PELT BOARD AND A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A PELT BOARD

Abstract

An elongated pelt board for accommodating an animal pelt. The pelt board defines a blunt end and an opposite pointed end and a longitudinal direction. The pelt board further defines a first radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and a second radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the first radial direction, said pelt board comprising a first part at said blunt end and an opposite second part at said pointed end. The first part comprises a first wall element and a second wall element. The first and second wall elements are of identical configuration. The first wall element and said second wall element define a contracted state and an expanded state.

Claims

1-11: (canceled)

12. A pelt board for accommodating an animal pelt, said pelt board defining a blunt end and an opposite pointed end and defining a longitudinal direction therebetween, said pelt board further defining 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: (a) a first part at said blunt end, said first part comprising: (1) 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; (2) 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 inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface together defining a first cavity along said longitudinal direction; said first wall element and said second wall element defining: (i) a contracted state in which said first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges of said first wall element are positioned juxtaposed said second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges of said second wall element; and (ii) an expanded state in which said first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges of said first wall element and said second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges of said second wall element are shifted away from one another relative to said contracted state along at least one of said first radial direction and said second radial direction; and (3) a first core element extending within said first cavity along said longitudinal direction and movable in relation to said first wall element and said second wall element, said first core element comprising a first cooperating member interactable with said first actuator member of said first wall element and a second cooperating member interactable with said second actuator member of said second wall element, whereby said first wall element and said second wall element selectively define said contracted state and said expanded state when said first core element is moved in said longitudinal direction relative to said first wall element and said second wall element; and (b) a second part at said pointed end, said second part comprising: (1) 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; (2) 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 inwardly oriented surface and said fourth inwardly oriented surface together defining a second cavity along said longitudinal direction; said third wall element and said fourth wall element defining: (i) a non-extended state in said longitudinal direction in which said second part is positioned juxtaposed said first part, and said third set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and said fourth set of oppositely located longitudinal edges constitute extensions of said first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and said second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges, respectively; and (ii) an extended state in which said second part is spaced from said first part along said longitudinal direction as said third set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and said fourth set of oppositely located longitudinal edges do not constitute extensions of said first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and said second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges, respectively; and (3) a second core element extending within said second cavity along said longitudinal direction and being movable in relation to said third wall element and said fourth wall element, said second core element comprising a third cooperating member interactable with said third actuator member of said third wall element and a fourth cooperating member interactable with said fourth actuator member of said fourth wall element, whereby said third wall element and said fourth wall element selectively define said non-extended state and said extended state in said longitudinal direction when said second core element is moved in said longitudinal direction relative to said third wall element and said fourth element.

13. The pelt board of claim 12, wherein the first wall element has a first configuration, the second wall element has a second configuration identical to the first configuration, the third wall element has a third configuration, and the fourth wall element has a fourth configuration identical to the third configuration.

14. The pelt board of claim 12, wherein said first core element extends to said blunt end, and said second core element extends in a through-going passage within said first core element to said blunt end.

15. The pelt board of claim 12, wherein each of said first actuator member and said second actuator member includes a pin, and wherein each of said first cooperating member and said second cooperating member includes a groove in which said pins of said first and second actuator members are respectively guided between said contracted state and said expanded state.

16. The pelt board of claim 12, wherein each of said first cooperating member and said second cooperating member includes a pin, and wherein each of said first actuator member and said second actuator member includes a groove in which said pins of said first and second cooperating members are respectively guided between said contracted state and said expanded state.

17. The pelt board of claim 12, wherein each of said third actuator member and said fourth actuator member includes a wedge member configured for contacting said third cooperating member and said fourth cooperating member, respectively.

18. The pelt board of claim 12, wherein each of said third cooperating member and said fourth cooperating member includes a wedge member configured for contacting said third actuator member and said fourth actuator member, respectively.

19. The pelt board of claim 12, wherein said third actuator member and said fourth actuator member respectively engage said third cooperating member and said fourth cooperating member opposite said second core element.

20. The pelt board of claim 12, wherein said pelt board has an exterior, and wherein one or more of said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element, and said fourth wall element comprises ventilation grooves between said cavity and the exterior of said pelt board.

21. The pelt board of claim 12, wherein said pelt board has an exterior, and wherein at least one of said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element defines an opening between said cavity and the exterior of said pelt board at said first end for allowing ventilation air to enter said cavity.

22. The pelt board of claim 12, wherein said third wall element and said fourth wall element are fixedly connected at said first end.

23. The pelt board of claim 12, wherein one or more of said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element, and said fourth wall element have an arched shape such that at least one of said first outwardly oriented surface, said second outwardly oriented surface, said third outwardly oriented surface, and said fourth outwardly oriented surface defines a convex shape.

24. The pelt board of claim 12, wherein said first core element and said second core element are defined by a single element.

25. A pelt board for accommodating an animal pelt, said pelt board defining a blunt end and an opposite pointed end and defining a longitudinal direction therebetween, said pelt board further defining 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: (a) a first part defining an open end at said blunt end and comprising: (1) 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; (2) a second wall element and 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 inwardly oriented surface and said second inwardly oriented surface together defining a first cavity along said longitudinal direction; said first wall element and said second wall element defining: (i) a contracted state in which said first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges of said first wall element are positioned juxtaposed said second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges of said second wall element; and (ii) an expanded state in which said first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges of said first wall element and said second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges of said second wall element are shifted away from one another relative to said contracted state along at least one of said first radial direction and said second radial direction; and (3) a first core element extending within said first cavity along said longitudinal direction and movable in relation to said first wall element and said second wall element, said first core element comprising a first cooperating member interactable with said first actuator member of said first wall element and a second cooperating member interactable with said second actuator member of said second wall element, whereby said first wall element and said second wall element selectively define said contracted state and said expanded state in said longitudinal direction when said first core element is moved in said longitudinal direction relative to said first wall element and said second wall element; and (b) a second part at said pointed end, said second part comprising: (1) a closure element configured for closing off said open end of said first part and defining: (i) a non-extended state in said longitudinal direction in which said closure element of said second part is positioned juxtaposed said first part; and (ii) an extended state in which said closure element of said second part is spaced from said first part along said longitudinal direction; and (2) a second core element connected to said closure element and extending within said first cavity along said longitudinal direction being movable in relation to said first part to selectively define said non-extended state and said extended state.

26. The pelt board of claim 25, wherein the first wall element has a first configuration, the second wall element has a second configuration identical to the first configuration, the third wall element has a third configuration, and the fourth wall element has a fourth configuration identical to the third configuration.

27. The pelt board of claim 25, wherein said first core element extends to said blunt end, and said second core element extends in a through-going passage within said first core element to said blunt end.

28. The pelt board of claim 25, wherein each of said first actuator member and said second actuator member includes a pin, and wherein each of said first cooperating member and said second cooperating member includes a groove in which said pins of said first and second actuator members are respectively guided between said contracted state and said expanded state.

29. The pelt board of claim 25, wherein each of said first cooperating member and said second cooperating member includes a pin, and wherein each of said first actuator member and said second actuator member includes a groove in which said pins of said first and second cooperating members are respectively guided between said contracted state and said expanded state.

30. The pelt board of claim 25, wherein each of said third actuator member and said fourth actuator member includes a wedge member configured for contacting said third cooperating member and said fourth cooperating member, respectively.

31. The pelt board of claim 25, wherein each of said third cooperating member and said fourth cooperating member includes a wedge member configured for contacting said third actuator member and said fourth actuator member, respectively.

32. The pelt board of claim 25, wherein said third actuator member and said fourth actuator member respectively engage said third cooperating member and said fourth cooperating member opposite said second core element.

33. The pelt board of claim 25, wherein said pelt board has an exterior, and wherein one or more of said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element, and said fourth wall element comprises ventilation grooves between said cavity and the exterior of said pelt board.

34. The pelt board of claim 25, wherein said pelt board has an exterior, and wherein at least one of said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element and said fourth wall element defines an opening between said cavity and the exterior of said pelt board at said first end for allowing ventilation air to enter said cavity.

35. The pelt board of claim 25, wherein said third wall element and said fourth wall element are fixedly connected at said blunt end.

36. The pelt board of claim 25, wherein one or more of said first wall element, said second wall element, said third wall element, and said fourth wall element have an arched shape such that at least one of said first outwardly oriented surface, said second outwardly oriented surface, said third outwardly oriented surface, and said fourth outwardly oriented surface defines a convex shape.

37. The pelt board of claim 25, wherein said first core element and said second core element are defined by a single element.

38. A method of manufacturing a pelt board for accommodating an animal pelt comprising: 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; 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; said first wall element and said second wall element being of identical configuration; positioning said first and second wall elements extending along a longitudinal direction having said first inwardly oriented surface facing said second inwardly oriented surface together defining a first cavity along said longitudinal direction; said first wall element and said second wall element defining: a contracted state in which said longitudinal edges of said first wall element being positioned juxtaposed said longitudinal edges of said second wall element; and an expanded state in which said first longitudinal edges of said first wall element and said longitudinal edges of said second wall element being shifted away from one another relative to said contracted state along at least one of said first radial direction and said second radial direction; positioning a first core element to extend within said first cavity along said longitudinal direction and to be movable in relation to said first wall element and said second wall element, said first core element comprising a first cooperating member interacting with said first actuator member of said first wall element and a 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 and said expanded state by moving said first core element in said longitudinal direction relative to said first wall element and said second wall element; 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; 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; said third wall element and said fourth wall element being of identical configuration; positioning said third and fourth wall elements extending along said longitudinal direction and having said third inwardly oriented surface facing said fourth inwardly oriented surface; having said third inwardly oriented surface facing said fourth inwardly oriented surface together defining a second cavity along said longitudinal direction; said third wall element and said fourth wall element defining: a non-extended state in said longitudinal direction in which said second part is positioned juxtaposed said first part and said third set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and said fourth set of oppositely located longitudinal edges constitute extensions of said first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and said second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges, respectively; and an extended state in which said second part is spaced from said first part along said longitudinal direction as said third set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and said fourth set of oppositely located longitudinal edges are not constituting extensions of said first set of oppositely located longitudinal edges and said second set of oppositely located longitudinal edges, respectively; positioning a second to extend within said second cavity along said longitudinal direction and to be movable in relation to said third wall element and said fourth wall element, said second core 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 selectively define said non-extended state and said extended state in said longitudinal direction by moving said second core element in said longitudinal direction relative to said third wall element and said fourth element, and said first wall element, said second wall element and said first core element together constituting a first part of said pelt board, and said third wall element, said fourth wall element and said second core element together defining a second part of said pelt board.

39. A method of manufacturing a pelt board for accommodating an animal pelt comprising: 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; 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; said first wall element and said second wall element being of identical configuration; positioning said first and second wall elements extending along a longitudinal direction and having said first inwardly oriented surface facing said second inwardly oriented surface together defining a first cavity along said longitudinal direction; said first wall element and said second wall element defining: a contracted state in which said longitudinal edges of said first wall element being positioned juxtaposed said longitudinal edges of said second wall element; and an expanded state in which said first longitudinal edges of said first wall element and said longitudinal edges of said second wall element are shifted away from one another relative to said contracted state along at least one of said first radial direction and said second radial direction; positioning a first core element to extend within said first cavity along said longitudinal direction and to be movable in relation to said first wall element and said second wall element, said first core element comprising a first cooperating member interacting with said first actuator member of said first wall element and a 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 and said expanded state by moving said first core element in said longitudinal direction relative to said first wall element and said second wall element; said first wall element, said second wall element, and said first core element together constituting a first part of said pelt board; providing a closure element for closing off an open end of said first part, the closure element having a second core element connected thereto; positioning the second core element to extend within said first cavity along said longitudinal direction and to be movable in relation to said first part to selectively define said non-extended state and said extended state in said longitudinal direction, said closure element and said second core element together constituting a second part of said pelt board, said closure element defining: a non-extended state in said longitudinal direction in which said closure element of said second part is positioned juxtaposed said first part; and an extended state in which said closure element of said second part is spaced from said first part along said longitudinal direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0108] FIGS. 1A and 1B are a series illustration schematically a first embodiment of a pelt board according to the present invention in a non-expanded and non-extended state,

[0109] FIGS. 2A and 2B are a series similar to the series of FIGS. 1A and 1B, respectively, illustrating the first embodiment of the pelt board according to the present invention in a non-expanded and extended state,

[0110] FIGS. 3A and 3B are a series similar to the series of FIGS. 1A and 1B, respectively, illustrating the first embodiment of the pelt board according to the present invention also shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B in an expanded and extended state,

[0111] FIGS. 4A and 4B are a series illustrating schematically a second embodiment of the pelt board according to the present invention in a non-expanded and non-extended state,

[0112] FIGS. 5A and 5B are a series similar to the series of FIGS. 4A and 4B, respectively, illustrating the second embodiment of the pelt board according to the present invention in an expanded and non-extended state,

[0113] FIGS. 6A and 6B are a series similar to the series of FIGS. 5A and 5B, respectively, illustrating the second embodiment of the pelt board according to the present invention also shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B in an alternative expanded and non-extended state,

[0114] FIGS. 7A and 7B are a series similar to the series of FIGS. 4A and 4B, respectively, illustrating the second embodiment of the pelt board according to the present invention in the expanded state shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B and further in an extended state,

[0115] FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C are a series of a further embodiment of the pelt board according to the present invention differing from the above second embodiment in the actuating of the expanded and extended states shown in FIGS. 4B, 5B and 7B, respectively, and

[0116] FIGS. 9A and 9B are a series illustrating a further alternative embodiment of the pelt board according to the present invention including a single actuator for the shifting between non-expanded and non-extended states and expended and extended states.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0117] FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of a part of a first embodiment of a pelt board 10 in its contracted or non-expanded and non-extended state. The left-hand part of the pelt board shown in FIG. 1A is designated the reference numeral 12 and named the first part of the pelt board, and the right-hand part of the pelt board 10 is designated the reference numeral 14 and named the second part of the pelt board.

[0118] The first part 12 of the pelt board 10 is composed of a total of three components, namely two identically shaped shell parts 22 and 24 and a first elongated core element 26.

[0119] Each of the shell parts 22 and 24 comprise a major low curvature wall part 20 and 21, respectively, and a minor high curvature wall part 16 and 18, respectively. The major low curvature wall parts 20 and 21 are joined to the minor high curvature parts 16 and 18, respectively, through imaginary lines 17 and 19, respectively.

[0120] The first embodiment of the pelt board 10 shown in FIG. 1A is of a structure, in which the two identically shaped shell parts 22 and 24 of the first part 12 of the pelt board 10 in the non-expanded and non-extended states shown in FIG. 1A constitute an almost perfectly configured elliptical cross sectional configuration as the longitudinal edges of the oppositely positioned shell parts 20 and 24 join one another in a basically unbroken elliptically cross sectional configuration. The elliptical cross sectional configuration of the first part 12 of the pelt board 10 shown in FIG. 1A is believed to improve the ability of the pelt board 10 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 in its contracted and collapsed state is almost perfectly uniform without any substantive discontinuities.

[0121] The second part 14 of the pelt board 10 constitutes a geometrical extension or continuation of the first part 12 and defines a tapering configuration defining a pointed open-end which is closed off by a closure element 40. The second part 14 comprises two shell parts like the first part being composed of the shell parts 22 and 24, however, in FIG. 1A, only one shell part 27 of the second part 14 is shown composed of a major wall part 28 constituting the geometrical extension of the low curvature wall part 20 and a minor wall part 30 constituting the geometrical extension of the high curvature wall part 16 of the first part 12 which wall parts 28 and 30 are joined along an imaginary line 29 extending as a linear continuation of the imaginary line 17.

[0122] The interior of the first part 12 defines a first cavity which cavity is designated the reference numeral 25 and in which the first elongated core element or rod 26 is positioned centrally and defining a central throughgoing passage in which a further or second elongated core element or rod 42 is received which second elongated core element is at its end opposite to the end shown in the left-hand part of FIG. 1A connected to an inner concealed surface of the closure element 40.

[0123] FIG. 1B shown a vertical sectional view through the pelt board 10 in FIG. 1A disclosing the first inner cavity 25 of the first part 12 and further disclosing an inner cavity of the second part 14 which cavity constitutes a second inner cavity designated the reference numeral 31. In FIG. 1B, a pelt is designated the reference numeral 44 received on the pelt board 10 and within the first cavity 25 and the second cavity 31, the first elongated core element 26 is provided with actuator members 36 serving to cooperate with actuator member 36 of the first elongated core element 26. The actuator members 34 and 36 define sloping surfaces serving to push the shell parts 22 and 24 away from one another as the first elongated core element 26 is pushed to the right i.e. into the inner cavity 25 of the first part 12 of the pelt board 10. The second part 14 of the pelt board 10 is also provided with actuator members 38 serving the same purpose as the actuator members 36 of the first part 12, namely to cause the two shell parts of the second part one of which is designated the reference numeral 27 to be pushed away from one another for establishing an expanded state as will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B.

[0124] In FIG. 1B, the second elongated core element 42 is further shown connected to the closure element 40 serving, as is illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B, to allow the closure element 40 to be pushed away from the pointed end of the second part 14 of the pelt board 10 as is indicated by arrows in FIGS. 2A and 2B. By the shifting of the closure element 40 to the right shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the pelt 44 is as is illustrated in FIG. 2B stretched as compared to the relaxed state shown in FIG. 2A.

[0125] In FIGS. 3A and 3B, the pelt board 10 is shifted to an expanded state as the first elongated core element 26 is shifted to the right as compared to the position of the first elongated core element 26 shown in FIG. 1B which causes the actuator members 39 to push or to act upon the actuator members 36 of the first part 12 causing the shell parts 22 and 24 to be pushed away from one another and establishing an expanded state, at the same time, the actuator members 38 of the second part 14 of the pelt board causes the shell parts one of which is designated the reference numeral 27 of the second part 14 of the pelt board 10 to be shifted away from one another as is illustrated in FIG. 3B by the pushing of the actuator members 38 away from one another. In FIG. 3B, the shifting of the first elongated core element 26 is designated by arrows at the left-hand end of FIG. 3B.

[0126] In FIGS. 4A and 4B a second embodiment of the pelt board 10 according to the present invention is shown, which embodiment is designated the reference numeral 10.sup.I in its entity. In FIGS. 4A and 4B and the remaining drawings figures, alternative embodiments of the pelt board according to the present invention is shown and in the drawings, components or elements identical to previously described components or elements, respectively, are designated the same references as described above and no supplementary description is given, whereas components or elements serving the same purpose as previously described components or elements, respectively, are designated the same reference numeral, however, added a marking to identify the geometrical amendment or the different geometrical shape as compared to the previously described component or element, respectively. The second embodiment 10.sup.I shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B basically differ from the above described first embodiment 10 in that the closure element 40 is omitted and for establishing the feature of allowing the pelt board 10.sup.I to be extended from the non-extended state shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the second elongated core element 42 is joined to the second part 14 of the pelt board 10 I for allowing the second part 14 to be shifted to an extended state as compared to the non-extended and non-expanded state of the pelt board 10.sup.I shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

[0127] In FIGS. 5A and 5B, the second embodiment 10.sup.I of the pelt board according to the present invention is shown in its expanded state caused by the interaction between the actuator members 36 of the first part 12 and the actuator members 39 of the first elongated core element 26 further cooperating with the actuator members 38 of the second part 14 of the pelt board 10.

[0128] The shifting of the second embodiment 10.sup.I of the pelt board according to the present invention from the non-extended state shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B and further in FIGS. 5A and 5B to its extended state is accomplished by shifting the second part 14 of the pelt board 10 to the right as will be illustrated in more detail in connection with the modified embodiment in FIGS. 7A and 7B as the first elongated core element 26 is divided into two parts, a first part remaining in the inner cavity 25 of the first part 12 of the pelt board 10 and a second part being forced to the right as the second elongated core element is forced forward within the interior of the first elongated core element 26. The separate second part of the first elongated core element 26 is designated the reference numeral 43.

[0129] In FIGS. 6A and 6B, a modified version of the second embodiment of the pelt board according to the present invention is shown designated the reference numeral 10.sup.II in its entirety. Whereas in the second embodiment 10.sup.I shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5A and 5B, the shift from the contracted state or non-expanded state to the expanded state is accomplished by shifting or pushing the shell parts of the first part and the second part of the pelt board away from one another, the shifting from the contracted or non-expanded state to the expanded state in the modified embodiment 10.sup.II shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B is accomplished by shifting the shell parts 22 and 24 of the first part 12 and likewise the shell parts of the second part 19 sideways relative to one another as indicated by the arrows shown in FIG. 6A. For accomplishing the sideways shifting of the shell parts 22 and 24 of the first part 12 and likewise the shell parts of the second part 14 in the modified second embodiment 10.sup.II shown in FIG. 6A, the actuator members 34 and 36 are acting sideways and shifted from pushing vertically as shown in FIG. 5A to shifting horizontally as illustrated in FIG. 6B.

[0130] In FIGS. 7A and 7B, the modified second embodiment of the pelt board 10.sup.II is shown in its extended and expanded states as the second part 14 is shifted away from the first part 12 by the pushing of the second part 12 to the right by separating the second part 43 of the first elongated core element 26 as is briefly discussed above as the shifting of the second embodiment 10 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B and the shifting of the modified second embodiment 10.sup.II shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B from the non-extended to the extended state is in both embodiments accomplished in the same manner as described above.

[0131] In FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C, a variant of the second embodiment 10 of the pelt board shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B is shown as the second elongated core element of the variant 10.sup.III shown in FIG. 8A is constituted by a rod 42.sup.III having opposite threads cooperating with two actuator members 36.sup.I of the first part 12.sup.III and the second part 14.sup.III respectively, of the pelt board 10.sup.III, which actuator members 36.sup.I are pushed away from one another as the second elongated core element 42.sup.II is turned or rotated as is indicated by an arrow in FIG. 8C. The expansion of the modified pelt board 10.sup.III shown in FIG. 8A from its contracted or non-expanded state shown in FIG. 8A to its expanded state is accomplished in the same manner as described above with reference to FIGS. 4B and 5B by the cooperation between the actuator members 34.sup.I of the shell parts 22 and 24 and the actuator members 36.sup.I and likewise the cooperation between actuator members 38.sup.I of the second part 14.sup.III and the actuator members 36.sup.I.

[0132] In FIGS. 9A and 9B, a further embodiment 10.sup.IV of the pelt board according to the present invention is shown which includes a segmented first part 12.sup.IV constituted by a total of five individual segments which are together shifted from contracted or non-expanded state to expanded state and at the same time shifted from non-extended to extended state as the two elongated core elements are combined into a single elongated core element 26.sup.III which at its front end act on the second part 14.sup.IV as a single actuator member 36.sup.I of the elongated core element 26.sup.III acts upon the actuator members 38.sup.II of the second part 14.sup.IV of the pelt board 10.sup.IV. The individual segments 12.sup.IV of the pelt board 10.sup.IV together constituting a first part of the pelt board each include a single actuator member 37 acting on the actuator members 36.sup.I of the segment 12.sup.IV positioned left to the segment in question and in cooperating with the actuator members 36.sup.I of the neighboring segment firstly pushes the shell parts away from one another and shifts the shell parts sideways as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 6A, respectively, and at the same time forces the segment to the right causing a separation of the segmented elements 12.sup.IV providing an overall lengthening of the first part of the pelt board 10.sup.IV.

[0133] Although the present invention has above been described with reference to presently preferred embodiments of the pelt board and although the above described embodiments may readily be combined by altering the shifting from contracted or non-expanded state to expanded state or shifting the pelt board from non-extended state to extended state by rearranging the actuator members in question, the pelt board according to the present invention may further be modified in accordance with the teachings of the applicant's two previously filed European patent applications EP 14199640.5, publication number EP 3 037 557, filed on 22 Dec. 2014, and, European patent application EP 14199651.2, also filed on 22 Dec. 2014.

[0134] The above mentioned European patent applications have been continued in an international application EP2015/056431, publication number WO2015/144774, filed on the 25 Mar. 2015 and claiming the priority of the above mentioned European patent applications EP 14199640.5 and EP 14199651.2. The above mentioned published applications EP 3 037 557 and WO2015/144774 are hereby incorporated by reference.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0135] 10. Pelt board [0136] 12. First part [0137] 14. Second part [0138] 16. Minor high curvature wall part [0139] 17. Imaginary line [0140] 18. High curvature wall part [0141] 19. Imaginary line [0142] 20. Major low curvature wall part [0143] 21. Major low curvature wall part [0144] 22. Shell part [0145] 24. Shell part [0146] 25. First cavity [0147] 26. First elongated core element [0148] 27. Shell part [0149] 28. Major wall part [0150] 29. Imaginary line [0151] 30. Minor wall part [0152] 31. Second cavity [0153] 34. Actuator member [0154] 36. Actuator member [0155] 38. Actuator member [0156] 40. Closure element [0157] 42. Second elongated core element [0158] 43. Second part [0159] 44. Pelt