Patent Publication Number: US-2016243887-A1

Title: Taxidermist&#39;s fixture and method of using the same

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to the field of taxidermy. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to a fixture or jig for use by taxidermists when preparing an animal for display. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The practice of taxidermy provides a process for hunters and fisherman to display their catch. Taxidermy is also used to prepare display animals for visual enjoyment in museums. Traditionally, the skin is removed from the deceased animal. The skin is then tanned to preserve the skin or fur of the animal. The taxidermist then employs their skill and artistry to assemble the skin on a foam pre-form or manikin, and applies additional synthetic elements, such as eyes, to recreate a life-like representation of the original animal. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure is directed to a fixture for use by taxidermists during preparation of an animal. The fixture includes a base, such as a plate, bar, or sheet formed of metal, wood, composite, polymer, or other material. The base extends along a length direction and in a height direction. The fixture includes at least two supports adjustably attached to the base for selective adjustment along the length of the base. The supports are also adjustably attached to the base for selective adjustment in the height direction. The supports accept and securely hold threaded rods extending from the feet of an animal pre-form. The high degree of adjustability of the disclosed fixture allows the fixture to be almost universally used with a significant majority of pre-forms. The high degree of adjustability also allows the fixture to support the pre-forms in a wide range of positions for access by the taxidermist. 
     This disclosure also includes a method of supporting an animal pre-form of the type having at least two rods extending from at least the feet of the pre-form. The method may include providing a fixture. The fixture has a base extending along a length direction and in a height direction, and at least two supports extending upwardly relative to the base. The method includes adjusting at least one of the supports along the length direction relative to the base to match a lengthwise spacing of the rods of the pre-form, and adjusting at least one of the supports in the height direction relative to the base to match a height-wise offset of the rods of the pre-form. The pre-form is then secured to the fixture by attaching the rods to the fixture. 
     These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art, after reading the following description of the preferred embodiments, when considered in conjunction with the drawings. It should be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and still other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed explanation of embodiments of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a fixture according to embodiments of the present disclosure with a pre-form attached. 
         FIG. 2  is a more detailed front bottom perspective view of the fixture of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a more detailed front top perspective view of the fixture of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is another perspective view of the fixture of  FIG. 1  in a rotated orientation. 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the fixture of  FIG. 1 . with the pre-form removed. 
         FIG. 6  is another front perspective view of the fixture of  FIG. 1  with the supports rotated and the pre-form removed. 
         FIG. 7  is a top rear perspective view of the fixture of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Exemplary embodiments of this disclosure are described below and illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views. The embodiments described provide examples and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Other embodiments, modifications and improvements of the described embodiments, will occur to those skilled in the art, and all such other embodiments, modifications and improvements are within the scope of the present invention. Features from one embodiment or aspect may be combined with features from any other embodiment or aspect in any appropriate combination. For example, any individual or collective features of method aspects or embodiments may be applied to the apparatus, product or component aspects or embodiments and vice versa. 
     In many cases, taxidermists support the tanned skin of an animal using a pre-form or manikin that may be made from foam, plastic, or other materials. Pre-forms may be purchased from supply companies, such as McKenzie Taxidermy Supply, to imitate an extensive range of animal species, sizes, and poses. In other cases, pre-forms may be hand-crafted by the taxidermist himself. In many cases, the pre-forms, particularly the full body manikins, include rods extending from the feet thereof. These rods may be threaded like a bolt for engagement with a properly sized nut. Traditionally, these rods are provided for use when the completed animal is mounted to a display stand. 
     The shape and size of animal pre-forms make them awkward to hold and properly position as the taxidermist attempts to apply the skin. Some taxidermists have been known to craft disposable stands uniquely constructed based on the particular pre-form being used for a given project. Applicant has determined that there is a need for a more permanent and universally adjustable solution in the form of an adjustable fixture to accommodate a wide range of animal sizes, species, and poses while providing hands-free access to the pre-form from several angles. 
     As used herein, the term “skin” should be considered broadly as the natural portion of an animal being preserved and displayed during the taxidermy process. Therefore, the term “skin” may include, and be used interchangeably with: skin, fur, feathers, scales, hide, etc. 
     As used herein, the term “pre-form” may be used interchangeably with the term “manikin”. Pre-forms are formed prior to applying the skin. Pre-forms may be created by the taxidermist or pre-made and purchased from a supply company. Pre-forms may be life-size or less than life-size, such as half-size. For purposes of this disclosure, pre-forms preferably represent the full body or substantially the full body of the imitated animal. However, in some embodiments, pre-forms of less than the full body, such as hoods, heads, heads and shoulders, etc., may be used with the disclosed fixtures. 
     Turning to the figures,  FIG. 1  shows a pre-form  100  secured to a fixture  1  according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Fixture  1  may be described by other terms such as a stand, a holder, a support, or a jig. The fixture  1  includes a base  20  and at least two supports  40 . 
     The base  20  is a plate, bar, or sheet formed of metal, wood, composite, polymer, or other suitable strong and rigid structural material. The base  20  extends along a length direction L and in a height direction H (see  FIG. 6 ). In some embodiments, the base  20  is about forty inches long, depending on the size and number of pre-forms  100  to be held. The effective minimum length corresponds with the minimum spacing between supports  40 , and may be as little as a few inches. Further, by fully separating the supports  40 , and rotating the supports generally parallel with the length direction, additional effective length may be possible. These dimensions have been found to be large enough to support a vast majority of pre-form species, making the fixture  1  substantially universal, keeping in mind that the spacing of the feet of a pre-form  100  is often less than the full nose-to-tail dimension of the animal. If a pre-form  10  of smaller animals is used, the fixture  1  may be capable of supporting several pre-forms at one time. 
     The fixture  1  shown in  FIG. 1  includes four supports  40 , however the number of supports may obviously vary. The preferred embodiment includes four supports  40  to match an anticipated maximum number of feet of a relatively large animal, i.e. attachment points, on any given pre-form  100 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , some pre-forms  100  may not make use of all of the available supports  40 . Therefore, four supports  40  are not necessary as part of the fixture  1 . It is expected that at least two supports  40  should be provided. In some embodiments, the number of supports  40  may vary by removably securing the supports  40  to the base  20 . 
     The base  20  may include a pair of legs  24  attached to the bottom portion of the base  20 . The legs  24  may be included for supporting the fixture  1  upon a work surface, such as a table or the floor. The legs  24  are preferably removable, foldable, or otherwise adjustable relative to the base  20  so that the legs  24  do not obstruct use of the fixture  1  when the legs  24  are unnecessary for supporting the fixture  1 . In the embodiment shown, the legs  24  are removable by being bolted to the base  20 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the base  20  may also include a mounting post  26  extending from a rear side of the base  20 . The mounting post  26  is configured to engage a conventional stand  200 . Supporting the fixture  1  via the mounting post  26  secured in a conventional stand  200  allows for the fixture  1  to be rotated about a horizontal, longitudinal axis of the mounting post. After rotating the fixture  1 , the mounting post  26  is secured in place relative to the stand  200 . Providing for rotation allows for changing the angle of the fixture  1  relative to the work surface, as shown in  FIG. 4 . As a result, the pre-form  100  may be angled for optimal working conditions for the taxidermist. With the legs  24  removed or otherwise adjusted, the fixture  1  should be capable of rotating a full 360 degrees. As can be seen, the base  20  can be supported by the stand  200  or the legs  24  depending on where the taxidermist chooses to work at any point in time. Again, the adjustability of the fixture  1  provides for both substantially universal mounting of animal pre-forms  100 , but also an ability to position those pre-forms in a variety of orientations for ease of access by the taxidermist. 
     The base  20  may include a lateral adjustment slot  28  along the length direction, as best seen in  FIGS. 2-4 . The lateral adjustment slot  28  allows the supports  40  to slide along the length direction relative to the base  20  to adjust the lateral spacing between the supports  40 . The lateral adjustment slot  28  may be a single slot extending nearly the full length of the base  20 . In other embodiments, the lateral adjustment slot  28  may comprise more than one slot, such as a separate slot for each support  40 . In yet other embodiments, the lateral adjustment slot  28  may not be a slot at all, but a series of closely spaced apertures for selective use in securing each support  40  at various positions along the length of the base  20 . 
     The supports  40  may include an attachment plate  44  with one or more openings  48  or slots therein. The attachment plate  44  connects with the rods  110  of the pre-form  100 . The attachment plate  44  has a width W (best seen in  FIG. 5 ). The width W may be between about 3 and about 18 inches to accommodate a variety of widthwise spacing between the rods  110  of the pre-form  100 . The opening  48  may be in the form of a slot or a series of holes, again to provide some front to rear positioning of the pre-form&#39;s rods  110 . The opening  48  may extend as much of the width of the attachment plate  44  as possible. Therefore, there is adjustment of the fixture  1  to accommodate rods  110  having various spacing in three directions, i.e. up or down; side to side; and front to rear. 
     The supports  40  may each include a support post  52 . The attachment plate  44  may be fixed to the top of the support post  52 . In other embodiments, the attachment plate  44  may be joined to the top of the support post  52  by any form of swivel connector known in the art, to provide additional degrees of freedom of movement. In one embodiment, the support post  52  has a circular cross section to allow the support post  52  to rotate about its length (an axis parallel to the height direction), and allow the attachment plate  44  to swivel relative to the base  20 , as seen in  FIG. 6 . The support post  52  may be between about 8 and about 15 inches in length to provide sufficient vertical adjustability of the attachment plates  44 . In some embodiments, the support posts  52  are different lengths to allow some supports  40  to adjust vertically more than others. 
     As best seen in  FIG. 2 , the supports  40  may further comprise brackets  56  for adjustably attaching the supports  40  to the base  20 . In one embodiment, each bracket  56  has a base attachment portion  60  and a post attachment sleeve  64 . In the illustrated embodiments, fasteners  68 , such as wing-nuts, nuts and bolts, extend through the base attachment portion  60  and the lateral adjustment slot  28 . With the fasteners  68  loosened, the support  40  can be moved along the lateral adjustment slot  28 . With the fasteners  68  tightened, the support  40  is held in position along the length direction. Fasteners  68  may also be disconnected to remove the support  40  from the base  20 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, a set screw  72  threadably passes through the post attachment sleeve  64 . When the set screw  72  is in a tightened position, the support post  52  and attachment plate  44  are held at a fixed height above the base  20 . When the set screw  72  is in a loosened position, the support post  52  may be adjusted in the height direction, rotated about its length, or removed from the bracket  56  completely. 
     It should be understood that this disclosure describes one embodiment as provided in the accompanying figures. One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the functions and advantages provided by the fixture  1  as described herein may be provided by other mechanical joints and connectors known in the art that would provide the same or substantially similar ability for the supports  40  to be selectively adjustable along both the length direction and in the height direction relative to a base  20 . 
     One skilled in the art will also understand that the use of the fixture  1  may be described in terms of a method of supporting a pre-form  100  used during taxidermy. First, the pre-form  100  is understood to have at least two rods  110  extending from feet, or other portions of the pre-form  100 . A fixture  1  according to this disclosure is provided such that the fixture  1  comprises a base  20  extending along a length direction and in a height direction, and at least two supports  40  extending upwardly relative to the base  20 . The method of supporting continues by adjusting at least one of the supports  40  along the length direction relative to the base  20  to match a lengthwise spacing of the rods  110  of the pre-form  100 , and adjusting at least one the supports  40  in the height direction relative to the base  20  to match a height-wise offset of the rods  110 . Once the fixture  1  has been adjusted to match the size, spacing and posture of the pre-form  100 , the rods  110  are joined to the attachment plates  44  by passing the rods  110  through the opening  48  and securing the rods  110  with a wing-nut, nut or other fastener. 
     Although the above disclosure has been presented in the context of exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the purview and scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.