GAME CALL APPARATUS
A game call apparatus comprises a mouthpiece including an air inlet opening, an air outlet opening, and a mouthpiece air passageway connecting the air inlet opening and the air outlet opening. The game call apparatus further comprises an outer sound chamber including an air inlet opening, an air exit opening, and an internal surface connecting the air inlet opening of the outer sound chamber and the air exit opening. The game call further comprises an inner sound chamber including an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening disposed within the outer sound chamber. The inner sound chamber air passageway connects the air inlet opening of the inner sound chamber and the air outlet opening of the inner sound chamber, and the inner sound chamber air passageway is in communication with the mouthpiece air passageway to permit air passage between the air inlet opening of the mouthpiece and the air exit opening of the outer sound chamber.
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This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/586,832 filed on Oct. 26, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to game calls for hunting and more particularly to a deer call which will produce the natural sounds of a rutted male deer.
Numerous devices have been developed over the years to imitate the sounds of wild animals, particularly game animals. Many efforts have been attempted to simplify and improve the quality of the sounds produced by game calls. Many game calls require extensive practice before they are mastered. Some users simply cannot master the calls even after hours of practice.
In addition to the problem of the difficulty in using a game call, there are several problems that exist with respect to the effectiveness of traditional game calls. Due to the increased popularity of hunting and the perceived effectiveness of using game calls, more hunters are taking the field each year using a variety of different types of game calls. Accordingly, game animals are becoming increasingly discriminating and wary of many traditional calls. Unless the call is capable of imitating with a high degree of precision actual sounds of the game animal, it will likely be ineffective. Many calls on the market today fail to replicate with enough precision the actual sounds made by the game animal and thus serve primarily to frustrate the hunter. These game calls serve more to alert the animals of a potentially dangerous situation than to call game into close range.
Broadly speaking, there are at least three primary categories of game calls that have existed over the years: diaphragm calls, whistle type calls, and reed calls. Diaphragm calls typically utilize a latex membrane stretched across an air passage opening such that the diaphragm vibrates as air passes through the passage. Whistle type calls are primarily used to simulate whistling sounds made by waterfowl. Whistle calls commonly use one or more balls disposed within a resonant chamber to provide a vibrato effect.
Reed-type game calls are probably the most common type of game call. Reed-type game calls typically include a reed disposed adjacent an air passage. Air is forced through the air passage by an operator through a mouthpiece, which causes the reed to vibrate at a certain tone or pitch, creating a sound that is emitted from an outlet of the call. For all reed-type calls, however, whether used for waterfowl, other species of birds, or game such as deer or elk, there is the problem of the ability or the skill level of the user in producing realistic sounds with the call which will attract the desired game animal. Thus, there is a need to produce a game call which will produce realistic sounds with minimum practice and a minimum skill level of the user.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one aspect, the invention provides a game call apparatus comprising a mouthpiece including an air inlet opening, an air outlet opening, and a mouthpiece air passageway connecting the air inlet opening and the air outlet opening. The game call apparatus further comprises an outer sound chamber including an air inlet opening, an air exit opening, and an internal surface connecting the air inlet opening of the outer sound chamber and the air exit opening. The game call further comprises an inner sound chamber including an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening disposed within the outer sound chamber. The inner sound chamber air passageway connects the air inlet opening of the inner sound chamber and the air outlet opening of the inner sound chamber, and the inner sound chamber air passageway is in communication with the mouthpiece air passageway to permit air passage between the air inlet opening of the mouthpiece and the air exit opening of the outer sound chamber.
In another aspect, the invention provides a game call apparatus comprising a mouthpiece having an air inlet opening, an air outlet opening, and a mouthpiece air passageway through which air passes from the air inlet opening to the air outlet opening. The game call apparatus further comprises a reed assembly disposed within the mouthpiece air passageway and including a sounding board defining a trough through which air passes within the game call apparatus. The game call apparatus further comprises an inner sound chamber having an air inlet opening, an air outlet opening, and an inner sound chamber air passageway through which air passes from the air inlet opening of the inner sound chamber to the air outlet opening of the inner sound chamber. The inner sound chamber air passageway is in communication with the trough and the mouthpiece air passageway. The game call apparatus further comprises an outer sound chamber in communication with the air outlet opening of the inner sound chamber. The outer sound chamber has an air exit opening through which air from the inner sound chamber air passageway escapes from the game call apparatus.
In yet another aspect, the invention provides a game call apparatus comprising a mouthpiece including an air inlet end and an air outlet end having an axially extending portion defining an air outlet opening. The game call apparatus further comprises an outer sound chamber including a first end removably engaging the mouthpiece and a second end extending away from the mouthpiece. The second end has an air exit opening through which air escapes from the game call apparatus. The game call apparatus further comprises an inner sound chamber extending away from the mouthpiece. The inner sound chamber includes an air inlet end removably engaging the mouthpiece and an air outlet end defining an air outlet opening in communication with the outer sound chamber.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFurther objects and advantages of the invention will appear when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Referring generally to the drawings, a game call apparatus 2 according to the present invention is illustrated. The game call apparatus 2 includes a barrel member or mouthpiece 4, an inner tubular sound chamber 20, an outer tubular sound chamber 60, and a reed assembly 50. The mouthpiece 4 has an air passage 18 including an internal cylindrical surface 13 formed by the air inlet end 6 and the air outlet end 8 through which air will pass when the air opening 5 of the mouthpiece 4 is placed in a user's mouth and air is blown into the mouthpiece. A lanyard groove 16 is formed in the mouthpiece approximately midway between the air inlet end 6 and the air outlet end 8 to provide a location for attachment of a lanyard for conveniently carrying the game call apparatus 2. Adjacent the air outlet end 8 of the mouthpiece, an external radially extending annular flange 10 having a flat face 12 is provided for receiving a complimentary flat end face 70 of the outer tubular sound chamber 60 which will be discussed hereinbelow. Also, for snugly receiving the outer tubular sound chamber 60, the air outlet end 8 of the mouthpiece has an external cylindrical surface 9 over which the outer tubular sound chamber 60 can be tightly fitted. The internal cylindrical surface 13 of the air passage 18 adjacent the air outlet end 8 also includes an annular shoulder 14 against which the air inlet end 24 of the inner tubular sound chamber 20 abuts to provide a snug fit of the member 20, as will be discussed further hereinafter. Also, the air passage 18 includes an internal cylindrical surface 15 from which the shoulder 14 extends radially inward and which has a diameter such that the air inlet end 24 of the inner tubular sound chamber 20 is received with a very small clearance.
With reference particularly to
The second cylindrical extension 40, as shown in
With reference to
The game call apparatus 2 further includes an outer tubular sound chamber 60 having a cylindrical attachment end 62, an air exit end 64 and an internal cylindrical surface 66 connecting the attachment and air exit ends, as illustrated in
With respect to the operation of the game call apparatus, a significantly improved deer call is provided by the tapered constriction of the outer tubular member 60 which causes an air back pressure resulting in a more mellow, deep tonal quality in the growling sound of a rutted buck. The back pressure also assists with improved control of the call so that highly realistic growling, grunting and popping sounds can be produced. The constriction caused by the smaller exit opening 82 in the outer sound chamber also assists with providing the realistic sound.
Another benefit of the game call of the invention relates to the problem that air blown by users through the reed assembly of game calls is often at too high of a velocity. This causes the reed to seize and not vibrate as desired. In the game call disclosed herein the tapered outer tubular sound chamber and the smaller air exit opening from the apparatus decreases the air velocity through the reed assembly so that it is less prone to seizing. This permits air blowing into the mouthpiece that may otherwise be too hard to nevertheless produce a desirable tone quality at the reed.
It will be understood that the forgoing description of the present invention is for purposes of illustration only and that the invention is susceptible to a number of modifications or changes, none of which entail any departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the hereto appended claims.
Claims
1-8. (canceled)
9. A game call apparatus comprising:
- a mouthpiece having an air inlet opening, an air outlet opening, and a mouthpiece air passageway through which air passes from the air inlet opening to the air outlet opening;
- a reed assembly disposed within the mouthpiece air passageway and including a sounding board defining a trough through which air passes within the game call apparatus;
- an inner sound chamber having an air inlet opening, an air outlet opening, and an inner sound chamber air passageway through which air passes from the air inlet opening of the inner sound chamber to the air outlet opening of the inner sound chamber, the inner sound chamber air passageway being in communication with the trough and the mouthpiece air passageway;
- an outer sound chamber in communication with the air outlet opening of the inner sound chamber, the outer sound chamber having an air exit opening through which air from the inner sound chamber air passageway escapes from the game call apparatus; and
- wherein the inner sound chamber includes an air outlet end defining the air outlet opening of the inner sound chamber, the air outlet end including an outer surface, and further comprising an air space between the internal surface of the outer sound chamber and the outer surface of the inner sound chamber.
10-19. (canceled)
20. A game call apparatus comprising:
- a mouthpiece including: an air inlet end; an air outlet end having an axially extending portion defining an air outlet opening;
- an outer sound chamber including: a first end removably engaging the mouthpiece; a second end extending away from the mouthpiece and having an air exit opening through which air escapes from the game call apparatus;
- an inner sound chamber extending away from the mouthpiece and including: an air inlet end removably engaging the mouthpiece; and an air outlet end defining an air outlet opening in communication with the outer sound chamber.
21. The game call apparatus of claim 20, wherein the air outlet end of the mouthpiece includes:
- an end surface;
- an external surface;
- a flange spaced apart from the end surface and extending radially outwardly from the external surface; and
- wherein the first end of the outer sound chamber abuts the flange of the mouthpiece and includes an internal surface removably fitted over the external surface of the mouthpiece.
22. The game call apparatus of claim 20, wherein the air outlet end of the mouthpiece includes an internal section defining the air outlet opening of the mouthpiece, and the air inlet end of the inner sound chamber is removably inserted in the internal section of the mouthpiece.
23. The game call apparatus of claim 20, wherein the air outlet end of the inner sound chamber is disposed between the first end and the second end of the outer sound chamber.
24. The game call apparatus of claim 20, wherein the outer sound chamber tapers inwardly from the first end to the second end.
25. The game call apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a reed assembly including:
- a sounding board defining a trough through which air passes within the game call apparatus, the sounding board being supported by the air inlet end of the inner sound chamber and extending into the mouthpiece; and
- a reed supported by the sounding board.
26. The game call apparatus of claim 25, wherein the mouthpiece further includes an air passageway connecting the air inlet end and the air outlet end of the mouthpiece, the sounding board extending into the air passageway.
27. The game call apparatus of claim 25, wherein the reed assembly further includes a wedge, and the reed is supported between the sounding board and the wedge.
28. The game call apparatus of claim 27, wherein the outer sound chamber tapers inwardly from the first end to the second end.
29. A game call apparatus comprising:
- a mouthpiece including: an air inlet opening; an air outlet opening; a mouthpiece air passageway connecting the air inlet opening and the air outlet opening;
- a first extension including: an air inlet opening in communication with the air outlet opening of the mouthpiece; an air outlet opening; an internal air passageway connecting the air inlet opening of the first extension and the air outlet opening of the first extension;
- a second extension including: an air inlet opening in communication with the air outlet opening of the first extension; an air exit opening; an air passageway connecting the air inlet opening of the second extension and the air exit opening; and a plurality of corrugations disposed between the air inlet opening of the second extension and the air exit opening, the plurality of corrugations being collapsible and extendable to adjust the position of the air exit opening relative to the air inlet opening of the second extension.
30. The game call apparatus of claim 29, further comprising a reed assembly disposed within the mouthpiece air passageway.
31. The game call apparatus of claim 30, wherein the reed assembly includes:
- a sounding board defining a trough through which air passes within the game call apparatus; and
- a reed supported by the sounding board.
32. The game call apparatus of claim 31, wherein the reed assembly further includes a wedge, and the reed is supported between the sounding board and the wedge.
33. The game call apparatus of claim 32, wherein the sounding board is directly supported by the first extension within the internal air passageway.
34. The game call apparatus of claim 29, wherein the first extension is removably mounted to the mouthpiece.
35. The game call apparatus of claim 34, wherein the first extension is removably inserted in the mouthpiece.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 13, 2010
Publication Date: Sep 16, 2010
Applicant: Flambeau, Inc. (Baraboo, WI)
Inventor: Mark Drury (St. Peters, MO)
Application Number: 12/686,718
International Classification: A01M 31/00 (20060101); A63H 5/00 (20060101);