Patent Document

This application claims priority from application No. 60/265,617 filed on Feb. 2, 2001 under 35 USC 119(e). 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to hunting aids, and in particular, to a combination drag and hook device for transporting and hanging animals that have been obtained through hunting, and a cutting device designed to remove the anal tract of an animal as part of field dressing the animal. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Two vital steps in hunting are moving the animal once it has been downed and properly field dressing the animal. 
     It is imperative that the animal is properly field dressed or the meat of the animal can be spoiled. For example, if a hunter would pierce the animal&#39;s bladder while removing the rectum, fluid from the bladder would foul the meat and make the animal unfit for human consumption. 
     In addition and in most instances, the animal must be dragged from the site where it has been downed and hung vertically. Typically, hunters use one device to drag the animal, and a second device to hang the animal up. 
     In both of these instances, improved hunting aids are needed to avoid accidental bladder piercing, and make it easier to both drag and hang an animal. 
     The present invention solves both of these problems by providing an improved cutting device for field dressing and a combination dragging and hanging device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a first object of the present invention to provide an improved hanging and dragging device for animals downed by hunting. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cutting device for field dressing animals, particularly one designed to remove the anal tract or rectum and the bladder of an animal. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as a description thereof proceeds. 
     The hanging and dragging device comprises a handle having a pair of opposing free ends, wherein the handle has means for supporting the handle such as a loop or other surface. A pair of removable hooks are attached to each free end of the handle, with the hooks being adapted to hook to an animal so that the animal can be hung via the handle. A flexible member is provided that extends from each free end of the handle. Each flexible member terminates in a hook for attaching to a portion of an animal to allow the animal to be dragged using the handle. 
     Each flexible member can be removably attached to each respective free end. Each removable hook can be rotated between a hooking position wherein a hook end faces upward for hanging, and a dragging position wherein the hook end faces downward to allow the hook end to be gripped for dragging. A removable pin can be employed to retain each removable hook in a portion of the handle and to permit hook rotation. 
     In one embodiment, each free end can have a coupler with an opening to receive an attachment end of the removable hook. Each removable hook can then be retained in the opening by the pin extending through the opening in the coupler and an opening in the attachment end of the hook. The coupler can be either an integral part of the handle or is attached thereto. 
     Each free end can have an eye opening to receive a portion of the flexible member, and the handle can also employ an eye opening for its support. 
     The invention also entails a method of dragging and hanging an animal comprising providing a handle having a pair of rotatable hooks on opposing free ends thereof. After an animal has been hunt down, the animal is linked to one or both of the free ends. The free hook or hooks are positioned with a concave part of each hook to be grabbed by a user for dragging the animal. Once the animal is dragged to the selected site, the handle is supported off the ground, and the hooks are rotated so that one free end thereof can be used to hang the animal. The handle can be supported using an eye on the handle and cables can be used to link the animal to the handle for dragging. In a preferred embodiment, cables with hooks at each end are used to link the animal to the free ends of the handle for dragging. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Reference is now made to the drawings of the invention wherein: 
     FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of one embodiment of the hanging and dragging device of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross section view along the line II—II of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial side view of an alternative embodiment of the FIG. 1 hunting aid; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the cutting device of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a partial view of another embodiment of the device of FIG. 4 with a removable blade; and 
     FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of the hanging device. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention offers significant improvements in hunting aids by providing, in one embodiment, the ability to remove the bladder and rectum of the animal without piercing the bladder during field dressing. A second embodiment allows one hunter to first drag an animal and then hang the animal using the same device. The device can also accommodate dragging a large animal using two hunters. 
     FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the hanging/dragging device of the invention as reference numeral  10 . The device  10  has a handle  1  made up of a handle body  2  and a pair of angled end portions  3 . Each of the end portions  3  terminate in an eye  5 . Preferably, the handle is about six inches in length, but other dimensions can be used. 
     The body  2  also has a centrally positioned eye  7 . A strap  9  is shown looped in the eye  7 . The eye  7  and strap  9  can act as a grip for a hunter to drag one or more animals as described below. Alternatively, a hunter could merely grab the handle  10  and drag the animal. As explained below, the eye  7 , with or without the strap  9 , can be used to support the handle  1  for hanging. In addition, while a flexible strap is shown, other flexible or rigid items could be used with the eye for dragging and/or hanging, e.g., a metal ring large enough to accommodate a person&#39;s hand, a rope or cable, or the like. Further, the eye  7  could be replaced with openings in the handle body  2  or slots or grooves in the body surface, the openings or slots/grooves interfacing with a strap, hook, cable, or the like to support the handle and hooks. 
     The body  2  and end portions  3  are preferably an integral one-piece design and made of a material capable of withstanding the forces necessary to drag and hang an animal. A preferred material would be a metal, either wrought with the eyes attached by welding, a casting, or the like. While the end portions  3  are angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the body  1 , they could extend at right angles to the axis of the body  1 , or be aligned therewith. When the end portions  3  are aligned with the body  1 , changes in the cable length or positioning of the couplers as described below may be necessary. 
     The end portions  3  also have a pair of cylindrical members  11  that are similar to pipe couplings, hereinafter couplers. The internal diameter of the couplers  11  is sized to slidably receive an end portion  13  of the hooks  16 . Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the hooks  16  are secured in the couplers  11  by cotter pins  17 . The cotter pins  17  extend through openings  19  in the couplers  11 , and openings  21  in the hooks  16 . The free ends  23  of the pins  17  are folded to prevent the pins  17  from sliding out of the openings  19  and  21 . 
     The couplers  11  can be attached to the end portions  3  in any fashion, e.g., welding, fasteners, etc. In the alternative, the couplers  11  could be an integral part of the end portions  3  such that each would be a part of the end portion  3 , and the eye  5  would then extend from the couplers as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     The hooks  16  function in concert with the eye  7  to hang one or more animals. That is, a tree or the other elevated structure supports the body  1  via the eye  7  and the rope  9 . The field dressed animal is then attached to the hook end  15  of the hook  16  to support the animal off the ground, e.g., one hook in each hind leg of the animal, or one hook in one animal. Other modes can be used to support the device using the handle body  2  as noted above. 
     The eyes  5  of the end portions  3  cooperate with hooks  27  and cables  29  to drag the animal to a selected site. One set of hooks  27  engage the eyes  5  with the other set being used to engage the field dressed animal, e.g., the hind legs of the animal. The cables  29  interconnect the hooks  27  for dragging. The attachment of the hooks  27  to the cables  29  can be done in any fashion, either so that the cables are easily removed from the hooks or with the cable permanently attached to the hooks. Preferably the cables are about two feet in length, but other lengths can be used. Alternative designs for the hooks  27  can be employed, e.g., closed hooks having a pivoting member to allow hook attachment and release. Although cables are exemplified, other items can be used, chains, wire, etc. 
     The device  10  also facilitates a two-person drag. In this mode, the pins  17  are removed, the hooks  16  are rotated 180° so that the end  31  of the hook portion  15  is facing toward the eye  5 , and the pins  17  are replaced. This then allows each of a pair of hunters to grasp each hook portion  15  and drag the animal or animals. When the animal is dragged to the desired site, the pins  17  are removed, the hooks  16  are rotated back to the orientation shown in FIG. 1, and the pins  17  are replaced for hanging. The animal(s) can then be hung. 
     It should be understood that other designs than the eyes  5  could be employed to connect the hooks  27  and cables  29 . Likewise, the eye  7  could be replaced with another design to allow for support of the handle  1 . Other attachments can be used in place of the cotter pins to removably secure the hooks  16  the end portions  3 . In addition, while couplers are shown, other shapes could be employed, e.g., square cross sections, to couple the hooks to the end portions  3 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, a cutting device designated by the reference number  50  is shown in perspective. The device  50  is designed to remove the anal tract and the bladder from an animal as described below. The device  50  is metallic and has a cylindrical body  51  having a circular cutting edge  53  at one end thereof. Extending from the edge  53  are a pair of rods  57 , each terminating in a handle  59 . The rods  57  can be attached to the body  51  and handle  59  in any fashion, but is preferred that the connections are welds. 
     In use and as part of field dressing an animal, e.g., a deer or hog, the cutting device is used to remove the rectum or anal tract and bladder at one time. Using prior art techniques, the anus is removed by cutting around it with a small knife from the interior or exterior of the animal. Once the cutting is complete, the anus is drawn into the body cavity, and it becomes free with the intestines. This technique runs the risk of piercing the bladder and ruining the animal meat. 
     This disadvantage is overcome by the cutting tool of the invention. In use, the edge  53  is placed around the anus from the outside of the deer. With the cutting edge in contact with the deer, the handle  59  is rotated to effectively cut out the anus. Unlike a knife edge being wielded by a hunter, the configuration of the circular cutting edge minimizes the chances of piercing the bladder. In fact, when rotating the cutting device and moving it through the deer, the bladder passes through the center of the cylinder  51 . Thus, the edge  53  is spaced from the bladder during the rotating and cutting action, thereby minimizing bladder contact. 
     After a number of uses, the edge  53  can be honed again to provide a sharp edge for continued cutting. 
     FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the cutting device of FIG. 4 wherein a replaceable cutting blade is used instead of the integral cutting edge  53 . In this embodiment, a portion of a cylinder  51 ′ is shown. The cylinder  51 ′ is employed in conjunction with a cylindrical cutting blade  61  having a cutting edge  63 . The blade  61  is sized to fit snugly within the cylinder  51 ′ so that the proper cutting diameter is attained. In the FIG. 4 embodiment, the blade has a number of openings  67  (one shown in FIG.  5 ). The cylinder  51 ′ has one threaded opening  69  for every opening  67  in the blade  61 . A set screw  65  is provided, preferably with a lip or protrusion to wedge the blade  61  against the inner wall  71  of the cylinder  51 ′ when the set screw  65  is threaded into the opening  69 . In this embodiment, once the blade  61  is worn out, it can be easily removed and replaced with another blade by removing the set screw  65 , removing the old blade, installing a new blade, and reinserting the set screw  65 . 
     The number of openings in the blade  61  and cylinder  51 ′ can vary from at least two up to as many as eight or more. Fewer openings are desired since this makes it easier to remove and replace the blade. 
     It should also be understood that the attachment between the blade  61  and the cylinder  51 ′ is exemplary, and other fastening techniques can be used to removably secure the blade  61  to the cylinder  51 ′. For example, a nut and bolt arrangement could be employed. 
     Although the dimensions for the device  50  can vary, preferred dimensions include a diameter of around 2 to 2.5 inches for the cylinder  51 ,  51 ′, a length of about 12 to 15 inches for the rods with a rod diameter of about ¼ inch, and a length of about 4 to 6 inches for the handle, with a handle diameter of ¼ inch. The diameter of the cylinder should be just large enough to surround the anus and may vary depending on the animal being hunted. Some devices may have to have bigger diameters than others depending on size of the animals, and the devices could be made with different diameters to suit different animals. The rod length is important to since there must be enough space between the handle  59  and edge  55  to allow the cutting edge to pass around the anus and separate it from the animal body, with the handle or rods interfering with the path of travel of the cutting device when being used. 
     Further, while the handle and rods are described with a diameter, other cross sectional shaped members can be used, square, rectangular, etc. 
     FIG. 6 shows another embodiment  70  wherein the handle is A-shaped, rather than the shape of FIG.  1 . This embodiment is advantageous since the hooks  16  can be positioned as shown for a one-man drag, wherein the animal would connect to the peak of the frame at  73 . In the position designated by the reference numeral  80 , the hooks can be rotated for a two man drag wherein the animal or animals would be linked at points  75  using cables or the like. For hanging, the hooks  16  are rotated from the position designated by  80 , just as shown in FIG.  1 . The A-frame is advantageous in that it is easier to manufacture, and is a more compact design when one person is using it for dragging. 
     With a one man drag, only one hook or the like is needed to connect the animal to the a-frame, whereas a two man drag would employ a pair of hooks or the like. 
     As such, an invention has been disclosed in terms of preferred embodiments thereof which fulfills each and every one of the objects of the present invention as set forth above and provides new and improved hunting aids for field dressing and dragging and hanging the field dressed animal. 
     Of course, various changes, modifications and alterations from the teachings of the present invention may be contemplated by those skilled in the art without departing from the intended spirit and scope thereof. It is intended that the present invention only be limited by the terms of the appended claims.

Technology Category: 1