BLIND WITH STRUCTURE FOR RAPID SETUP
A shelter or hunting blind that is easily extended and collapsed includes a frame and a surrounding skin detachably fixed to the frame. The frame includes an upper hub upper hub including a plate having a top surface and a bottom surface with a plurality of upper tabs extending downward from said bottom surface and a lower hub including a plate having a top surface and a bottom surface with a plurality of lower tabs extending upward from said top surface. A plurality of articulated leg assemblies pivotally connected respectively to said plurality of upper tabs, and a plurality of pusher rods pivotally connected between said plurality of articulated leg assemblies and said plurality of lower tabs. While extended, the blind includes one or more windows for viewing the desired pray.
This utility application claims priority from Provisional Application No. 61/110,568, filed on Nov. 1, 2008, and Provisional Application No. 61/143,710, filed on Jan. 9, 2009, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/459,934, filed on Jul. 8, 2009, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/290,213, filed on Apr. 20, 2007, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 11/788,495, filed on Apr. 20, 2007, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/484,106, filed on Jul. 10, 2006, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/295,305, filed on Dec. 5, 2005, and a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/155,398, filed on Jun. 16, 2005, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 11/045,736, filed on Jan. 28, 2005 and a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 10/161,986, filed on Jun. 4, 2002 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,100,626, which further claims priority from Provisional Application No. 60/295,956, each of which are herein incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThere is often a need to conceal oneself when researching wildlife, hunting, camping, working on construction projects, or working in the outdoors. Wildlife researchers conceal themselves so that they can film and study wildlife without disturbing the behavior of the animals. Hunters often conceal themselves in various hunting blinds to avoid being detected by their prey. Campers often conceal themselves to bathe, change clothes, and perform other personal or hygiene activities. Construction workers, military, law enforcement, and others who work in the outdoors also have similar needs for concealment. Various methods have been employed to accomplish these tasks.
In the past, quite complex, heavy structures have been built or constructed for concealment. Hunters have built permanent hunting blinds. Portable huts, shower stalls, dressing shelters, tents, canopies, and complex tree blind structures have been carried into the great outdoors.
The use of such devices has several disadvantages such as being heavy, bulky, noisy, expensive, and complicated to assemble or use. Most of these devices have only a single use with poor performance. There is a need for a simple, lightweight, compact, portable, multi-use means of concealment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn easy to use and lightweight concealment and shelter or hunting blind is disclosed herein. The blind is easily extended and collapsed includes a frame and a surrounding skin detachably fixed to the frame. The frame includes an upper hub upper hub including a plate having a top surface and a bottom surface with a plurality of upper tabs extending downward from said bottom surface and a lower hub including a plate having a top surface and a bottom surface with a plurality of lower tabs extending upward from said top surface. A plurality of articulated leg assemblies pivotally connected respectively to said plurality of upper tabs, and a plurality of pusher rods pivotally connected between said plurality of articulated leg assemblies and said plurality of lower tabs. While extended, the blind includes one or more windows for viewing the desired pray.
Referring now in detail to the figures, an embodiment of the fast setup blind 10 is illustrated in
Looking to
In more detail in
In the embodiment shown in
Continuing to view
Referring to
Looking to
The hinge joint 203 may also include an aperture 208 to receive a skin button 305, or a skin button 305 may be formed into the hinge joint 203 itself. The skin button 305 is used to secure the fabric skin 12 to each leg to keep the skin 12 tightly connected with the frame 100.
The number of upper and lower leg assemblies 200, 300 used in the blind 10 may be varied as desired by the producer. In the embodiment illustrated, four upper and lower leg assemblies 200, 300 are incorporated. However, it is foreseen that the design could have more or fewer upper and lower leg assemblies 200, 300 (e.g., a design could have three or five upper and lower leg assemblies 200, 300). Of course, the number of lower tabs 607 on the lower hub 601 and the number of upper tabs 707 on the upper hub 701 will be commensurate to the number of upper and lower leg assemblies 200, 300 used.
Referring now to
Furthermore, there are various slots or apertures 13 in the fabric 12 to form a window. Positioned proximate the slots 13 are additional frames of fabric or cloth that act as window flaps 15. The flaps 15 may be adjusted with respect to the apertures 13 to cover or uncover the apertures 13 as desired by the user. Zippers 22 or other connectors may be attached to skin 12 proximate the periphery of the apertures 13 to selectively connect the cloth with the skin 12 to allow the user to selectively open a close the windows. Furthermore, the apertures 13 may be positioned around the frame 100, to allow multiple openings 13 as desired by the user.
The window flaps 15 of the blind 10, and use thereof, are illustrated in
Looking to
In addition to the connections made on the upper edges 15t of the flap 15, clips or snaps 21, such as carabineer-shaped clips, may be affixed at the corners of the window flap 15 as shown in
When the user desires to open the corner of the window, they will disconnect the clip 21 from the base bungee cord 17 and break the connection of hoop and loop material 19 between the flap 15 and the skin 12. The user will then clip the clip 21 to the centrally positioned skin connection cord 17, which raise the lower edge of the flap 15 towards the top edge of the flap 15 to open the associated window. The connection between the clip 21 and the skin connection cord 17 will hold the flap 15 in the opened position. When the user wishes to close the window, they will simply detach the clip 21 from the skin connection cord 17 and mesh the hook and loop material 19 at the edge of the flap 15 with the hook and loop material 19 surrounding the window aperture. The user will then once again connect the clip 21 with the base bungee cord 17 to close the window.
In addition to the use of the clip 21, a webbing strap 32 (such as ½″ wide webbing strap) will be positioned proximate, and potentially through, the window flap 15. One end of the strap 32 is connected with the blind frame 100 or skin 12 above the window, while the opposite second end of the strap 32 is connected to the skin 12 or frame 100 below the window. The window flap 15 slides on the strap 32, with at least one cam lock buckle 30 or other connector affixed to the strap 32 to hold the flap 15 in place with respect to the blind fabric skin 12. To operate the window at a central location, the user will open the cam lock buckle 30 and slide the buckle 30 along the length of the webbing strap 32 (see
To setup the blind 10 from the collapsed position to the extended position, the user may follow the following steps. The user will remove the blind 10 from a carrying bag or from carrying straps (shown in
Sitting near the top of the closed end of the blind 10 (or the top hub 701), the user places both feet near the center of the top hub 701 such that the feet are on either side of the hub grommet with the center hole 705 open (as shown in
To take the blind 10 down, the user will remove the safety strap 504 from the bottom of the blind hub 701 and roll the blind 10 over onto one side (any side will work). The user will turn away from the blind 10 and position the center top hub 701 behind him. While holding the blind 10, such as with one or both hands, the user will strike the hub pin 501 in direction B with the bottom of the user's foot as shown in
In alternative set-up process for a single man blind, the blind 10 is then picked up by the top hub 701 and the legs are extended. The blind 10 is then placed flat on the ground, and the two accessible legs are extended and locked into position. The legs are locked by pulling out on the center of the leg. The blind 10 is then flipped over and the remaining two legs are locked as described above. Sitting in front of the closed end of the blind, the user places both feet on the top of the center hub 701 such that the feet are on either side of a hub grommet with the center hole 705 open (as shown in
The user will then roll the blind 10 over onto the door side, with the side with the zippered door 11 facing the ground. From inside the blind 10, the user will loosen the connector 504 (such as a hook and loop material) from around the lug 901 without removing the fabric skin 12 from the lug 901, and repeat this step for both sides. The user will detach the hook and loop material from the capture pocket 20 on both sides of the blind 10. This process is repeated on the other side. The user must remove the legs from the two capture pockets 20 before attempting to fold the legs over to avoid damage to the blind. Once each leg has been removed from the hook and loop material pocket 20, the user will slide the skin 12 down the leg until it is at the center hinge joint or bracket 203. Once past the hinge joint 203, the user will fold the end of the lower leg 201 over (see
An alternative process for taking the blind 10 down is described as follows. The user will flip the blind 10 back onto the door side and straighten and lock both legs that were folded back. The user will unfasten the lug 901 from the fabric 12 as shown in
As is described above, the blind 10 has fast and simple setup and take down, and the adjustable legs allow the user to change the profile of the blind. The complete blind 10 weighs approximately 20 pounds, and when set-up, has an inside height of approximately 67 inches and a floor size of approximately 36 square feet.
Having thus described exemplary embodiments of a BLIND WITH STRUCTURE FOR RAPID SETUP, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of this disclosure. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments as illustrated herein, but is only limited by the following claims.
Claims
1. A collapsible shelter comprising:
- a frame comprising an upper hub including an upper plate having a top surface and a bottom surface with a plurality of upper tabs extending downward from said bottom surface, a lower hub including a lower plate having a top surface and a bottom surface; a hub pin centrally positioned on said top surface of said lower plate; and a plurality of lower tabs extending upward from said top surface around said hub pin; a plurality of articulated leg assemblies pivotally connected respectively to said plurality of upper tabs, said leg assemblies pivotable between a collapsed position and an extended position; and a plurality of pusher rods pivotally connected between said plurality of upper leg assemblies and said plurality of lower tabs;
- a skin having an outer edge, said skin surrounding said frame with said plurality of leg assemblies engaging said skin.
2. The shelter is described in claim 1 further comprising:
- a first central aperture traversing said upper hub;
- a second central aperture traversing said lower hub; and
- a rope connected to said lower hub and extending through said first and second central apertures and said skin for engagement by a user.
3. The shelter as described in claim 1 further comprising:
- at least one aperture in said skin having a perimeter surrounding said aperture;
- a frame of material affixed to said skin proximate said aperture, said frame of material having an edge substantially corresponding to said perimeter of said aperture;
- means for detachably connecting said edge of said frame to said perimeter of said aperture.
4. The shelter as described in claim 3 further comprising:
- a cord affixed to said skin proximate said aperture;
- a clip affixed to said frame and detachably connectable to said cord to displace said frame from said aperture.
5. The shelter as described in claim 3 further comprising:
- a webbing strap affixed to said skin and traversing said frame;
- at least one buckle slidably positioned along said webbing strap to displace said frame from said aperture.
6. The shelter as described in claim 3 wherein said means for detachably connecting said edge of said frame to said perimeter of said aperture includes hook and loop material affixed to said frame and said skin for a breakable connection.
7. The shelter as described in claim 3 wherein said means for detachably connecting said edge of said frame to said perimeter of said aperture includes magnets affixed to said frame and said skin for a breakable connection.
8. The shelter as described in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of inner capture pockets positioned proximate the skin edge, one leg assembly engaging said pocket.
9. The shelter as described in claim 1 wherein each said leg assembly comprises:
- an upper leg assembly pivotally connected to a lower leg assembly; and
- a leg bracket affixed to said upper leg assembly, said leg bracket comprising a cylinder having a predetermined and a flange extending along said length;
- wherein said pusher rod is pivotally connected to said flange.
10. A collapsible hunting blind comprising:
- a frame comprising an upper hub including an upper plate having a top surface and a bottom surface with a plurality of upper tabs extending downward from said bottom surface, a lower hub including a lower plate having a top surface and a bottom surface; and a plurality of lower tabs extending radially upward from said top surface; a hub pin affixed centrally to said top surface of said lower plate; a plurality of upper leg assemblies pivotally connected respectively to said plurality of upper tabs, said upper leg assemblies pivotable between a collapsed position and an extended position; and a plurality of pusher rods pivotally connected between said plurality of upper leg assemblies and said plurality of lower tabs;
- a skin having an outer edge, said skin surrounding said frame with said plurality of leg assemblies engaging said skin.
11. The blind is described in claim 10 further comprising:
- a first central aperture traversing said upper hub;
- a second central aperture traversing said lower hub and said hub pin; and
- a rope connected to said lower hub and extending through said first and second central apertures and said skin for engagement by a user.
12. The blind as described in claim 10 further comprising:
- at least one aperture in said skin having a perimeter surrounding said aperture;
- a frame of material affixed to said skin proximate said aperture, said frame of material having an edge substantially corresponding to said perimeter of said aperture;
- means for detachably connecting said edge of said frame to said perimeter of said aperture.
13. The blind as described in claim 12 further comprising:
- a cord affixed to said skin proximate said aperture;
- a clip affixed to said frame and detachably connectable to said cord to displace said frame from said aperture.
14. The blind as described in claim 12 further comprising:
- a webbing strap affixed to said skin and traversing said frame;
- at least one buckle slidably positioned along said webbing strap to displace said frame from said aperture.
15. The blind as described in claim 12 wherein said means for detachably connecting said edge of said frame to said perimeter of said aperture includes magnets affixed to said frame and said skin for a breakable connection.
17. The blind as described in claim 10 further comprising a plurality of inner capture pockets positioned proximate the skin edge, one leg assembly engaging said pocket.
18. The blind as described in claim 10 further comprising:
- a leg bracket affixed to said upper leg assembly, said leg bracket comprising a cylinder having a predetermined and a flange extending along said length;
- wherein said pusher rod is pivotally connected to said flange.
19. The blind as described in claim 10 further comprising a lower leg assembly pivotally connected to said upper leg assembly.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 2, 2009
Publication Date: Aug 12, 2010
Inventors: Kendyl A. Roman (Sunnyvale, CA), John Livachich (Sunnyvale, CA)
Application Number: 12/610,887
International Classification: E04H 15/48 (20060101); E04H 15/54 (20060101);