IP Library Granted Patent US 12,031,346
Granted Patent B2
US 12,031,346 · App. 17/659,262 · Granted Jul 9, 2024

Hay bale hunting blind

Inventors: Ryan Varnum (Columbia, MO); Timothy S. Kinney (Warrenton, MO); Seth Wheeler (Columbia, MO); James Tayon (Moberly, MO); Jason Nickerson (Columbia, MO); Kyle Smith (Columbia, MO); Matthew Kinamore (Columbia, MO); Curtis Smith (Columbia, MO)
Assignee: AOB Products Company
E04H15/001A01M31/025E04H15/008E04H15/54E04H15/58E04H15/64
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,031,346
App. No.
17/659,262
Granted
Jul 9, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A generally cylindrical hay bale hunting blind, components thereof, and associated methods. The hay bale hunting blind includes a frame and a cover connectable to the frame. The frame includes a first set of snap connectors and the cover includes a second set of snap connectors. The cover includes two end panels, a main panel, window panels, and a water fowl door panel. The end panels snap to the round ends of the cylindrical frame, forming a snap connection. The edge margins of the main panel snap at the edge margins of the end panels forming another snap connection. The frame defines a water fowl door frame in which a water fowl door is pivotably connected to the frame and pivots outward relative to the frame about a pivot axis at the bottom of the door. A water fowl door panel snaps at the periphery of the water fowl door.

Claims (23)

1. A hay bale hunting blind for hiding a person, the hay bale hunting blind comprising:

a frame configured to define a support structure, the frame including a frame body configured to define an interior space sized and shaped for hiding the person in the interior space, the frame body defining a water fowl opening, the frame comprising a water fowl door connected to the frame body by a pivot connection located adjacent a bottom of the water fowl door, the pivot connection allowing the water fowl door to pivot between a closed position and an open position, the water fowl door in the closed position covering the water fowl opening, and the water fowl door in the open position being pivoted outward away from the interior space to uncover the water fowl opening;

a cover configured to cover the frame to bound the interior space of the blind;

wherein the frame and cover are configured to simulate an appearance of a generally cylindrical hay bale when the cover is on the frame.

2. A hay bale hunting blind of claim 1 , wherein the water fowl door includes a water fowl door body, the water fowl door comprising a first set of snap connectors in a spaced arrangement with respect to each other on the water fowl door body.

3. A hay bale hunting blind of claim 2 , wherein the cover includes a waterfowl door panel including a set of snap connectors in a spaced arrangement with respect to each other corresponding to the spaced arrangement of a first set of snap connectors of the water fowl door body for covering the water fowl door body, the first set of snap connectors configured to mate with the second set of snap connectors to form snap connections.

4. A hay bale hunting blind of claim 3 , wherein a peripheral edge margin of the of the waterfowl door panel is configured to overlie exterior edge margins of the water fowl door body when the water fowl door is in the closed position.

5. A hay bale hunting blind of claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises generally round end walls and a main panel extending between the end panels.

6. The hay bale hunting blind of claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a water fowl door panel covering and moveable with the water fowl door of the frame.

7. The hay bale hunting blind of claim 6 , wherein the water fowl door includes a water fowl door body, the water fowl door panel of the cover being mounted on the water fowl door body.

8. The hay bale hunting blind of claim 7 , wherein the water fowl door panel includes a first set of snap connectors and the water fowl door body includes a second set of snap connectors, the first and second sets of snap connectors configured to mate with one another to mount the water fowl door panel to the water fowl door body.

9. The hay bale hunting blind of claim 7 , wherein the cover comprises generally round end walls and a main panel extending between the end walls.

10. The hay bale hunting blind of claim 9 , wherein the water fowl door panel is angularly spaced apart from the main panel about the pivot connection when the water fowl door is in the open position.

11. The hay bale hunting blind of claim 9 , wherein the water fowl door panel is free of direct connection to the main panel of the cover.

12. The hay bale hunting blind of claim 1 , wherein the water fowl door extends generally radially outward from the generally cylindrical hay bale when the water fowl door is in the open position.

13. The hay bale hunting blind of claim 1 , wherein water fowl door is in a cantilevered arrangement when the water fowl door is in the open position.

14. The hay bale hunting blind of claim 1 , wherein the frame is arranged to engage the water fowl door to set and hold the water fowl door in the open position.

15. The hay bale hunting blind of claim 14 , wherein the frame is arranged to engage a lower part of the water fowl door to set and hold the water fowl door in the open position.

16. The hay bale hunting blind of claim 1 , wherein the water fowl door pivots downward toward the open position.

17. The hay bale hunting blind of claim 1 , wherein the water fowl door pivots about 145-degrees between the open and closed positions.

18. The hay bale hunting blind of claim 1 , wherein the water fowl door pivots in a range of 145 degrees to 180 degrees between the open and closed positions.

19. The hay bale hunting blind of claim 1 , wherein the water fowl door includes a rigid water fowl door body.

20. The hay bale hunting blind of claim 1 , wherein the water fowl door is directly connected to the frame body by the pivot connection.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2022
From: VARNUM, RYAN; KINNEY, TIMOTHY S; WHEELER, SETH; TAYON, JAMES; NICKERSON, JASON; SMITH, KYLE; KINAMORE, MATTHEW; SMITH, CURTIS
To: AOB PRODUCTS COMPANY
Reel/Frame 059602/0657 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63175321 · Apr 15, 2021
Related Publication 20220333399A1 · Oct 20, 2022