# US 6,296,559 B1 · Method and apparatus for skinning an animal carcass

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- Number: US 6,296,559 B1
- Document ID: US6296559B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 09/579,974
- Filed: 2000-05-26
- Granted: 2001-10-02
- Earliest claimed: 2000-05-26
- Inventors: Phillip W. Kinnebrew
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6296559B1

## CPC

- A22B 5/161: {Methods or means for pulling the hide from carcasses}
- A22B: SLAUGHTERING

## Abstract

A substantially rectangular platform that has a top surface and a bottom surface. A pair of sectional tubular stanchions has one end connected to the platform. A cross-member is connected between the pair of stanchions other ends. A winch with a cable and an elongated carcass lifting member is mounted onto the cross-member. A pair of adjustable carcass leg retaining members each having one end secured to the winch's elongated carcass lifting member. The adjustable carcass leg retaining member's other ends are detachably securable to the carcass's legs. A pair of adjustable carcass skin retaining members each having one end secured to the platform by hooks. The adjustable carcass skin retaining member's other end is detachably securable to the carcass's skin. The winch is activated and lifts the legs of the carcass via the pair of adjustable carcass leg retaining members while the pair of adjustable carcass skin retaining members hold the skin in place to the platform, skinning the carcass.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A winch operated transportable carcass skinning apparatus, the winch having operationally disposed thereto via a cable an elongated carcass lifting member, comprising:
a) a substantially rectangular platform having a top surface and a bottom surface;
b) a pair of stanchions perpendicularly disposed to said substantially rectangular platform, each said stanchion having one end detachably securable to said platform via a protuberance locking mechanism;
c) a cross-member detachably disposed between said pair of stanchions other ends, said cross-member having disposed thereon means for detachably securing the winch;
d) a pair of adjustable carcass leg retaining members each having one end secured to the winch's elongated carcass lifting member, said adjustable carcass leg retaining member's other ends detachably securable to the carcass's legs;
e) a pair of adjustable carcass skin retaining members each having one end secured to said substantially rectangular platform by hooks, said adjustable carcass skin retaining member's other end detachably securable to the carcass's skin;
whereby operationally activated the winch lifts the legs of the carcass via said pair of adjustable carcass leg retaining members while said pair of adjustable carcass skin retaining members hold the skin in place to said substantially rectangular platform, skinning the carcass.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A transportable carcass skinning apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising:
f) a plurality of retaining devices mountably disposed to said substantially rectangular platform's bottom surface, said retaining devices providing mechanisms for retaining individual tubular members forming said pair of stanchions and said cross-member;
g) a gripping member medially disposed along one edge of said substantially rectangular platform;
h) at least one skid mountably disposed on said substantially rectangular platform's bottom surface;
i) said skid aligned with said gripping member in such a way as to provide a sliding mechanism for said substantially rectangular platform when said substantially rectangular platform is being transported;
j) a pouch detachably secured to said substantially rectangular platform's bottom surface, said pouch providing storage for said adjustable leg retaining members and said adjustable carcass skin retaining members;
whereby said gripping member is clasped and the winch operated carcass skinning apparatus is transportable via said skids.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A transportable carcass skinning apparatus as recited in claim 2 further comprising a pair of tubular stub members oppositely space apart, connectively disposed to said substantially rectangular platform's top surface, said pair of tubular stub members detachable securing said pair of stanchions.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A transportable carcass skinning apparatus as recited in claim 3 further comprising said adjustable carcass skin retaining members being detachably securable to said substantially rectangular platform via said pair of oppositely spaced apart tubular stub members connectively disposed to said platform's top surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A transportable carcass skinning apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said pair of stanchions comprise a plurality of tubular sectional members connectively disposed end to end.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A transportable carcass skinning apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said cross-member spanning the distance between said oppositely spaced apart tubular stub members.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

A transportable carcass skinning apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said tubular stub members being oppositely apart relative to the parallel edges of said substantially rectangular platform.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A transportable carcass skinning apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said means for detachably securing the winch being a protuberance outwardly extending from said cross-member thereby providing a detachable securing mechanism for the winch.

### Claim 9

A winch operated transportable carcass skinning apparatus, the winch having operationally disposed thereto via a cable an elongated carcass lifting member, comprising:
a) a substantially rectangular platform having a top surface and a bottom surface, said platform having a griping member medially disposed along one edge of said platform;
b) a plurality of skids mountably disposed to said substantially rectangular platform's bottom surface, said skids being aligned with said gripping member in such a way as to provide a sliding mechanism for said substantially rectangular platform when said substantially rectangular platform is being transported;
c) a pair of sectional tubular stanchions, each said stanchion comprising a plurality of sectional tubular members, each sectional tubular member having a reduced diameter portion disposed at one end, said reduced diameter portions each having a protuberance disposed thereon, each said protuberance mating with respective sectional tubular members when connected end to end;
d) a securing mechanism detachably securing one end of said stanchion to said substantially rectangular platform;
e) a cross-member detachably disposed between said pair of stanchions other ends, said cross-member having disposed thereon a means for detachably securing the winch;
f) a pair of adjustable carcass leg retaining members each having one end secured to the winch's elongated carcass lifting member, said adjustable carcass leg retaining member's other ends detachably securable to the carcass's legs;
g) a pair of adjustable carcass skin retaining members each having one end secured to said substantially rectangular platform by hooks, said adjustable carcass skin retaining member's other end detachably securable to the carcass's skin;
thereby operationally activated the winch lifts the legs of the carcass via said pair of adjustable carcass leg retaining members while said pair of adjustable carcass skin retaining members hold the skin in place to said substantially rectangular platform, skinning the carcass.

### Claim 10

A method for operating a transportable carcass skinning apparatus, the apparatus having a winch operationally disposed thereto, a cable and an elongated carcass lifting member operationally disposed to the winch, comprising the steps of:
a) providing a platform substantially rectangularly sized, said platform having a top surface and a bottom surface, said bottom surface having connectively disposed thereto at least one skid, said bottom surface having a plurality of retaining devices mountably disposed thereto, said retaining devices detachably securing the dissembled transportable skinning apparatus, said platform having mountably disposed thereto a griping mechanism medially disposed along one edge of said platform;
b) transporting said platform to a carcass skinning site via said skid and said gripping mechanism;
c) assembling the carcass skinning apparatus;
d) attaching the elongated carcass lifting member to the carcass;
e) attaching a portion of the carcass's hind quarter skin to the apparatus;
f) activating the winch attached to the elongated carcass lifting member; and
g) raising the carcass upwardly via said winch and said elongated carcass lifting member thereby skinning the carcass.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A method for operating a transportable carcass skinning apparatus, as recited in claim 10 wherein said transporting said platform to said carcass skinning site comprises the step of sliding said platform on a pair of skids mounted onto said platform via said gripping mechanism.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A method for operating a transportable carcass skinning apparatus, as recited in claim 11 wherein said assembling the carcass skinning apparatus comprises the step of assembling a plurality of provided tubular stanchions end to end, mounting said stanchions to said platform, mounting a provided cross member to said stanchions and engaging the winch to said cross member.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A method for operating a transportable carcass skinning apparatus, as recited in claim 12 wherein said attaching the elongated carcass lifting member to the carcass comprises the step of securing the carcass's hind legs to the elongated carcass lifting member.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

A method for operating a transportable carcass skinning apparatus, as recited in claim 13 wherein said attaching a portion of the carcass's hind quarter skin to the apparatus comprises the step of making an incision from the knee joint of one hind leg to the knee joint of the other hind leg, inserting one each provided adjustable carcass skin retaining member under the incised skin of each leg, securing said adjustable carcass skin retaining member to said platform.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

A winch operated transportable carcass skinning apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said protuberance locking mechanism comprises a convex portion disposed on each said stanchion, each said convex portion mating with said respective tubular stub member thereby detachably securing each said stanchion to said platform via a protuberance locking mechanism.