US20080135080A1

US20080135080A1 - Rotatable hunting blind

Info

Publication number: US20080135080A1
Application number: US11/998,631
Authority: US
Inventors: Geroge Jefferson Greene; Cynthia Carol Greene; Charles W. Alworth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-12-11
Filing date: 2007-11-30
Publication date: 2008-06-12

Abstract

A rotatable hunting blind providing a 360° field of vision about the blind with almost one-hundred percent concealment is disclosed. Construction of the blind on a circular frame and the type of exterior covering which shields the hunter from the vision of prey is discussed. The method of operation of the rotatable blind is discussed.

Description

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/874,110 filed on Dec. 11, 2006.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to hunting; in particular, the device relates to a rotatable hunting blind for use in the field when hunting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hunting is enjoyed by many citizens and many hunters employ a blind in their hunting endeavors. Essentially the blind shields the hunter from being seen by his or her prey and allows the hunter to take a careful shot of the prey thereby ensuring a humane kill. The average blind consists of a frame large enough to shield the hunter with a covering placed over the frame. The covering will have a small “vision port” through which the hunter can see the prey. The same port will also allow the hunter to aim his or her choice of weapon.
Hunters generally set up the blind before hunting and often, but not always, add feed in the vicinity of the blind in order to attract the prey. Most blinds employed by hunters are fixed: that is to say, the “vision port” or the weapon slot allow viewing and firing in one direction only. Thus, the average blind is limited in that the hunter must assure that his or her prey will approach the blind from a set direction; therefore, a need remains for a blind which will allow the hunter to have a full 360° view of the area around the blind and be able to take aim and shot the prey no matter from what direction the prey approaches the blind.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is essentially a circular blind that may stand alone or may be placed on top of a standard blind stand. The instant device has an internal rotatable frame having a circular top which is rotatably mounted to a circular base. Incorporated into the frame is a seat. The frame is then covered with a water-resistant camouflage (“camo”) material. A window is incorporated in the camo-cover and extends circumferentially about the camo-cover such that a hunter, who is seated on the seat, has a 360° view about the blind. The window is made from a light-blocking material such that the hunter may see out, but the prey cannot see in. A shooting or weapon slot, where there is no camo-material or window material is incorporated in the covering for taking aim on prey. The shooting slot is located opposite the chair. A re-closeable entranceway is incorporated into the covering. Finally the inside of the base is covered with a carpeting material.
To use the blind, the hunter essentially enters the blind well before the anticipated arrival of prey. Once the prey is spotted, slight foot pressure, exerted by the seated hunter, will rotate the shooting slot so that the hunter may direct the weapon of choice at the prey.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure One shows the blind frame mounted to the base and further shows the position of the chair on the frame.

Figure Two shows the instant invention on a standard tripod stand with the camo-covering in place.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 1, the invention comprises a base, 1, a rotation bracket, 2, a lower frame, 4, to which is attached a seat, 3, an extension frame, 5, joined to the frame by connector system, 14, and a circular top, 6, all interconnected to form the circular frame. Both the extension frame, 5, and the connector system, 14, may be omitted if the lower frame is directly extended and connected to the circular top, 6. Carpeting or similar material, 7, may be added to the base, 1, for soundproofing. Additionally, a wheel (shown as dotted item 13) may be employed on the frame, opposite the rotation bracket. This wheel would support the weight of the frame and the person seated on the seat, 3, thereby reducing the load on the rotation bracket, 2.
FIG. 2 shows the instant invention incorporating the circular frame (hidden) in place on a standard tripod hunting stand. The frame is covered by an upper camouflage cover, 10, and a lower camouflage cover, 11, made from camouflage material (camo-material or opaque material). The upper camouflage cover may incorporate an optional top, which would be useful in providing weather protection to the hunter. A window, 8, made from a light-blocking translucent material, extends circumferentially about the blind between the two cover sections (10 and 11) thereby forming a complete camouflage cover (camo-cover) which covers and is supported by the circular top, 6, and extends down to and covers the base, 1. A weapon or shooting slot, 9, is incorporated in the window, 8, and the lower section of the camo-cover, 11.
Also shown in FIG. 2 is the blind entrance, 12, which extends from the bottom of the weapons slot to the base, 1. The entrance is kept closed by hook and loop fasteners, a zipper (as indicated by 12), or a similar technique. The three sections are joined circumferentially by sewing or any reasonable means where each section meets the other.
Preferably, the window is 20 inches wide (in height) and is located in the overall camo-cover so that a hunter who is seated on the seat, 3, may have virtually a 360° view of the area about the blind and virtually one-hundred percent concealment.
The use of the circular is similar to current blinds. The hunter would enter the blind through the entryway and re-close the entrance. Once prey is spotted, slight foot pressure exerted by the seated hunter, will rotate the shooting slot so that the hunter may direct the weapon of choice at the prey.
FIG. 2 shows an optional feeder attached to the bottom of the stand, which may be controlled by the hunter to scatter corn (or other attraction food) beneath the stand. A ladder is shown to allow easy egress to the blind. Such a stand is readily available in the marketplace.
There has been disclosed a carousel like device for use as a rotatable hunting blind. Variations on the internal frame may readily be made and such variations are anticipated in this disclosure. Other camouflage materials and light blocking windows may be employed in the outer circular cover and are anticipated in this disclosure.

Claims

1. A rotatable hunting blind comprising:

a circular cover,

a base,

a rotation bracket, attached to said base,

a lower frame, having a first end and a second end, said first end attached to said rotation bracket,

a circular top attached to said second end of said lower frame wherein said base, rotation bracket, lower frame and circular top form an overall circular frame providing support for said circular cover such that said circular cover extends about said overall circular frame from said circular top to said base thereby providing the rotatable hunting blind.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said circular cover further comprises an upper section having a lower circumferential edge, a mid section having an upper and a lower circumferential edge and a lower section having an upper and a lower circumferential edge and wherein said top section extends from said circular top towards said base within the range of one quarter to one third of the distance between said circular top and said base, and wherein said mid section extends from beneath said upper section, joined at said lower circumferential edge of said upper section to said upper circumferential edge of said mid section, said mid section extending from said lower edge of said lower section to a point within the range of one third to one quarter of the distance from said base and being joined to said lower section at said upper circumferential edge to said lower circumferential edge of said mid section, said lower section extending to said base and wherein said lower circumferential edge of said lower section is in contact with said base.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a shooting slot within said mid section and extending axially from said upper circumferential edge to said lower circumferential edge thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising egress means incorporating said shooting slot and extending from said upper circumferential edge of said bottom section to said lower circumferential edge of said bottom section.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising means for closing said egress means.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a stand and wherein said stand is attached to said base of said apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said upper section and said lower section are opaque and said mid section is translucent.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said upper section, said mid section, and said lower section are translucent.