HUNTING COLLAR

Abstract

An article of clothing for use in an outdoor activity includes a base that is manufactured from a flexible material and presented in a safety orange color. An aperture is substantially centrally disposed within the base. In a first preferred embodiment, the base is substantially circular in shape. In a second preferred embodiment, the base is substantially rectangular in shape. In highly preferred embodiments, the base includes between 400 and 450 square inches of material to comply with various state and federal hunter safety requirements.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/443,248, filed Feb. 15, 2011, entitled “Hunting Collar,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of hunting apparel, and more particularly to a wearable collar configured to comply with hunter safety regulations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most states and many foreign countries enforce hunter safety regulations that mandate that all firearm hunters wear an outer garment above the waist with a minimum area of hunter orange. For example, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife requires all firearm hunters to wear a minimum of 400 square inches above the waist, plus a head covering. Other states require 500 square inches of hunter orange combined above the waist.

In many states, hunters are not required to wear hunter orange when hunting from a stand elevated twelve (12) feet or more from the ground, when hunting in an enclosed box stand, when traveling in an enclosed vehicle, or when traveling on foot no more than twenty feet directly between an operating enclosed vehicle and a stand where the hunter is exempt from the hunter orange requirement. The safety orange must be worn when traveling on foot between an operating enclosed vehicle and exempt stand when the distance is more than a direct distance of twenty feet.

In the past, hunters have typically worn dedicated vests, jackets and hats to accommodate the various regulations requiring a minimum area of hunter orange. These dedicated vests and jackets are often worn over bulky inner layers of clothing. Although widely accepted, the use of additional vests and jackets is cumbersome and undesirable. Accordingly, there remains a need for a lightweight and easily removable garment that complies with applicable hunter safety regulations. It is to these and other deficiencies in the prior art that the present invention is directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred embodiment, the present invention includes an article of clothing for use in an outdoor activity. The article of clothing includes a base that is manufactured from a flexible material and presented in a safety orange color. An aperture is substantially centrally disposed within the base. In a first preferred embodiment, the base is substantially circular in shape. In a second preferred embodiment, the base is substantially rectangular in shape. In highly preferred embodiments, the base includes between 400 and 450 square inches of material.

The article of clothing may optionally include a zipper or an otherwise selectively closable slit extending from the aperture to the periphery of the base. The slit may be closed with suitable fasteners, which include quick-release buckles and hook-and-loop type fasteners. The base may also optionally include a series of weights sewn into a hem around the periphery of the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a hunting collar constructed in a first preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a hunting collar constructed in a second preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a hunting collar constructed in a third preferred embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a hunting collar constructed in a fourth preferred embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a hunting collar constructed in a fifth preferred embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a hunting collar constructed in a sixth preferred embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the hunting collar of FIG. 1 worn over an inner clothing layer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of a circular hunting collar 100. The circular hunting collar 100 preferably includes substantially circular base 102 and a centrally disposed aperture 104. In a preferred embodiment, circular base 102 has a twenty-five inch (25″) to twenty-six inch (26″) outer diameter. The centrally disposed aperture 104 preferably has a ten (10″) inch diameter. With these minimum dimensions, the circular base 102 provides between approximately 400 and 450 square inches of fabric.

The circular base 102 is preferably manufactured from a durable yet flexible material, such as, for example, polyester twill, cotton twill, synthetic and natural fabric blends, canvas, vinyl or leather. The construction material for the circular base 102 is preferably died, painted or otherwise pigmented with safety orange. As noted above, safety orange (also known as blaze orange, vivid orange, Caltrans orange, or Omaha orange) is used to set objects apart from their surroundings, particularly in complementary contrast to the azure color of the sky (azure is the complementary color of orange, and therefore there is a very strong contrast between the two colors).

The hunting collar 100 also preferably includes a weight ring 106 disposed about the periphery of the base 102. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the weight ring 106 is fabricated from a metal ball or bead chain. Alternatively, the weight ring 106 can be manufactured from connected lead weights or encapsulated sand or other particulate solids. The weight ring 106 is preferably encased within a hem around the outside edge of the base 102.

In the presently preferred embodiment, the collar 100 is used by simply placing the aperture 104 over the wearer's head. The base 102 drapes around the wearer's shoulders, as illustrated in FIG. 7. The optional weight ring 106 prevents the collar 100 from exhibiting excessive movement during windy conditions. When worn, the collar 100 enables the wearer to comply with regulations governing the use of safety orange. When the use of safety orange clothing is no longer required, the wearer can easily remove, fold and store the collar 100.

In an alternate preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 2, the collar 100 includes a slit 108 and at least one fastener 110. The slit 108 preferably extends from the outside edge of the base 102 to the aperture 104. The fasteners 110 are used to releasably close the slit 108. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the fasteners 110 comprise simple ties, quick-release buckles or at least one pair of hook and loop type fasteners. The use of the slit 108 and fasteners 110 may facilitate the placement and removal of the collar 100.

In addition to its primary application as hunting apparel, the hunting collar 100 can also be used to improve the visibility of downed game in the field. By securing the collar 100 around the neck of the downed game, the hunter and game are much less likely to be accidentally targeted while removing the downed game from the field. The use of the slit 108 and fasteners 110 greatly facilitates the positioning of the collar 100 around game.

In yet another alternate preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 3, the collar 100 includes a zipper closure 112. Like the slit 108 and fasteners 110 depicted in FIG. 2, the zipper closure 112 permits the facilitated introduction and removal of the collar 100.

Turning now to FIGS. 4-6, shown therein are yet further embodiments of the collar 100 that each include a rectangular base 114 in place of the circular base 102 included with the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1-3. The use of the rectangular base 114 reduces the cost of manufacture and may be desirable for certain wearers and applications. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the rectangular base 114 is substantially square with sides having lengths of about twenty-two inches (22″) to twenty-three inches (23″). The aperture 104 preferably has a diameter of about ten inches (10″). With these dimensions, the collar 100 provides between 400 and 450 square inches of material. Unless otherwise noted, the components of the collar 100 illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 are constructed and used in accordance with the discussion of the same components in FIGS. 1-3.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and functions of various embodiments of the invention, this disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of structure and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms expressed herein. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the teachings of the present invention can be applied to other systems without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. An article of clothing for use in an outdoor activity, the article of clothing comprising:

a base, wherein the base is manufactured from a flexible material and presented in a safety orange color; and

an aperture, wherein the aperture is substantially centrally disposed within the base.

2. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein the base and aperture are both substantially circular in shape.

3. The article of clothing of claim 2, further comprising a slit extending from the substantially centrally disposed aperture to an outer edge of the base.

4. The article of clothing of claim 3, further comprising one or more fasteners attached to the base on opposite sides of the slit and configured to selectively close the slit.

5. The article of clothing of claim 4, wherein the fastener is selected from the group consisting of quick-release buckles and hook-and-loop type fasteners.

6. The article of clothing of claim 2, further comprising a zipper extending between the substantially centrally disposed aperture to an outer edge of the base.

7. The article of clothing of claim 2, wherein the base comprises between 400 and 450 square inches of material.

8. The article of clothing of claim 2, wherein the base further includes a weight ring disposed about a periphery of the base.

9. The article of clothing of claim 8, wherein the base further includes a hem disposed around the periphery of the base and wherein the weight ring comprises a series of individual weights sewn into the hem.

10. An article of clothing for use in an outdoor activity, the article of clothing comprising:

a substantially rectangular base, wherein the base is manufactured from a flexible material and presented in a safety orange color; and

an aperture, wherein the aperture is substantially centrally disposed within the base.

11. The article of clothing of claim 10, wherein the base substantially square in shape and the aperture is substantially circular in shape.

12. The article of clothing of claim 10, further comprising a slit extending from the substantially centrally disposed aperture to an outer edge of the base.

13. The article of clothing of claim 12, further comprising one or more fasteners attached to the base on opposite sides of the slit and configured to selectively close the slit.

14. The article of clothing of claim 13, wherein the fastener is selected from the group consisting of quick-release buckles and hook-and-loop type fasteners.

15. The article of clothing of claim 10, further comprising a zipper extending between the substantially centrally disposed aperture to an outer edge of the base.

16. The article of clothing of claim 10, wherein the base comprises between 400 and 450 square inches of material.

17. The article of clothing of claim 10, wherein the base further includes a weight ring disposed about a periphery of the base.

18. The article of clothing of claim 10, wherein the base further includes a hem disposed around the periphery of the base and wherein the weight ring comprises a series of individual weights sewn into the hem.