Package and article carriers – Carried by animate bearer – Convertible or combined
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-25
2004-08-10
Newhouse, Nathan J. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Carried by animate bearer
Convertible or combined
C224S156000, C224S628000, C224S652000, C224S654000, C224S658000, C224S659000, C297S129000, C002S102000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06772925
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Turkey hunters require a vest-like garment that has specially designed pockets to store all types of turkey calls (slate call, slate striker, box calls, mouth calls, plunger calls, etc.) along with other gear, such as a camouflage face mask, camouflage gloves, camera, decoys, etc. The disposition o the storage pockets for these various items is frequently less than optimum in typical vests and hunter access to his accessories while wearing the vest is difficult or awkward.
Traditionally, when using the traditional turkey vest for storing and carrying these items to and from the field, turkey hunters will also bring a soft pad seat cushion or stool to sit on while leaning against a tree or stump. Such pad or seat is usually carried in addition to any vest used, weapon or the like and is a transport nuisance.
Moreover, the hunter must usually find a tree, stump or fence post on which to lean while awaiting a wary turkey. Without such a prop, he quickly becomes uncomfortable and prone to movement which alerts or frightens away the game.
Also, when a turkey is harvested, it must be transported out of the woods. Carrying a turkey through the woods is dangerous; another hunter may shoot at it. Also, it is sometimes difficult to secure the turkey in the vest. When it is placed there, blood can leak out and ruin the vest, the hunter's clothes or his vehicle.
Prior turkey hunting vests thus leave a significant opportunity to focus on still further improvements stemming from the specific and unique needs of the turkey hunter.
It is thus one objective of the invention to provide a vest or pack for a turkey hunter which not only carries hunting accessories and harvested quarry, but provides the support necessary for comfortable, long term positioning without need of a prop.
It is a further desired objective of the invention to provide an improve turkey vest or pack suited for the complete need of the turkey hunter, facilitating transport of accessories and eliminating the need to carry a pad or chair separately.
It is another objective of the invention to provide the hunter with easy and ergonomic access to his/her game calls or accessories given the placement of the vest or pack components.
A further objective of the invention is to provide vest or pack apparatus for safely transporting a dead turkey and for capturing the blood from the bird without ruining the vest or other clothes.
A further objective of the invention is to provide a turkey vest or pack which can easily be opened to accommodate such a large bird, but can be easily closed to hold the bird in place.
A further objective of the invention is to improve the safety of a hunter when in the woods, both when carrying a harvested turkey and when hunting or moving about before a bird is harvested.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To these ends, the present invention contemplates a combined hunting vest or pack seat combination and which has an internal frame supporting the hunter in a sitting position without use of an extraneous structure such as a tree or fence post.
Preferably and according to the invention, a vest or pack comprises a cover or envelope over an internal support frame having a rearwardly inclined upper frame component and a lower rearwardly extending frame component at an angle to the upper frame component. These frame components free float in the cover and are removable for storage, if desired. A large cargo pocket is secured to the cover proximate the upper frame component and above the lower frame component. A seat pad is hinged to the cover proximate the juncture of the upper and lower frame components. In a stowed position, it is secured under the lower frame component, extending rearwardly from the wearer. When released, it can be swung under the frame to extend forwardly when the wearer wishes to sit on the ground, supported by the pad, all without removing the vest or pack. Two accessory pockets are secured to the outer sides of the cargo pocket. These are angled forwardly and upwardly for access by a wearer. Adjustable shoulder straps support the vest or pack on a hunter while a waist belt forwardly of the frame helps to distribute the vest weight over the hips.
In a more specific embodiment, the vest is provided with a plurality of additional ergonomically oriented pockets and the cargo pocket comprises a game transport pouch. The seat pad is attached to the cover or envelope surrounding the frame at its angled juncture and can be swung under the hunter as seating pad, while he leans backward against the vest and is supported by its internal frame. The hunter's back is thus comfortably supported in sitting condition, while the pad provides deployable seating comfort. More specifically, side panels extend forwardly of the frame from the cover, secured by a belt about the waste of a hunter. Multiple storage pockets are oriented on and in the side panels on angles for turkey hunting game calls.
For example, pockets are sewn into and configured into the vest panels. Box call sleeves, slate call pockets, striker sleeves and a side angled pocket with buckle flaps are all located ergonomically on the vest as will be described. Mouth call and other pockets are located on the internal sides of the panels for easy access.
A snap out blood bowl for capturing the blood of the harvested game is removably disposed within a game pocket secured to the cover on the backside of the vest above the lower frame component. The bowl is large enough to accommodate most harvested turkeys and is of blood-proof material to prevent soiling of the outer vest, clothing or the like.
According to the invention, in one embodiment, the combined turkey hunting vest or pack uses an internal frame. such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,208,070; 4,410,214 and U.S. Pat. Des. No. 259,752, which are expressly incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein.
Beyond the internal frame having upper and lower frame components joining frame mandrels, the cover over them and the large rear cargo pocket, the vest includes other unique features according to more specific embodiments of the invention. One feature is the front panels that support the multiple game calls and other hunting articles that the turkey hunter carries. The panels support several pockets specific to turkey hunter's needs. One panel includes a box call sleeve that is on an angle to allow for the box call to slide in and out easily with elastic at the top of the sleeve so that the call will stay in place when leaning over. There are one or more additional pockets with zippers of two sizes to support the plunger call.
Additionally, on the top both panels is an angled on-seam zipper which allows for storage of accessory items such as face mask, gloves and other calls in the panels. Of note is the angle of the zippers, which are ergonomically designed for an easy and natural pull. On the inside of the panels, there are different sizes of mouth call pouches. These pouches have elastic at the top and are small mouthed to allow access, yet retain the calls. Other angled pockets and shell holders can be provided on the interior and exterior sides of the panels.
All pockets are of preferably the same material as the envelope, rugged and of camouflage finish. Preferably, the panels are secured to the cover by straps, adjustably held in releasable buckles to accommodate hunters of varying sizes.
The two front panels are joined to the frame cover by two respective sets of buckles and associated adjustment straps. These buckles are designed to be buckled or unbuckled at any given point, based on the preference of the user. The buckles also have adjustment straps to allow the user to make adjustment in size for large or small persons or to vary the size of the panels as desired with respect to the frame.
In addition to these adjustments, there are at least two other adjustments. A belt is positioned in the front of the two panels with a large buckle where the two panels come together, similar to a more traditional vest. The belt is adjustable.
Newhouse Nathan J.
Wood Herron & Evans LLP
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