Patent Publication Number: US-2004048565-A1

Title: Big game hoist and carrier assembly

Description:
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/241,311, filed Oct. 18, 2000. 
    
    
     
       FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention relates to an expandable front cargo rack mountable to an all terrain vehicle that incorporates a hoist mast used to lift, field dress, skin and load harvested deer sized game animal carcasses.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] While in the field, hunters immediately field dress, or gut, an animal carcass in order to prevent the meat from spoiling. To field dress an animal carcass the hunter typically hangs the animal carcass to allow the animal&#39;s body cavity to drain and cool. Normally, a gambrel and some rope are used to hang the carcass from a convenient tree. However, when hunting in brush, scrubland, cropland, or swampy areas, a convenient tree that can support the weight of a deer-sized animal carcass may not be available. For these reasons, hoists have been developed that attach to the hunter&#39;s vehicle. However, these hoists are adapted for use with dual-purpose vehicles that must be capable of traveling on paved roads as well as traveling off road. Such vehicles have limited mobility and must be left a considerable distance from the actual site where the animal is harvested. For this reason, the dressed animal must be dragged a considerable distance through rough terrain. As appreciated, dragging a large animal is quite a physical burden on the hunter. In addition, dragging the animal can lead to contamination of the meat and damage the hide or trophy head. Further, the time required for dragging the animal delays the draining and cooling of the carcass, which can lead to spoilage.  
       [0004] Therefore, it would be desirable for hunters to have a game hoist that is available at the actual hunting site. Further, a device to aid the hunter in transporting the animal carcass from the hunting site, without adding to the contamination of the meat, or damaging the hide or trophy head, would be beneficial.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0005] One aspect of the present invention is a game hoist and carrier for mounting to and all-terrain vehicle having an electric winch. The game hoist and carrier comprises a rack having expandable sides for transporting game from a hunting site. A hoist mast is mounted to the rack, and a vertical support shaft is attached to the rack for stabilizing the game hoist and carrier above a surface during the lifting of an animal carcass.  
       [0006] Another aspect of the present invention is a gambrel for suspending an animal carcass above a surface. The gambrel comprises a first ring and a first wire rope affixed to the first ring. The wire rope having two lengths, each of the lengths depending from the first ring. A cross bar having a selectively adjustable width, the bar being attached to the lengths of the first wire rope and in combination therewith forming an adjustable loop at each end of said bar.  
       [0007] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a sling for suspending an animal carcass above a surface. The sling comprises a ring and a plurality of wire ropes attached thereto, each of the wire ropes extending from the ring and terminating in an adjustable noose.  
       [0008] These and other features, advantages and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0009] Advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
     [0010]FIG. 1 is front elevation view of a game hoist and carrier embodying the present invention in its travel configuration;  
     [0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the game hoist and carrier configured for field dressing an animal carcass;  
     [0012]FIG. 3 is a side view of the ATV including the skinning attachment;  
     [0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the skinning attachment mounted on the all-terrain vehicle;  
     [0014]FIG. 5 is a front view of a flat water tank mounted below the carrier on the all-terrain vehicle for the carcass washing attachment;  
     [0015]FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the pump and spray wand assembly for the carcass washing attachment;  
     [0016]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a gambrel for hoisting and suspending a carcass;  
     [0017]FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the gambrel and upper portion of the hoist;  
     [0018]FIG. 9 is a carcass-lifting sling. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0019] For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.  
     [0020] Referring to the Figures wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a game hoist and carrier for mounting onto an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) is generally shown at  10 . Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the game hoist and carrier  10  includes a rack  12  for transporting game from a hunting site, a hoist mast  14  for lifting and field dressing an animal carcass, and a vertical support  16  for stabilizing the ATV  18  during the hoisting of an animal. Optional attachments to the game hoist and carrier  10  include a skinning attachment  20  (FIG. 3) utilizing an ATV mounted winch  22  to skin the hide off the animal carcass and a water pack kit (FIG. 56) for flushing a field dressed carcass. The hoist mast  14  and vertical stabilizer  16  are stowed within the rack  12  for transportation and all corners  24  of the rack  12  are radiused to prevent injury to a hunter should the ATV  18  turn over.  
     [0021] The rack  12  mounted to the front portion of the ATV  18  includes expandable sides  26  telescopically retained in fence  28 . The expandable sides  26  slide outward from opposite ends of fence  28  to accommodate larger game, such as large deer sized animal carcasses. Fence  28  is a generally rectangular grid along a front portion of the rack  12  and expandable sides  26  partially extend around a perimeter of the rack  12  to protect the carcass from possible contaminating surfaces. The fence  28  aids the securing of items carried on the rack  12  and to prevent items from slipping forward while braking or traveling down inclines.  
     [0022] The game hoist and carrier  10  is attached to an existing front rack (not shown) of the ATV  18  using adapter kits for the specific make and model of ATV  18 . Each model of ATV has a model specific, front rack configuration. The adapter kit for an ATV  18  equipped with a plastic rack includes standoffs that utilize the same mounting brackets for the plastic rack. The standoffs position the game hoist and carrier  10  approximate one inch above the existing plastic rack. Standoffs are supplied with the game hoist and carrier  10  when an ATV  18  is equipped with a metal tube rack from the manufacturer. The standoffs are used to clamp the game hoist and carrier  10  to the existing rack utilizing “U” bolts.  
     [0023] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the aforementioned methods of attachment are for universal mounting of the game hoist and carrier  10 . Game hoist and carrier  10  may be manufactured to be ATV model specific in order to reduce the gross weight of the ATV  18  on which it is installed.  
     [0024] A retaining clip and snap pin (snap pins are well known and are thus not shown to maintain clarity of the Figures) secures the hoist mast  14  in a stowed configuration on rack  12  during transportation. To erect the hoist mast  14 , the hoist mast  14  is removed from its stowed position and is inserted into hoist mast receiver  36  in the center of the front of the rack  12 . The hoist mast  14  includes an inside tube  32 , which is received into the hoist mast receiver  36  and is secured in place by a snap pin through matching holes in hoist mast receiver  36  and inner tube  32 . An outside tube  30  is telescopically received over inside tube  32 . Outside tube  32  includes at an upper end a cross bar  31 . The outside tube  30  is secured over the inside tube  32  at a desired position by any of several known methods, including, a pin extending through mating holes in tubes  30  and  32 , a spring loaded pin affixed in one position in tube  32  extending through one or more holes in tube  30 , a thumb screw, etc. In the preferred embodiment, a desired hoist mast height may be set to accommodate lifting the harvested game animal to a comfortable and convenient height for field dressing.  
     [0025] The hoist mast  14  works in cooperation with the ATV mounted electric cable winch  22 . A winch cable snatch block or pulley  34  is disposed at an uppermost end of the outside tube  30  on cross bar  31 . The winch cable  38  is threaded through the pulley  34  by removing a pulley pin  58 , threading the cable  38  over the pulley  34 , and reassembling the pulley pin  58  to the pulley  34  with the free end of the cable  38  hanging down (FIG. 8). The hoist mast  14  includes provisions for mounting a 12-volt electric spotlight  33  at one end of cross bar  31  to supply electric lighting should the hunter need to field dress a game animal after dark.  
     [0026] The two-piece vertical support shaft  16  pivotally attaches to the underside of rack  12  and prevents the tipping forward of the ATV  18  during lifting, field dressing and skinning of the harvested game animal. Two snap pins retain the vertical support shaft  16  under the rack  12  in a transportation position. The vertical support shaft  16  includes an inner tube  40  having a foot  44  pivotally secured to a bottom end is slidably disposed within an outer tube  42 . The length of the telescoping vertical support shaft  16  is adjusted by sliding the inner tube  40  to a desired length, aligning matching holes, and inserting a snap pin into the mating indexing holes of inner and outer tubes  40  and  42 .  
     [0027] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a skinning attachment  20  provides for the skinning of a deer-sized big game animal that has been field dressed. The skinning attachment  20  is used after the carcass has been hoisted with gambrel  46  around the hind legs of the animal. The skinning attachment  20  includes a base bracket  56 , a first arm  48  having a clevis end  49 , and support arms  52 . The first arm  48  and support arms  52  are attached to the base bracket  56 . A second pulley  54  is attached within the clevis end  49  of first arm  48  and between the support arms  52 . A skinning strap  62  is provided to attach to the skin of the carcass and includes a loop for attaching a winch cable hook  60 . The winch cable  38  threads through the clevis end  49  of first arm  48  and between the support arms  52  and passes around the second pulley  54 . The winch cable hook  60  hooks the loop on skinning strap  62 . The skinning strap  62  loops around a flap of skin loose from the animal carcass. The first arm  48 , and support arms  52  and the base bracket  56  transfers all pulling force to the winch  22 , the winch-mounting bracket  58  and vertical support shaft  16  to prevent damage to plastic sections of the ATV  18 .  
     [0028] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a carcass washing attachment  64  may be provided. The carcass washing attachment  64  provides for washing of residue from the carcass of the field dressed game animal after field dressing of the carcass. The carcass washing attachment  64  includes a water tank  66 , a water pump  68 , and a length of hose  67  extending from a bottom outlet in tank  66  to the inlet side of water pump  68 . A second hose  72  attaches to the outlet side of water pump  68  and has affixed at the discharge end of hose  72  a spray wand  70 . Wand  70  has a hand operated valve for selectively starting and stopping the water flow from discharging from wand  70  to flush the carcass at will. Preferably the water tank  66  is mounted between the existing factory install front rack of the ATV  18  and the rack  12 . Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the water tank  66  may be mounted anywhere on the ATV  18 . Adapter brackets (not shown) mount the rack  12  above the water tank  66 . Preferably electric water pump  68  is mounted to a bracket  73  that can in turn be mounted on a convenient spot on ATV  18 . Hose  67  being of sufficient length and trimmable to accommodate the specific placement of bracket  73  and pump  68 . A toggle switch  75  is mounted to bracket  73  and is electrically connected with wires  74  to both pump  68  and the ATV electrical system for selectively applying electric power to pump  68 . Optionally, a pressure gage  69  can be installed between pump  68  and wand  70  to monitor the pressure created by pump  68  in hose  72 . Compressed air could also be used to discharge water contained in water tank  66  to hose  72  and wand  70 .  
     [0029] An animal carcass lifting sling  90  is provided to aid the hunter for loading the carcass onto rack  12 . The lifting sling  90  comprises of four wire rope loops  92  that are permanently attached at on end to a welded steel ring  91 . The other end of each wire rope loop  92  is fashioned as a slip noose  93  with clamp  94  secured to an end of the wire rope and slidably received on an upper portion of the wire rope. One slip noose  93  is placed around each of the animal carcass&#39;s four legs above the knee and cinched tight while the animal carcass is lying on the ground. Winch cable hook  60  is hooked through the welded steel ring  91 . The hunter then operates the electric winch  22  to lift the animal carcass onto the rack  12 .  
     [0030] An adjustable cinch gambrel  46  is provided for field dressing and skinning the harvested animal carcass. The adjustable cinch gambrel  46  comprises of an outer tube  78  and an inner tube  79  with several indexing holes therein and a wire rope cinch  83  that attaches to the carcass&#39;s rear legs above the knees and has a lifting eye  80  for which to attach the winch cable hook  60 . The wire rope cinch also has an addition eye  82  that is used to suspend the animal carcass from cross bar  31  of hoist mast  14 . Eye  82  allows the hunter to lift the carcass to the desired height and slip the additional eye  82  over the cross bar  31 , insert a snap pin  59  into a hole in the forward end of the cross bar  31 . Once the eye is placed on cross bar  31 , the winch cable hook  60  can be removed from the gambrel lifting eye  80 . The hunter can then use the winch cable  38  and winch cable hook  60  for other purposes while the carcass is suspended on the hoist mast  14  such as using the skinning attachment  20  for removing the hide from the harvested animal carcass. Length of the gambrel  46  is adjusted by sliding the inner tube  79  within the outer tube  78  and then inserting a snap pin  84  through matching holes to the desired length to accommodate the size of the harvested game animal.  
     [0031] The game animal is retained in gambrel  46  by placing one leg in each of loops  86 . Each end  87  of the wire ropes  83  is affixed to the outer end of tubes  78  and  79 , and the wire robe is then passed through a hole in the tube that is large enough to allow the wire rope to easily slide therein. The carcass is held in a suspended manner by its own weight pulling down on ends  87  thus decreasing the size of loops  86  to firmly retain the carcass. The gambrel  46  is easily removed once the hanging weight of the carcass is eliminated by sliding the wire rope through the holes in the tube to increase the size of loops  86 .  
     [0032] The invention has been describe in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore, to be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described