Night-hunting method and apparatus
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to hunting methods and accessories. More specifically, the present invention relates to lighting used by hunters at night. 
     2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     Night hunting for raccoon and other game animals is a challenging sport that presents it own peculiar set of problems. Foremost among them is the problem of lighting. Gun-mounted lights both for aiming and for general illumination are known in the art. Such devices include the spot lights and the sight light disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,739,167 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,128,526 and 4,069,414, respectively. The sight light disclosed by the &#39;526 patent is noteworthy in that it can be detached to permit the gun to be used without it when the gun is used in lighted areas. This light is not adapted to be hand held, however, nor are other means for carrying or directing this light disclosed by the &#39;526 patent. 
     The gun-mounted lights are advantageous in that they provide control of the direction of the light while both of the hunter&#39;s hands are busy aiming the gun. Since they are fixed to the gun, however, the hunter must aim the gun to aim the light. That combination of gun and light is heavy and very awkward, like having a flashlight more than two feet long. Further, as a matter of policy, having the hunter unable to aim the light without aiming the gun in the same direction is a hazardous arrangement. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A hunting light in accordance with the present invention comprises lamp means for providing night-hunting illumination that is connected to a portable power source, both of which are adapted to be carried by the hunter. The lamp is affixed to a bracket that is adapted to releasably secure the lamp to the hunter&#39;s weapon so that the hunter can, alternatively, wear or hand carry the lamp. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated when taken in conjunction with the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a hunting light in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the hunting light of FIG. 1 mounted on a hunting cap; and 
     FIG. 3a is a cross-section detail of FIG. 3 taken at &#34;A&#34;. 
     In these figures similar parts have the same reference numeral. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a spotlight 10 suitable for use while hunting raccoon at night, such as the &#34;Wheat Light&#34; manufactured by the Koehler Wheat Company, is provided. The light has, at the lower end of each side surface, a slot 12 and, at the center of its rear surface, a clip 14, the slots and the clip being provided for attaching the lamp 10 to a hunter&#39;s gun 16, shown in FIG. 2, or to some article of clothing, such as a hunting cap 18, shown in FIG. 3. The lamp is powered by a portable battery pack 20 carried in the hunter&#39;s jacket pocket and connected by a flexible weather-proof cable 22 to the lamp 10. 
     In FIG. 1, a bracket 24 on the upper surface of an adapter clamp 26 is slideably engaged in the slot 12 on either side of the lamp 10. The adapter clamp 26 and the bracket 24 thereon are formed of a single piece of extruded aluminum. The adapter clamp 26 raises the lamp 10 above the gun 16 to avoid blocking the hunter&#39;s sight line over the gun sight when the gun is aimed. 
     A wedge-shaped notch 28 is cut between the legs of the adapter clamp 26. The edges of the notch 28 are also bevelled 30 to fit the notch 28 to a dovetail 32 on the barrel of the gun 16, as illustrated in FIG. 2. This dovetail is commonly provided on hunting guns for attaching a telescopic sight. The adapter clamp 26 is affixed to the dovetail 32 by tightening a pair of transverse bolts 34. The lamp 10 is only held in the bracket 24, however, by a slight friction and, so, it can be easily slid out of the slot 12 with one hand and hand held. Although the lamp is securely attached to the clamp 26, it is adapted to be removed from the gun when the hunter is not aiming the gun, to provide greater freedom of movement for the light while the hunter searches for game. The light&#39;s attachment to the gun, thus, is temporary. 
     To free a hunter&#39;s hands while allowing greater flexibility of light movement in searching for game, the lamp can be temporarily attached to the hunter&#39;s cap 18, as shown in FIG. 3, instead of to the gun 16. In this position the light will be directed so as to illuninate whatever the hunter is looking at. However this is also only a temporary position, one for carrying the lamp while hunting at night. While the hunter is aiming the gun, a light affixed to the hunter&#39;s cap in a position that was appropriate while searching for game will be misdirected, thus decreasing visibility at the crucial movement when the gun is aimed and fired. To provide quick mounting and quick release the lamp 10 is fastened to the cap 18 by the spring clip 14 which slides into a pair of grooves, one on either side of a complementary bracket 36 that is sewn onto the center front of the cap 18 through four eyelets 38. 
     Of course, the preferred embodiment described and illustrated herein is provided for the purpose of explaining the invention. The invention is not limited thereby. Many variations and modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of this invention. For example, the light may provide a sight beam as well as general illumination and therefore be mounted directly on the dovetail without an adapter clamp; or the light may be clamped onto the gun without using the dovetail; or the lamp may be attached to the cap or some other article of clothing with a hook or another suitable fastener.