Patent Abstract:
A portable structure from which hunters and wildlife observers can command elevated views of wildlife habitat. Commonly called a blind, it may also be constructed as a permanent or semi-permanent attachment to a motorized vehicle. The blind offers powered erection, powered access to and from the observation position, and wheelchair accessibility.

Full Description:
[0001]     This divisional patent application claims priority from and incorporates herein by reference U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/696,524, filed Oct. 29, 2003. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention pertains to the field of portable structures for use in the field by hunters and wildlife observers.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Hunters want elevated enclosed structures, typically called “blinds,” from which to command broad views of hunting grounds. They currently rely on permanent structures that are built on-site or that are built off-site and transported to a hunting ground, manually set upright, and then anchored for stability with lines or cables. Relocation of such structures without proper equipment and personnel can be difficult and dangerous.  
         [0004]     There are many hunters who do not own land suitable for hunting. Many of those hunters lease hunting property, and may not lease the same property from year to year. Many hunters also prefer certain leases for certain game, and may move from one lease to another depending on the hunting season. Also, a hunter may sometimes discover that he has constructed his blind in a less than ideal location. For such hunters, permanent blinds can be prohibitively expensive. Also, landowners may not want multiple blinds or permanent structures left on their property when hunters move to other locations.  
         [0005]     Some hunters are precluded from using blinds because of physical disabilities. Access to conventional blinds is typically by means of a ladder. A hunter is required to climb up the ladder carrying his weapons, ammunition, and any supplies he might need during the hunt. Wheelchair users are generally unable to use elevated blinds.  
         [0006]     The same limitations apply to anyone with a need to temporarily maintain an elevated position. Wildlife observers such as birdwatchers, wildlife photographers, scientists, and moviemakers, among others, are hindered in their pursuits by the necessity for erecting permanent or semi-permanent structures.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention alleviates the specified problems associated with hunting blinds and elevated observation towers. Mobile hunting blinds can be deployed on a lease, left for all or part of a season, and then moved to another location without being completely dismantled and reconstructed. Mobile blinds can easily be moved among several locations on the same lease if hunting conditions or game habits change. The winch-controlled personnel enclosure offers convenient access to portable observation towers. The addition of ramps makes towers wheelchair-accessible. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a first embodiment of the present invention with the tower section elevated and secured, the structure stabilized with two outriggers and a trailer tongue jack, and the personnel enclosure deployed in the uppermost position from which hunters would have a good view of a hunting ground.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the first embodiment, but with the tower section and outriggers secured for storage or transport.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of one embodiment of the personnel enclosure with a personnel access door, a window, and an eyebolt for receiving a shackle and cable by which the enclosure can be raised and lowered on the observation tower.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a second embodiment of the present invention mounted on a truck. Telescoping outriggers are shown deployed at the rear of the truck, and the tower and personnel enclosure are shown in a position ready for deployment to the upright position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0012]     A first embodiment  10  of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a tower section  5 , a tower support section  7  having generally an A-frame shape, and two pivotable outrigger members  9  are attached to a frame  15  having a tongue section  17 , a front jack assembly  19 , and an axle assembly  21 . Tower section  5 , tower support section  7 , and frame  15  may be constructed from materials such as high strength steel or aluminum tubes or channel.  
         [0013]     The tower section  5  is attached to the frame  15  by means of two hinges or pivots  8  on opposite sides of the frame.  FIG. 1  shows leveling jack assemblies  23  attached to the outriggers  9  that are in positions pivotally extended from the frame  15  for providing stability to the hunting blind  10 .  FIG. 1  shows leveling jack members  25  extended from leveling jack assemblies  23  for cooperation with the front jack assembly  19  in securely balancing the blind  10  upon the ground.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  shows an outrigger  9  pivotally retracted to a position substantially proximate to the frame  15  when it is desirable to configure the blind  10  in its first transport and storage position. In the first transport and storage configuration, the tower section  5  is supported in a substantially horizontal position by the frame  15 , and the cable  29  is tensioned by the winch  27  so that the personnel carrier  50  is snugged against the top (as considered with the tower in its vertical position) of the tower section  5 . For transport and storage, the winch should be locked against rotation, the outriggers  9  secured to the frame  15  in their inboard positions, a ramp  64  should be stowed securely, and the tower section and personnel carrier securely attached to the frame  15  with tie-down means familiar in the industry of equipment and vehicle transport.  
         [0015]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show cable  29 , run through sheaves  31 ,  33 , and  35  from winch  27 , and releaseably connected, as with a cable eye and shackle means (not shown), to a pad eye  52  on the top surface  54  of a personnel enclosure  50  (see  FIG. 3 ). The personnel enclosure as shown has a personnel access door  56  and a window  58 . The door is framed such that it will accommodate a wheelchair.  
         [0016]     In the disclosed embodiment, an electric winch  27 , by means of tensioning the cable  29 , raises the tower section  5  about pivots  8  from its first storage and transport position depicted in  FIG. 2  to its second upright and deployed position supported against support section  7  as depicted in  FIG. 1 . Pad eye  60  and pin  62  serve as a locking means to releaseably affix the tower section  5  to the tower support section  7  when the tower section  5  has been raised to the substantially vertical position. Pin  62  may be a bolt that is secured with a nut, or a drilled pin that is secured with a cotter pin or a quick-release linchpin commonly used in farm and ranch implements.  
         [0017]     When the tower section  5  is locked in the vertical, deployed position with locking means  60  and  62 , a rigid integral structure is formed, comprising support section  7 , tower section  5 , and frame  15 . The integral structure is stabilized with outriggers  9 , leveling jack assemblies  23 , and front jack assembly  19 .  
         [0018]     The winch  27  and cable  29  serve as a means for transporting personnel, equipment, and supplies between ground level and the top of the tower section inside and on the personnel enclosure  50 . The winch motor may be controlled from within the personnel enclosure by means of a remote control device such as those commonly used to control garage door openers or other motorized equipment. Alternatively, electrical control of the winch may be hard-wired from the personnel enclosure.  FIG. 2  shows a ramp  64  that may be deployed for easy access to the personnel enclosure  50  when it is in its lowest position at the bottom of the tower.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  illustrates a second embodiment  11  of Applicant&#39;s invention mounted on a motorized vehicle  80 . A base tower support section  90  may be removeably mounted on a section of the motorized vehicle. A tower section  92  is attached to the base tower support section  90  by means of two hinges or pins  94  on opposite sides of the tower support section. The tower section  92  is partially supported and secured for transit by a tower support post  93  pivotally and removeably attached to the motorized vehicle  80 .  
         [0020]     In  FIG. 4 , cable  29  is run through sheaves  100 ,  102 , and  104  from winch  27 , and releaseably connected, as with a cable eye and shackle means (not shown), to a pad eye  52  on the top surface  54  of a personnel enclosure  50 , shown in  FIG. 3 . In the  FIG. 4  embodiment, an electric winch  27 , by means of tensioning the cable  29 , raises the tower section  92  from its storage and transport position depicted in  FIG. 4  to an upright, deployed position similar to that depicted in  FIG. 1 . Pad eye  60  and pin  62  serve as a locking means to releaseably affix the tower section  92  to the base tower support section  90  when the tower section  92  has been raised to the deployed, substantially vertical position.  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  shows a telescoping outrigger  106  removeably attached to the motorized vehicle  80 . The outrigger has at least one leveling jack assembly  23  and leveling jack member  25  that extends to provide a means for contacting the ground and stabilizing the blind  11 .  
         [0022]     When locked in the vertical position with locking means  60  and  62 , and stabilized with an outrigger  106  and leveling jack assemblies  23 , the winch  27  and cable  29  serve as a means for transporting personnel, equipment, and supplies between ground level and the top of the tower section inside and on the personnel enclosure  50 . The winch motor may be controlled from within the personnel enclosure by means of a remote control device commonly used to control garage door openers or other motorized equipment. Alternatively, electrical control of the winch may be hard-wired from the personnel enclosure. A ramp  64 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , may be deployed for easy access to the personnel enclosure  50  when it is in its lowest position at the bottom of the deployed tower section  92  and the base tower support section  90 .  
         [0023]     While the present invention has been described in terms of two preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that form and detail modifications may be made to those embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, it should be understood that a roof and the perimeter wall or walls of Applicant&#39;s personnel enclosure could be permanently affixed to the top of the tower section, and that the moveable portion of Applicant&#39;s personnel enclosure could comprise a floor and a safety cage.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1