DISPLAY FOR PORTABLE HUNTING BLINDS

Abstract

A display marker for a portable hunting blind has a height above the blind and can be seen from a distance, even if surrounded by brush or hills. The display marker resembles a hollow vertical tube that cannot be covered with a blanket of snow. The display marker can easily attach and detach from any brand model or style of blind without tools or without causing damage. The display marker can be collapsed to a small size to make it easy for transport and storage. The display marker displays an orange square of the required size in all directions. Because the display marker is always visible, it provides much greater safety for those in portable hunting blinds as compared to conventional blind markers.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/638,946, filed Apr. 26, 2012, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hunting blind accessories and, more particularly, to a display, typically designed in a bright color, such as blaze orange, for portable hunting blinds.

Portable hunting blinds are so well camouflaged that humans as well as animals cannot see them. Hunters inside the blind, even dressed in orange, cannot be seen by other hunters outside the blind. This constitutes a grave hazard, as well as possible loss of life.

Many states require orange markers of specific size be visible from all directions. Current products to satisfy the various state requirements and enhance safety include orange side patches that can be blocked from view by undergrowth and are not visible from all directions. Other products include mats that can be laid on top. These mats, however, can slide, become snow covered, and may not afford the minimum specific size required.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved marker for a portable hunting blind that can be viewed from all sides, does not get covered by snow and is easy to install and remove.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a display marker for hunting blinds comprises a center pole; a collapsible upper framework attached to the center pole; a plurality of pivotable vertical members disposed outward from and about a periphery of the center pole; a fabric attached to the pivotable vertical members, where the fabric encompasses at least a portion of the center pole; a collapsible lower framework attached to the center pole; a plurality of pivotable mounting legs forming at least a portion of the collapsible lower framework; a plurality of outer magnetic units disposed at the end of each of the plurality of pivotable mounting legs; and a plurality of inner magnetic units mating with the plurality of outer magnetic units, where the plurality of outer magnetic units attract to the plurality of inner magnetic units with the hunting blind disposed therebetween, when the display marker is installed on the hunting blind.

In another aspect of the present invention, a display marker for hunting blinds comprises a flexible orange sheet material, with a plurality of pivotable mounting legs and a plurality of outer magnetic units disposed along the edge. The sheet is rolled into a cylindrical shape, and self secured. A plurality of inner magnetic units mating with the plurality of outer magnetic units, where the plurality of outer magnetic units attract to the plurality of inner magnetic units with the hunting blind disposed therebetween, when the display marker is installed on the hunting blind.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a hunting blind having a display marker according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the display marker of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the display marker of FIG. 1, with its fabric removed for clarity;

FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1, illustrating the connection of the display marker to a portable hunting blind according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of an unassembled display marker for a hunting blind according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the display marker of FIG. 5, assembled and ready for placement on a hunting blind.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a display marker for a portable hunting blind that extends from a top surface of the hunting blind, has a height above the blind and can be seen from a distance, even if surrounded by brush or hills. The display marker resembles a hollow vertical tube that cannot get covered with a blanket of snow. The display marker can easily attach and detach from any brand model or style of blind without tools or without causing damage. The display marker can be collapsed to a small size to make it easy for transport and storage. The display marker displays an orange square of the required size in all directions. Because the display marker is always visible, it provides much greater safety for those in portable hunting blinds as compared to conventional blind markers.

Referring to FIG. 1, a portable hunting blind with display marker 10 can be formed from a hunting blind 16 having a display marker 12 disposed thereupon, as shown in FIG. 1. The hunting blind 16 can be virtually any make or brand of hunting blind that may be used to provide shelter for hunters. The display marker 12 can include a lower structure that attaches to an upper surface of the hunting blind 16.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, details of the display marker 12 are shown. The display marker 12 can include a center pole 21 having an upper framework 25 and a lower framework 14 attached to a center pole 21. The upper framework 25 includes a plurality of pivotable upper struts 28 extending from an upper hub 30. At ends of the pivotable upper struts 28, pivotable vertical members 26 can extend toward the lower framework 14. Lower slidable struts 36 can extend from a lower slidable hub 34 disposed on the center pole 21. The lower slidable struts 36 can be pivotably attached to the pivotable vertical members 26.

The upper framework 25 can be designed similar to an umbrella, where the framework can be opened, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, and closed by sliding the lower slidable hub 34 along the center pole 21 toward the upper hub 30. A latch (not shown) can be used keep the display marker 12 in an open configuration.

A fabric 32, such as a blaze orange fabric, can be attached to the pivotable vertical members 26 and extend entirely about the center pole 21 so that the fabric 32 wraps around the pivotable vertical members 26.

The lower framework 14 can include a slidable upper hub 23 and a lower hub 22. Pivotable mounting legs 18 can extend from the slidable upper hub 23 and pivotable struts 20 can interconnect the lower hub 22 with the pivotable mounting legs 18. An outer magnetic unit 24, with one or more magnets 38, can be disposed at the end of each of the pivotable mounting legs 18. Typically the outer magnetic units 24 are permanently attached to the ends of each of the pivotable mounting legs 18. However, in some embodiments, the outer magnetic units 24 can be removable attached from the pivotable mounting legs 18. In this embodiment, a cord (not shown) could be used to interconnect each of the outer magnetic units 24 to prevent loss thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the outer magnetic units 24 can be disposed on an upper surface of the hunting blind 16. A plurality of inner magnetic units 40, with one or more magnets 38, can be disposed inside the hunting blind 16, mating with the outer magnetic units 24, with the hunting blind 16 sandwiched therebetween. This can secure the display marker 12 to the hunting blind 16. The inner magnetic units 40 can be secured with a cord 42 for ease of storage, retrieval and deployment.

The magnets 38, on both the inner magnetic units 40 and the outer magnetic units 24 can be diametrically polarized so that they would be separated from each other by rotating 180 degrees, thus further lessening the chance of damage to the fabric of the hunting blind 10.

The center pole 21, the upper framework 25 and the lower framework 14 can be made from one or more various materials, such as metal, wood, plastic, composite, or the like. The fabric 32 can be made of fibers, natural or synthetic, blended, or both. It could be laminated, coated, or both. It could be cut with regular or irregular shapes, to allow flaps, thus softening the edges seen by wildlife. The fabric 32 is typically made in an orange color that is highly visible to humans. The fabric 32 could be treated so as not to reflect UV light.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, in an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the display marker can be designed to store flat, as shown in FIG. 5, with flexible orange material 32A attached to a plurality of magnets 24A with attachment members 46. The flat display marker can be formed in a cylindrical shape, as shown in FIG. 6. Ends 48, 50 of the material 32A can be designed to interconnect to retain the marker in a round shape.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A display marker for hunting blinds, comprising:

a center pole;

a collapsible upper framework attached to the center pole;

a plurality of pivotable vertical members disposed outward from and about a periphery of the center pole;

a fabric attached to the pivotable vertical members, where the fabric encompasses at least a portion of the center pole;

a collapsible lower framework attached to the center pole;

a plurality of pivotable mounting legs forming at least a portion of the collapsible lower framework;

a plurality of outer magnetic units disposed at the end of each of the plurality of pivotable mounting legs; and

a plurality of inner magnetic units mating with the plurality of outer magnetic units, where the plurality of outer magnetic units attract to the plurality of inner magnetic units with the hunting blind disposed therebetween, when the display marker is installed on the hunting blind.

2. The display marker of claim 1, wherein the collapsible upper framework includes pivotable upper struts, attached to an upper hub, and lower slidable struts attached to a slidable hub, both the pivotable upper struts and the lower slidable struts supporting the pivotable vertical members.

3. The display marker of claim 1, wherein the fabric is a blaze orange, or a color highly visible to humans.

4. The display marker of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pivotable struts interconnecting the plurality of pivotable mounting legs with a lower hub.

5. The display marker of claim 1, wherein the plurality of outer magnetic units and the plurality of inner magnetic units include diametrically polarized magnets.

6. The display marker of claim 1, wherein the plurality of inner magnetic units are attached together with a cord.

7. The display marker of claim 1, wherein the display marker is movable between a collapsed position, for movement or storage, and an open position, for displaying the fabric thereabout.

8. A display marker for hunting blinds, comprising:

a center pole;

a collapsible upper framework attached to the center pole, the collapsible upper framework including pivotable upper struts, attached to an upper hub on the center pole, and lower slidable struts attached to a slidable hub on the center pole;

a plurality of pivotable vertical members disposed about a periphery of the center pole and supported by the pivotable upper struts and the lower slidable struts

a fabric attached to the pivotable vertical members, where the fabric encompasses at least a portion of the center pole;

a collapsible lower framework attached to the center pole;

a plurality of pivotable mounting legs forming at least a portion of the collapsible lower framework;

a plurality of pivotable struts interconnecting the plurality of pivotable mounting legs with a lower hub on the center pole;

a plurality of outer magnetic units disposed at the end of each of the plurality of pivotable mounting legs; and

a plurality of inner magnetic units mating with the plurality of outer magnetic units, where the plurality of outer magnetic units attract to the plurality of inner magnetic units with the hunting blind disposed therebetween, when the display marker is installed on the hunting blind.

8. The display marker of claim 7, wherein the fabric is a blaze orange or a color highly visible to humans.

9. The display marker of claim 7, wherein the plurality of outer magnetic units and the plurality of inner magnetic units include diametrically polarized magnets.

10. The display marker of claim 7, further comprising a cord interconnecting the plurality of inner magnetic units.

11. A display marker for hunting blinds comprising:

a flexible material;

a plurality of magnets attached along one edge of the flexible material; and

An interlocking mechanism disposed on opposite ends of the flexible material permitting the flexible material to be rolled in a cylindrical shape with the opposite ends attached together.

12. The display marker of claim 11, further comprising attachment members interconnecting the magnets with the flexible material.