Turkey call device

Abstract

A turkey call combines the capabilities of a box call and a pot call. A box-like enclosure forms a resonant chamber, which amplifies sounds made by a pivotal lid scraping against a top edge of an upwardly extending wall. A striker member is removably positioned in the enclosure. The striker member is rubbed against inserts positioned in the walls to imitate a pot call.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hunting accessories and more particularly to a turkey call device that can be used by hunters, photographers, and nature enthusiasts to attract wild birds into view of the device user.

Turkey call devices are used by sport enthusiasts, nature lovers, and other individuals to imitate or mimic turkey calls to attract a live bird and cause it to respond and move closer to the hunter or the caller. Wild turkeys are elusive birds and the art of turkey calling has been practiced by many hunters with varying results. Generally, the hunter has a choice between a box call and a pot call. Both such types of calls produce different sounds or tunes when manipulated by the user. Conventional box call devices makes noise by sliding the top of the box against the sides of the box, while the pot calls use a striker which is inserted in the side of the box and is manipulated to produce the sound, all with an intent to attract a wild bird towards the place where the user is hiding.

However, since the box calls and the pot calls are designed to imitate different sounds, the user often feels it necessary to carry various types of call devices. Considering that the number of items a user can carry into the woods is limited, there exists a need for a call device that would combine the features of various types of call devices in one unit. The present invention contemplates provision of such all-in-one device that would have the features of both box calls and pot call and can be easily manipulated to produce alternating sounds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a turkey call device which combines the features of a box call and a pot call in one device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a wild bird call device which can be manipulated with one hand producing the sounds to attract the wild bird.

These and other objects of the present invention are achieved through a provision of a turkey call device, which comprises a box-like enclosure having a closed bottom and an open top. A resonant chamber is formed within the enclosure. An actuator lid is pivotally secured on top of the enclosure, the lid being pivoted about a pivot pin secured to one of the end walls. A compression spring is mounted between the top of the end wall and the bottom of the actuator lid to normally urge the actuator lid away from the end wall. One of the sounds produced by the device is created when the actuator lid is forced down and frictionally moves against an edge of the side wall.

To make the sound loader, the present invention contemplates provision of a means for resisting movement of the actuator lid against the edge of the wall. The resisting means comprises an elastic resilient band secured between a top of the actuator lid and the side wall spaced from the rubbing surface of the contact wall.

One of the end walls has an opening to removably receive a striker member therein. The larger portion of the striker member is located inside the resonant chamber, while a tip of the striker member extends outside through the opening. A hook-shaped latch secured the striker in relation to the box-like enclosure.

The wooden enclosure is preferably made of wood, for instance cedar. An insert of different material is positioned in each of the sidewalls. One of the inserts is made from a transparent material, such as glass, Plexiglas, crystal and the like. The other insert is made from slate. When the user wishes to make a pot call, the user removes the striker and rubs the striker against the glass or the slate surfaces, producing different pitch sounds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals and wherein

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the turkey call device in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the turkey call device in accordance with the present invention with the top closed.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the turkey call device in accordance with the present invention with the top open.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the turkey call device in accordance with the present invention showing the transparent insert.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the turkey call device in accordance with the present invention showing the opposite side of the turkey call device with a slate insert.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a striker member of the device in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a detail view of the turkey call device in accordance with the present invention showing the latch open.

FIG. 8 is an end view of the device in accordance with the present invention showing the latch closed.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIEMENT

Turning now to the drawings in more detail, numeral 10 designates the turkey call device in accordance with the present invention. The turkey call device 10 comprises a generally rectangular acoustic box 12 having a closed bottom 14 and an open top 16. A first end wall 18 is secured to the bottom 14 and extends upwardly therefrom. A second end wall 20 is secured to the bottom 14 and extends upwardly therefrom opposite the first end wall 18.

An opening is formed in the first end wall 18 for accommodating an outer portion 22 of a striker member 24. An aperture 26 is formed in the outer portion 22. A securing latch 28 is attached to the end wall 18 by a bolt 30. A securing nut (not shown) is positioned in mating engagement with the bolt 30 inside the resonant box 12. The latch 28 is generally hook shaped having a distant end 32 which is configured and dimensioned to fit into the aperture 26 of the striker member 24. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the latch moves between an open position, shown in FIG. 7, and a closed position, shown in FIG. 8, with the end 32 fitting into the aperture 26 to thereby secure position of the striker member 24 in relation to the acoustic box 12.

The resonant box 12 further comprises a first upwardly extending sidewall 40 and a second upwardly extending sidewall 42 oriented opposite the first sidewall 40. The first sidewall 40 defines an opening for receiving an insert 46, which is made from a material different than that used for making the enclosure 12. The insert 46 is made from a transparent material, such as glass, crystal, Plexiglas, or other suitable material. The second sidewall 42 is likewise provided with an opening 48 for receiving a different material insert 50 therein. The insert 50 can be made of slate. The different materials of the inserts 46 and 50 facilitate mimicking a variety of sounds made by wild birds, such as gobblers when attracting hens.

The turkey call device of the present invention further comprises a lid, or an actuator top 50. The actuator top 50 is generally paddle-shaped and is pivotally secured at one end thereof to the top of the end wall 18 by a bolt 52 or other suitable arrangement. A compression spring 54 is mounted between the top edge 56 of the wall 18 and a bottom surface 58 of the actuator top 50. The spring 54 normally urges against the surfaces of 56 and 58, forcing the actuator top 50 away from the rubbing edge 44 of the first sidewall 40, facilitating scraping of the actuator top 50 with some force against the edge 44, as a result of which a louder sound may be produced.

The actuator top 50 has a first elongated side 60 and a second elongated side 62. The side 62 contacts an inner surface 64 of the sidewall 42. The side 60 of the actuator top 50 extends outwardly of the pointed edge 44 of the sidewall 40. The bottom surface 58 of the lid 50 is located slightly above the top 68 of the end wall 20. One or more acoustic openings 70 are formed between the lid 50 and the second end wall 20.

To further enhance the sound produced by the device 10, the present invention provides for the means of resisting pivotal movement of the lid 50. The resisting means comprises a flexible elastic resilient band 70 which is secured at one end to a pin 72 attached to the top lid 50 and at the second end—to a pin 74 coupled to the sidewall 42. The band 70 can be looped around the pins 72 and 74 so that the user can move the lid 50 with one finger engaging the proximal, or “handle” portion 76 of the actuator top 50. The elastic band 70 creates tension and pulls the lid 50 away from the rubbing edge 44. The user repeatedly opens and closes the lid 50, opening and closing the resonant box 12 to make the desired sound. The more force is applied against the resistance of the spring 54 and the band 70, the louder is the sound produced in the acoustic chamber. The pitch of the call can be adjusted by moving the lid 50 in a particular manner and scratching it against the pointed edge 44. The resultant scratching noise simulates a live turkey and is designed to attract the live turkey to the hunter or photographer.

When the user wishes to imitate a pot call, the user releases the latch 28 and removes the striker member 24 from the box 12. The user then repeatedly rubs the striker member against the transparent insert 46 or against the slate insert 50. The produced sound simulates a wild turkey cluck similar to a pot call. When not in use, the striker 24 is positioned in the box for storage, secured by the latch 28. An additional advantage of securing the striker 24 with the latch 28 is that no elements of the device can rattle or make undesirable noise when the user moves through the woods. As a result, the wildlife is not alarmed when the hunter moves closer to the target.

Many changes and modifications can be made in the design of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I therefore pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A turkey call device, comprising:

an open-top resonant box assembly having a closed bottom, a first upwardly extending sidewall, a second upwardly extending sidewall, a first upwardly extending end wall and a second upwardly extending end wall defining a resonant chamber therebetween; and

an actuator lid pivotally mounted between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, said actuator lid being positioned to frictionally move against a top edge of the first sidewall to thereby imitate turkey calls.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said actuator lid has a proximal end configured and dimensioned for manipulation by a user and a spaced distal end.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein a pivot pin is engaged between a distal end of the actuator lid and a first end wall, and wherein a compression spring is mounted between a bottom surface of the actuator lid and a top surface of the first end wall, said spring normally urges the actuator lid away from the first end wall.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein an insert is positioned in said first sidewall and said second sidewall, each of said inserts being formed from a different material.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein an insert positioned in the first sidewall is formed from a transparent material, while an insert positioned in the second sidewall is formed from slate.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a means for exerting resistance to the pivotal movement of the actuator lid.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said resistance means comprises a flexible elastic resilient band mounted between the actuator lid and the second sidewall.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein an opening is formed in the first end wall, and wherein a striker member is removably inserted into said opening.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said striker member comprises an outer portion extending outwardly from said opening and a second portion, positioned inside the resonant chamber.

10. The device of claim 8, further comprising a means for retaining position of said striker member in relation to the first end wall.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein said retaining means comprises a latch pivotally coupled to said first end wall, one end of said latch removably extending into an aperture formed in the outer portion of the striker member.

12. A turkey call device, comprising:

an open-top resonant box assembly having a closed bottom, a first upwardly extending sidewall, a second upwardly extending sidewall, a first upwardly extending end wall and a second upwardly extending end wall defining a resonant chamber therebetween;

an actuator lid pivotally mounted between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, said actuator lid being positioned to frictionally move against a top edge of the first sidewall to thereby imitate turkey calls; and

a striker member removably positioned in said resonant chamber.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising a means for exerting resistance to the pivotal movement of the actuator lid.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said resistance means comprises a flexible elastic resilient band mounted between the actuator lid and the second sidewall.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein an opening is formed in the first end wall, and wherein at least a portion of said striker member extends through said opening.

16. The device of claim 15, further comprising a means for selectively securing position of said outwardly extending portion of the striker member.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein said securing means comprises a pivotal latch coupled to said first end wall, a free end of said latch extending into an aperture formed in said outwardly extending portion of the striker member.

18. The device of claim 12, wherein an insert is positioned in said first sidewall and said second sidewall, each of said inserts being formed from a different material.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein an insert positioned in the first sidewall is formed from a transparent material, while an insert positioned in the second sidewall is formed from slate.