Elevated observatory

Abstract

An elevated hunting blind includes a frame and an observatory supported by the trailer. Rigid travel guides extend upwardly from the frame providing a travel path. A drive system is provided for moving the observatory along the travel path provided by the travel guides to raise the observatory from a transport to an observation position.

1 . An elevated observatory, comprising:
 a frame;   an observatory supported by the frame;   rigid travel guides extending upwardly from the frame and providing a travel path;   means for moving the observatory along the travel path provided by the travel guides to raise the observatory from a transport to an observation position.   
   
   
       2 . The elevated observatory of  claim 1 , wherein the frame forms at least part of a skid or a trailer. 
   
   
       3 . The elevated observatory of  claim 1 , wherein the means for moving the observatory is a pivoting linkage consisting of four collapsible observatory supports and means from moving the four collapsible observatory supports from a substantially horizontal travel position to a substantially vertical observatory supporting position. 
   
   
       4 . The elevated observatory of  claim 3 , wherein the four collapsible observatory supports each have a frame portion and an observatory portion, the frame portion having a first end pivotally mounted to the frame and a second end, the observatory portion having a first end pivotally mounted to the observatory and a second end pivotally connected to the second end of the frame portion;
 a guide rail secured along the length of each observatory portion;   two pivoting frames, each of the pivoting frames pivotally connected between the frame portion of two adjacent of the four collapsible observatory supports, each pivoting frame having lifting arms with rail engaging ends, each of the rail engaging ends engaging and travelling along one of the guide rails;   a drive system for pivoting and drawing together the two pivoting frames, the pivoting and drawing together of the two pivoting frames causing the frame portion to pivot from a substantially horizontal travel position to a substantially vertical observatory supporting position, the rail engaging ends of the lifting arms travelling along each guide rail to exert a lifting force to lift the observatory portion from a stored positioned substantially parallel to the frame portion to an observatory supporting position coaxial with the frame portion.   
   
   
       5 . The elevated observatory of  claim 4 , wherein the drive system is a winch that draws together each of the pivoting frames. 
   
   
       6 . The elevated observatory of  claim 4 , wherein a locking system is provided to lock the pivotal connection between the second end of the frame portion and the second end of the observatory portion to maintain the frame portion and the observatory portion in a coaxial relationship. 
   
   
       7 . The elevated observatory of  claim 6 , wherein the pivotal connection between the second end of the frame portion and the second end of the observatory portion has an over-center stop position, and a resilient member carried by the observatory portion engages the frame portion to maintain the pivot in the over-center position. 
   
   
       8 . An elevated observatory, comprising:
 a trailer;   an observatory supported by the trailer;   rigid travel guides extending upwardly from the trailer and providing a travel path;   the observatory being along the travel path provided by the travel guides to raise the observatory from a transport to an observation position by a pivoting linkage consisting of:
 four collapsible observatory supports, the four collapsible observatory supports each having a trailer portion and an observatory portion, the trailer portion having a first end pivotally mounted to the trailer and a second end, the observatory portion having a first end pivotally mounted to the observatory and a second end pivotally connected to the second end of the trailer portion; 
 a guide rail secured along the length of each observatory portion; 
 two pivoting frames, each of the pivoting frames pivotally connected between the trailer portion of two adjacent of the four collapsible observatory supports, each pivoting frame having lifting arms with rail engaging ends, each of the rail engaging ends engaging and travelling along one of the guide rails; 
 at least one winch for applying a pulling force pivot and draw together the two pivoting frames, the pivoting and drawing together of the two pivoting frames causing the trailer portion to pivot from a substantially horizontal travel position to a substantially vertical observatory supporting position, the rail engaging ends of the lifting arms travelling along each guide rail to exert a lifting force to lift the observatory portion from a stored positioned substantially parallel to the trailer portion to an observatory supporting position coaxial with the trailer portion; 
   a locking system to lock the pivotal connection between the second end of the trailer portion and the second end of the observatory portion to maintain the trailer portion and the observatory portion in a coaxial relationship, the pivotal connection between the second end of the trailer portion and the second end of the observatory portion having an over-center stop position, and a resilient member carried by the observatory portion engages the trailer portion to maintain the pivot in the over-center position.