Abstract:
a keystone game call capable of producing various tones to reproduce the sounds of game such as fowl and more particularly wild turkeys.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/233,927, filed Aug. 14, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a game call apparatus, and more particularly to friction-type turkey call capable or reproducing various sounds of wild turkeys. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Wild turkeys are known to produce various sounds such as gobbles, clucks, putts, purrs, yelps, cutis, cackles, kee-kees and the like. To call a turkey, hunters competitive callers, bird watchers or photographers typically utilize devices to reproduce the natural sounds of wild turkeys. One type of turkey call is a friction call. Friction calls are the most common type of turkey call available because they are easy to use and produce realisitic turkey sounds. Generally, friction calls are made from a rough round surface. Sound is generated by draging a striker acrous the rough surface. 
         [0004]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a friction call according to the prior art. The friction call  10  contains a housing  11  and a rough striking surface  12  attached thereto. To create sound a striker  13  is rubbed against the rough striking surface  12 . Generally, the housing  11  has holes on the side opposite the striking surface  12  to allow sound to radiate from the friction call. 
         [0005]    Generally, friction calls are only capable of producing a single tone. No matter how the friction call is held, or where on the striking surface the striker is used, a single tone representative of a turkey sound is produced. However, it is unknown what type of sound a wild turkey will respond to on any given day. For this reason, it is common for hunter to carry multiple turkey calls to produce distinct sounds in attempt to call wild turkeys. 
         [0006]    Therefore, a friction call that can produce a wide range of tones is desired. 
         [0007]    Further, a friction call that fits easily in the users hand is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a keystone game call capable of producing various tones to reproduce the sounds of game such as fowl and more particularly wild turkeys. 
         [0009]    More particularly, the invention includes a unique shape to assist in the reproduction of various tones similar to those of wild turkeys. 
         [0010]    An advantage of the present invention is that the a single apparatus is capable of producing various tones representative of wild turkey sounds. 
         [0011]    A further advantage of the present invention is that the keystone turkey call fits comfortable in the palm of a hand. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The present invention is disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a representative view of a conventional friction call according to the prior art; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2A  is a top view of one embodiment of a keystone game call; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2B  is a front view of the keystone game call shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2C  is a back view of the keystone game call shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3A  is a top view of a another embodiment of a keystone game call; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3B  is a front view of the keystone game call shown in  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3C  is a back view of the keystone game call shown in  FIG. 3A ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a view of a keystone game call having finger grips on both sides; 
           [0021]      FIG. 5A  is a view of a keystone game call having a v-grip slot; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 5B  is a side view of the keystone game call shown in  FIG. 5A  exemplifying the v-grip. 
       
    
    
       [0023]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The examples set out herein illustrate several embodiments of the invention but should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 2A through 2C , there is shown one embodiment of the keystone game call. The keystone game call  20  includes a housing  21 , a first face  26  having an optional opening  24  and a second face  27  having an opening  25 . 
         [0025]    In use, the keystone game call  20  has a striking surface (not shown) to rub a striker against to produce sound. By utilizing a tapered shape depending on where the striker is rubbed against the striking surface distinct tones can be produced. Optionally, the keystone game call  20  has one or more openings to produce sound. By utilizing different sized openings and holding the keystone game call  20  in a different position various tones can be produced. 
         [0026]    The housing  21  is generally trapezoidal. In one embodiment the housing has two sides having openings to direct sound. It is understood that the housing may have openings on just one side, three sides or all four sides. Optionally, openings may be placed in the bottom surface  28 . In one embodiment, the housing has two sides  29  having no openings and a short front face  26  having a first opening  24  and a second long face  27  having an opening  25 . It is understood that the two sides  29  may be of equal or different lengths. In one embodiment, at least one of the sides  29  is between 2 and 8 inches in length. In another embodiment, at least one of the sides  29  is less than 5 inches in length. In yet another embodiment, at least one of the sides  29  is about 4 inches in length. In another embodiment, at least one of the sides  29  is about 3.5 inches in length. In one embodiment, the length of the long face  27  and the length of at least one of the side faces  29  are within 1 inch of each other. In yet another embodiment, the length of the long face  27  and the length of at least one of the side faces  29  are within 0.5 inches of each other. 
         [0027]    The two sides  29  may form the same or different angles with the short front face  26 . In one embodiment, the angle between the short front face  26  and the side  29  is between 91 and 140 degrees. In another embodiment, the angle between the short front face  26  and the side  29  is between 100 and 110 degrees. In yet another embodiment, the angle between the short front face  26  and the side  29  is about 105 degrees. 
         [0028]    In one embodiment, the housing  21  further contains an ergonomically shaped grip on one or both of the sides  29 . The ergonomically shaped grip can be custom formed as part of the housing  21 . In another embodiment, the ergonomically shaped grip is added onto the housing and may be a fixed grip or removable for user preference. 
         [0029]    The housing  21  may be made out of any material suitable for creating a game call. For example, wood, resin, plastic, polymer or metal may be used to form the housing  21 . 
         [0030]    To form a sound chamber, the housing  21  optionally contains a recessed area  22  for holding the striking surface. In one embodiment, the recessed area  22  provides support for the striking surface. In another embodiment, the housing  21  optional contains internal supports  23  provide support for the striking surface. In yet another embodiment, both the recessed area  22  and the internal supports  23  provide support for the striking surface. It is understood that the striking surface may contain multiple layers of material to enhance sound reproduction. The striking surface may be any suitable material such as, slate, glass or aluminum. 
         [0031]    The internal supports  23 , if present, may be made from any suitable material. In one embodiment, the internal supports  23  are made from the same material as the housing  21 . The internal supports  23  may be of any shape size or thickness. The internal supports  23  may support the striking surface or any intermediate sound enhancing or support layer. For example, an inside soundboard may be used to enhance sound reproduction. The soundboard may be of any suitable material. In one embodiment the soundboard is glass. In one embodiment, the housing is filled with a sound enhancing material. 
         [0032]    The openings in the housing may be of any size or shape. As shown in  FIGS. 2A-2C  the openings are shown as elliptical opening.  FIGS. 3A-3C  show an alternative embodiment of the keystone game call. As shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C , the openings are shown as circular holes. It is understood that the openings can be of any shape or size. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3A-3C  there is shown an alternative embodiment of the keystone game call  30 . The housing  31  contains an optional recessed area  32  and internal supports  33 . It is understood that the internal supports can be of any size or shape and may also be utilized to enhance sound reproduction. The front face  36  and back face  37  contain a series of openings  34  and  35  respectively. The openings are designed to enhance sound reproduction and while shown as circular holes, it is understood that the opening can take any suitable shape. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 4  there is shown an alternative embodiment of the keystone game call having finger grips  41  on both sides. It is understood that the finger grips may be positioned on only one side of the keystone call. The finger grips may also be coated or covered with a material to provide improved grip or additional softness. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIGS. 5A-5B  there is shown an alternative embodiment of the keystone game call having a grip slot  51  along the sides of the keystone game call. The grip slot  51  can be “v,” “u,” or any other shape to increase grip on the keystone game call. In one embodiment the grip slot provides an additional striking surface. This additional striking surface provides a further range of tones to assist in calling game. 
         [0036]    While the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention. 
         [0037]    Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.