Animal skull mount clip system and method of use

Abstract

An animal skull mount clip system comprising a base, flexible legs extending from the base, and a mounting stud configured to attach the base to a mounting surface, where the flexible legs are configured to be inserted into a brain cavity of an animal skull through a foramen magnum of the animal skull by being flexed toward each other to clear the foramen magnum before expanding back to their original positions, thereby allowing the animal skull to be attached to the mounting surface by the flexible legs within the animal skull and the mounting stud.

Claims

1. An animal skull mount clip system comprising: a base plate with a mounting hole; a mounting stud for connection to a mounting surface, wherein the mounting stud is sized to fit within the mounting hole of the base plate; a front leg connected to the base plate, wherein the front leg is sized to fit through a foramen magnum of an animal skull and into a brain cavity of the animal skull; a rear leg connected to the base plate, wherein the rear leg is sized to fit through the foramen magnum of the animal skull and into the brain cavity of the animal skull; wherein the base plate has a width to be larger than a width of the foramen magnum of the animal skull and is made from spring steel; wherein the mounting hole of the base plate is hexagonal and having hexagonal vertices with slots cut outward from the hexagonal vertices; wherein the front leg is made from spring steel and has an end that is rounded and wherein the front leg has a narrow section and a wide section, wherein the narrow section has a first reverse bend proximate to the base plate and a second reverse bend proximate to the wide section, and wherein the wide section of the front leg is curved upward from the narrow section of the front leg relative to the base plate and then curved downward relative to the base plate; wherein the rear leg is made from spring steel and has an end that is rounded and wherein the rear leg has a fixed width, wherein the rear leg is wider than the narrow section of the front leg but narrower than the wide section of the front leg, and wherein the rear leg has a first reverse bend proximate to the base plate and a second reverse bend proximate to the end of the rear leg; and wherein the mounting stud is of sufficient length to pass beyond the second reverse bend of the narrow section of the front leg and wherein the mounting stud is hexagonal and has female threads at one or more ends to receive a screw for attaching to the mounting surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a top view of the embodiment of the mounting system shown before the front and rear legs are formed for placement in the animal skull.

(2) FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment showing the legs formed for placement in the skull and showing the mounting stud, mounting surface, and screw for attaching the stud to the mounting surface.

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment.

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the embodiment secured to an animal skull and a mounting surface.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(5) Although only one embodiment is explained in detail, it is to be understood as an illustration only, and not intended to limit the invention in its scope. Also, in describing the embodiment specific terminology may be used, but it should be understood that specific terms include all technical equivalents that operate in similar manners to accomplish similar purposes.

(6) With reference to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. The system generally comprises a base plate 1, having a center hexagonal hole 2, with slots cut outward from the hexagon vertices 3, a rear leg 4 and a front leg 5. The rear leg has a uniform width sized to enter the foramen magnum of a skull and has a rounded end 6. The rear leg has a first reverse bend 10 proximate to the base plate and transitions to a second reverse bend 11 proximate to the end of the leg, thereby positioning the rear leg generally above and extending away from the base plate 1 and curved outward to press on the skull at the rear of the brain cavity. The front leg 5 has a narrow section 7 adjacent to the base plate 1 and a wide section 8 sized to enter the foramen magnum of a skull and to press against the skull interior proximate to the anterior aspect of the foramen magnum, and having a rounded end 9. The narrow section of the front leg 7 has a first reverse bend 12 proximate to the base and a second reverse bend 13 proximate to the wide section of the front leg, which brings the leg above the base before the wide section extends away from the base with a smooth radius-downward curvature. The hexagonal hole 2, receives a hexagonal stud 14 having a top and bottom end. The bottom end has female threads to receive a screw 15 for attachment to a mounting surface 16 such as a plaque or wall. The stud acts to keep the legs in place in the brain cavity after it is pressed through the hole in the base plate.