BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Game calls are becoming more desirable for an ever increasing number of various animals. Game calls are being used as much for observation and photography as for hunting. What are needed are improved game calls that provide flexible use for a wide range of animals.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Various embodiments of improved game call components, improved game call subassemblies and improved game calls are provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 depicts a partially exploded section view of a combination game call;
FIG. 2 depicts a section view of a combination game call;
FIG. 3 depicts a section view of a game call;
FIG. 4 depicts a partially exploded section view of a combination game call;
FIG. 5 depicts a section view of a combination game call; and
FIG. 6 depicts a section view of a game call.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION It should generally be understood that a given game call may be configured to provide a call sound for various types of fowl, such as, ducks, geese; birds, such as owls and doves; predatory animals, such as coyote, wolf, fox, bear; big game, such as, deer, elk, moose; ungulates and quadrupeds, well as, a host of other desirable sounds. It is often desirable to have two different species calls, for example, to have both a mallard and a teal call when near duck habitats. Often times an alternate species call may be desirable to make the sound of an animal, in distress for example, to attract a predator of the given call animal. Alternatively, for example, a crow call may be used to attract coyote. Often, hunting is an opportunistic sport in that a person may be desiring to hunt one animal and it turns out a different type of animal is more prevalent in the given area; this makes having an array of calls available at any given time. It may be desirable to have two calls of a given type in case one freezes up during the winter for example. In any event, it is not desirable to have a host of calls hanging from a lanyard around one's neck.
A given combination game call may be configured to provide at least two different sounds with any given configuration. It should be understood that generally round bore, channel and duct cross sections depicted in the Figs. may be replaced with square, rectangular, oval, triangular and other cross sections without deviating from the scope of protection of the pending claims. In using the associated game calls to call animals, for example, adjacent portions of the common discharge member are grasped between the thumb and the base of the index finger with the hand over the free end of the air discharge member. When the hand is placed in this position, it is completely or substantially completely around the common air discharge member, and during the calling operation the fingers and a portion of the hand are continually in motion. Thus, it is desirable to have the spacing of the air delivery members sufficiently far apart to permit proper grasping of one of the air delivery members and freedom of movement of the fingers and hand throughout the calling operation. It is also desirable to have a game call configured such that it will fit loosely into most conventional pockets and can be carried on a lanyard, thong or cord around the user's neck or shoulder strap.
Referring initially to FIG. 1 a partially exploded section view of a combination game call is depicted comprising a common air discharge member 110 having a common bore 115, a first bore 116, a second bore 117 and an air discharge opening 118. It should be understood that two, three, four or more individual bores may be configured with a common bore to facilitate more than two air delivery units. In at least one embodiment the combination game call comprises a lanyard connector 180 with corresponding aperture 181 configured to connect to a lanyard for carrying the combination game call, for example, around a person's neck. In at least one embodiment a first removable reed 160, a first removable sound board 170 with air channel 171 is positioned within the first bore 116 of the common discharge member along with a first removable wedge 150. Although the view of the game call shown, for example, in FIG. 1 depicts the profile of the reed, sound board and wedge as being oriented with the plan view of the common air discharge; it should be understood that the orientation may be other than as depicted or may be user re-configurable. It should also be understood that any given reed, sound board and wedge may be uniquely oriented with respect to any other, such as, one being 180 degrees different than the other to facilitate similar hand hold from using the first air delivery member and the second. This allows the call to be turned over when moving from one side to the other (i.e. changing from a first air delivery member to a second, for example. The combination game call may be configured such that the first removable wedge securely holds the first removable reed and the first removable sound board within the first bore. In at least one embodiment a first outer wall 111 of the first bore is slightly tapered and configured to be received within a first air duct 130 of a first removable air delivery member 120. In at least one embodiment a first inner wall 131 of the first removable air delivery member is slightly tapered such that when the first removable air delivery member is received around the first outer wall of the common air discharge member the associated first removable wedge, the first removable reed and the first removable sound board are slightly compressed to further secure the subassembly in place. In at least one embodiment a first ring 140 is placed around the first removable air delivery member to prevent cracking when the first removable air delivery member is coupled with the common air discharge member. With further reference to FIG. 3, in at least one embodiment a first slit 313 is formed in the wall of the first bore to allow the first removable wedge, the first removable reed and the first removable sound board to be further compressed into place when the first removable air delivery member is place on the common air discharge member. With further reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, in at least one embodiment the combination game call further comprises a second removable reed 165, a second removable sound board 175 with air channel 176 is positioned within the second bore 117 of the common discharge member along with a second removable wedge 155. The combination game call may be configured such that the second removable wedge securely holds the second removable reed and the second removable sound board within the second bore. In at least one embodiment a second outer wall 112 of the second bore is slightly tapered and configured to be received within a second air duct 135 of a second removable air delivery member 125. In at least one embodiment a second inner wall 136 of the second removable air delivery member is slightly tapered such that when the second removable air delivery member is received around the second outer wall of the common air discharge member the associated second removable wedge, the second removable reed and the second removable sound board are slightly compressed to further secure the subassembly in place. In at least one embodiment a second ring 145 is placed around the second removable air delivery member to prevent cracking when the second removable air delivery member is coupled with the common air discharge member. With further reference to FIG. 3, in at least one embodiment a second slit 314 is formed in the wall of the second bore to allow the second removable wedge, the second removable reed and the second removable sound board to be further compressed into place when the second removable air delivery member is place on the common air discharge member. It should be understood that in at least one embodiment at least one removable air delivery member is configured to comprise a reed and sound board such that the given combination game call may acquire a new sound simply by exchanging the removable air delivery member with one configured for a different sound. It should also be understood that the sound may be reconfigured by provided a different removable reed and or removable sound board. It should additionally be understood that each of the first and second bores may comprise different dimensions such that each accommodates different sized reeds and or sound boards, thereby, facilitating even a wider range of sounds. It should be understood that any given air delivery unit may comprise a first and second reed along with an additional sound board and, or, an additional wedge. It should be understood that a given call may be reversed such that air is delivery via the air discharge opening, for example, to produce a buck grunt or a doe bleat; a “blank” air delivery member without an air delivery opening may be provided to block air flow through an unused bore. It should also be understood that a given game call may be configured without an air delivery member and have a reed, sound board and wedge inserted into a bore of a common discharge member, a user may vary the sound by changing the position along the reed(s) at which point and, or, how much pressure is exerted with one's lips; protective caps may be provided to prevent reed and, or, sound board damage. For example, a “blank” may be configured to fit over at least one reed and at least one sound board and be constructed to appear as an air delivery member.
Turning now to FIG. 2 a sectional view of an embodiment of an assembled combination game call 200 is depicted comprising a common discharge member 210 having a common bore 215 with an air discharge opening 218, a first bore 216, a second bore 217 and a first outer wall 211. In at least one embodiment a lanyard connector 280 with aperture 281 is provided for attachment to a lanyard for carrying the combination game call, for example, around a person's neck. In at least one embodiment a first reed 260, a first sound board 270 with first air channel 271 is positioned within the first bore 216 with a first wedge 250 securing the first reed 260 and first sound board 270 with a first air channel 271 in the desired position. In at least one embodiment a first air delivery member 220 is provided with a first air duct 230 having a first air delivery opening 232, a first inner wall 231 and a first ring 240. In at least one embodiment the first air delivery member is configured to be friction fit upon the first outer wall of the common air discharge member. In at least one embodiment a second reed 265, a second sound board 275 with second air channel 276 is positioned within the second bore 217 with a second wedge 255 securing the second reed 265 and second sound board 275 with a second air channel 276 in the desired position. In at least one embodiment a second air delivery member 225 is provided with a second air duct 235 having a second air delivery opening 237, a second inner wall 236 and a second ring 245. In at least one embodiment the second air delivery member is configured to be friction fit upon the second outer wall of the common air discharge member. It should be understood that any combination of components including an air discharge member, a reed, a wedge, a sound board and an air delivery member may be formed as an integral component or be configured in various subassemblies such that any given component or subassembly may be replaced or exchanged with different components or subassemblies to produce a desired sound.
With further reference to FIG. 3 a cross section of a given game call is depicted having an outer wall 311/312 of an air discharge member with a slit 313/314, a sound board 370/375 with an air channel 371/376, a reed 360/365 and a wedge 350/355. The air discharge member of FIG. 3 is configured to receive an air delivery member (not shown in FIG. 3) surrounding the outer wall. It should be understood that an air delivery member may be configured as depicted in FIG. 3 configured to receive an air discharge member surrounding an outer wall of the air delivery member.
Turning now to FIG. 4 a partially exploded section view of a combination game call is depicted comprising a common air discharge member 410 having a common bore 415, a first bore 416, a second bore 417 and an air discharge opening 418. In at least one embodiment the combination game call comprises a lanyard connector 480 with corresponding aperture 481 configured to connect to a lanyard for carrying the combination game call, for example, around a person's neck. In at least one embodiment a first removable reed 460, a first removable sound board 470 with air channel 471 is positioned within the first bore 416 of the common discharge member along with a first removable wedge 450. The combination game call may be configured such that the first removable wedge securely-holds the first removable reed and the first removable sound board within the first bore. In at least one embodiment a first threaded outer wall 411 with a first O-ring 490 of the first bore is slightly tapered and configured to be received within a first air duct 430 of a first removable air delivery member 420. In at least one embodiment a first threaded inner wall 431 with first stop portion 491 of the first removable air delivery member is slightly tapered such that when the first removable air delivery member is received around the first outer wall of the common air discharge member the associated first removable wedge, the first removable reed and the first removable sound board are slightly compressed to further secure the subassembly in place. In at least one embodiment a first ring 440 is placed around the first removable air delivery member to prevent cracking when the first removable air delivery member is coupled with the common air discharge member. With further reference to FIG. 6, in at least one embodiment a first slit 613 is formed in the wall of the first bore to allow the first removable wedge, the first removable reed and the first removable sound board to be further compressed into place when the first removable air delivery member is threaded onto the common air discharge member. The first O-ring 490 and the first stop portion 491 cooperate to provide repeatable replacement of a first removable air delivery member upon the first outer threaded wall, such that, the game call can withstand dropping and/or banging against hard objects. With further reference to FIGS. 4 and 6, in at least one embodiment the combination game call further comprises a second removable reed 465, a second removable sound board 475 with air channel 476 is positioned within the second bore 417 of the common discharge member along with a second removable wedge 455. The combination game call may be configured such that the second removable wedge securely holds the second removable reed and the second removable sound board within the second bore. In at least one embodiment a second threaded outer wall 412 of the second bore is slightly tapered and configured to be received within a second air duct 435 of a second removable air delivery member 425. In at least one embodiment a second threaded inner wall 436 with second stop portion 496 of the second removable air delivery member is slightly tapered such that when the second removable air delivery member is received around the second outer wall of the common air discharge member the associated second removable wedge, the second removable reed and the second removable sound board are slightly compressed to further secure the subassembly in place. In at least one embodiment a second ring 445 is placed around the second removable air delivery member to prevent cracking when the second removable air delivery member is threaded onto the common air discharge member. With further reference to FIG. 6, in at least one embodiment a second slit 614 is formed in the wall of the second bore to allow the second removable wedge, the second removable reed and the second removable sound board to be further compressed into place when the second removable air delivery member is place on the common air discharge member. It should be understood that in at least one embodiment at least one removable air delivery member is configured to comprise a reed and sound board such that the given combination game call may acquire a new sound simply by exchanging the removable air delivery member with one configured for a different sound. It should also be understood that the sound may be reconfigured by provided a different removable reed and or removable sound board. It should additionally be understood that each of the first and second bores may comprise different dimensions such that each accommodates different sized reeds and or sound boards, thereby, facilitating even a wider range of sounds.
Turning now to FIG. 5 a sectional view of an embodiment of an assembled combination game call 500 is depicted comprising a common discharge member 510 having a common bore 515 with an air discharge opening 518, a first bore 516, a second bore 517 and a first threaded outer wall 211 with first O-ring 590. In at least one embodiment a lanyard connector 580 with aperture 581 is provided for attachment to a lanyard for carrying the combination game call, for example, around a person's neck. In at least one embodiment a first reed 560, a first sound board 570 with first air channel 571 is positioned within the first bore 516 with a first wedge 550 securing the first reed 560 and first sound board 570 with a first air channel 571 in the desired position. In at least one embodiment a first air delivery member 520 is provided with a first air duct 530 having a first air delivery opening 532, a first inner wall 531 with first stop portion 591 and a first ring 540. In at least one embodiment the first air delivery member is configured to be threaded upon the first threaded outer wall of the common air discharge member. In at least one embodiment a second reed 565, a second sound board 575 with second air channel 576 is positioned within the second bore 517 with a second wedge 555 securing the second reed 565 and second sound board 575 with a second air channel 576 in the desired position. In at least one embodiment a second air delivery member 525 is provided with a second air duct 535 having a second air delivery opening 537, a second inner wall 536 with second stop portion 596 and a second ring 545. In at least one embodiment the second air delivery member is configured to be threaded upon the second outer wall of the common air discharge member. It should be understood that any combination of components including an air discharge member, a reed, a wedge, a sound board and an air delivery member may be formed as an integral component or be configured in various subassemblies such that any given component or subassembly may be replaced or exchanged with different components or subassemblies to produce a desired sound.
With further reference to FIG. 6 a cross section of a given game call is depicted having a threaded outer wall 611/612 of an air discharge member with a slit 613/614, a sound board 670/675 with an air channel 671/676, a reed 660/665 and a wedge 650/655. The air discharge member of FIG. 6 is configured to receive an air delivery member (not shown in FIG. 6) surrounding the threaded outer wall. It should be understood that an air delivery member may be configured as depicted in FIG. 6 configured to receive an air discharge member surrounding a threaded outer wall of the air delivery member.
Many sound boards, reeds, wedges and air delivery members are conventional, and any of the normal designs may be used if desired. For instance, the designs described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,406,479 may be used if desired. The disclosure of this patent is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference.
An illustration of a suitable call, a common air discharge member having an internal diameter of approximately 0.5 inch and a space of about approximately 2.0 inches between the air delivery members is quite suitable. Two round air delivery openings each having a diameter of approximately 0.375 inch and spaced approximately 1.125 of an inch a part (center-to-center), can conveniently be used.
It should be understood that any suitable materials such as wood, metal, deer antlers, animal bones, plastic and the like may be utilized for construction of the various components, subassemblies and complete integral game calls. In areas where increased strength is desirable, such as in the components that are taper fitted about another component various enhancements may be made such as the ring about the air delivery members shown in the Figs. It should be understood that in embodiments where the air discharge member is placed about the air delivery member a metal ring, for example, may be place about the air discharge member.
A carrying case (not shown) may be provided to organize and, or, store various game call components, such as, reeds, sound boards, wedges, air delivery members, as well as, complete game calls. A lanyard may be attached to a carrying case such that a user may place the lanyard around his neck or shoulder. It should be understood that an air delivery member having a blocked off opening may be provided such that a user may deliver air into the common discharge member and out through a given reed and, or, sound board. A lubricant may be provided in the carrying case as well to facilitate lubrication of a game call or components thereof.
It should be understood that a game call may be configured such that it will float when placed or dropped into the water. It should also be understood that a given carrying case and, or, component may be configured to float in addition to, or in lieu of, a given call.
It should be understood that the above detail descriptions are for illustrative purposes and that the description should in no way be read to limit the scope of the present invention. Therefore, all claims and claim limitations shall be construed to protect all structural and functional equivalents within the spirit of the doctrine of equivalents.
