Abstract:
A rear view hunting mirror which is characterized by a mirror mounted on one end of a flexible “gooseneck” coupling, with a curved mount bracket attached to the opposite end of the flexible coupling and fitted with an adjustable mount strap and buckle combination for attaching the rear view hunting mirror to a post, tree or a tree limb. The mirror can then be manipulated into position in front of a hunter in the tree or a hunter positioned on a tree stand attached to the tree or post, for viewing the area behind the hunter and spotting game in that area. A camouflage sheath can be fitted over the flexible coupling to aid in camouflaging the rear view hunting mirror from deer and other game. The flexible coupling has multiple, removable coupling digits connected in a friction-fit and attached to the mirror and to the bracket to facilitate a flexible coupling of desired length.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/436,729, filed Dec. 30, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates to hunting from elevated structures such as trees, poles and the like having curved surfaces and more particularly, to a rear view hunting mirror designed for attachment to a tree, pole or other rounded supporting structure and adjustment forwardly of the hunter for viewing the area behind the hunter. In a preferred embodiment a curved surface of a tree, limb, pole or similarly shaped support object and is typically secured in place by means of a strap and buckle combination. A flexible “gooseneck” coupling extends from the mount bracket and a mirror is mounted on the opposite end of the flexible coupling, which mirror can be adjusted forwardly of the hunter in the tree or on the pole or tree in a climbing stand, for example, to view a target area rearwardly of his or her position in the tree or on the stand attached to the tree or pole. In a preferred embodiment the flexible coupling is of a conventional design having articulating, removable coupling digits snapped together in a friction-fit and fixed to the mirror on one end and attached to the mount bracket on the opposite end to facilitate adding and removing coupling digits and fabricating a flexible connection of selected length for the purpose.  
           [0004]    One of the problems realized in hunting is the difficultly of viewing the area behind the hunter when the hunter is located in a tree or on a climbing stand or other device attached to a tree or pole for hunting purposes. Viewing the area behind the hunter is difficult, not only because of the tree or pole which the hunter is supported on or positioned in, but also because of the awkward, uncomfortable body movements necessary in order to turn the head to the desired extent for such viewing. Accordingly, the rear view hunting mirror of this invention facilitates a clear rear view and solves the problem of the tree or support itself as a blocking obstacle, as well as the necessity of moving the body and turning the neck and head in uncomfortable positions for viewing purposes.  
           [0005]    2. Description of Prior Art  
           [0006]    Various types of rear view hunting mirror apparatus exist in the prior art to aid hunters. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,717 to Pastore (dated Apr. 24, 2001) depicts a hunting mirror that uses a clamp to secure it to the hunter&#39;s tree stand. Although the Pastore device is meant to be clamped to any area of a tree stand, it only works efficiently by clamping the mirror to the rails of a tree stand where the mirror is in the hunter&#39;s line of vision. Furthermore, not all tree stands have rails where the hunter can clamp the mirror within their line of vision.  
           [0007]    Another type of hunting mirror device is U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,061 to Lanier (dated Jan. 17, 1995). The Lanier device includes a spike for penetrating the tree trunk to secure the hunting mirror in place, and this particular device is used specifically with tree stands in which the hunter faces the tree. The Lanier device, therefore, has a couple of problems. First of all, only hunters who use a tree stand that faces the tree can use this device. Secondly, since the spike penetrates the tree trunk, the Lanier device damages the tree.  
           [0008]    Yet another type of hunting mirror device is found in Varmint Masters magazine, Thicket Publishing inc., issue no. 2, of 1996 on page 56 (Pat. Pending to Todd Fontenot). The Fontenot device is limited in several ways. First, the device uses a flexible rod, to which the mirror attaches, that is not adjustable for length. This is a limitation for hunters who use tree stands which face the tree because the flexible rod is too long to position the mirror close to the tree, which is the optimal place for use with this type of tree stand. If the mirror were close to the tree it would keep the device out of the way of the hunter and still within the hunter&#39;s line of vision. Second, the entire length of the flexible rod is one piece. This is not nearly as adjustable as a flexible “gooseneck” made up of a multiple coupling digits, which permit movement at every digit, thus permitting more adjustability. Third, the Fontenot device attaches to a tree using either screws or a plastic cable tie. Using the screws to mount the device is time consuming, damaging to the tree and requires the hunter to carry the tooling necessary to attach or detach the device. Using the cable tie to attach the device to a tree is a one-time use attachment method. After the cable tie is cinched down it must be cut off to be removed and thus requires another new cable tie to remount the device and a cutting tool to remove it. Forth, when the Fontenot device is mounted to a tree, the mounting base, which makes contact with the tree, is flat. A flat surface mounted to a round surface (a tree) only has one point of contact, making the flat surface prone to teeter on the round surface. Therefore, the flat base does not provide near the stability as would a mounting base that had more than one point of contact on the trees surface.  
           [0009]    Objects and Advantages  
           [0010]    Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are:  
           [0011]    a) An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved rear view hunting mirror for use with all tree stands in order to overcome the deficiencies previously noted in prior art. My device can be used with any type of tree stand, whether the tree stand used faces the hunter toward the tree or away from the tree and whether the tree stand has rails or not, because my device attaches around the tree and not to the stand.  
           [0012]    b) Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved rear view hunting mirror in which the length of the flexible “gooseneck” can be adjusted repeatedly to fit the hunter&#39;s preference and needs. If the hunter is in a tree stand, which faces away from the tree in which they are seated, they may want to use the full length of the flexible “gooseneck”. If the hunter is in a tree stand, which faces the tree in which they are seated, they may want to shorten the flexible “gooseneck” by removing as many coupling digits desired in order to position the mirror closer to the tree trunk that they are facing. This keeps the rear view hunting mirror out of the hunter&#39;s way and from obstructing the hunter&#39;s view.  
           [0013]    c) Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved rear view hunting mirror that uses a flexible “gooseneck” comprised of multiple coupling digits which enables more adjustability and articulation than a one piece flexible rod, as noted in prior art.  
           [0014]    d) Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved rear view hunting mirror which can be attached to a tree without damaging the tree. This is because my design does not penetrate the tree&#39;s surface.  
           [0015]    e) Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved rear view hunting mirror in which all parts are reusable as opposed to one-time use parts such as cable ties noted in prior art.  
           [0016]    f) Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved rear view hunting mirror which can be firmly secured to a tree, limb or pole by means of a mounting bracket having two parallel bracket edges. Two parallel bracket edges provide more distribution of surface contact with the tree, limb or pole preventing teetering associated with a flat mounting base, as noted in the prior art. Therefore, the more distribution of surface contact there is the more firmly seated the mount bracket is to the tree, limb or pole surface.  
           [0017]    g) Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved rear view hunting mirror that can be attached and removed from a tree, limb or pole without the use of tooling. This is because my design uses a strap, hook and buckle combination, which makes for easy and quick attachment or removal from a tree, limb or pole by hand. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]    The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the rear view hunting mirror of this invention mounted in functional configuration for viewing by a hunter (not illustrated) who may be seated on a climbing hunting stand beneath the rear view hunting mirror;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the rear view hunting mirror illustrated in FIG. 1, with the mount strap removed for brevity;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the rear view hunting mirror illustrated in FIG. 2, more particularly illustrating a preferred technique for removably mounting the flexible coupling to the mount bracket;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rear view hunting mirror illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 3 , more particularly illustrating the use of multiple removable coupling digits snapped together in a friction-fit to define the flexible coupling which mounts the mirror to the mount bracket and facilitates articulation of the coupling digits and orientation of the mirror in any desired configuration with respect to a tree limb using a mount strap and buckle combination;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the rear view hunting mirror, typically attached to a tree limb using the mount strap and more particularly illustrating a desired positioning of the mirror by manipulation of the flexible coupling; and  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a mount bracket and an alternative friction buckle design for tightening the mount bracket on a fixed object. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]    Referring initially to FIGS.  1 - 3  of the drawings in a preferred embodiment, the rear view hunting mirror of this invention is generally illustrated by reference numeral  1 . The rear view hunting mirror  1  includes a mirror  2 , consisting of a typically plastic mirror plate  3  that has a reflecting surface  4  and is fitted with a coupling bracket  5  for fixing the mirror plate  3  to one end of a flexible coupling  7  using a fixed digit  8   a , located at one end of multiple coupling digits  8 , as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. As illustrated in FIG. 6 each of the coupling digits  8 , as well as the fixed digit  8   a , has a digit ball  8   d , shaped to snap into an adjacent digit cup  8   c  in a friction-fit to facilitate articulation between the respective digit balls  8   d  and corresponding digit cups  8   c . As further illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 3  the opposite end of the flexible coupling  7  is terminated by a mount bracket digit  8   b , having a digit ball  8   d  secured to a curved or arcuate mount bracket  13  by means of a nut  11 , threaded on a bolt  10  that extends through a washer  9  and through aligned openings (not illustrated) in the digit ball  8   d  and the mount bracket  13 , respectively. As further illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings the arcuate mount bracket  13  is characterized by a concave surface  14  and a convex surface  14   a , terminated by parallel bracket edges  13   a , and is fitted with a blade slot  15  and parallel strap slots  16  on opposite sides of the nut  11 , as illustrated.  
         [0026]    Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 4- 6  of the drawings the mount strap  17  receives a strap hook  18  on one end, which strap hook  18  is typically curved to define an engaging blade  19  for removably engaging the blade slot  15  in the mount bracket  13  when the rear view mirror  1  is in functional, mounted position on a tree  27 , as illustrated in FIG. 1. In a preferred embodiment, engagement between the mount strap  17  and the strap hook  18  is effected by means of a strap loop  21 , shaped in one end of the mount strap  17  and extending through a strap hook loop slot  20  (FIG. 4) provided in the strap hook  18 , to define a strap loop end  22  that is sewn or otherwise attached to the mount strap  17  to secure the strap hook  18  on one end of the mount strap  17 . The opposite end of the mount strap  17  is typically removably engaged with a cam buckle  24 , typically by extending the mount strap  17   a  through an opening or slot (not illustrated) in the cam buckle  24 . The cam buckle  24  is secured to the mount bracket  13  by a buckle strap  25 , also having a strap loop  21  and strap loop end  22  extending through the parallel strap slots  16 . This attachment prevents engagement between the buckle strap  25  and the adjacent bracket edge  13   a  and effects tightening of the mount strap  17  on the tree  27  (FIG. 1) or the tree limb  28  (FIGS. 4 and 5), firmly seating the bracket edges  13   a  of the mount bracket  13  on the bark of the tree  27  or tree limb  28  and securing the rear view hunting mirror  1  in place. In a preferred embodiment the cam buckle  24  is of the cam-operated type known to those skilled in the art which facilitates manipulation of a lever  23  (FIG. 4) to tighten the cam element  23   a  (FIG. 4) against the mount strap end  17   a , as illustrated in FIG. 1. In another preferred embodiment the diameter of a circle defining the arc or curvature of the mount bracket  13  is less than the diameter and curvature of the chosen tree  27  or tree limb  28 , to insure tight seating of the parallel bracket edges  13   a  on the tree or limb surfaces and optimum securing of the mount bracket  13  in place.  
         [0027]    Alternatively, the cam buckle  24  may be replaced with a friction buckle  12 , as illustrated in FIG. 5, where the buckle strap  25  is attached to the friction buckle  12  and mount strap  17  (not illustrated) is inserted in the opening between the tension pin  12   b  and the strap pin  12   a  and then through the space between the strap pin  12   a  and the teeth  12   c , in the direction of the arrows. In each event, the cam buckle  24  or friction buckle  12  facilitates tightening of the mount strap  17  around the tree  27  or the tree limb  28  to tightly seat the parallel bracket edges  13   a  terminating the concave surface  14  of the mount bracket  13 , on the larger curvature of the tree  27  or the tree limb  28 . This preferred seating configuration of the bracket edges  13   a  of the mount bracket  13  has been found to be extremely important to facilitate non-slip, yet quick, easy and removable attachment of the rear view hunting mirror  1  to the tree  27  or the tree limb  28  with minimum movement of the mirror  2  and corresponding minimum distortion of the rear view field in the reflecting surface  4  of the mirror  2  during hunting. As further illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings a camouflage sleeve  26  is optionally provided on the flexible coupling  7  for camouflaging the flexible coupling  7 .  
         [0028]    Referring again to FIG. 1 of the drawings a hunter (not illustrated) may be seated on the seat  31  of a climbing deer stand  30 , which is attached to a tree  27  by means of a support strap  36  and is typically operated to climb the tree in “inchworm” fashion, according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. The climbing deer stand  30  is typically further provided with a seat support  32 , to which the seat  31  is mounted and to which a foot support  33  is positioned beneath the seat  31  and both are secured in place on the seat support  32  by means of foot braces  34  and a seat brace  35 . The hunter can therefore sit on the seat  31 , attach the rear view hunting mirror  1  to the tree  27  above the climbing tree stand  30  and position the mirror  2  in a desired location forwardly of the hunter for viewing the area behind the hunter.  
         [0029]    Accordingly, in operation, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the hunter may initially ascend to the tree  27  in conventional manner using the climbing tree stand  30 , with the rear view hunting mirror  1  carried in a backpack or otherwise. When the hunter reaches the desired height on the tree  27 , he then secures the climbing tree stand  30  in place, typically using the support strap  36  and seats himself on the seat  31 , typically, but not necessarily, with his back to the tree  27  and his feet resting on the foot support  33 . He is now in position to mount the rear view hunting mirror  1  on the tree  27  above his head by simply encircling the tree  27  with the mount strap  17 , equipped with the cam buckle  24  or the friction buckle  12  to cause the bracket edges  13   a  of the curved mount bracket  13  to tightly engage the surface of the tree  27 . Since the mount bracket  27  is curved and includes a concave surface  14  bounded by the bracket edges  13   a , (FIG. 3), it may be tightly and securely coupled to the tree  27  of larger diameter and curvature, to facilitate minimum movement or vibration of the flexible coupling  7  extending from the mount bracket  13  and corresponding minimal movement of the mirror  2  on the opposite end of the flexible coupling  7 . If desired, a camouflage sleeve  26  may be extended over the flexible coupling  7  to help camouflage the rear view hunting mirror  1 . The mirror  2 , along with the mirror plate  3 , is then adjusted approximately into the position illustrated in FIG. 1 to facilitate a rear view of the hunter. Rotatable and spatial adjustment of the mirror  2  can be made at any time using the flexible coupling  7  as the coupling digits  8  rotate and articulate with respect to each other in the adjusting process, to better position the mirror 2 , such that the reflecting surface  4  allows the hunter to command viewing of an area of the forest or hunting terrain behind the hunter as he is seated on the climbing tree stand  30  or on a ladder stand or other support (not illustrated), as the case may be.  
         [0030]    Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawings, alternatively, under circumstances where it is not convenient or expedient to mount the rear view hunting mirror  1  on the tree  27  as illustrated in FIG. 1, the rear view hunting mirror  1  can be mounted on a tree limb  28 , preferably, but not necessarily, having a curvature larger than the curvature of the mount bracket  13 , in the position illustrated in FIG. 4 and adjusted as described above to command a view of the terrain behind the hunter. Still further in the alternative, the rear view hunting mirror  1  can be mounted as illustrated in FIG. 4 on a limb  28 , more particularly illustrating articulation of the respective coupling digits  8  in the flexible coupling  7  and adjustment of the mirror  2  into a second position for viewing the area behind the hunter.  
         [0031]    As further illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and  5  of the drawings in a preferred embodiment of the invention the flexible coupling  7  is designed to articulate by means of multiple coupling digits  8  in a desired tension arrangement. Accordingly, fixed digit  8   a  of the flexible coupling  7  is mounted in fixed attachment to, or molded integrally with, the coupling bracket  5 , in order to receive the remaining coupling digits  8 , and the opposite end of the flexible coupling  7  includes the mount bracket digit  8   b  that may be likewise intergrally formed with or bolted against the convex surface  14   a  of the mount bracket  13 , as heretofore described.  
         [0032]    While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made in the invention and the amended claims are intended to cover all such modifications that may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.