Devices for protecting horn and antler tips

Abstract

Devices for protecting horn and antler tips and, in particular, devices for protecting the tips of palmated and non-palmated antlers and horns of game animal when packaging, transporting and shipping antlers and horns of game animals.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for protecting tips of horn or antler structures, comprising:
 a collar member comprising an open end and a closed end, wherein the closed end of the collar member comprises a planar structure that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the collar member, wherein a width of the planar structure is at least as wide as the open end of the collar member;   wherein the collar member is dimensioned to insertably receive a tip of an animal antler or horn through the open end of the collar member and to slideably receive a length of the tip until an end of the tip contacts an inner surface of the planar structure.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a raised retaining structure formed on the inner surface of the planar structure, wherein the retaining structure is dimensioned to insertably receive the end of the tip. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the raised retaining structure is a raised ring structure. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the planar structure is wider than the width of the open end of the collar member. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a friction element disposed on an inner surface a the open end of the collar member. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the friction element is formed of a rubber material. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the friction element is formed of a foam material. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the collar member comprises at least two separate sidewall members defined by at least a first cutout region and a second cutout region, wherein the first and second cutout regions extend from the open end of the collar member to a point along a length of the collar member before the closed end. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second cutout regions are disposed opposite each other. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8 , flintier comprising a friction element disposed on an inner surface of each of the at least two separate sidewall members at the open end of the collar member. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the friction element is formed of a rubber material. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the friction element is formed of a foam material. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the device is formed of a semi-rigid material such that the at least two separate sidewall members can flex outwardly away from each other to effectively increase the width of the first opening of the collar member as the collar member slideably engages a portion of an wider or horn tip that is thicker than the width of the is opening of the collar member. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is formed of a rigid material. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the rigid material is a plastic material. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device is formed of a semi-rigid material. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the semi-rigid material is a rubber material. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the semi-rigid material is a plastic material.