A SYSTEM FOR DRYING A PELT, A DRYING UNIT, A PELT BOARD AND AN ADAPTOR

Abstract

The present invention relates to an elongated pelt board for accommodating an animal pelt. The pelt board comprises a first wall element, a second wall element being spaced apart from the first wall element in the first radial direction, a third wall element and a fourth wall element being spaced apart from the third wall element in a second radial direction. The wall elements together define a cavity along a longitudinal direction. The wall elements defining a contracted state in which the first and second radial distances are reduced, and an expanded state in which the first and second radial distances are increased. The pelt board further comprising an elongated core element being movable in relation to each of the wall elements. The elongated core element allows the wall elements to selectively define the contracted state or the expanded state by moving the elongated core element in the longitudinal direction.

Claims

1-25: (canceled)

26. A system for drying a pelt, said pelt having a substantially tubular shape defining an inwardly oriented leather side and an outwardly oriented fur side and further defining a nose end and a rear end, said system comprising: a pelt board defining a top end configured for fixing said nose end of said pelt, said pelt board comprising: a circumferential and apertured wall defining an inner cavity and an outer surface configured for facing said inwardly oriented leather side of said pelt; a bottom end opposite said top end and defining a bottom end area; and a connector extending outwardly from said bottom end; a drying unit comprising a housing configured for receiving air and having a top surface defining a receptor aperture configured to receive said connector of said pelt board so as to support said pelt board in an upright position relative to said top surface; an air inlet at said bottom end of said pelt board and configured for allowing air from said drying unit to be introduced into said inner cavity and to be forced out through said apertured wall, said air inlet defining an inlet area constituting between 15% and 95% of said bottom area of said pelt board; and an air outlet at said top surface of said housing of said drying unit and configured for communicating with said air inlet, said air outlet defining an outlet area constituting between 15% and 95% of said bottom area of said pelt board.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein said air inlet area and said air outlet area are approximately equal.

28. The system according to claim 26, wherein said air inlet is divided into sub air inlets circumferentially encircling said connector.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein said air outlet circumferentially encircles said receptor aperture.

30. The system according to claim 26, wherein said connector includes inlet slots configured for allowing air to be introduced into said inner cavity from said drying unit through said inlet slots.

31. The system according to claim 26, further comprising a first adaptor having an inlet end configured in conformity with said bottom end of said pelt board and having an opposite upper end with a minor air outlet aperture, said first adaptor having a first inner air passage from said inlet end to said minor air outlet aperture.

32. The system according to claim 31, further comprising a second adaptor having an outlet end configured in conformity with said bottom end of said pelt board and having an opposite bottom end from which a second connector extends, said second connector having inlet slots configured for allowing air to be introduced into the inner space of said second adaptor through said second connector, said second adaptor having a second inner air passage from said second connector to said outlet end.

33. The system according to claim 26, wherein said drying unit includes biased closing-off plates operable for closing off said receptor aperture and said air outlet when no pelt board connector is received in said receptor aperture.

34. A drying unit for use in combination with a pelt board for drying a pelt, said pelt board having a connector and a bottom end defining a bottom area, said drying unit comprising: a housing defining a top surface defining a receptor aperture configured to receive said connector of said pelt board so as to support said pelt board in an upright position relative to said top surface of said housing; and an air outlet in said top surface of said housing defining an outlet area constituting between 15% and 95% of said bottom area of said pelt board.

35. The drying unit according to claim 34, wherein said air outlet circumferentially encircles said receptor aperture.

36. The drying unit according claim 34, further comprising a plurality of receptor apertures and air outlets.

37. The drying unit according to claim 36, further comprising a biased closing-off plate operable for closing off said receptor aperture and said air outlet when no pelt board connector is received in said receptor outlet.

38. A pelt board for use in combination with a drying unit for drying a pelt, said pelt having a substantially tubular shape defining an inwardly oriented leather side and an outwardly oriented fur side and further defining a nose end and a rear end, said pelt board comprising: a top end configured for accommodating and fixing said nose end of said pelt; a bottom end opposite said top end, said bottom end defining a bottom end area of said pelt board; a circumferential and apertured wall defining an inner cavity and an outer surface configured for facing said leather side of said pelt; a connector extending outwardly from said bottom end and adapted for connecting said pelt board to said drying unit; and an air inlet in said inner cavity at said bottom end of said pelt board and configured for introducing air from said drying unit into said inner cavity so as to be directed out of said inner cavity through said apertured wall, said air inlet defining an inlet area constituting between 15% and 95% of said bottom area of said pelt board.

39. The pelt board according to claim 38, wherein said air inlet is divided into sub air inlets circumferentially encircling said connector.

40. The pelt board according to claim 38, wherein said connector includes inlet slots configured for introducing air from said drying unit into said inner cavity.

41. An adaptor for use in combination with a drying unit for drying a pelt on a pelt board, said pelt board including a bottom end defining a bottom end area, an inner cavity, and a connector, said pelt board and said drying unit defining an air transfer area between said bottom end of said pelt board and an air outlet of said drying unit, wherein said air outlet has an area of between 15% and 95% of said bottom end area of said pelt board, said adaptor comprising: an inlet end configured in conformity with said bottom end of said pelt board; an opposite upper end; a minor air outlet aperture in said upper end through which air can be input into said inner cavity of said pelt board through said connector; and an inner air passage from said inlet end to said minor air outlet aperture.

42. An adaptor for use in combination with a drying unit for drying a pelt on a pelt board, said pelt board having an inner cavity, said drying unit having a minor receptor, said adaptor being configured for introducing air from said drying unit into said inner cavity, said adaptor comprising: an inlet end including a connector configured to be received in said minor receptor; an opposite upper end; an air outlet aperture in said upper end; and an inner air passage from said inlet end to said air outlet aperture; wherein said outlet aperture is positioned so as to introduce air into said inner cavity

43. A system for drying a pelt having a substantially tubular shape defining an inwardly oriented leather side and an outwardly oriented fur side and further defining a nose end and a rear end, said system comprising: a pelt board comprising: a top end configured for fixing said nose end of said pelt; a circumferential apertured wall defining an inner cavity and an outer surface configured for facing said leather side of said pelt; a bottom end opposite said top end and defining bottom end area; and an air inlet communicating with said inner cavity at said bottom end of said pelt board and configured for introducing air into said inner cavity so as to be forced out through said apertured wall; and a drying unit comprising a housing defining a top surface having an air outlet configured for communicating with said air inlet via an interface therebetween, said interface connecting said pelt board and said drying unit so as to support said pelt board in an upright position relative to said top surface and defining an interface area constituting between 15% and 95% of said bottom end area of said pelt board.

44. The system according to claim 43, wherein said interface is configured as an interchangeable adaptor of said drying unit.

45. A drying unit for use in combination with a pelt board for drying a pelt, said pelt having a substantially tubular shape defining an inwardly oriented leather side and an outwardly oriented fur side and further defining a nose end and a rear end, said pelt board having an inner cavity and a bottom end defining a bottom end area, said drying unit comprising: a housing having a top surface defining an interface relative to said pelt board, wherein said interface is configured for supporting said pelt board in an upright position relative to said top surface and for allowing air to be input to said inner cavity of said pelt board from said drying unit; wherein said interface defines an interface area between said pelt board and said top surface constituting between 15% and 95% of the bottom end area of said pelt board.

46. The drying unit according to claim 45, wherein said interface is configured as an interchangeable adaptor of said drying unit.

47. The drying unit according to claim 45, further comprising a plurality of interfaces, each of which is configured for accommodating a corresponding one of a plurality of pelt boards.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0222] FIG. 1A illustrates a contracted pelt board according to the present invention.

[0223] FIG. 1B illustrates an expanded pelt board according to the present invention.

[0224] FIG. 2A illustrates a cut out view of a contracted pelt board.

[0225] FIG. 2B illustrates a cut out view of an expanded pelt board.

[0226] FIG. 3 illustrates a further pelt board embodiment according to the present invention.

[0227] FIG. 4 illustrates the upper part of a pelt board according to the present invention.

[0228] FIG. 5 illustrates the lower part of a pelt board according to the present invention.

[0229] FIG. 6A illustrates the assembly of a pelt board according to the present invention.

[0230] FIG. 6B illustrates an elongated core element and wall elements of the pelt board.

[0231] FIG. 7A illustrates the working principle of the peripheral part.

[0232] FIG. 7B illustrates the expansion of the peripheral part.

[0233] FIG. 8A illustrates an actuator member interacting with the opposite core surface.

[0234] FIG. 8B illustrates the elongated core element and wall elements of the pelt board.

[0235] FIG. 9A illustrates actuator members and cooperating members of the pelt board.

[0236] FIG. 9B illustrates the movement of the actuator members and cooperating members.

[0237] FIG. 9C illustrates the fastening member and the track of the pelt board.

[0238] FIG. 9D illustrates the movement of the fastening member in relation to the track.

[0239] FIG. 10A illustrates the assembly of the upper part of the pelt board.

[0240] FIG. 10B illustrates the finished upper part of the pelt board.

[0241] FIG. 11A illustrates the upper part of the pelt board in the contracted state.

[0242] FIG. 11B illustrates the upper part of the pelt board in the expanded state.

[0243] FIG. 12A illustrates the use of intermediate sections.

[0244] FIG. 12B illustrates the working principle of the intermediate sections.

[0245] FIG. 13 illustrates a further embodiment of the pelt board.

[0246] FIG. 14 illustrates the assembly of the bottom part of the pelt board.

[0247] FIG. 15 illustrates the connecting element of the pelt board.

[0248] FIG. 16 illustrates the protrusions of the locking mechanism of the core element.

[0249] FIGS. 17A, 17B, 17C and 17D are a series illustrating the working principle of the locking mechanism.

[0250] FIG. 18A illustrates a further embodiment of the pelt board in the contracted state.

[0251] FIG. 18B illustrates a further embodiment of the pelt board in the expanded state.

[0252] FIG. 19 illustrates a pelt board and a drying unit.

[0253] FIGS. 20A, 20B and 20C are a series illustrating the working principal of a further embodiment of the pelt board according to the present invention.

[0254] FIGS. 21A and 21B illustrate the expansion of the pelt board in a first transversal direction.

[0255] FIGS. 22A and 22B illustrate the expansion of the pelt board in a second transversal direction.

[0256] FIGS. 23A, 23B and 23 C are a series illustrating the expansion of the pelt board in two different transversal directions.

[0257] FIG. 24 illustrates details of a further and presently preferred embodiment of the pelt board according to the present invention.

[0258] FIG. 25 illustrates the pelt board also shown in FIG. 24 in a disassembled state.

[0259] FIG. 26 illustrates details of the pelt board also shown in FIGS. 24 and 25.

[0260] FIG. 27 illustrates further details of the pelt board, also shown in FIGS. 24-26.

[0261] FIGS. 28A, 28B and 28C are a series illustrating schematically a first embodiment of a pelt board according to the present invention.

[0262] FIGS. 29A, 29B and 29C are a series similar to the series of FIGS. 28A, 28B and 28C, respectively, illustrating an alternative embodiment of the pelt board according to the present invention.

[0263] FIGS. 30A, 30B and 30C are a series similar to the series of FIGS. 29A, 29B and 29C, respectively, illustrating a modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 29A, 29B and 29C.

[0264] FIGS. 31A and 31B are illustrations similar to the illustrations of FIGS. 28A and 28B, respectively, of a complete pelt board.

[0265] FIG. 32 illustrates details of the pelt board shown in FIGS. 28A-28C.

[0266] FIG. 33 illustrates further details of the assembling of the pelt board shown in FIG. 32.

[0267] FIG. 34 illustrates a presently preferred embodiment of a drying unit in a first operational position and FIG. 34A illustrates two pelt board receiving apertures of the top plate of the drying unit.

[0268] FIG. 35 illustrates, similar to FIG. 34, the drying unit in a second operational mode and FIG. 35A illustrates the two pelt board receiving apertures in the second operational mode of locking the pelt board relative to the drying unit.

[0269] FIG. 36 illustrates in a larger scale the top plate of the drying unit in the first operational mode.

[0270] FIG. 37 illustrates, similar to FIG. 36, the top plate of the drying unit in the second operational mode.

[0271] FIG. 38 illustrates the locking elements positioned below the top plate of the drying unit in the first operational mode.

[0272] FIG. 39 illustrates, similar to FIG. 38, the locking elements in the second operational mode.

[0273] FIG. 40 illustrates the presently preferred embodiment of the pelt board positioned on the top plate of the drying unit and 40A, 40B and 40C illustrate schematically the openings or apertures of the individual plates of the drying unit.

[0274] FIG. 41 illustrates the novel connector of the presently preferred embodiment of the pelt board illustrating the increased air inlet capability.

[0275] FIG. 42 is a diagram comparing the air inlet capability of a conventional pelt board, a pelt board according to the presently preferred embodiment of the pelt board, and a pelt board having a large entry.

[0276] FIG. 43 illustrates a universal drying unit for use with an adaptor allowing the use of the drying unit in combination with a conventional pelt board and FIGS. 43A, 43B and 43C are details of the adaptor.

[0277] FIG. 44 illustrates, similar to FIG. 43, the universal drying unit with an adaptor for use with a large entry pelt board and FIGS. 44A, 44B and 44C are details similar to the details of FIGS. 43A, 43B and 43C, respectively.

[0278] FIG. 45 illustrates, similar to FIG. 44, the universal drying unit with a modified adaptor for use with a large entry pelt board having a large entry, and FIGS. 45A, 45B and 45C are details similar to the details of FIGS. 44A, 44B and 44C, respectively.

[0279] FIG. 46 illustrates, similar to FIG. 45, the universal drying unit with an alternative adaptor for use with the pelt board shown in FIGS. 44 and 45, and FIGS. 46A, 46B and 46C are details similar to the details of FIGS. 45A, 45B and 45C, respectively.

[0280] FIG. 47 illustrates, similar to FIG. 46, the universal drying unit with a further alternative adaptor for use with the large entry pelt board of FIGS. 44, 45 and 46, and FIGS. 47A, 47B and 47C illustrate details similar to the details of FIGS. 46A, 46B and 46C, respectively.

[0281] FIG. 48 illustrates, similar to FIG. 47, the universal drying unit with a further alternative adaptor for use with the large entry pelt board of FIGS. 44, 45, 46 and 47, and FIGS. 47A, 47B and 47C illustrate details similar to the details of 47A, 47B and 47C, respectively.

[0282] FIG. 49 illustrates a further embodiment of the drying unit for use with the large entry pelt board shown in FIGS. 44, 45, 46, 47 and 48 and FIGS. 49A, 49B and 49C illustrate details of the adaptor identical to the details shown in FIGS. 45A, 45B and 45C, respectively.

[0283] FIG. 50 illustrates a further embodiment of the drying unit for use with the large entry pelt board shown in FIGS. 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49, and FIGS. 50A, 50B and 50C illustrate details of the adaptor identical to the details shown in FIGS. 46A, 46B and 46C, respectively.

[0284] FIG. 51 illustrates a further embodiment of the drying unit for use with the large entry pelt board shown in FIGS. 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50, and FIGS. 51A, 51B and 51C illustrate details of the adaptor identical to the details shown in FIGS. 47A, 47B and 47C, respectively.

[0285] FIG. 52 illustrates a further embodiment of the drying unit for use with the large entry pelt board shown in FIGS. 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50 and 51, and FIGS. 52A, 52B and 52C illustrate details of the adaptor identical to the details shown in FIGS. 48A, 48B and 48C, respectively.

[0286] FIG. 53 illustrates a further variant of the drying unit, in which the locking of the large entry pelt board is accomplished by the simple connection of the large entry pelt board to the integral adaptor of the drying unit, and FIGS. 53A and 53B illustrate the details of the connector and the locking and unlocking.

[0287] FIG. 54 illustrates a further variant of the drying unit shown in FIG. 53 and FIGS. 54A and 54B illustrate details of the modified connector.

[0288] FIG. 55 illustrates the drying unit shown in FIGS. 49-52 including an adaptor for allowing the use of a drying unit in combination with a conventional pelt board.

[0289] FIG. 56 illustrates the drying unit shown in FIG. 55 including a modified adaptor allowing the separation of the conventional pelt board from the adaptor.

[0290] FIG. 57 illustrates a conventional drying unit having a small air outlet aperture and an adaptor allowing the use of the large entry pelt board shown in FIGS. 44-54 to be used in combination with the conventional drying unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0291] In the below detailed description of the various embodiments described with reference to the drawings, the same reference numerals are used throughout the figures identifying identical components described only once in the first occurrence of the element. Elements or components serving the same purpose or being configured similar to previously described components or elements, respectively, are designated the same reference numeral as previously indicated, however, added a marking to identify the geometrical difference from the previously described component or element, still, to the use of the same integer identifying the correspondence as to function and structure. It is further contemplated that elements or components from one embodiment described below may readily be combined with another embodiment with reference to a different figure, as the various variants of embodiments are readily interchangeable and/or elements or components from one embodiment being readily substituted with or by components or elements of another embodiment.

[0292] FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a pelt board 10 in the contracted state. The pelt board 10 comprises a lower part 12 and an upper part 14. The lower part 12 comprises a first arched wall element 16, a second wall element 18, a third wall element 20, a fourth wall element 22 which together define a cavity 24 in which an elongated core element 26 is located. The first arched wall element 16, the second wall element 18, the third wall element 20 and the fourth wall element 22 are shown here schematically as being solid, it is however understood that for optimal drying of the pelt, they should be louvered for allowing ventilation air to pass from the pelt board to the pelt. The upper part 14 comprise a fifth wall element 28 and a sixth wall element 30, both which in the present case are arched and tapered but which also may be made non-arched and non-tapered. The elongated core element 26 extends into the upper part 14 in the form of a core extension element 26′.

[0293] The first wall element 16 and the second wall element 18 comprises respective peripheral elements 16′ 16″ 18′ 18″, which are flexibly connected to the center elements of the respective first wall element 16 and the second wall element 18. The third wall element 20 will in the present contracted state overlap the peripheral elements 16′ 18′ and the fourth wall element 20 will in the present contracted state overlap the peripheral elements 16″ 18″. The fifth wall element 28 and a sixth wall element 30 both mutually overlap each other. An extension element 32 is interconnecting the lower part 12 and the upper part 14.

[0294] FIG. 1B shows a perspective view of the first embodiment of the pelt board 10 in the expanded state. By pushing the elongated core element 26 in a longitudinal direction as shown by the arrows, the wall elements are all forced in outwardly oriented directions as shown by the arrows. The first wall element 16 and the fifth wall element 28 are moved along a first radial dimension while the second wall element 18 and the sixth wall element 30 are moved along the first radial dimension but in the opposite direction, the first radial dimension being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction defined by the elongated core element 26. The third wall element 20 and the fourth wall element 22 are forced in opposite directions along a second radial direction as shown by the arrows, which second radial direction is perpendicular to both the first radial dimension and to the longitudinal dimension. The peripheral portions 16′ 16″ 18′ 18″ of the respective first wall element 16 and second wall element 18 move along both the first and second radial dimensions such that the expanded pelt board 10′ form a smooth outer surface.

[0295] FIG. 2A shows a cut-out perspective view of another embodiment of a pelt board 10′ in the contracted state. The third wall element 20 and the fourth wall element 22 comprise actuator members 34 along the longitudinal dimension and the elongated core element 26 comprise cooperating members 36 along the longitudinal dimension. The actuator members 34 and cooperating members 36 define opposing wedges. In the contracted state of the pelt board 10, the sloping surfaces of the opposing wedges are non-overlapping or overlapping such that no outwardly oriented force is generated, i.e. that the protruding portions of the opposing wedges are non-overlapping.

[0296] The fifth wall element 28 and the sixth wall element 30 comprise actuator members 34′ along the longitudinal dimension and the elongated core element 26 comprise cooperating members 36′ along the longitudinal dimension. The actuator members 34′ define curved grooves along the longitudinal dimension of the fifth wall element 28 and the sixth wall element 30 whereas the cooperating members 36 define pins of the core extension element 26′.

[0297] FIG. 2B shows a cut-out perspective view of the pelt board 10′ in the expanded state. The sloping surfaces of the opposing wedges are now overlapping such that an outwardly oriented force is achieved, i.e. the protruding parts of the opposing wedges are overlapping causing the third wall element 20 and the fourth wall element 22 to move outwardly in opposite directions.

[0298] When the core extension element 26′ moves together with the elongated core element 26 along the longitudinal dimension, the pins constituting the cooperating members 36′ move along the curved grooves constituting the actuator members 34′ and thereby causing the fifth wall element 28 and the sixth wall element to move outwardly in opposite directions.

[0299] The movement of the first wall element 16 and the second wall element 18 will be explained in detail in the following figures.

[0300] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of a pelt board 10″. In the present embodiment, the fifth wall element 28 and the sixth wall element 30 are substantially flat in order to be able to accommodate the neck part of the animal pelt. The surface of the arched wall elements 16 18 20 22 have ribs 38 for allowing the pelt to be properly fixated to the pelt board 10″. Further all of the wall elements 16 18 20 22 have ventilation holes 40.

[0301] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the upper part 14 of the pelt board 10″. It shows in detail how the fifth wall element 28 and the sixth wall element 30 both connect to the core extension element 26′. The actuator elements 34′ in form of curved grooves connect to the cooperating members 36′ in the form of pins. By longitudinal movement of the core extension element 26′, the pins will follow the path defined by the curved grooves and thus cause the fifth wall element 28 and the sixth wall element 30 to move outwardly along the curve defined by the interaction between the curved grooves and the pins.

[0302] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the lower part 12 of the pelt board 10″. In the present embodiment the first wall element 16 is composed of two elements designated the reference numerals 16A and 16B which are interconnected by means of a snap fit connection 42. Also, the second wall element 18 is composed of two elements designated the reference numerals 18A and 18B and which are interconnected by means of a snap fit connection 42.

[0303] FIG. 6A shows a perspective view of the lower part 12 of the pelt board 10″. The present view especially shows a close-up view of the elements 16A 16B 18A 18B making up the first wall element 16 and the second wall element 18, respectively. In order to make the first wall element 16 and the second wall element 18 move in the first radial direction, the snap fit mechanisms 42 42′, when assembled, define actuator members 34″ in the form of pins. The elongated core element 26 defines cooperating members 36″ in the form of curved grooves. The working principle of the curved groove and the pin is the same as for the upper part of the pelt board 10″. The pins are guided by the curved grooves and forced inwardly/outwardly according to the longitudinal movement of the elongated core element 26. Thereby, the first wall element 16 and the second wall element 18 move along the first radial dimension and at the same time the first wall element 16 and the second wall element 18 are held by the elongated core element 26.

[0304] The wall elements 16A 16B 18A 18B also each comprise a number of respective peripheral parts 44 which are flexibly connected to its corresponding wall elements 16A 16B 18A 18B.

[0305] FIG. 6B shows a perspective view of the lower part 12 of the pelt board 10″ when assembled. When interconnected, each of the snap fit mechanism 42 42′ will form a pin 34″ to be guided in the curved groove of the elongated core element 26. The peripheral parts 44, which will be described in detail below, form a substantially smooth and continuous surface together with it corresponding wall element 16 18.

[0306] FIG. 7A shows a close up view describing the functional principle of the elongated core element 26, the wall element 16A and the corresponding peripheral part 44. The present view represents the contracted state of the pelt board. The elongated core element 26 comprises a further cooperating member 36′″ constituting a wedge and which is adapted to cooperate with an actuator member 34′″ constituting a protrusion on the peripheral part 44.

[0307] FIG. 7B shows the setup of FIG. 7B when in the expanded state. The elongated core element 26 moves in the longitudinal direction relative to the wall element 16a and causes the wall element 16A to move outwardly in the first radial direction as shown by the arrows. The outwardly movement of the wall element 16A is caused by the interaction between the cooperating member 36′″ and the actuator member 34″. The longitudinal movement of the elongated core 26 causes the actuator member 34′″ constituting a protrusion to slide on the cooperating member 36′″ constituting a wedge and thereby the peripheral part 44 is caused to move outwardly in both the first and second radial directions as shown by the arrow.

[0308] FIG. 8A shows a perspective view illustrating how the third wall element 20 and the fourth wall element 22 are fastened together and to the elongated core element 26. The third and fourth wall elements 20 22 each comprise further actuator members in the form of fastening members 46, which are cooperating with corresponding tracks 48 of the elongated core element 26. The third and fourth wall elements 20 22 are in the present embodiment additionally joined together via corresponding clip-on mechanisms 50 50′ at the bottom end of the pelt board.

[0309] FIG. 8B shows the lower part 12 of the pelt board when the third wall element 20 and the fourth wall element 22 are fastened together and to the elongated core element 26.

[0310] FIG. 9A shows a close-up view illustrating the working principle of the third wall element 20 and the fourth wall element 22. The third wall element 20 and the fourth wall element 22 each comprise actuator members 34 and the elongated core element 26 comprises cooperating members 36. The actuator members 34 and the cooperating members 36 define wedges having sloped in opposite direction. In the present contracted state, the wedges of the actuator members 34 and the cooperating members 36 are located such that the protruding parts of the wedges are non-overlapping, allowing the third wall element 20 and the fourth wall element 22 to define a small distance between themselves. The fastening members 46, described in detail in the previous figure, will in the present case be interacting with the corresponding tracks 48 of the elongated core element 26 such that each of the third wall element 20 and the fourth wall element 22 are pulled inwardly towards the elongated core element 26.

[0311] FIG. 9B shows a close-up view illustrating the working principle of the third wall element 20 and the fourth wall element 22 when in the expanded state. In the present expanded state, the wedges of the actuator members 34 and the cooperating members 36 are located such that the protruding parts of the wedges are overlapping, causing the third wall element 20 and the fourth wall element 22 to define a larger distance between themselves. The moving principle of the third wall element 20, the fourth wall element 22 and the elongated core element 26 is illustrated by the arrows.

[0312] FIG. 9C shows a close-up view illustrating the working principle of the fastening member 46 when the pelt board is in the expanded state. The fastening member 46 has a wedged shape for controlling the distance between the elongated core element 26 and the respective third wall element 20 and the fourth wall element 22 depending on the longitudinal position of the elongated core element 26. The fastening member 46 of the respective third wall element 20 and the fourth wall element 22 grasps the track 48 of the elongated core element 26 which is located opposite the third wall element 20 of which the present fastening member 46 is part of.

[0313] FIG. 9D shows a close-up view illustrating the working principle of the fastening member 46 when the pelt board is in the expanded state. The contraction of the wall third wall element 20 and the fourth wall element 22 may be controlled in that the slope of the fastening member causes the third wall element 20 and the fourth wall element 22 to move closer to the elongated core element 26 when the pelt board is assuming the contracted state.

[0314] FIG. 10A shows the mounting principle of the upper part 14. In the first step, the fifth wall element 28 and the sixth wall element 30 are positioned in a partial overlapping position about the core extension element 26′. In the next step, the cooperating members 36′, which constitute pins, are positioned through the actuator members 34′, which constitute curved grooves, and through the center of the core extension element 26′.

[0315] FIG. 10B shows a perspective view of the upper part 14 when mounted and when in the expanded state.

[0316] FIG. 11A shows the moving principle of the upper part 14 of the pelt board. The cooperating members 36′ are guided in the actuator members 34′ for causing the fifth wall element 28 and the sixth wall element 30 to minimize the radial dimension between themselves and relative to the core extension element 26.

[0317] FIG. 11B shows the moving principle of the upper part 14 of the pelt board. The cooperating members 36′ are guided in the actuator members 34′ for causing the fifth wall element 28 and the sixth wall element 30 to increase the radial dimension between them and relative to the core extension element 26 when the core extension element 26 is moved in the longitudinal direction as shown by the arrows.

[0318] FIG. 12A shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of a pelt board 10′″. The pelt board 10′″ resembles the pelt boards of the previous embodiments however in order to be able to adjust the length of the pelt board 10′″, there has been included intermediate sections 52 in-between the upper part 14 and the lower part 12. The intermediate sections 52 constitute elliptic cylindrical spacer elements which are non-expandable. The intermediate sections 52 may be made non-expandable since the pelt is most likely to stick to the upper part 14 and the lower part 12. However, the intermediate sections 52 may of course also be made expandable similar to the lower part 12 or the upper part 14. For large pelts, a plurality of intermediate sections 52 may be used. A core connecting element 26″ may be used for interconnecting the elongate core element of the lower part 12 and the core extension element of the upper part 14.

[0319] FIG. 12B shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of a pelt board 10′″ and illustrates how the lower part 12 and the upper part 14 is expanding as shown by the arrows, while the intermediate sections remain constant in circumference.

[0320] FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a pelt board 10.sup.IV. The present pelt board 56 comprises a number of ribs 56 which contribute to holding the pelt on the pelt board. Further, a number of ventilation holes 40 are present for allowing the pelt to dry quickly. The pelt board 10.sup.IV is of elliptical configuration and the third and fourth wall elements 20 22, having an arched configuration, may overlap the first and second wall elements 16 18 in order to assume the expanded state and the contracted state. The elongated core element has in the present view been omitted. A large opening 58 is present at the bottom end of the pelt board 10.sup.IV for allowing a large amount of dry ventilation air to enter the pelt board 10.sup.IV.

[0321] FIG. 14 shows the bottom end of the lower part 12 of the pelt board. The lower ends of the third wall element 20 and the fourth wall element 22 are fixated by means of cooperating clip-on mechanisms 50 50′ such that the third wall element 20 and the fourth wall element 22 cannot move in relation to each other adjacent the lower end of the pelt board. Typically, the pelt does stop a few centimeters above the lower end, otherwise a longer pelt board should be used. Thus, it is not necessary that the third wall element 20 and the fourth wall element 22 are movable adjacent the lower end of the pelt board. A connecting element 60 is used for moving the elongated core element 26 in the longitudinal direction. Also shown are first locking protrusions 62 located on each of the third wall element 20 and fourth wall element 22. Second locking protrusions 64 are located on the connecting element 60. The locking protrusions 62 64 are used to lock the elongated core element 26 in the expanded state. This will be explained further below.

[0322] FIG. 15 shows the lower part 12 of the pelt board when it has been assembled. The connecting element 60 extends from an opening 58′ at the lower end of the pelt board. The opening 58′ is preferably large for allowing a large flow of air to enter the interior of the pelt board 10 and most preferably the opening 58′ defines the greater part of the entire bottom surface of the pelt board 10. The opening 58′ typically constitutes the limiting flow surface which determines the amount of air which will flow through the pelt board. A small opening 58′ would limit the flow which would cause a less efficient drying of the pelt.

[0323] FIG. 16 shows a perspective close up of the connecting element 60 and the locking principle employed to lock the pelt board in the expanded state. The third and fourth wall elements comprise first locking protrusions 62, whereas the connecting element 60 comprises second locking protrusions 64. The connecting element 60 is flexible in the first radial direction in relation to the third and fourth wall elements. The present locking mechanism is located adjacent the bottom end of the pelt board and together with the friction between the internal moving parts of the pelt board, i.e. the actuator members and the cooperating members, it will eliminate the need of any further locking mechanisms inside the pelt board. The present locking mechanism should be located adjacent the bottom end of the pelt board in order to avoid it being jammed by fatty substances which may come from the pelt. The change from expanded state to contracted state may preferably be made when the bottom end of the elongated core element is attached to the drying unit, e.g. by tilting the pelt board sideways, thereby also taking advantage of the leverage provided by the pelt board for overcoming the friction between the first and second protrusions.

[0324] FIG. 17A shows the locked position of the pelt board. The first locking protrusions 62 are located below the second locking protrusions 64. The first locking protrusion 62 thus prevents the longitudinal movement of the connecting element 60 and thus of the elongated core element.

[0325] FIG. 17B shows the unlocking of the pelt board. By moving the connecting element 60 in the first radial direction, the second locking protrusion 64 is free to move past the first locking protrusion 62.

[0326] FIG. 17C shows the movement from expanded state to contracted state of the unlocked pelt board. By moving the connecting element 60 in the longitudinal direction, such that the second locking protrusion 64 moves past the first locking protrusion 62, the state may be altered from the expanded state to the contracted state.

[0327] FIG. 17D shows the connecting element 60 when the pelt board is in the contracted state. By releasing the connecting element 60, it flexes back to its central relaxed position.

[0328] FIG. 18A shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of a pelt board 10.sup.V when in the contracted state. The pelt board 10.sup.V comprises movable wall elements 16, 16′, 16″, 18, 18′, 18″, 20, 22 which together do not cover the complete circumference of the pelt board. In-between the wall elements 16, 16′, 16″, 18, 18′, 18″, 20, 22 fixed wall elements 54 are located. When in the contracted state, the wall elements 16, 16′, 16″, 18, 18′, 18″, 20, 22 form an even outer surface together with the fixed wall elements 54.

[0329] FIG. 18B shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of a pelt board 10.sup.V when in the expanded state. When in the expanded state, the wall elements 16, 16′, 16″, 18, 18′, 18″, 20, 22 move outwardly and form contact surfaces for the pelts. The moving principle of the wall elements 16, 16′, 16″, 18, 18′, 18″, 20, 22 have not been shown, however, preferably the same principles are used as for the previous embodiments.

[0330] FIG. 19 shows the pelt board during drying when connected to a drying unit 66. The drying unit 66 has a ventilator 68 and a number of ventilation apertures 70. The ventilator produces a flow of air which is led via the ventilation apertures 70 into the pelt board 10 through the openings 58′ at the lower part 12 of the pelt board 10.

[0331] FIG. 20A shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the pelt board 10.sup.VI, in which the first wall element 16 is integrally joint to the third wall element 20 as indicated by a line of junction 17 and similarly, the second wall element 18 is integrally joint to the fourth wall element 22 through a line of junction 19. The embodiment of the pelt board 10.sup.VI shown in FIGS. 20A-20C presents the further feature of allowing the pelt board to be expanded in two alternative and separate directions; a first direction shown in FIG. 20B as indicated by arrows, according to which expansion the third wall element and the fourth wall element 22 are separated from one another for expanding the pelt board in a first transversal direction and likewise in FIG. 20C, the expansion of the pelt board 10.sup.VI caused by shifting the first wall element 16 and the second wall element 18 relative to one another for expanding the pelt board in a direction indicated by arrows in FIG. 20C, which direction is orthogonal to the direction of expansion shown in FIG. 20B.

[0332] FIGS. 21A and 21B illustrate in greater details the expansion of the pelt board 10.sup.VI in the first transversal direction indicated in FIG. 20B and similarly, in FIGS. 22A and 22B, the expansion in the second transversal direction is illustrated in greater details.

[0333] As is indicated in FIG. 20B and FIG. 20C and likewise in FIGS. 21A and 22A, the expansion in the second transversal direction is accomplished as a further movement of the elongated core element 26 as the movement of the central core element 26 from the position shown in FIG. 20A to the position shown in FIG. 20B accomplishes the expansion of the pelt board in the first transversal direction and further motion of the central core element 26 as indicated in FIG. 20C creates the further expansion in the second transversal direction. By modifying the actuator members 34, 36 and 46, 48 or repositioning them relative to one another, the shifting from the non-expanded state to the full expansion shown in FIG. 20C may be accomplished in a different way by firstly shifting the first and second wall element 16, 18 relative to one another and then afterwards shifting the third and fourth wall elements 18 and 20 relative to one another. In a still further variant of the pelt board 10.sup.VI, the shifting of the pelt board from the non-expanded state to the first or the second expanded states shown in FIGS. 20B and 20C, respectively, may be accomplished selectively by shifting the central core element 26 sidewise in order to contact the one set of actuators 34, 36 shown in FIG. 21B, or alternatively the second set 46, 48 shown in FIG. 22B.

[0334] FIGS. 24-27 illustrate a 3-component embodiment of the pelt board 10.sup.IV, which embodiments constitutes the presently preferred embodiment of the pelt board according to the present invention.

[0335] In FIG. 24, the two shell parts 28 and 29 are shown exposing the exterior surfaces of the two shell parts and in addition, in the left hand part of FIG. 24 exposing the upper ends of the two shell parts, which upper ends serve to catch and fixate a part of the pelt at the head of the pelt. As is evident from the enlarged views of FIG. 24 at the left hand side of FIG. 24, the upper ends are provided with catching claws or teeth serving to fixate the head of the pelt relative to the pelt board.

[0336] In FIG. 25, the two shell parts 28 and 30 are shown in disassembled state exposing the central elongated core element 29 having at its lower end an outwardly protruding part serving to cooperate with a conventional tanning machine and a conventional drying machine.

[0337] In FIGS. 26 and 27, further details illustrated in enlarged views A-G of the pelt board is shown. In A and B, the outer surface of the top part of the pelt board is shown illustrating the longitudinal ridges of the pelt board and edgewise located apertures. In C, the upper end of the shell part 28 is shown illustrating the catching teeth, also shown in FIG. 24. In D, the cam surfaces of the elongated element 29 are shown in greater details and in E, the inner locking elements of the shell part 30 are shown. In F, the lower outwardly extending or protruding element constituting a so-called stubby element is shown, and in G, the locks of the shell part 30 are shown in greater details.

[0338] In general, the above described presently preferred embodiment 10.sup.VI of the pelt board according to the present invention fulfill the following features characteristic of the embodiment. The shell parts 28 and 30 are forcedly guided relative to the elongated core element 29 at a total of six locations along the shell parts, as the forcedly guiding or controlling is established during expansion of as well as during collapsing of the pelt board. The locks of the pelt board serve as a frictional lock preventing collapsing and expansion of the pelt board until an outer force generated by a pelt position on the pelt board activates the lock. The expansion in both transversal directions and likewise the collapsing in both transversal directions is forcedly controlled and guided. The above stubby elements together with the lower end of the shell parts serve to center the pelt board in a drying box or drying machine and provides a stop in the drying box. Further, the stubby element, as distinct from previously used stubby elements serving to catch and lock in the tanning machine and in the drying box or drying machine provides gripping flanges or elements for an improved fixation. For providing individual recordal of the pelt received on a specific pelt board, the pelt board is further provided with an internal holder for receiving an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device).

[0339] The shell parts further exhibit the following additional features by providing holes for the drying of the back part of the pelt and providing an increased air through flow as compared to conventional and commercially available pelt boards. In the longitudinal direction of the pelt board, the shell parts are reinforced every 60 mm and transversal bands are further provided every 30 mm. The overall surfaces of the two shell parts prevent vertical shifting of the pelt relative to the pelt board, and the teeth at the upper ends of the two shell parts fixate the upper end, i.e. the head of the pelt relative to the pelt board. The number of teeth for catching the head of the pelt may be constituted by any arbitrary numbers such as 2, 4, 6, 8 or even further teeth as the presently preferred embodiment exhibit a total of four teeth in each of the two shell parts 28 and 30. The assembled pelt board 10.sup.VI shown in FIGS. 24-27 further provide the advantage of collapsing the pelt board in its entire length and allows for machinery operated removal of the pelt from the pelt board. The overall cross section of the pelt board is similar to the geometry of an ellipse in the non-expanded or collapsed state, which provides an improved function as to easy mounting of the pelt and easy removal of the pelt after collapsing the pelt board. The high number of air apertures serving to allow air to circulate through the pelt board and further through the pelt allows for the drying air to be passed from the inside of the pelt board to the outside. The overall opening air layer of the overall transversal opening area of the pelt board is approximately 1200 mm.sup.2 calculated as the open area. In the drying of the pelt, the air is, as is evident from FIGS. 25 and 26 guided inside the pelt board along approximately 60% of the overall length of the pelt board and then transferred to the outer surface of the pelt board through the apertures shown in the enlarged views A and B of FIG. 26.

[0340] FIG. 28A shows a perspective view of a part of a further embodiment of a pelt board 10.sup.VII in its contracted or non-expanded state. The pelt board 10.sup.VII resembles the above described embodiments 10.sup.VI shown in FIGS. 20A, 20B, 20C, 21A, 21B, 22A, 22B, 23A, 23B and 23C. The part of the pelt board 10.sup.VII shown in FIG. 28A constitutes the lower part 12.sup.I of the pelt board, which is shown in FIGS. 31A and 31B, which will be described in greater details below.

[0341] The lower part 12.sup.I of the pelt board 10.sup.VII is composed of a total of three components, namely two identically shaped shell parts 72 and 74 and a central elongated core element 26.

[0342] Each of the shell parts 72 and 74 comprise a major low curvature wall part 22.sup.I and 20.sup.I, respectively, and a minor high curvature wall part 18.sup.I and 16.sup.I, respectively. The major low curvature wall parts 22.sup.I and 20.sup.I are joint to the minor high curvature parts 18.sup.I and 16.sup.I, respectively, through imaginary lines 17.sup.I and 19.sup.I, respectively.

[0343] The embodiment of the pelt board 10.sup.VII shown in FIG. 28A is of a structure, in which the two identically shaped shell parts 72 and 74 in the contracted or non-expanded state shown in FIG. 28A constitute an almost perfectly configured elliptical cross sectional configuration as the longitudinal edges of the oppositely positioned shell parts 72 and 74 join one another in a basically unbroken elliptically cross sectional configuration. The elliptical cross sectional configuration of the pelt board 10.sup.VII shown in FIG. 28A is believed to improve the ability of the pelt board to allow an easy removal of the pelt from the pelt board after the tanning of the pelt as the outer surface of the pelt board 10.sup.VII in its contracted or collapsed state is almost “perfectly” uniform without any substantive discontinuities.

[0344] In FIG. 28B, the embodiment of the pelt board 10.sup.VII is shown in its expanded state, in which the two shell parts 72 and 74 are caused to be shifted away from one another establishing a gap between the edges of the oppositely positioned shell parts 72 and 74. The shift of the shell parts 72 and 74 away from one another as illustrated in FIG. 28B and indicated by arrows is accomplished by shifting the central elongated core element 26 in a direction also indicated by an arrow inwardly into the interior of the pelt board 10.sup.VII forcing the shell parts 72 and 74 away from one another.

[0345] The separation or the shifting of the shell parts 72 and 74 is accomplished by means of cooperating actuator elements 34 and 36 shown in FIG. 28C identical to the actuator elements 34 and 36 shown in FIG. 21B and described above, the actuator elements 34 being constituted by triangularly shaped bodies extending inwardly from the central part of the major low curvature wall part 22.sup.I of the shell part 72 and likewise from the major low curvature wall part 20.sup.I of the shell part 74, and the central elongated rod 26 is provided with actuator members 36 defining cooperating sloping cam surfaces with which the actuator members 34 cooperate for pushing the shell parts 72 and 74 away from one another to the expanded state shown in FIG. 28C.

[0346] In FIGS. 29A, 29B and 29C, a further embodiment of the pelt board 10.sup.VIII is shown having the same shell parts 72 and 74 as illustrated in FIGS. 28A, 28B and 28C as described above and the central elongated core element 26. Whereas in FIGS. 28B and 28C, the expansion of the pelt board is established as a vertical separation by pushing the shell parts away from one another, the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 29A, 29B and 29C establishes the expansion of the pelt board by shifting the shell parts 72 and 74 sidewise as illustrated in FIG. 29B and as accomplished by the cooperation between actuator members 34.sup.I and 36.sup.I shown in FIG. 29C. To be more precise, in FIG. 29B, the shell part 72 is shifted to the right and similarly, the shell part 74 is shifted to the left relative to the central elongated core elements 26.

[0347] In FIGS. 30A, 30B and 30C, a modified or alternative embodiment of the further embodiment 10.sup.IX shown in FIGS. 29A, 29B and 29C, respectively, is illustrated differing from the above described further embodiment 10.sup.VIII in that the modified embodiment shifts the shell parts 72 and 74 in opposite directions as compared to the shifting shown in FIG. 29B and as illustrated in FIG. 30B, the shell part 72 is shifted to the left and simultaneously, the shell 74 is shifted to the right as accomplished by the modified cooperating actuator members 34.sup.II and 36.sup.II.

[0348] In FIGS. 31A and 31B, the entire pelt board 10.sup.VII is shown having in addition to the lower part 12.sup.I shown in FIG. 28A, an upper part 14 constituting a geometrical extension and continuation of the lower part 12.sup.I and having a tapering configuration. The upper part 14.sup.I also comprises two shell parts 28.sup.I and 30.sup.I which, like the shell parts 72 and 74 of the lower part 12, are caused to be separated similar to the separation of the shell parts 72 and 74 of the embodiment 10.sup.VII described above with reference to FIGS. 28A, 28B and 28C. It is readily understood that the separation of the two shell parts 28.sup.I and 30.sup.I of the upper part 28.sup.I is accomplished in the same manner as described above with reference to FIGS. 28A, 28B and 28C in relation to the lower part 12.sup.I of the pelt board 10.sup.VII, and like the further embodiment 10.sup.VIII shown in FIGS. 29A, 29B and 29C and the modified embodiment 10.sup.IX shown in FIGS. 30A, 30B and 30C, the complete pelt board 10.sup.VII shown in FIGS. 31A and 31B may be modified into establishing the sidewise expansion described above with reference to FIGS. 29A, 29B and 29C and also FIGS. 30A, 30B and 30C.

[0349] FIG. 32 and FIG. 33 illustrate in greater details a further embodiment 10.sup.X of the pelt board according to the present invention, which embodiment exhibits the highly advantageous feature of being composed of no more than three components, namely two identically shaped shell parts 72.sup.I and 74.sup.I and the central core element 36. The shell parts 72.sup.I and 74.sup.I integrally comprise the shell parts 72, 72 and 28.sup.I, 30, respectively, of the embodiment 10.sup.VII of the pelt board, as the shell parts 72 and 72 and similarly the shell parts 28.sup.I and 30.sup.I of the lower and upper parts 12.sup.I and 14.sup.I, respectively, of the pelt board 10.sup.VII are constituted by a single integral component 72.sup.I and 74.sup.I, respectively. Likewise, the central elongated core element serving to shift in a forced manner the shell parts 72.sup.I and 74I from the contracted or non-expanded state to the expanded state and vice versa serve to engage with the actuator elements of the shell parts 72.sup.I and 74.sup.I.

[0350] In FIGS. 34 and 35, a presently preferred embodiment of a drying unit constituting a wheeled or movable carriage is shown designated the reference numerals 66.sup.I in its entirety. The drying unit includes a housing constituting a shallow box 80 having an apertured plate 76 and sealed off or closed sidewalls. Below the housing 80, the drying unit is provided with four wheels, one of which is designated the reference numeral 78. At the left-hand end of the housing 80, a hollow and apertured housing extension 82 is provided, on which a ventilator is to be mounted in a position similar to the position of the ventilator 68 shown in FIG. 19. The wheeled or movable carriage constituting the presently preferred embodiment of the drying unit 66.sup.I is further provided with two carriage handles 81 and 81.sup.I positioned at opposite ends of the shallow box 80, the one carriage handle being composed of straight line bars, whereas the handle 81.sup.I is a cranked carriage handle as the cranked carriage handle 81.sup.I is positioned juxtaposed a separation wall 83, which is located between the aperture housing extension 82 and the housing 80 and serving the purpose of preventing air from being sucked into the ventilator not shown in the drawing from the pelt boards positioned and received in the drying unit, as the drying would be short-circuited by the re-entrance of air from the pelt boards into the ventilator and into the drying unit deteriorating, without the presence of the separation wall 83, the drying process. The ventilator is omitted in FIGS. 34 and 35 for disclosing the interior of the aperture housing extension 82.

[0351] On the housing extension 82, an operator handle 84 is provided, which may be shifted as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 35 from a first position shown in FIG. 34 into a second position shown in FIG. 35. FIGS. 34A and 35A are enlarged scale views of two apertures 70.sup.I of the top plate 76 of the drying unit 66.sup.I illustrated in FIG. 34, in which the handle 84 is in its first position, and free access through the apertures 70.sup.I of the top plate into the interior of the housing 80 is provided, whereas in FIG. 35A, in which the handle 84 is in its second position, a locking plate 88 is shifted into the free passage through the aperture 70.sup.I serving to lock a pelt board positioned on the top plate 76 of the drying unit in its intentional position and preventing the pelt board 10.sup.X from being disconnected from the drying unit per se in a way well known in the art.

[0352] FIGS. 36 and 37 illustrate in greater details similar to the views of FIGS. 34 and 35, respectively, the top plate 76 of the drying unit, as the handle 84 is in FIG. 36 in its first position similar to the position shown in FIG. 34 and in FIG. 37 in the second position, similar to the position of FIG. 35, and establishing the locking of the pelt boards to the top surface of the drying unit by the locking plates, one of which is designated the reference numeral 86 by engagement with the connector of the pelt board, which connector will be described in greater details below with reference to FIG. 41. It is contemplated that the presently preferred embodiment of the drying unit 66.sup.I may be provided with closing off plates closing or sealing off the individual apertures 70.sup.I of the top plate 76 of the drying unit 66.sup.I, which closing off plates are journalled at the one side of the apertures opposite to the side from which the locking plate 86 are pushed into engagement with the connector of the pelt board, as the locking plates are spring biased and seal off the apertures 70.sup.I, which are not opened by the introduction of a connector of a pelt board, and the apertures, which are not opened by the introduction of the cooperating connector of the pelt board are kept sealed off as the forward motion of the locking plate 86 to the positions shown in FIGS. 35A and 37 prevents the locking plates from being pushed aside after the handle 84 has been moved to its second position shown in FIGS. 35 and 37.

[0353] In FIGS. 38 and 39, sets of locking plate assemblies 88 having individual locking plates 86 for catching and locking a connector received within a top plate aperture 70.sup.I are shown. In FIG. 38, the locking plate assemblies are shifted to their first position similar to the position of the handle 84 being in its first position and, as illustrated in FIG. 39, the locking assemblies 88 are moved as indicated by arrows by shifting the handle 84 to its second position also shown and indicated by an arrow for shifting the locking plate 86 from the positions shown in FIGS. 34 and 36 to the positions shown in FIGS. 35 and 37.

[0354] In FIG. 40, the presently preferred embodiment of the pelt board 10.sup.X is shown mounted on the top plate 76 of the presently preferred embodiment of the drying unit 66.sup.I described above with reference to FIGS. 34-37. The pelt board 10.sup.X mounted on the top plate 76 is shown in the left hand side of FIG. 40 and along with the top plate 76, the locking plate assembly 88 is shown together with a further plate 90, which is positioned below the locking assemblies 88 and serves to align the pelt board 10.sup.X in its intentional vertical position as the pelt board is locked to the top surface 76 by the locking plate 86 catching into the connector of the pelt board 10.sup.X, which connector is shown in FIG. 41 and designated the reference numeral 100. Likewise, in FIG. 41, the bottom surfaces of the shell parts 42 and 74 are designated the reference numerals 102 and 104, respectively.

[0355] In FIG. 40A, the contour of the bottom surface or a horizontal sectional view through the bottom end of the pelt board 10.sup.X is shown indicating the size of the bottom surfaces 102 and 104 and the fairly small area of the bottom end covered by the connector 100 within the through-going aperture defined or delimited between the shell parts 72 and 74.

[0356] In FIG. 40B, the aperture 70.sup.I of the top plate 76 is shown and likewise, in FIG. 40C, the plate 90 having a through-going aperture 92 is shown, which aperture is aligned with the aperture 70.sup.I of the top plate and also the free through-going area delimited between the inner surfaces of the shell parts 72 and 74, into which the connector 100 extends.

[0357] Turning to FIG. 41, the lower end of the presently preferred embodiment of the pelt board 10.sup.X is shown illustrating the bottom surfaces 102 and 104 of the shell parts 72 and 74, respectively, and further, the free area delimited at the bottom end, in which the connector 100 is received. As is evident from FIG. 41, a total of six air passages are provided into the interior of the pelt board 10.sup.X as distinct from the air inlet into a conventional connector of the kind described in the prior art as a “stubby element” and implemented in the commercial products produced by the applicant company and known as a ‘FIX-tane 2’ and also by the competitor company Jasopels NS, which competitor company's product is known as ‘XL tane’. In the conventional connector of the kind described in the prior art as a “stubby element” and implemented in the products from the applicant company and the competitor company Jasopels NS, the overall cross sectional area of the connector giving access into the interior of the pelt board via inlet passages or slots in the prior art connector measures 400 mm.sup.2 as the peripheral length of the aperture is 80 mm. As distinct from this conventional and fairly small aperture limiting the air capability into the interior of the pelt board via inlet passages or slots in the prior art connector, the aperture into the interior of the presently preferred embodiment of the pelt board 10.sup.X through the bottom surfaces 102 and 104 measures 1518 mm.sup.2, i.e. measures approximately four times the area of the conventional pelt board products.

[0358] In the connector 100 shown in FIG. 41, two side walls 106 and 108 are provided, which are interconnected by a transversal wall 110, the top surface of which serves to cooperate with the locking plate 86 described above, as the connector is received in its intentional position relative to the top plate 76 of the drying unit 66.sup.I. The side walls 106 and 108 are further continued into a bottom pointed end part constituted by two sloping and tapering walls 112 and 114, which are joined by a small planar end wall 116. At the outer faces of the side walls 106 and 108, sloping guiding element 118 and 120, respectively, are provided.

[0359] The advantage of the large cross sectional area access into the interior of the pelt board 10.sup.X generated by the presence of the fairly large connector 100 and the large area air inlet is illustrated in FIG. 42, which illustrates three curves, a dashed line, a dotted line and a solid line, illustrating the pressure needed for generating a specific flow of air into the pelt board in question, as the dashed line illustrates the correspondence between the pressure needed for generating the air inlet into a conventional pelt board, such as the above mentioned ‘FIX-2 tane’ produced by the applicant company and similarly, the ‘XL tane’ produced by the competitor company Jasopels NS, the dotted line illustrates the results obtained by measurement on a prototype of the pelt board 10.sup.X described above with reference to FIGS. 32, 33 and 41 and finally, the solid line curve illustrates the “ideal” curve of a pelt board having an inlet area of 90% as compared to the outer contour of the pelt board 10.sup.X.

[0360] It is to be understood that the outer contour of the pelt boards is determined by the standard of the company Kopenhagen Fur, for which reason the conventional pelt board produced by the applicant company and the competitor company Jasopels NS, and the new pelt board according to the present invention in any embodiment described herein before or afterwards and also the pelt board shown as indicated referring to the solid line of FIG. 42 all have an outer area of approximately 3300 mm.sup.2.

[0361] Consequently, the “ideal” pelt board having an inlet area of 90% (delimited by the wall thickness of the pelt board) will have an inlet area of approximately 3000 mm.sup.2, i.e. less than twice the inlet area of the presently preferred embodiment of the pelt board 10.sup.X having an inlet area of 1518 mm.sup.2. It is to be understood that the solid line of FIG. 42 was recorded by using the outer shell of the presently preferred embodiment of the pelt board 10.sup.X, i.e. without the presence of the bottom surfaces 102 and 104, and the air inlet limitation consequently is generated by the air transmission capability through the interior of the pelt board and the outlet apertures air transmission capability rather than the actual size of the inlet area, as the increase of the inlet area from 1518 mm.sup.2 to approximately 3000 mm.sup.2 does not generate any substantive increase in the volumetric input at any specific pressure, as is illustrated in FIG. 42. FIG. 42 illustrates the shortcoming of the conventional pelt boards as is evident from FIG. 42, the increase of a volume above 20 m.sup.3/h to a double volumetric input, such as an input of 40 m.sup.3/h necessitates the increase of the pressure by a factor 4 and in addition, as is evident from FIG. 42, the dashed line becomes above 40 m.sup.3/h fairly steep indicating that the limit as to the maximum volume input into the pelt board by increasing the pressure is about to be reached at 4 hPa.

[0362] As distinct from the conventional pelt board, the prototype of the presently preferred embodiment of the pelt board according to the present invention clearly allows for a far larger air input than the conventional pelt board as the curve at its right hand end is still far from being steep and exhibits a fairly linear relation between the pressure increase and the volume input increase, as the pressure of approximately 1.5 hPa generates a volumetric input of 25-30 m.sup.3/h at an increase to 3.0 hPa of the inlet pressure almost doubles the air input.

[0363] As is evident from FIG. 42, the dotted line is fairly close to the “ideal” solid line indicating that any further increase of the inlet area into the interior of the pelt board will have minor influence on the drying capability of the pelt board as compared to the substantive change from the conventional “stubby element” delimiting the air inlet of the conventional pelt boards as compared to the improved new pelt board according to the present invention.

[0364] In FIGS. 43-48, a further embodiment of the drying unit designated the reference numeral 66.sup.II is shown, which drying unit is of a configuration similar to the one described above with reference to FIGS. 34-39, however, differing from the above described presently preferred embodiment in that the drying unit 66.sup.II constitutes a universal drying unit, which may be modified or adapted to a specific pelt board by the use of an adaptor constituting an interface between the pelt board and the drying unit. The universal drying unit 66.sup.II comprises a top plate 76.sup.I differing from the top plate 76 of the above described presently preferred embodiment of the drying unit in that the top plate is provided with fairly large apertures, one of which is designated the reference numeral 70.sup.II, which apertures serve to receive a replaceable adaptor, which constitutes an interface between the universal drying unit and the pelt board in question, as the adaptor is adapted to the pelt board in question and is receivable within the aperture 70.sup.II of the universal drying unit 66.sup.II.

[0365] In FIG. 43, the adaptor 22 is configured for cooperating with a conventional pelt board, such as the pelt board produced by the applicant company and named ‘FIX-tane 2’ and also the pelt board manufactured and sold by the competitor company Jasopels NS. The pelt board commercially exploited by the applicant company is described in several patent applications, among others European patent 1 680 520, corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 7,690,228. Like the above described presently preferred embodiment of the drying unit 66 shown in FIGS. 34-39, the universal drying unit 66.sup.II has a handle 84.sup.I serving to operate the adaptors positioned in a row juxtaposed the handle in question. The universal drying unit 66.sup.II shown in FIGS. 43-48 includes a total of four handles 84.sup.I for the cooperation with three adaptors in each row operated by the handle in question. The operation of the handle 84.sup.I allows the adaptor 122 to be blocked to the universal drying unit 66.sup.II as is illustrated in FIGS. 43A and 43C, as the connector 122 is in the enlarged cross sectional view of FIG. 43A locked in position as two opposing tongues 124 operated by the handle 84.sup.I are introduced into and locks within a corresponding recess 126 in the adaptor 122. In FIG. 43C, the locking tongues 122 are shifted to a position concealed below the top plate 76.sup.I of the universal drying unit 66.sup.II allowing the adaptor 122 to be removed from the universal drying unit 66.sup.II. In FIG. 43B, the conventional pelt board 130 is removed from its position received within the adaptor 122 as shown in FIG. 43A, in which position shown in FIG. 43 the limited air inlet capability of the conventional pelt board 130 is illustrated by the arrows indicating the flow through the so-called “stubby element” of the conventional pelt board. The removal of the conventional pelt board 130 is, as is illustrated in FIG. 43B, simply accomplished by lifting the conventional pelt board off the adaptor 122.

[0366] In FIG. 44, the universal drying unit 66.sup.II is shown, however, including an alternative embodiment of the adaptor, which adaptor is designated the reference numeral 122.sup.I and is configured and adapted to cooperate with a further embodiment of the pelt board 10.sup.XI according to the present invention, which pelt board is a hollow structure in which the central elongated core element 26 described above is substituted by two actuator pins 26.sup.I, which are acted by of a top inner flange 128 of the adaptor 122.sup.I, which flange 128 serves the additional purpose of firstly arresting the pelt board 10.sup.XI relative to the adaptor 122.sup.I, as an inner circumferential bead of the pelt board 10.sup.XI catches into a circumferential recess of the flange 128 of the adaptor 122.sup.I. In FIG. 44B, the disconnection of the pelt board 10.sup.XI from the universal drying unit 66.sup.II is accomplished by the lifting of the pelt board relative to the universal drying unit 66.sup.II and in doing so, disconnecting the circumferential inner bead of the pelt board from the circumferential recess of the flange 128 of the adaptor 122.sup.I. In FIG. 44C, the disconnection of the adaptor 122.sup.I from the universal drying unit 66.sup.II is illustrated similar to the view of FIG. 43C. In FIG. 45, a variant or modified version of the universal drying unit is shown, in which a three position handle 84.sup.II is included, which handle defines three positions: A first position, in which the adaptor 122.sup.II is disconnected from the universal drying unit, as the locking tongues 124 are retracted from their catching into the recesses 126 of the adaptor 122.sup.II. In a second position of the handle 84.sup.II, the adaptor 122.sup.I is arrested relative to the universal drying unit similar to the above disclosure of the first and second embodiments of the adaptors shown in FIGS. 43 and 44, respectively, and illustrated and described with reference to FIGS. 43A and 44A, respectively.

[0367] As distinct from the above described second embodiment of the adaptor 122.sup.I shown in FIG. 44, the third embodiment of the adaptor 122.sup.II has a pair of arresting catchers 132, which may be shifted from their position shown in FIG. 45A, in which the catchers serve the same purpose as the top flange 128 of the second embodiment of the adaptor 122.sup.I described above with reference to FIG. 44 and may be shifted, as the handle 84.sup.II is shifted to its third position so as to disengage the catchers from the circumferential bead of the inner surface of the pelt board 10.sup.XI and in doing so, also disengaging the actuators 26.sup.I for shifting the pelt board from its expanded position to a non-expanded position. As the catchers 132 are moved from their position shown in FIG. 45A arresting the pelt board 10.sup.XI relative to the drying unit 66.sup.II to its position shown in FIG. 45B, the pelt board may, as is illustrated in FIG. 45C, easily be lifted and removed from the universal drying unit 66.sup.II as shown in FIG. 45C.

[0368] In FIGS. 44 and 45, the pelt board 10.sup.XI is, as described above, arrested by the catching of a circumferential bead at the inner surface of the pelt board at its lower end within a circumferential recess or recess of catchers, whereas in FIG. 46, the arresting of the pelt board relative to its cooperating adaptor 122.sup.III is established by a circumferential bead extending outwardly from the lower end of the pelt board cooperating with an external set of catchers 132.sup.I. Whereas the disconnection of the pelt board 10.sup.XI from the adaptor 122.sup.II is established by shifting the handle 84.sup.II of the second embodiment of the universal drying unit 66.sup.II shown in FIGS. 43-45 to its third position, the operation of the handle 84.sup.III of the third embodiment of the universal drying unit 66.sup.II shown in FIG. 46 to its third position provides shifting of the catchers 132.sup.I outwardly relative to the pelt board 10.sup.XII as is illustrated in FIG. 46B. By the shifting of the catchers 132.sup.I from their position shown in FIG. 46A to their positions shown in FIG. 46B, the pelt board 10.sup.XII is easily lifted off the connector 122.sup.III as is shown in FIG. 46C. The disconnection of the adaptors 122.sup.II and 122.sup.III shown in FIGS. 45 and 46, respectively, is as described above established by the shifting of the handle designated the reference numeral 84.sup.II and 84.sup.III, respectively, to the above described third position.

[0369] In FIG. 47, the technique illustrated in FIG. 45 is slightly modified in that the disconnection of the arresting catchers 132 shown in FIGS. 44A, 45B and 45C by shifting the catchers inwardly, is in FIGS. 47A and 47B modified into a tilting of the catchers, as is illustrated in FIG. 47B, which tilting from FIG. 47A to FIG. 47B is accomplished by shifting the handle 84.sup.I of the fourth embodiment of the universal drying unit 66.sup.II shown in FIG. 47 to its third position and in doing so, disconnecting the catchers from the inwardly protruding circumferential bead of the inner surface of the pelt board 10.sup.XI. The tilting catchers shown in FIGS. 47A-47C are designated the reference numeral 132.sup.II.

[0370] In FIG. 48, a fifth embodiment of the universal drying unit 66.sup.V is shown, in which the operation of the handle 84.sup.V to its third position establishes a slightly modified function as compared to the function of the outwardly shiftable catchers 132.sup.I described above with reference to FIG. 46, as the catchers 132.sup.I shown in FIG. 46 are modified in accordance with the technique described above with reference to FIG. 47, as the catchers 132.sup.III shown in FIG. 48 are tiltable for causing the catchers to disengage from the outwardly extending circumferential bead of the pelt board 10.sup.XII.

[0371] In FIGS. 49, 50, 51 and 52 are shown a sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth embodiment of the drying unit according to the present invention and designated the reference numeral 66.sup.VI, 66.sup.VII, 66.sup.VIII and 66.sup.IX. The sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth embodiments of the drying unit according to the present invention differ from the above described universal drying unit shown in FIGS. 43-46, as the drying units shown in FIGS. 49, 50, 51 and 52 are dedicated to a specific pelt board configuration and implementing the arresting technique described above with reference to FIGS. 45, 46, 47 and 48, respectively. No further description of the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth embodiments of the drying unit is to be presented.

[0372] In FIGS. 53 and 54, a tenth and eleventh embodiment of the drying unit according to the present invention is shown, in which tenth embodiment designated the reference numeral 66.sup.X is a dedicated drying unit implementing the technique described above with reference to FIG. 44, i.e. a technique according to which the pelt board 10.sup.XI is fixated to a fixed circumferential flange 128 by the catching of an inner circumferential bead of the pelt board 10.sup.XI within a recess of the flange 128. The eleventh embodiment of the drying unit 66.sup.XI shown in FIG. 54 is modified relative to the tenth embodiment shown in FIG. 53 in that the embodiment of FIG. 54 is dedicated for the use with the pelt board 10.sup.XII having an outwardly protruding circumferential bead, as is illustrated in FIG. 46 for catching behind an inner circumferential recess of a further upwardly extending flange 128.sup.II, which is supplemented by an inner circumferential flange 128.sup.III serving to cooperate with the actuators 26.sup.I.

[0373] In FIG. 55, the above described sixth embodiment of the drying unit 66.sup.VI is shown in combination with an adaptor allowing the sixth embodiment 66.sup.VI of the drying unit according to the present invention to be used in combination with a conventional pelt board 130 of the kind described above and commercially exploited by the applicant company, as the adaptor designated the reference numeral 134 serves to cooperate with the arresting catchers 132 of the drying unit as described above with reference to FIG. 49. The adaptor 134 has a configuration resembling the lower end of the conventional pelt board 130 and also the pelt boards according to the present invention, as the configuration of the pelt boards is as mentioned above determined according to the requirements defined by the company Kopenhagen Fur. The outer peripheral wall of the adaptor 134 consequently constitutes an extension of the wall of the conventional pelt board 130 and has at its lower end an inwardly protruding bead similar to the inwardly protruding bead of the eleventh embodiment of the pelt board 10.sup.XI according to the present invention catching with the arresting catchers 132 of the drying unit 66.sup.VI. The conventional pelt board 130 has a downwardly extending so-called “stubby element” or connector, which is received within a circumferential wall extending downwardly from a top surface of the connector and serving to contact the connector of the conventional pelt board 130 as is illustrated in FIG. 55A.

[0374] The disconnection of the assembly of the conventional pelt board 130 and its cooperating adaptor 134 is established as is illustrated in FIG. 55B in the same manner as described above with reference to FIG. 49C.

[0375] In FIG. 56, a twelfth embodiment 56.sup.XII of the drying unit according to the present invention is shown, which drying unit constitutes a combination of the techniques of the tenth embodiment 66.sup.X of the drying unit according to the present invention shown in FIG. 53 and the engaging/disengaging technique of the sixth embodiment 66.sup.VI of the drying unit according to the version shown in FIG. 49. Whereas in FIG. 55, the adaptor 134 is permanently connected with the conventional pelt board 130, as the adaptor is preferably glued to the lower side surface of the conventional pelt board 130 in order to establish a permanent fixation of the adaptor 134 to the conventional pelt board 130, the technique shown in FIG. 56 allows the conventional pelt board 130 to be disconnected from its cooperating adaptor 134.sup.I which in itself is fixated to the drying unit in accordance with the technique described above with reference to FIG. 53. The twelfth embodiment 66.sup.XI of the drying unit includes, as distinct from the above described embodiments, a pair of catching elements 166 serving to be engaged with the cooperating lower end of the connector of the conventional pelt board 130 and catching behind a planar bottom wall of the connector, as is illustrated in FIG. 56A. When the handle 84.sup.XII of the twelfth embodiment 66.sup.XII of the drying unit of the present invention is shifted to its third position, the catching elements 166 are retracted for disconnection from the connector of the conventional pelt board 130 and allowing the conventional pelt board 130 to be raised from its position received within the adaptor 134.sup.I as is illustrated in FIG. 56B. The adaptor 134.sup.I may itself be disconnected from its arresting contact with the drying unit as is illustrated in FIG. 56C by clicking off the adaptor in accordance with the technique described above with reference to FIG. 53.

[0376] The catching elements 136 are, as is illustrated in FIG. 56C raised from the drying unit 66.sup.XI leaving a pair of inwardly protruding arms 138 free from contact with the catching elements 136. By mounting an alternative embodiment of the adaptor 134.sup.I onto the click-on coupling with the catching elements 132, the embodiment shown in FIG. 56 may be modified from the technique described with reference to FIG. 53 into the operable disconnection techniques described above with reference to FIGS. 49-52.

[0377] In order to allow the pelt boards according to the present invention, such as the eleventh and twelfth embodiments of the pelt boards designated the reference numerals 10.sup.XI and 10 X.sup.II, respectively, to be used in combination with a conventional drying unit, a further adaptor is deduced in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. In FIG. 57, a conventional drying unit 166 is shown, in which the top plate 76 is provided with fairly small 20 mm×20 mm holes for receiving and fixating the connector of the conventional prior art pelt boards, such as the FIX-tane 2 produced by the applicant company, and the corresponding competitive product of the competitor company Jasopels NS. The adaptor 134.sup.II allowing the use of the pelt board according to the present invention in combination with a conventional drying unit 166 may be implemented in accordance with any of the above described catching techniques described with reference to FIGS. 43-54, however, in FIG. 57, the catching and arresting technique described above with reference to FIG. 44, and similarly FIG. 53, is implemented as the adaptor 134.sup.II is at its upper end provided with a circumferential flange 128.sup.I having a recess for cooperating with the inwardly protruding bead at the lower end of the pelt board 10.sup.XI. At its bottom end, the adaptor 134.sup.II is provided with a connector similar to the connector of the conventional or prior art pelt board 130 described above with reference to FIGS. 55 and 56.

[0378] Although the present invention has above been described with reference to several advantageous embodiments, it would be evident to a person having ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications and variants of the above technical disclosure may be deduced without deviating from the overall inventive concept as defined in the appending claims, and it would be evident to a person having ordinary skill in the art to deduce variants of the above described advantageous embodiments by combining the embodiments, i.e. by including features of one embodiment into a different embodiment.

REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN THE DRAWINGS

[0379] 10. Pelt board [0380] 12. Lower part [0381] 14. Upper part [0382] 16. First wall element [0383] 18. Second wall element [0384] 20. Third wall element [0385] 22. Fourth wall element [0386] 24. Cavity [0387] 26. Elongated core element [0388] 28. Fifth wall element [0389] 30. Sixth wall element [0390] 32. Extension element [0391] 34. Actuator member [0392] 36. Cooperating member [0393] 38. Ribs [0394] 40. Ventilation holes [0395] 42. Snap fit mechanism [0396] 44. Peripheral part [0397] 46. Fastening member [0398] 48. Track [0399] 50. Clip-on mechanism [0400] 52. Intermediate sections [0401] 54. Fixed wall elements [0402] 56. Ribs [0403] 58. Opening [0404] 60. Connecting element [0405] 62. First locking protrusion [0406] 64. Second locking protrusion [0407] 66. Drying unit [0408] 68. Ventilator [0409] 70. Apertures [0410] 72. Shell part [0411] 74. Shell part [0412] 76. Top plate [0413] 78. Wheel [0414] 80. Housing [0415] 82. Housing extension [0416] 84. Handle [0417] 86. Locking plate [0418] 88. Locking plate [0419] 90. Plate [0420] 92. Aperture [0421] 100. Connector [0422] 102. Bottom surface [0423] 104. Bottom surface [0424] 106. Side wall [0425] 108. Side wall [0426] 110. Transversal wall [0427] 112. Sloping and tapering end wall [0428] 114. Sloping and tapering end wall [0429] 116. Planar end wall [0430] 118. Guiding element [0431] 120. Guiding element [0432] 122. Adaptor [0433] 124. Locking tongues [0434] 126. Recess [0435] 128. Flange [0436] 130. Conventional pelt board [0437] 132. Arresting catches [0438] 134. Adaptor [0439] 136. Catching element

First Set of Points Defining Features of the Invention

[0440] 1. An elongated pelt board for accommodating an animal pelt, said pelt board defining a longitudinal direction, a first radial direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction and a second radial direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction and said first radial direction, said pelt board comprising: [0441] a first wall element extending along said longitudinal direction and defining a first outwardly oriented surface, a first inwardly oriented surface, a first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a first actuator member, [0442] a second wall element extending along said longitudinal direction and defining a second outwardly oriented surface, a second inwardly oriented surface facing said first inwardly oriented surface, a second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a second actuator member, said first and second wall elements being spaced apart in said first radial direction, [0443] a third wall element extending along said longitudinal direction and defining a third outwardly oriented surface, a third inwardly oriented surface, a third set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a third actuator member, a fourth wall element extending along said longitudinal direction and defining a [0444] fourth outwardly oriented surface, a fourth inwardly oriented surface facing said third inwardly oriented surface, a fourth set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a fourth actuator member, said third wall element and said fourth wall element being spaced apart in said second radial direction, said first inwardly oriented surface, said second inwardly oriented surface, said third inwardly oriented surface and said fourth inwardly oriented surface together defining a cavity along said longitudinal direction, said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element defining: [0445] a contracted state in which said first radial distance between said first inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface is reduced, and, said second radial distance between said third inwardly oriented surface and said fourth inwardly oriented surface is reduced, and [0446] an expanded state in which said first radial distance between said first inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface is increased, and, said second radial distance between said third inwardly oriented surface and said fourth inwardly oriented surface is increased, and [0447] an elongated core element extending within said cavity along said longitudinal direction between a top end and a bottom end and being movable in relation to each of said first wall element, second wall element, third wall element and fourth wall element, said elongated core element comprising a first cooperating member interacting with said first actuator member of said first wall element, a second cooperating member interacting with said second actuator member of said second wall element, a third cooperating member interacting with said third actuator member of said third wall element and a fourth cooperating member interacting with said fourth actuator member of said fourth wall element for allowing said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element to selectively define said contracted state or said expanded state by moving said elongated core element in said longitudinal direction relative to said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element.
2. The pelt board according to point 1, wherein when in said contracted state, said first and second sets of oppositely located longitudinal edges overlapping respective edges of said third and fourth sets of oppositely located longitudinal edges or alternatively said third and fourth sets of oppositely located longitudinal edges overlapping respective edges of said first and second sets of oppositely located longitudinal edges, and, when in said expanded state said first and second sets of oppositely located longitudinal edges are substantially flush with respective edges of said third and fourth sets of oppositely located longitudinal edges.
3. The pelt board according to point 2, wherein any of said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and/or said fourth wall element define a central part and a peripheral part, said peripheral part encompassing said set of edges, said central part and said peripheral part being flexibly joined together and when said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element define said contracted state said peripheral part assume an inwardly oriented position, whereas when said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element define said expanded state said peripheral part assume an outwardly oriented position.
4. The pelt board according to any of the preceding points, wherein said first actuator member and said second actuator member constitute pins and said first cooperating member and said second cooperating member constitute grooves, e.g. linear or curved grooves, in which said pins are guided between said contracted state and said expanded state, or, wherein said first cooperating member and said second cooperating member constitute pins and said first actuator member and said second actuator member constitute grooves, e.g. linear or curved grooves, in which said pins are guided between said contracted state and said expanded state.
5. The pelt board according to any of the preceding points, wherein said third actuator member and said fourth actuator member constitute wedge members for contacting said third cooperating member and said fourth cooperating member, or, wherein said third cooperating member and said fourth cooperating member constitute wedge members for contacting said third actuator member and said fourth actuator member.
6. The pelt board according to point 5, wherein said third actuator member and said fourth actuator members further engage said cooperating members opposite said elongated core element.
7. The pelt board according to any of the preceding points, wherein any of said first wall element, second wall element, third wall element and fourth wall element comprise ventilation grooves between said cavity and the outside of said pelt board, and/or, wherein said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element define an opening between said cavity and the outside of said pelt board at said bottom end for allowing ventilation air to enter said cavity, and/or wherein said third wall element and said fourth wall element are fixedly connected at said bottom end.
8. The pelt board according to any of the preceding points, wherein any of said first wall element, second wall element, third wall element and fourth wall element have an arched shape such that any of said first outwardly oriented surface, second outwardly oriented surface, third outwardly oriented surface and fourth outwardly oriented surface define a convex shape.
9. The pelt board according to any of the preceding points, wherein said first wall element defines a first radial edge adjacent said top end of said elongated core, said second wall element comprising a second radial edge adjacent said top edge of said elongated core, said pelt board further comprising: [0448] a fifth wall element adjacent to said first wall element at said first radial edge, said fifth wall element extending along said longitudinal direction and away from said second wall element, said fifth wall element defining a fifth outwardly oriented surface and a fifth actuator member, [0449] a sixth wall element adjacent to said second wall element at said second radial edge, said sixth wall element extending along said longitudinal direction and away from said second wall element, said sixth wall element defining a sixth outwardly oriented surface and a sixth actuator member, said fifth and sixth wall elements being spaced apart in said first radial direction, and [0450] a core extension element connected to said top end of said elongated core element and extending along said longitudinal direction away from said elongated core element, said core extension element being movable in relation to said fifth wall element and sixth wall element, said core extension element comprising a fifth cooperating member interacting with said fifth actuator member of said fifth wall element and a sixth cooperating member interacting with said sixth actuator member of said sixth wall element for allowing said fifth wall element and said sixth wall element to change between said contracted state and said expanded states by moving said elongated core element and said core extension element in said longitudinal direction relative to said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element, said fourth wall element, said fifth wall element and said sixth wall element.
10. The pelt board according to point 9, wherein said third wall element and said fourth wall element comprise opposing extension elements partially enclosing said core extension element.
11. The pelt board according to any of the points 9-10, wherein said pelt board comprises: [0451] a lower section including said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element, said fourth wall element and said elongated core element, [0452] an upper section comprising said fifth wall element, said sixth wall element and said core extension element, and [0453] an intermediate section located between said lower section and said upper section and comprising a core connecting element interconnecting said elongated core element and said core extension element, and a number of substantially elliptic cylindrical elements surrounding said core connecting element.
12. The pelt board according to any of the points 9-11, wherein said fifth cooperating member and said sixth cooperating member constitute pins and said fifth actuator member and said sixth actuator member constitute grooves, e.g. linear or curved grooves, in which said pins are guided between said contracted state and said expanded state, or, said fifth actuator member and said sixth actuator member constitute pins and said fifth cooperating member and said sixth cooperating member constitute grooves, e.g. linear or curved grooves, in which said pins are guided between said contracted state and said expanded state.
13. The pelt board according to any of the point 9-12, wherein said fifth wall element being connected to said first wall element at said first radial edge and said sixth wall element being connected to said second wall element at said second radial edge.
14. The pelt board according to any of the preceding points, wherein said elongated core element comprises a first protrusion adjacent said bottom end, said elongated core element being spring-loaded at said bottom end and defines a centralized relaxed position and a non-centralized loaded position in said first radial direction and/or second radial direction, said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element or said fourth wall element comprise a second protrusion cooperating with said first protrusion such that when said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element define said expanded state and said elongated core element define said centralized related position, said first and second protrusions prevent any longitudinal movement of said elongated core element, whereas when said elongated core element define said non-centralized loaded position, said first and second protrusions allow longitudinal movement of said elongated core element.
15. A method of manufacturing a pelt board for accommodating an animal pelt, said method comprising: [0454] providing a first wall element defining a first outwardly oriented surface, a first inwardly oriented surface, a first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a first actuator member, [0455] providing a second wall element defining a second outwardly oriented surface, a second inwardly oriented surface, a second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a second actuator member, [0456] providing a third wall element defining a third outwardly oriented surface, a third inwardly oriented surface, a third set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a third actuator member, [0457] providing a fourth wall element defining a fourth outwardly oriented surface, a fourth inwardly oriented surface, a fourth set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a fourth actuator member, [0458] providing an elongated core element comprising a first cooperating member, a second cooperating member, a third cooperating member and a fourth cooperating member, [0459] positioning said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element along a longitudinal direction such that said first inwardly oriented surface is facing said second inwardly oriented surface and spaced apart along a first radial direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction, said third inwardly oriented surface facing said fourth inwardly oriented surface and spaced apart along a second radial direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction and said first radial direction, such that said first inwardly oriented surface, said second inwardly oriented surface, said third inwardly oriented surface and said fourth inwardly oriented surface together define a cavity along said longitudinal direction, [0460] interacting said first cooperating member, said second cooperating member, said third cooperating member and said fourth cooperating member with said first actuator member of said first wall element, said second actuator member of said second wall element, said third actuator member of said third wall element and said fourth actuator member of said fourth wall element, respectively, and [0461] moving said elongated core element in said longitudinal direction relative to said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element thereby causing said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element to move between a contracted state and an expanded state, when in said contracted state said first radial distance and said second radial distance between said first inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface, and, said third inwardly oriented surface and said fourth inwardly oriented surface, respectively, are reduced, whereas, when in said expanded state said first radial distance and said second radial distance between said first inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface, and, said third inwardly oriented surface and said fourth inwardly oriented surface, respectively, are increased.

Second Set of Points Defining Features of the Invention

[0462] 1. An elongated pelt board for accommodating an animal pelt, said pelt board defining a longitudinal direction, a first radial direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction and a second radial direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction and said first radial direction, said pelt board comprising: [0463] a first wall element extending along said longitudinal direction and defining a first outwardly oriented surface, a first inwardly oriented surface, a first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a first actuator member, [0464] a second wall element extending along said longitudinal direction and defining a second outwardly oriented surface, a second inwardly oriented surface facing said first inwardly oriented surface, a second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a second actuator member, said first and second wall elements being spaced apart in said first radial direction, [0465] a third wall element extending along said longitudinal direction and defining a third outwardly oriented surface, a third inwardly oriented surface, a third set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a third actuator member, [0466] a fourth wall element extending along said longitudinal direction and defining a fourth outwardly oriented surface, a fourth inwardly oriented surface facing said third inwardly oriented surface, a fourth set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a fourth actuator member, said third wall element and said fourth wall element being spaced apart in said second radial direction, said first inwardly oriented surface, said second inwardly oriented surface, said third inwardly oriented surface and said fourth inwardly oriented surface together defining a cavity along said longitudinal direction, said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element defining: [0467] a contracted state in which said first radial distance between said first inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface is reduced, and, said second radial distance between said third inwardly oriented surface and said fourth inwardly oriented surface is reduced, and [0468] an expanded state in which said first radial distance between said first inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface is increased, and, said second radial distance between said third inwardly oriented surface and said fourth inwardly oriented surface is increased, and [0469] an elongated core element extending within said cavity along said longitudinal direction between a top end and a bottom end and being movable in relation to each of said first wall element, second wall element, third wall element and fourth wall element, said elongated core element comprising a first cooperating member interacting with said first actuator member of said first wall element, a second cooperating member interacting with said second actuator member of said second wall element, a third cooperating member interacting with said third actuator member of said third wall element and a fourth cooperating member interacting with said fourth actuator member of said fourth wall element for allowing said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element to selectively define said contracted state or said expanded state by moving said elongated core element in said longitudinal direction relative to said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element.
2. The pelt board according to point 1, wherein when in said contracted state, said first and second sets of oppositely located longitudinal edges overlapping respective edges of said third and fourth sets of oppositely located longitudinal edges or alternatively said third and fourth sets of oppositely located longitudinal edges overlapping respective edges of said first and second sets of oppositely located longitudinal edges, and, when in said expanded state said first and second sets of oppositely located longitudinal edges are substantially flush with respective edges of said third and fourth sets of oppositely located longitudinal edges.
3. The pelt board according to point 2, wherein any of said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and/or said fourth wall element define a central part and a peripheral part, said peripheral part encompassing said set of edges, said central part and said peripheral part being flexibly joined together and when said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element define said contracted state said peripheral part assume an inwardly oriented position, whereas when said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element define said expanded state said peripheral part assume an outwardly oriented position.
4. The pelt board according to any of the preceding points, wherein said first actuator member and said second actuator member constitute pins and said first cooperating member and said second cooperating member constitute grooves, e.g. linear or curved grooves, in which said pins are guided between said contracted state and said expanded state, or, wherein said first cooperating member and said second cooperating member constitute pins and said first actuator member and said second actuator member constitute grooves, e.g. linear or curved grooves, in which said pins are guided between said contracted state and said expanded state.
5. The pelt board according to any of the preceding points, wherein said third actuator member and said fourth actuator member constitute wedge members for contacting said third cooperating member and said fourth cooperating member, or, wherein said third cooperating member and said fourth cooperating member constitute wedge members for contacting said third actuator member and said fourth actuator member.
6. The pelt board according to point 5, wherein said third actuator member and said fourth actuator members further engage said cooperating members opposite said elongated core element.
7. The pelt board according to any of the preceding points, wherein any of said first wall element, second wall element, third wall element and fourth wall element comprise ventilation grooves between said cavity and the outside of said pelt board, and/or, wherein said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element define an opening between said cavity and the outside of said pelt board at said bottom end for allowing ventilation air to enter said cavity, and/or wherein said third wall element and said fourth wall element are fixedly connected at said bottom end.
8. The pelt board according to any of the preceding points, wherein any of said first wall element, second wall element, third wall element and fourth wall element have an arched shape such that any of said first outwardly oriented surface, second outwardly oriented surface, third outwardly oriented surface and fourth outwardly oriented surface define a convex shape.
9. The pelt board according to any of the preceding points, wherein said first wall element defines a first radial edge adjacent said top end of said elongated core, said second wall element comprising a second radial edge adjacent said top edge of said elongated core, said pelt board further comprising: [0470] a fifth wall element adjacent to said first wall element at said first radial edge, said fifth wall element extending along said longitudinal direction and away from said second wall element, said fifth wall element defining a fifth outwardly oriented surface and a fifth actuator member, [0471] a sixth wall element adjacent to said second wall element at said second radial edge, said sixth wall element extending along said longitudinal direction and away from said second wall element, said sixth wall element defining a sixth outwardly oriented surface and a sixth actuator member, said fifth and sixth wall elements being spaced apart in said first radial direction, and [0472] a core extension element connected to said top end of said elongated core element and extending along said longitudinal direction away from said elongated core element, said core extension element being movable in relation to said fifth wall element and sixth wall element, said core extension element comprising a fifth cooperating member interacting with said fifth actuator member of said fifth wall element and a sixth cooperating member interacting with said sixth actuator member of said sixth wall element for allowing said fifth wall element and said sixth wall element to change between said contracted state and said expanded states by moving said elongated core element and said core extension element in said longitudinal direction relative to said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element, said fourth wall element, said fifth wall element and said sixth wall element.
10. The pelt board according to point 9, wherein said third wall element and said fourth wall element comprise opposing extension elements partially enclosing said core extension element.
11. The pelt board according to any of the points 9-10, wherein said pelt board comprises: [0473] a lower section including said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element, said fourth wall element and said elongated core element, [0474] an upper section comprising said fifth wall element, said sixth wall element and said core extension element, and [0475] an intermediate section located between said lower section and said upper section and comprising a core connecting element interconnecting said elongated core element and said core extension element, and a number of substantially elliptic cylindrical elements surrounding said core connecting element.
12. The pelt board according to any of the points 9-11, wherein said fifth cooperating member and said sixth cooperating member constitute pins and said fifth actuator member and said sixth actuator member constitute grooves, e.g. linear or curved grooves, in which said pins are guided between said contracted state and said expanded state, or, said fifth actuator member and said sixth actuator member constitute pins and said fifth cooperating member and said sixth cooperating member constitute grooves, e.g. linear or curved grooves, in which said pins are guided between said contracted state and said expanded state.
13. The pelt board according to any of the point 9-12, wherein said fifth wall element being connected to said first wall element at said first radial edge and said sixth wall element being connected to said second wall element at said second radial edge.
14. The pelt board according to any of the preceding points, wherein said elongated core element comprises a first protrusion adjacent said bottom end, said elongated core element being spring-loaded at said bottom end and defines a centralized relaxed position and a non-centralized loaded position in said first radial direction and/or second radial direction, said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element or said fourth wall element comprise a second protrusion cooperating with said first protrusion such that when said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element define said expanded state and said elongated core element define said centralized related position, said first and second protrusions prevent any longitudinal movement of said elongated core element, whereas when said elongated core element define said non-centralized loaded position, said first and second protrusions allow longitudinal movement of said elongated core element.
15. The elongated pelt board according to any of the preceding points, said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element further defining a first intermediate state in which said first radial distance between said first inwardly orientated surface and said second inwardly orientated surface is increased as compared to said contracted state.
16. The elongated pelt board according to any of the preceding points, said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element further defining a second intermediate state in which said second radial distance between third inwardly orientated surface and said fourth inwardly orientated surface is increased as compared to said contracted state.
17. The pelt board according to any of the preceding points, [0476] said first wall element defining a first edge among said first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and said second wall element defining a second edge among said second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges, said first and second edges being positioned adjacent one another, and said first wall element and said second wall element being integrally connected along said first and second edges, and said third wall element defining a third edge among said third set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and said fourth wall element defining a fourth edge among said fourth set of oppositely located longitudinal edges, said third and fourth edges being positioned adjacent one another, and said third wall element and said fourth wall element being integrally connected along said third and fourth edges.
18. The pelt board according to point 17, said first actuator member and said second actuator member being constituted by a single first integral actuator member, and said third actuator member and said fourth actuator member being constituted by a single second integral actuator member.
19 A method of manufacturing a pelt board for accommodating an animal pelt, said method comprising: [0477] providing a first wall element defining a first outwardly oriented surface, a first inwardly oriented surface, a first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a first actuator member, [0478] providing a second wall element defining a second outwardly oriented surface, a second inwardly oriented surface, a second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a second actuator member, [0479] providing a third wall element defining a third outwardly oriented surface, a third inwardly oriented surface, a third set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a third actuator member, [0480] providing a fourth wall element defining a fourth outwardly oriented surface, a fourth inwardly oriented surface, a fourth set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a fourth actuator member, [0481] providing an elongated core element comprising a first cooperating member, a second cooperating member, a third cooperating member and a fourth cooperating member, [0482] positioning said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element along a longitudinal direction such that said first inwardly oriented surface is facing said second inwardly oriented surface and spaced apart along a first radial direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction, said third inwardly oriented surface facing said fourth inwardly oriented surface and spaced apart along a second radial direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction and said first radial direction, such that said first inwardly oriented surface, said second inwardly oriented surface, said third inwardly oriented surface and said fourth inwardly oriented surface together define a cavity along said longitudinal direction, [0483] interacting said first cooperating member, said second cooperating member, said third cooperating member and said fourth cooperating member with said first actuator member of said first wall element, said second actuator member of said second wall element, said third actuator member of said third wall element and said fourth actuator member of said fourth wall element, respectively, and [0484] moving said elongated core element in said longitudinal direction relative to said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element thereby causing said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element to move between a contracted state and an expanded state, when in said contracted state said first radial distance and said second radial distance between said first inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface, and, said third inwardly oriented surface and said fourth inwardly oriented surface, respectively, are reduced, whereas, when in said expanded state said first radial distance and said second radial distance between said first inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface, and, said third inwardly oriented surface and said fourth inwardly oriented surface, respectively, are increased.

Third Set of Points Defining Features of the Invention

[0485] 1. An elongated pelt board for accommodating an animal pelt, said pelt board defining a longitudinal direction, a first radial direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction and a second radial direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction and said first radial direction, said pelt board comprising: [0486] a first wall element extending along said longitudinal direction and defining a first outwardly oriented surface, a first inwardly oriented surface, a first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a first actuator member, [0487] a second wall element extending along said longitudinal direction and defining a second outwardly oriented surface, a second inwardly oriented surface facing said first inwardly oriented surface, a second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a second actuator member, [0488] said first wall element and said second wall element being of identical configuration and each having a low curvature part and a high curvature part joint together along a line of junction extending generally in said longitudinal direction, [0489] said low curvature part of said first wall element defining a first longitudinal edge of said first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges, said high curvature part of said first wall element defining a second longitudinal edge of said first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges, said low curvature part of said second wall element defining a first longitudinal edge of said second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges, said high curvature part of said second wall element defining a second longitudinal edge of said second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges, said first edge of said first wall element being positioned juxtaposed said second edge of said second wall element and said first edge of said second wall element being positioned juxtaposed said second edge of said first wall element, said first inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface together defining a cavity along said longitudinal direction, [0490] said first wall element and said second wall element defining: [0491] a contracted state in which said first radial distance between said first inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface is reduced, in which said first edge of said first wall element is positioned closely against said second edge of said second wall element, and in which said first edge of said second wall element is positioned closely against said second edge of said first wall element, and [0492] an expanded state in which said first radial distance between said first inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface is increased, in which said first edge of said first wall element and said second edge of said second wall element is positioned in spaced apart relationship in said first radial direction, and in which said first edge of said second wall element and said second edge of said first wall element are positioned in spaced apart relationship and said first radial direction and [0493] an elongated core element extending within said cavity along said longitudinal direction between a top end and a bottom end and being movable in relation to said first wall element and second wall element, said elongated core element comprising a first cooperating member interacting with said first actuator member of said first wall element and second cooperating member interacting with said second actuator member of said second wall element, for allowing said first wall element and said second wall element, to selectively define said contracted state or said expanded state by moving said elongated core element in said longitudinal direction relative to said first wall element and said second wall element.
2. An elongated pelt board for accommodating an animal pelt, said pelt board defining a longitudinal direction, a first radial direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction and a second radial direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction and said first radial direction, said pelt board comprising: [0494] a first wall element extending along said longitudinal direction and defining a first outwardly oriented surface, a first inwardly oriented surface, a first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a first actuator member, [0495] a second wall element extending along said longitudinal direction and defining a second outwardly oriented surface, a second inwardly oriented surface facing said first inwardly oriented surface, a second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a second actuator member, [0496] said first wall element and said second wall element being of identical configuration and each having a low curvature part and a high curvature part joint together along a line of junction extending generally in said longitudinal direction, [0497] said low curvature part of said first wall element defining a first longitudinal edge of said first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges, said high curvature part of said first wall element defining a second longitudinal edge of said first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges, said low curvature part of said second wall element defining a first longitudinal edge of said second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges, said high curvature part of said second wall element defining a second longitudinal edge of said second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges, said first edge of said first wall element being positioned juxtaposed said second edge of said second wall element and said first edge of said second wall element being positioned juxtaposed said second edge of said first wall element, said first inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface together defining a cavity along said longitudinal direction, [0498] said first wall element and said second wall element defining: [0499] a contracted state in which said first radial distance between said first inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface is reduced, in which said first edge of said first wall element is positioned closely against said second edge of said second wall element, and in which said first edge of said second wall element is positioned closely against said second edge of said first wall element, and [0500] an expanded state in which said first radial distance between said first inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface is increased, in which said first edge of said first wall element and said second edge of said second wall element is positioned in spaced apart relationship in said second radial direction, and in which said first edge of said second wall element and said second edge of said first wall element are positioned in spaced apart relationship and said second radial direction and [0501] an elongated core element extending within said cavity along said longitudinal direction between a top end and a bottom end and being movable in relation to said first wall element and second wall element, said elongated core element comprising a first cooperating member interacting with said first actuator member of said first wall element and second cooperating member interacting with said second actuator member of said second wall element, for allowing said first wall element and said second wall element, to selectively define said contracted state or said expanded state by moving said elongated core element in said longitudinal direction relative to said first wall element and said second wall element.
3. The pelt board according to any of the preceding points, wherein said first actuator member and said second actuator member constitute pins and said first cooperating member and said second cooperating member constitute grooves, e.g. linear or curved grooves, in which said pins are guided between said contracted state and said expanded state, or, wherein said first cooperating member and said second cooperating member constitute pins and said first actuator member and said second actuator member constitute grooves, e.g. linear or curved grooves, in which said pins are guided between said contracted state and said expanded state.
4. The pelt board according to any of the preceding points, wherein said first wall element and said second wall element comprise ventilation grooves between said cavity and the outside of said pelt board.
5. The pelt board according to any of the preceding points, wherein said first wall element and said second wall element define an opening between said cavity and the outside of said pelt board at said bottom end for allowing ventilation air to enter said cavity.
6. The pelt board according to any of the preceding points, wherein said first wall element and said second wall element have an arched shape such that said first outwardly oriented surface and said second outwardly oriented surface define a convex shape.
7. The pelt board according to any of the preceding points, wherein said first wall element defines a first radial edge adjacent said top end of said elongated core and said second wall element defines a second radial edge adjacent said top edge of said elongated core, said pelt board further comprising: [0502] a third wall element adjacent to said first wall element at said first radial edge, said third wall element extending along said longitudinal direction and away from said second wall element, said third wall element defining a third outwardly oriented surface and a third actuator member, [0503] a fourth wall element adjacent to said second wall element at said second radial edge, said fourth wall element extending along said longitudinal direction and away from said second wall element, said fourth wall element defining a fourth outwardly oriented surface and a fourth actuator member, said third and fourth wall elements being spaced apart in said first radial direction, and [0504] a core extension element connected to said top end of said elongated core element and extending along said longitudinal direction away from said elongated core element, said core extension element being movable in relation to said third wall element and fourth wall element, said core extension element comprising a third cooperating member interacting with said third actuator member of said third wall element and a fourth cooperating member interacting with said fourth actuator member of said fourth wall element for allowing said third wall element and said fourth wall element to change between said contracted state and said expanded states by moving said elongated core element and said core extension element in said longitudinal direction relative to said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element.
8. The pelt board according to point 7, said first wall element and said third wall element being constituted by a first unitary wall element structure, said second wall element and said fourth wall element being constituted by a second unitary wall element structure and said core element and said core extension element being constituted by a single unitary core element structure.
9. The pelt board according to any of the points 7-8, wherein said pelt board comprises: [0505] a lower section including said first wall element and said second wall element and said elongated core element, [0506] an upper section comprising said third wall element, said fourth wall element and said core extension element, and [0507] an intermediate section located between said lower section and said upper section and comprising a core connecting element interconnecting said elongated core element and said core extension element.
10. The pelt board according to any of the point 7-9, wherein said third wall element being connected to said first wall element at said first radial edge and said fourth wall element being connected to said second wall element at said second radial edge.
11. The pelt board according to any of the points 7-9, wherein said third cooperating member and said fourth cooperating member constitute pins and said third actuator member and said fourth actuator member constitute grooves, e.g. linear or curved grooves, in which said pins are guided between said contracted state and said expanded state, or wherein said third actuator member and said fourth actuator member constitute pins and said third cooperating member and said fourth cooperating member constitute grooves, e.g. linear or curved grooves, in which said pins are guided between said contracted state and said expanded state.
12. The pelt board according to any of the preceding points, wherein said elongated core element comprises a first protrusion adjacent said bottom end, said elongated core element being spring-loaded at said bottom end and defines a centralized relaxed position and a non-centralized loaded position in said first radial direction and/or second radial direction, said first wall element and said second wall element comprise a second protrusion cooperating with said first protrusion such that when said first wall element and said second wall element define said expanded state and said elongated core element define said centralized related position, said first and second protrusions prevent any longitudinal movement of said elongated core element, whereas when said elongated core element define said non-centralized loaded position, said first and second protrusions allow longitudinal movement of said elongated core element.
13. A method of manufacturing a pelt board for accommodating an animal pelt, said method comprising: [0508] providing a first wall element defining a first outwardly oriented surface, a first inwardly oriented surface, a first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a first actuator member, [0509] providing a second wall element defining a second outwardly oriented surface, a second inwardly oriented surface, a second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a second actuator member, [0510] said first wall element and said second wall element being of identical configuration and each having a low curvature part and a high curvature part joint together along a line of junction extending generally in said longitudinal direction, [0511] said low curvature part of said first wall element defining a first longitudinal edge of said first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges, said high curvature part of said first wall element defining a second longitudinal edge of said first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges, said low curvature part of said second wall element defining a first longitudinal edge of said second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges, said high curvature part of said second wall element defining a second longitudinal edge of said second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges, said first edge of said first wall element being positioned juxtaposed said second edge of said second wall element and said first edge of said second wall element being positioned juxtaposed said second edge of said first wall element, said first inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface together defining a cavity along said longitudinal direction, [0512] providing an elongated core element comprising a first cooperating member and a second cooperating member, [0513] positioning said first wall element and said second wall element along a longitudinal direction such that said first inwardly oriented surface is facing said second inwardly oriented surface and spaced apart along a first radial direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction, such that said first inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface together define a cavity along said longitudinal direction, [0514] interacting said first cooperating member and said second cooperating member with said first actuator member of said first wall element and said second actuator member of said second wall element, respectively, and [0515] moving said elongated core element in said longitudinal direction relative to said first wall element and said second wall element causing said first wall element and said second wall element to move between a contracted state in which said first radial distance between said first inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface is reduced, in which said first edge of said first wall element is positioned closely against said second edge of said second wall element, and in which said first edge of said second wall element is positioned closely against said second edge of said first wall element, and [0516] an expanded state in which said first radial distance between said first inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface is increased, in which said first edge of said first wall element and said second edge of said second wall element is positioned in spaced apart relationship in said first radial direction, and in which said first edge of said second wall element and said second edge of said first wall element are positioned in spaced apart relationship and said first radial direction.
14. A method of manufacturing a pelt board for accommodating an animal pelt, said method comprising: [0517] providing a first wall element defining a first outwardly oriented surface, a first inwardly oriented surface, a first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a first actuator member, [0518] providing a second wall element defining a second outwardly oriented surface, a second inwardly oriented surface, a second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and a second actuator member, [0519] said first wall element and said second wall element being of identical configuration and each having a low curvature part and a high curvature part joint together along a line of junction extending generally in said longitudinal direction, [0520] said low curvature part of said first wall element defining a first longitudinal edge of said first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges, said high curvature part of said first wall element defining a second longitudinal edge of said first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges, said low curvature part of said second wall element defining a first longitudinal edge of said second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges, said high curvature part of said second wall element defining a second longitudinal edge of said second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges, said first edge of said first wall element being positioned juxtaposed said second edge of said second wall element and said first edge of said second wall element being positioned juxtaposed said second edge of said first wall element, said first inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface together defining a cavity along said longitudinal direction, [0521] providing an elongated core element comprising a first cooperating member and a second cooperating member, [0522] positioning said first wall element and said second wall element along a longitudinal direction such that said first inwardly oriented surface is facing said second inwardly oriented surface and spaced apart along a first radial direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction, such that said first inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface together define a cavity along said longitudinal direction, [0523] interacting said first cooperating member and said second cooperating member with said first actuator member of said first wall element and said second actuator member of said second wall element, respectively, and [0524] moving said elongated core element in said longitudinal direction relative to said first wall element and said second wall element causing said first wall element and said second wall element to move between a contracted state in which said first radial distance between said first inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface is reduced, in which said first edge of said first wall element is positioned closely against said second edge of said second wall element, and in which said first edge of said second wall element is positioned closely against said second edge of said first wall element, and [0525] an expanded state in which said first radial distance between said first inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface is increased, in which said first edge of said first wall element and said second edge of said second wall element is positioned in spaced apart relationship in said second radial direction, and in which said first edge of said second wall element and said second edge of said first wall element are positioned in spaced apart relationship and said first radial direction.

Fourth Set of Points Defining Features of the Invention

[0526] 1. A drying unit and an adapter, said drying unit comprising a plurality of apertures and a ventilator for producing a stream of ventilation air through each of said apertures, said adapter comprising a first interface defining a first opening for accommodating a pelt board, and a second interface defining a second opening for connecting to said aperture of said drying unit.
2. The drying unit and adapter according to point 1, wherein said drying unit comprises a pin at each of said apertures for locking said adapter at said second interface.
3. A drying unit and an adapter according to any of the points 1 or 2, wherein said second opening is larger than or equal to said first opening.
4. A drying unit, said drying unit comprising a plurality of apertures and a ventilator for producing a stream of ventilation air through each of said apertures, said drying unit comprising a pin at each of said apertures for locking an adapter at said aperture.
5. An adapter comprising a first interface defining a first opening for accommodating a pelt board, and a second interface defining a second opening for connecting to an aperture of a drying unit, said second opening being larger than or equal to said first opening.