gambrel ( 10 ) is in use. 
   The gambrel ( 10 ) has an upper cross member ( 16 ) slidably connected to the central bar ( 14 ) via the upper cross member cylinder ( 18 ). The upper cross member ( 16 ) is comprised of a front plate ( 16 A) and a back plate ( 16 B) (not visible in this view). The gambrel ( 10 ) has a first prong arm ( 20 ) and a second prong arm ( 22 ) connected to the upper cross member ( 16 ) via the first prong arm pivot ( 24 ) and the second prong arm pivot ( 26 ), respectively. The pivots ( 20  and  22 ) are weight bearing, and because there are only two, the overall strength of the gambrel ( 10 ) is enhanced. 
   At the distal end of the first prong arm ( 20 ) a first prong ( 28 ) is attached. At the distal end of the second prong arm ( 22 ) a second prong ( 30 ) is attached. The first prong ( 28 ) and the second prong ( 30 ) each have tapered ends ( 28   a  and  30   a  respectively) to allow for easier insertion and withdrawal of the prongs ( 28  and  30 ) into the hanging points, such as the hind legs, of the animal to be dressed. The angle of the first prong ( 28 ) relative to the first prong arm ( 20 ) and of the second prong ( 30 ) relative to the second prong arm ( 22 ) is set such that a carcass (not shown) may be easily mounted and easily dismounted yet remains securely attached while being dressed. The angle of the first prong ( 28 ) and the second prong ( 30 ) relative to the horizontal may vary from about 20 degrees to about 85 degrees. 
   Distal from the support hook ( 12 ) and connected to the central bar ( 14 ) at its second end (no reference number) is the lower cross member ( 32 ). The lower cross member has a first end ( 32   a ) and a second end ( 32   b ). Attached to the first end ( 32   a ) is the first lower cross member collar ( 34 ). The first lower cross member collar ( 34 ) has an aperture (not shown) through which the first prong arm ( 20 ) is slidably connected. The first lower cross member collar ( 34 ) may have a first notch ( 38 ) in the end opposite of the first end of the lower cross member ( 32   a ). Attached to the second end ( 32   b ) is the second lower cross member collar ( 36 ). The second lower cross member collar ( 36 ) has an aperture (not shown) through which the second prong arm ( 22 ) is slidably connected. The second lower cross member collar ( 36 ) may have a second notch ( 40 ) in the end opposite of the second end of the lower cross member ( 32   b ). 
     FIG. 2  illustrates the gambrel ( 10 ) in a second, fully extended position to support the largest and heaviest animals. 
   When the gambrel ( 10 ) is in use, the upper cross member ( 16 ) slides down the central bar ( 14 ). Because the lower cross member collars ( 34  and  36 ) are attached at a distance from the central bar ( 14 ) and the prong arms ( 20  and  22 ) are slidably connected to the lower cross member collars ( 34  and  36 ) respectively, as the upper cross member ( 16 ) slides down the central bar ( 14 ) the prong arms ( 20  and  22 ) slide through the lower cross member collars ( 34  and  36 ) and rotate outwardly from the prong arm pivots ( 22  and  24 ). The apertures in the lower cross member collars ( 34  and  36 ) are sized to allow this downward and outward movement. 
   The lower cross member ( 32 ) operates as a stopping mechanism for the upper cross member cylinder ( 18 ). In this second position, the first prong ( 28 ) and the second prong ( 30 ) are in nearly vertical position to provide the greatest support for the animal to be dressed. This view further illustrates the upper cross member ( 16 ), first prong arm pivot ( 24 ), second prong arm pivot ( 26 ), first lower cross member collar ( 34 ) and second lower cross member collar ( 36 ), operating in conjunction to spread the prong arms ( 20 ,  22 ) of the gambrel ( 10 ). 
   If a smaller animal is being dressed, the gambrel ( 10 ) will move to a third, intermediate extended position. The weight of the animal on the first prong ( 28 ) and the second prong ( 30 ) causes the first prong arm ( 20 ) and second prong arm ( 22 ) to be drawn through the first lower cross member collar ( 34 ) and second lower cross member collar ( 36 ), respectively. In conjunction with the first prong arm pivot ( 24 ) and second prong arm pivot ( 26 ), this drawing action causes the prongs to automatically spread to the proper distance depending upon the weight and size of the carcass (not shown). The upper cross member cylinder ( 18 ) slidably operates to permit the upper cross member ( 16 ) and lower cross member ( 32 ) to be brought together. 
     FIG. 3  is an partial, side perspective view of the present invention showing the second lower cross member collar ( 36 ). In this view, the second prong arm ( 22 ) is shown extending through the second lower cross member collar ( 36 ). At the end of the collar ( 36 ) is a second notch ( 40 ). The second notch ( 40 ) permits the second prong arm ( 22 ) to spread to its widest position and also operates as a stopping mechanism to prevent the gambrel ( 10 ) from spreading too much. The first lower cross member collar ( 34 ) and first notch ( 38 ) act in the same manner. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates the first plate ( 16   a ) and second plate ( 16   b ) of the upper cross member ( 16 ) of the gambrel ( 10 ). The first and second upper cross member plates ( 16   a  and  16   b ) are remotely attached opposite each other. The first prong arm pivot ( 24 ) and the second prong arm pivot ( 26 ) are attached to the first and second upper cross member plates ( 16   a  and  16   b ) generally near the opposite ends of the first and second upper cross member plates ( 16   a  and  16   b ). The pivots ( 24  and  26 ) hold the upper cross member plates ( 16   a  and  16   b ) at a fixed distance sized to allow the first prong arm ( 22 ) and the second prong arm ( 22 ), which are pivotally attached to the first prong arm pivot ( 24 ) and the second prong arm pivot ( 26 ) respectively, to move between the first and second upper cross member plates ( 16   a  and  16   b ). 
   Also shown is the upper cross member cylinder ( 18 ), which is attached to the first and second upper cross member plates ( 16   a  and  16   b ) generally near the center of the first and second upper cross member plates ( 16   a  and  16   b ). The upper cross member cylinder ( 18 ) is generally tubular in shape, and its inner diameter is sized to slidably receive the central bar ( 14 ) of the gambrel ( 10 ). The central bar ( 14 ) is slidably inserted through the upper cross member cylinder ( 18 ). 
     FIGS. 1 and 2  together illustrate the range of the angle of the first prong ( 28 ) and the second prong ( 30 ) relative to the horizontal. In the gambrel&#39;s ( 10 ) fully retracted state ( FIG. 1 ), the angle of the first prong ( 28 ) and the second prong ( 30 ) relative to the horizontal is about 20 degrees. In the gambrel&#39;s ( 10 ) full expanded state ( FIG. 2 ), the angle of the first prong ( 28 ) and the second prong ( 30 ) relative to the horizontal is about 85 degrees. The angle of the prongs relative to the horizontal will generally range between 20 degrees and 85 degrees depending upon the size and weight of the carcass (not shown). 
   Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments of the inventions will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon the reference to the description of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.