Amusement devices: toys – Sounding
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-19
2001-12-11
Nguyen, Kien T. (Department: 3712)
Amusement devices: toys
Sounding
C446S213000, C446S418000, C084S404000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328626
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of game calls, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a game call and associated method for creating sounds simulating the rattling antlers of sparring game animals.
BACKGROUND
Game hunters, photographers, and naturalists alike have long known the best way to view antler-bearing game animals is to be stationary and to attract the game animal to a desired area. This is because antlered animals, such as deer and elk, have keen senses of sight, smell and hearing, which when combined with the animal's speed and dexterity makes tracking such animals more difficult.
Numerous approaches have been developed to effectively attract an animal to a desired area, including, but not limited to, game calls, scents, and decoys. Game calls are generally devices that are used to simulate sounds associated with the animal.
One type of widely used game call is a reed-bearing device through which a user exhausts pulmonary air to produce sounds similar to that of an animal cry. Typical of these devices include U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,925 issued to Ady; U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,903 issued to Parrott et al.; and U.S. Des. Pat. No. 393,223 issued to Hall.
Another type of widely used call is a percussion device that produces sounds similar to the rattling antlers of sparring animals. These devices generally include two or more members that are struck together to produce the desired percussions. Typical of these devices include U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,494 issued to Ball; U.S. Pat. No. 5,334,074 issued to Suminski; U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,320 issued to Becker; U.S. Des. Pat. No. 376,555 issued to Gebhardt; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,928,056 issued to Molotschko.
A recognized problem in the art is that these percussion device solutions require two hands to operate the associated devices. That is, to produce the desired percussions the user must occupy one hand with one portion of the noise making device and strike it against another portion of the noise making device that is supported in the user's other hand. This means the user cannot manipulate other equipment, such as a camera or a firearm, while using the game call.
Solutions have been attempted that permit a hands-free operation of a percussion-type game call. One such solution is provided by U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,664 issued to Shockley, which teaches a pair of antlers suspended by a motor actuated linkage which, when actuated, brings the antlers into engagement with one another. The motor can be actuated by the user who remotely controls a radio controlled servo, or the motor can be controlled by automatic timing schemes.
Drawbacks to this solution are apparent. The complexity of the electromechanical device makes it relatively expensive and maintenance intensive. The device is also relatively cumbersome to set up and to relocate.
Another recognized problem in the art is that these and other devices are incapable of producing authentic sounds of a sparring match which in reality varies in intensity from very light ticks, in early phases of a sparring match, to violent clashing associated with an all-out battle.
The art has advanced to a state which provides numerous alternatives of percussion-type devices that effectively attract game animals. There is a need, however, for a simple and inexpensive device that permits a hands-free operation enabling the user to use the game call simultaneously with other equipment such as a camera or a firearm, and which would furthermore permit the user to create the full range of various sounds similar to that of a sparring match between antlered animals.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a game call for creating sounds similar to rattling antlers for attracting antlered animals. The game call has a body member with a proximal end and a longitudinally disposed distal end, an inner surface extending between the proximal end and the longitudinally disposed distal end and defining a central cavity, an outer surface substantially parallel to the inner surface, and a pair of opposing longitudinal edges defining a longitudinal opening contiguous with the central cavity. A scalloped surface is provided by a plurality of concave indentations disposed at longitudinal spacings in the body member and laterally extending from a first edge of the pair of opposing longitudinal edges. A scalloped surface is furthermore provided by a plurality of concave indentations disposed at longitudinal spacings in the body member and laterally extending from a second edge of the pair of opposing longitudinal edges.
The game call furthermore has a striking member having a handle portion and a striking bar portion. The user of the game call of the present invention grasps the handle portion of the striking member and strikingly and slidingly engages the striking bar portion of the striking member against the scalloped surfaces by engaging one or the other of the scalloped surfaces or by engaging both scalloped surfaces simultaneously, depending on the desired sound created by the game call.
A strap is receivingly disposed longitudinally within the central cavity and wraps around and attaches to a user's leg to supportingly attach the game call to the user's leg for a hands-free transport and operative support of the game call. The striking member is receivingly disposed in an aperture provided in the body member for storage of the striking member when the game call is not in use, and a flexible member is attached at one end to the handle of the striking member and is attached at an opposing end to the body member.
In this manner the game call can be used with one hand to strike and slide the striking member against the body member, which is supported by the user's leg. All the while, the user's other hand is freed to support a desired device such as a camera or a firearm. When an attracted animal is spotted, the user can drop the striking member and return both hands to the desired device, such as the camera or firearm, and the striking member being tethered by the flexible member falls silently so as to not frighten the animal away.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 309120 (1990-07-01), Stewart
patent: D. 309121 (1990-07-01), Stewart
patent: D. 334898 (1993-04-01), Lopez, III
patent: D. 376555 (1996-12-01), Gebhardt
patent: D. 393223 (1998-04-01), Hall
patent: 1982888 (1934-12-01), Tsukamoto
patent: 2642699 (1953-06-01), Green
patent: 4362080 (1982-12-01), DeArmas
patent: 4850925 (1989-07-01), Ady
patent: 4932920 (1990-06-01), Hearn
patent: 5019008 (1991-05-01), Hughes
patent: 5158494 (1992-10-01), Ball
patent: 5222903 (1993-06-01), Parrott et al.
patent: 5334074 (1994-08-01), Suminski
patent: 5484320 (1996-01-01), Becker
patent: 5555664 (1996-09-01), Shockley
patent: 5928056 (1999-07-01), Molotschko
patent: 6231418 (2001-05-01), Hancock et al.
Woods Wise Products 1998 Brochure, “WW Contact Doe Grunl” shown on p. 3.
Cegielnik Urszula M.
Foster & Foster
Nguyen Kien T.
Primos, Inc.
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