Patent Publication Number: US-RE48203-E

Title: Layout blind with adjustable leg support and foldable flap support

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
     The present application is an application for reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 9,717,233 B1, issued Aug. 1, 2017 on U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application No. 15/211,629, filed Jul. 15, 2016, and claims priority to and the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/193,940, filed Jul. 17, 2015, entitled “Layout Blind Cot With Adjustable Leg Support.” The content of the above-identified patent documents is hereby incorporated by reference into the present application as if fully set forth herein.  
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. 
     1. Field of Technology 
     The present invention relates to a layout blind which can be used in a marshy environment or in a dry field. It combines the aquatic versatility of a layout boat with the portability and compact size of a layout blind. 
     2. Background of the Technology 
     Marshy wetlands are favored by waterfowl such as ducks and geese but the birds are also found upland in dry corn fields and the like at other times. Keeping a low, really low, profile improves a hunter&#39;s chance of shooting at surprised birds, for which purpose a hunter who hunts in both environments needs to have several different pieces of equipment. For use in shallow water on the edge of low weeds or out in flooded fields, a layout boat is useful but layout boats are expensive and cannot be collapsed for transportation and storage. For upland hunting there are layout blinds but they cannot be effectively used in a flooded field. What is needed is a versatile piece of the equipment that has the advantages of a layout boat but is good for upland hunting. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF VARIOUS PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a versatile collapsible layout blind that can be used in a marshy environment as well as for upland hunting. Other objects and features of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
     In accordance with the invention, a layout blind for use in a marshy environment or in a dry field is provided. The blind includes a support frame and a fabric cover. The support frame is generally rectangular and foldable in sections with an upper and lower side and a fabric support platform stretched tautly on the rectangular frame. A U-shaped head frame is pivoted to the upper side of the rectangular frame as is a U-shaped foot frame. First and second U-shaped flap support frames are pivoted between the head frame and the foot frame. The U-shaped flap support frames have first and second arms connected by a pivot hinge with a stop. 
     A plurality of extendible legs are pivoted to a lower side of the rectangular frame and the cover is configured to drape over the U-shaped head frame and the U-shaped foot frame in upright pivoted position. The fabric cover is split from the U-shaped head frame to the U-shaped foot frame with attached fabric flaps for covering the split. The cover is attached to the fabric support platform and the fabric flaps are attached to the U-shaped flap support frames to envelop and conceal a user inclined on the fabric support platform. In other embodiments, the layout blind is mounted on independently adjustable legs as described above with lily pad or web feet for stability to make for easy access in and out of the blind. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the accompanying drawings in which several of various possible embodiments of the invention are illustrated, corresponding reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is perspective view of a layout blind supported on a support frame with extendible legs; 
         FIG. 2  is perspective view of the layout blind with a user demonstrating how the U-shaped flap support frames fold if accidentally leaned upon in getting in and out of the blind; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the support frame of the layout blind with the cover and support platform removed for clarity; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation of the support frame with the U-shaped flap frames folded down; 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation of the support frame with the U-shaped flap frames detached from the head frame and from the foot frame; 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevation of the U-shaped flap frame folded; 
         FIGS. 7-11  are a progression of side elevations showing the layout blind being folded for transport or storage; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view a first pin-release pivot bracket; and, 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a second freely journaled pivot bracket assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AT LEAST ONE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. 
     Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference character, reference numeral  10  refers to a layout blind for use in a marshy environment or in a dry field. As shown in  FIG. 1 , layout blind  10  includes a support frame  12  to which is attached a cover  14 . Frame  12  is shown in  FIGS. 2-11  without support platform  22  and cover  14  for clarity. 
     Support Frame: 
     Support frame  12  includes a generally rectangular cot frame  16  having an upper and lower side  18 ,  20  ( FIG. 3 ), respectively and a fabric support platform  22  stretched tautly on the cot frame  16 . Cot frame  16  is foldable and formed in sections comprising a U-shaped head section  24  and a U-shaped foot section  26 , said head section  24  and foot section  26  pivotally connected to a center section  28 . Center section  28  is tapered towards foot section  26  such that when U-shaped foot section  26  is folded against center section  28 , U-shaped foot section  26  nests inside the center section. 
     A U-shaped head frame is pivoted to upper side  18  of rectangular frame inboard of a head end  32  ( FIG. 3 ) of cot frame  16 . The U-shaped head frame  30  is selectively held in an upward position with respect to head section  24  with braces  34 . Braces  34  connect a leg of U-shaped head section  24  and a leg of U-shaped head frame  30 . Braces  34  are rotatably connected to head frame  30  and head section  24  with pivot brackets  36 ,  38 . Preferably pivot bracket  36  at head frame  30  can be released with relative ease so that head frame  30  can be selectively collapsed against head section  24  of cot frame  16 . In one embodiment, U-shaped head frame  30  has a dropped middle to accommodate a sling  40  as seen in  FIG. 1 . 
     Pivot bracket  36  may be formed as shown in  FIG. 12  wherein a clevis member  42  having pin holes through both ends thereof is clamped to the frame. A cooperating insert member  44  having a matching pin hole is inserted between the ends of clevis member  42  and a pivot pin  46  is inserted in the pin holes of clevis member  42  and insert member  44  so that brace  34  is rotatable in pivot bracket  36 . A keeper  48  may be provided for pivot pin  46  such that it is kept in assembly with support frame  12 . 
     A U-shaped foot frame  50  is pivoted to upper side  18  of center section  28  of cot frame  16 . For this purpose a pivot bracket  52  may be like pivot bracket  38  used at the lower end of braces  34  or other some other configuration. 
     First and second U-shaped flap frames  54  are pivoted to head frame  30  and flank the dropped middle thereof. Opposite ends of flap frames  54  are pivoted to foot frame  50 . A pivot bracket  36  as shown in  FIG. 12  may be used for pivotable attachment to head frame  30  and a pivot bracket  56  as shown in  FIG. 12  may be on foot frame  50 . Pivot bracket  56  includes a recess  58  into which is inserted an end of flap frame  54 . When pin  46  is released from clevis member  42 , flap frame  54  is released from head frame  30 . The opposite end of flap frame  54  may then be pulled out of pivot bracket  56 . 
     Flap frames  54  includes first and second arms  54 a and  54 b which are connected with a pivot hinge  62  with a stop. In the form illustrated, hinge  62  is a 180 degree pivot hinge but hinges holding arms  54 a and  54 b at lesser angles may be used. As pressure is applied to arms  54 a and  54 b by in a downward direction as viewed in  FIG. 3 , hinge  62  opens to its maximum amount but when pressure is applied on hinge  62  or legs  54 a and  54 b in an opposite direction hinge  62  folds which has two important functions. First, if an operator accidentally uses flap frames  54  for support in getting in and out of blind  10  as shown in  FIG. 2 , the end of flap frame  54  attached to U-shaped foot section  26  is pulled out of bracket  56  and flap frames  54  will start to fold. This is an important feature as the flap frames on other blinds bend instead of fold thereby possibly making the blind unusable. 
     A second function of hinge  62  is that it allows flap frames  54  to be detached from blind  10  and folded as shown in  FIG. 6 . In this instance as described above, each flap frame  54  is released from bracket  36  on head frame  30  and the opposite end of flap frame  54  is pulled out of pivot bracket  56  which then allows blind  10  to be folded as shown in  FIGS. 7-11 . 
     As shown, cot frame  16  is support on three pairs of telescoping legs, namely a first pair  64  is pivoted to head section  24  inboard of head end  32 , a second pair  66  is pivoted at the pivot joint between head section  24  and center section  28 , and a third pair  68  is pivoted at the pivot joint between center section  28  and foot section  26 . A cross brace  70  is provided between each pair of legs to lend strength and rigidity to the assembly. The legs have telescoping sections such that the length of each leg is independently adjustable and may be locked in length with a spring load clamp  72  such that blind  10  may be used in shallow water and can be adjusted to an uneven support surface without being wobbly. A distal end of each of legs may be provided with a lily pad or web foot  74  that settles into the support surface and acts like a suction cup locking pairs of legs in place thus creating stability to make for easy access in and out of the blind. 
     Support frame  12  may be formed from a tubular material such as steel, aluminum or the like. As shown, frame  12  is formed of sections of round tubing although square tubing could be used. Cot frame  16 , U-shaped head frame  30  and U-shaped foot frame  50  preferably have radiused corners so as not to unduly stress cover  14  and support platform  22  but other shapes could be used. 
     Cover: 
     Cover  14  is configured to drape over U-shaped head frame  30  and U-shaped foot frame  50  in upright pivoted position. Cover  14  may be formed of a fabric material which may be imprinted with a camouflaging pattern. Spaced apart straps  76  may be provided for attaching vegetation such as reeds, corn stalks or the like to better conceal blind  10 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , cover  14  over head section  24  and center section  28  of cot frame  16  is split to provide access into the interior of blind  10 . Cover  14  is attached along its lower edge to support platform  22  and sling  40  is attached to U-shaped head frame  30  at its upper end and to support platform  22  at its lower end. Cover  14  includes attached (or integral) fabric side flaps  78  which are attached to U-shaped flap frames  54  for covering a user positioned in blind  10  generally supine on support platform  22  but with his torso slightly elevated on sling  40 . The hunter&#39;s feet and gear may fit in the foot box located at a foot end  80  ( FIG. 3 ) of cot frame  16 . A padded stop  82  may be provided on U-shaped foot frame  50  to keep U-shaped flap frames  54  from closing too far inward and are held out of contact with the user inside. Windows  84  are provided in flaps  78  such that a user may see out of blind  10  but not be seen by the waterfowl. 
     In use, blind  10  may be set up as shown in  FIG. 1  either in a marshy environment or in a dry filed. As above mentioned, the adjustable legs permit a hunter to position blind  10  in shallow water or in a dry field with a level cot frame  16 . With U-shaped flap frames  54  in lowered ( FIG. 3 ), blind  10  substantially conceals the hunter while allowing the hunter to call ducks and observe their flight through windows  84 . Once the birds are within shooting range, the hunter may fling open U-shaped flap frame  54  for unobstructed shooting ( FIG. 1 ). 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7-11  support frame  12  may be folded for transport or storage. Straps may be provided on support frame  12  or cover  14  to facilitate carrying the folded blind  10  over one or both shoulders. 
     In view of the above, it is seen that the objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.