Abstract:
A Temperature activated scent wick for dispensing into the air above the ground of an animal attraction scent for use by hunters includes a container made of substantially rigid material so as to resist atmospheric pressure affects having an interior volume for holding a volume of scent and substantially equal or greater volume of air. The container is adapted for suspension above the ground. A cap is provided for sealing the container. A temperature buffing scent reservoir passes through the cap with an interior intake end in flow communication with the interior scent volume and an exterior release end. An absorbent scent wick is securable about the temperature buffering scent reservoir release end wherein an increase in ambient temperature associated with morning and afternoon will result in the interior volume of air expanding to force the scent to pass through the temperature buffering scent reservoir on to the wick. A decrease in ambient temperature associated with later day will result in stopping the scent from passing through the reservoir as to conserve the scent.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to devices used in hunting for the release of attractant scents, and more specifically to such devices designed to deposit scent on a wick at a particular location over a period of time without human intervention.  
         [0003]     2. Background  
         [0004]     The use of animal attractant scents by hunters to increase their chances of hunting success is well known. In particular, these scents can be used in ways that take advantage of the mating processes of certain species. For example, in the case of white-tail deer it is known that the buck will prepare a “scrape” to attract a doe. The scrape is prepared by the buck as he scrapes the ground with his hooves at a particular spot and deposits some urine thereon. This action can serve to attract a doe who will then deposit a particular scent, produced when in heat, on the scrape, thereby indicating her receptiveness for mating. The buck will, in this matter, be alerted to the presence of the doe and will tend to spend more time in the location of his scrape. This increase in time spent in a particular area makes him easier to hunt. Thus, hunters will prepare an artificial scrape, or locate a natural scrape in attempts to attract a buck. This is done by finding a scrape, or preparing a mock scrape by scraping the ground in a manner similar to that of a buck, and then depositing a commercially available scent thereon that signals to the buck the presence of a doe in the correct stage of her estrous cycle.  
         [0005]     Devices for depositing such scents on the ground are known, and generally consist of a bottle or other container for holding the scent and a valve for regulating the rate that the scent drips therefrom onto the scrape. Such devices are typically suspended from a branch above the scrape and provide for a continuous release of the scent. However, such a continuous flow is not generally desirable as attractant scents are relatively expensive, and release is not necessary during the night, or during periods of rain when the scent can be washed away. Also, scent on the ground does not disburse as well as scent well above ground such as on a wick.  
         [0006]     Other temperature activated scent dispensing devices are known, that operate without the use of a valve mechanism. Examples of such a scent depositing device that could automatically regulate the flow of scent therefrom so as to minimize any waste of the scent and to increase the amount of time that the device could be left unattended are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,220,741; 5,279,062 and 5,361,527.  
         [0007]     Hanging scent wicks have also been used that absorb scent manually places thereon and dispense the scent overtime until the wick dries out. Such wicks requires daily scent deposit leaving unwanted human odors around the wick. Examples of these wicks are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,555,663; 6,158,668 and Des. 435,896.  
         [0008]     There is a need for a temperature activated scent wick for dispensing scent into the air for use by hunters. Such a wick should dispense during the day and stop at night. The device should contain enough scent as to operate several days without the need for the hunter to approach the device and leave unwanted human odors about the wick.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The present invention relates to a scent wick for use by hunters for dispensing scent to attract animals suitable for hunting. A Temperature activated scent wick for dispensing into the air above the ground of an animal attraction scent for use by hunters includes a container made of substantially rigid material so as to resist atmospheric pressure affects having an interior volume for holding a volume of scent and substantially equal or greater volume of air. The container is adapted for suspension above the ground. A cap is provided for sealing the container. A temperature buffing scent reservoir passes through the cap with an interior intake end in flow communication with the interior scent volume and an exterior release end. An absorbent scent wick is securable about the temperature buffering scent reservoir release end wherein an increase in ambient temperature associated with morning and afternoon will result in the interior volume of air expanding to force the scent to pass through the temperature buffering scent reservoir on to the wick. A decrease in ambient temperature associated with later day will result in stopping the scent from passing through the reservoir as to conserve the scent.  
         [0010]     The principal object and advantage of the present invention is that it drips scent onto the wick when temperatures are rising and stops dripping if temperatures are not rising. When temperatures fall, the device sucks in air bubbles to replace the scent that has dripped out during the day.  
         [0011]     Another object and advantage of the present invention is that the Temperature Activated Scent Wick stops dispensing scent in the evening and throughout the night so it does not waste scent and is less likely to attract deer and other big game animals in the evening and throughout the night when the hunter is not present.  
         [0012]     Another object and advantage of the present invention is that the Temperature Activated Scent Wick resumes dripping of scent on the wick in the morning and throughout the day without attendance by the hunter.  
         [0013]     Another object and advantage of the present invention is that the scent wick contains enough scent to operate for several days without the need to attend to it or replenish it.  
         [0014]     Another object and advantage of the present invention is that the hunter avoids leaving additional human odors in places adjacent to the Temperature Activated Scent Wick which would substantially increase the chance of the hunter being detected by the wild game which also dramatically reduces the hunters chances of success. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     A more thorough understanding of the operation of the present invention, and of its objects and advantages can be had in light of the following detailed description which refers to the following figures, wherein:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a plan partial cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a plan cross-sectional view broken away of an alternative embodiment  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  shows a plan cross-sectional view broken away of a further alternative embodiment.  
         [0019]      FIG. 4  shows a plan cross-sectional view of a further alternative embodiment.  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  shows a plan cross-sectional view of a further alternative embodiment.  
         [0021]      FIG. 6  shows a plan cross-sectional view of further alternative embodiment.  
         [0022]      FIG. 7  shows an elevational view of one version of the absorbent scent wick of the invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 8  shows a plan cross-sectional view broken away of a further embodiment.  
         [0024]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of a further embodiment.  
         [0025]      FIG. 10  shows an elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 9  broken away.  
         [0026]      FIG. 11  shows an elevational view of another cap embodiment partially broken away.  
         [0027]      FIG. 12  shows an elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 11 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 13  shows an elevational view of another cap embodiment partially broken away.  
         [0029]      FIG. 14  shows a broken away view of the cap of  FIG. 13 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0030]     As seen in  FIG. 1 , the present invention is referred to generally by numeral  10  and includes a substantial rigid container  12  such as a glass or plastic bottle. Container  12  defines an interior volume  14  for holding a liquid scent  16 , and has a single opening  18  defined by a neck  20 .  
         [0031]     A temperature buffering scent reservoir, generally designated  22 , includes a cap end portion  23  for providing threadable and sealable engagement with neck  20  of bottle  12 . Scent reservoir  22  is preferably made of a plastic material resilient so as to provide for a tight sealing engagement between end portion  23  and bottle  12 . Scent reservoir  22  further includes a reservoir portion  24  threadably engageable with cap portion  23 , having a base  25 , a top end  26  and a sidewall  27  extending therebetween. Base  25 , end  26  and sidewall  27  serve to define the rigid exterior housing or surface of the interior volume  30  of reservoir portion  24 . A scent delivery conduit  31  having an intake end  32  is integral with top end  26  and defines an intake orifice  33 . End  32  extends from the center of top end  26  towards base  25  and terminates with an end  34  having an orifice  35  closely adjacent base  25 . Conduit or tube  32  provides for fluid communication of scent  16  between container interior volume  14  and reservoir interior volume  30 . A scent releasing orifice  36  extends through sidewall  27  at a point thereon adjacent top end  26 . Scent wick  45  essentially covers scent releasing outface  36  and reservoir portion  24  and is releasable held in place by velcro hooks  47 .  
         [0032]     Scent wick  48  is generally a synthetic felt that will not chemically react with the scent  16 . Scent wick  48  will be easily grasped by Velcro hooks  47 . The felt must be highly absorbent, so that the scent  16  easily soaks into it and easily wicks out into the air. Various synthetic felts will work, including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, nylon, dacron, acrylic or the like.  
         [0033]     Bottle  12  may be covered with a thin insulating layer  37 , such as a ¼ inch of a foam rubber material, which is in turn covered by a camouflaging material  38 . Material  38  includes an eyelet  40  for providing for suspending of the present invention by a string or wire suspension means  42 .  
         [0034]     The operation of the present embodiment can now be appreciated wherein, reservoir  22  with scent wick  48  is first removed from container  12  so that scent  16  can be poured into interior  14  thereof. After re-engaging reservoir  22  with container  12  scent dispensing device  10  is suspended above the ground whereupon scent is to be distributed. String  42 , one end of which is secured to eyelet  40 , provides for such suspension from a suitable object such as a tree limb whereby it can be understood that container  12  will be inverted so that reservoir  22  is below container  12  with respect to the ground. Scent  16  will then flow to and stop at end  32  of tube  31 . This stoppage of flow is due primarily to the fact that interior volume  14  is sealed to prevent air from leaking into that interior volume and thereby allowing scent to be released.  
         [0035]     It can now be appreciated that an increase in temperature will cause expansion of the air in container  12  resulting in scent  16  being forced into reservoir volume  30  through conduit  31 . If the temperature increase is great enough scent  16  will fill reservoir volume  30  up to an above the level of orifice  36 , such level being indicated by dashed line  44 . Scent  16  can then exit through orifice  36  onto the scent wick  48 . Conversely, when the temperature cools in the evening, the air in container  12  will contract whereby scent  16  will be drawn out of reservoir volume  30  down to the level as indicated by dashed line  46 . When volume  30  is lowered to level  46 , air can then be sucked up tube  31  and into interior volume  14  of container  12 . This added volume of air replaces the volume of scent  16  deposited and allows additional scent  16  to be released during the next heating cycle. It can be seen that container  12  must be rigid so as to resist any atmospheric pressure effects that can tend to distort the interior volume thereof and thereby detract from the proper operation of the present invention.  
         [0036]     The present invention, thus, takes advantage of the relative change in temperature that generally occurs between day and night. It can also be appreciated that, after the first cycle of scent deposition onto wick  48 , the size of the interior reservoir volume that must first be filled, before scent deposition can take place, is indicated by the volume thereof between dashed lines  44  and  46 . This size therefore affects what degree of temperature increase, given a particular initial ratio of scent volume to container interior volume, is necessary to first cause such scent release. The minimum degree change desired for initial scent deposition can vary with respect to regional hunting conditions and requirements. However, it has been found that for conditions as typically encountered in the northern United States, a 10 degree Fahrenheit increase requirement is desirable to provide for adequate scent release buffering for this embodiment. Given a container volume of approximately 150 ml, and a ratio of the volume of scent to the interior volume of the container of about 1 to 4, a temperature increase of 10 degrees Fahrenheit will result in approximately 2.5 ml of scent being expelled from the container into the reservoir. Thus, the reservoir volume would have to equal approximately 2.5 ml to provide for the desired buffering effect. Generally speaking, about 2 to 5 mls of scent should be deposited each day to refresh scent wick  48  used to hunt white-tailed deer. Such volume of scent release will be accomplished in the above example if the daily increase in temperature is from 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Thus, the present invention can provide for unattended scent release, under average conditions as experienced by hunters in the northern United States, during a period from 5 to 9 days. As reservoir portion  24  is threadably engagable with cap portion  23 , it is contemplated that reservoirs of differing sizes can be used to accommodate various buffering volumes as may be dictated by particular hunting conditions.  
         [0037]     It can be appreciated that, the ratio between the volume of scent and the volume of the container affects the amount of scent pushed from the container, whereby the larger the proportion of air within the container is to the volume of scent initially, the greater will be the amount of scent so released for a given temperature increase. The above stated 1 to 4 ratio allows for an adequate amount of air in the container to push out the desired amount of scent under the above described conditions and parameters. However, it will be appreciated by those of skill, that changes of the ratio of the volume of scent to the interior volume of the container, and changes of the reservoir volume can be made to adapt the invention herein to differing hunting or climatic conditions or requirements. Thus, if greater temperature buffering is desired the reservoir volume could be increased and/or the volume of scent initially placed into the container could be increased with respect to the volume thereof, and conversely, if less temperature buffering is needed.  
         [0038]     A further embodiment of the present invention is seen in  FIG. 2 , wherein the modification is represented by a temperature buffering scent reservoir generally designated  50 . Reservoir  50  includes a cap end  52  for providing sealable and releasable engagement with container  12 . Reservoir  50  also includes a tube portion  54  sealably attached to or integral with cap end  52 . Portion  54  includes an intake end  55  defining an intake orifice  56  and extending therefrom to a release end  57  defining a scent release orifice  58 . A temperature buffering volume  59  is defined as that portion of the interior volume of tube  54  extending between dashed lines  60  and  61 . Velcro hooks  62  hold scent wick  63  releasably in place.  
         [0039]     In operation, as with the previous embodiment, after adding scent  16  to container  12 , the present invention is suspended above the ground whereby scent dispensing reservoir  50  depends below container  12 . Scent  16  will initially start at a level represented by dashed line  60 . Thus, an increase in temperature will cause scent  16  to travel through orifice  56  down tube  54  towards orifice end  57 . If the increase is sufficient scent can then be expelled out of orifice  58  for deposition onto scent wick  63 . Reduction of temperature will cause scent  16  to be pulled back into container  12  as the air therein contracts ultimately resulting in more air being sucked therein when scent  16  reaches level  60 .  
         [0040]     Tube portion  54  can be made of a flexible plastic material. Also, it is desirable that the inside diameter thereof be on the order of approximately ⅛th of an inch to help insure that the surface tension of the scent is sufficient to prevent air from bubbling up into container  12  as the result of the present invention being moved or shaken by the wind or other forces.  
         [0041]     A further embodiment of the present invention is seen in  FIG. 3 , wherein the modification is represented by a temperature buffering scent reservoir generally designated  70 . Reservoir  70  includes an attachment or cap portion  72  for providing sealable and releasable engagement with container  12 . Reservoir  70  also includes a tube reservoir portion  73  having an intake end  74  defining an intake orifice  75 . End  74  is secured to, or integral with cap portion  72  and extends therefrom to a scent releasing end  76  defining a scent release orifice  77 , about which is scent wick  86  held in place by velcro hooks  85 . In contradistinction to the embodiment seen in  FIG. 2 , tube portion  74  is formed into a loop whereby it extends through an arc of 360 degrees.  
         [0042]     In operation, as with the other described embodiments, after adding scent  16  to container  12 , the present invention is suspended above the ground whereby scent dispensing reservoir  70  depends below container  12 . Scent  16  will initially start at a level represented by dashed line  78 . Thus, an increase in temperature will cause scent  16  to travel through orifice  75  into tube portion  73  towards end  76 . If the temperature increase is sufficient, scent can travel to the apex of the circular loop portion as indicated by dashed line  80  tangent thereto. It can be understood that scent  16  will then be able to flow down the remaining length of tube portion  73  and out of orifice  77  for ultimate deposition onto the scent wick  86 . Tube portion  73  can be made of a flexible plastic material. Also, the inside diameter thereof can be somewhat greater than that of tube  54  of the embodiment in  FIG. 2 , as the formation of tube into a loop serves to further resist the accidental release of scent therefrom, as opposed to the  FIG. 2  embodiment. This is due to the fact that once scent has been deposited and the cooling or contraction cycle has begun air will be sucked into container  12  whereby scent  16  will be drawn to the level indicated by dashed line  83 . At this level air can be sucked into container  12  and, as a result thereof, scent  16  will not be drawn further into tube  73  in the direction of container  12 . Therefore, a portion of scent  16  will always reside above the bottom most point  82  of tube  73 . Thus, air must oppose gravity to enter into container  12  once scent  16  is pulled beck to the level indicated by line  83 . It can now be appreciated that the buffering volume of tube  73  between the levels indicated by dashed lines  80  and  83 . The inside diameter of tube portion  73  can be on the order of approximately ¼th of an inch, and to achieve the desired buffering and volume of scent deposition under conditions as experienced in the northern United States, should be approximately 7 inches long. It can be appreciated that tube portion  73  need not travel through a full 360 degrees of arc to be effective to resist air entering into container  12 , as for example tube portion  73  could, if suitable changes were made to the length and, or interior volume thereof, be formed into a j-shape by being cut off at the level as indicated by dashed line  84 .  
         [0043]     A further embodiment of the present invention is seen in  FIG. 4 , and generally designated  90 . Embodiment  90  is designed to be suspended in a manner inverse to that of the previously described embodiments wherein the temperature buffering scent reservoir  92  is held above container  12  with respect to the ground. Reservoir  92  includes tube reservoir portion  94  and a cap portion  96 . Cap  96  is sealably and releasably secured to container  12 . Tube portion  94  extends through cap  96  and is sealably engaged or integral therewith. Interior tube section  94   a  of tube portion  94  extends into the interior volume  14  of container  12  and terminates therein with a scent intake orifice  97  closely adjacent the bottom end  98  of container  12 . Exterior tube section  94   b  extends exterior of container  12  and terminates with a scent release orifice  100 , about which is secured scent wick  103  secured thereat with Velcro hooks  101 .  
         [0044]     Embodiment  90  also includes a pair of eyelets  102  and string or wire suspension means  104 , for providing suspension thereof above the ground.  
         [0045]     In operation, scent  16  is added into container  12 , reservoir  92  is sealably engaged with container  12 , after which dispenser  90  is suspended above the ground by suspension means  104 . As opposed to the previously described embodiments, temperature buffering reservoir  92  will, with the exception of interior tube section  94   a,  be oriented above container  12  with respect to the ground. Initially scent  16  will be at the level within tube section  94   a  as indicated by dashed line  106 . Dispenser  90  operates in the same manner as described herein with the previous embodiments of the present invention. Specifically, an increase in temperature will cause an expansion of the air within volume  14  resulting in scent  16  being pushed into orifice  97 , through tube portion  94  and ultimately out of orifice  100 , to drip onto the scent wick  103 . Interior tube section  94   a  is needed to reach scent  16 , which due to the orientation of this embodiment, will reside at the bottom  98  of container  12 . As with the other embodiments, a decrease in temperature will contract the air in container  12  causing scent  16  to be pulled back therein, and can result in additional air being brought into container  12  to replace the volume of scent  16  dispensed. In operation scent  16  will flow out of tube  94  when it reaches the apex or high point of the arcuate exterior portion  94   a,  as is indicated by the dashed line  108  tangent to that apical point. Thus, for the first cycling it can be seen that the reservoir buffering volume is represented by the volume of tube portion  94  between dashed lines  106  and  108 . However after the first deposition of scent and contraction, the exterior air drawn in will be held at the level of orifice  97 . Therefore, the effective reservoir volume for subsequent depositions will be the interior volume of tube  94  between orifice  97  and level  108 . Furthermore, tube portion  94  is j-shaped whereby orifice  100  is held somewhat away from bottle  12  so that scent  16  can be cleanly dispensed onto the wick  103  without contacting container  12 .  
         [0046]     A further embodiment of the present invention is seen in  FIG. 5 , and generally designated  110 . Embodiment  110  is also designed to be suspended in a manner inverse to that of the previously described embodiments wherein the temperature buffering scent reservoir  112  is held above the container  12  with respect to the ground. Reservoir  112  includes tube reservoir portion  114  and a cap portion  116 . Cap  116  is sealable and releasably secured to container  12 . Tube portion  114  extends through cap  116  and is sealably engaged or integral therewith. Interior tube section  114   a  of a tube portion  114  extends into the interior volume  14  of container  12  and terminated therein with a scent intake orifice  118  closely adjacent the bottom end  98  of container  12 . Exterior tube section  114   b  extends exterior of container  12  and terminates with a scent release orifice  120 , about which is secured scent wick with Velcro hooks  122 . The operation of this embodiment  110  dictates the reservoir buffering volume to be represented by the volume of the tube portion  114  between dashed lines  126  and  128 .  
         [0047]     A further embodiment of the present invention is seen in  FIG. 6 , wherein the modification is represented by a temperature buffering scent reservoir generally designated  142 . Reservoir  142  includes a cap end  150  for providing sealable and releasable engagement with container  12 . Reservoir  142  also includes a tube portion  144  sealably attached to or integral with cap end  150 . Portion  144  includes an intake end  146  (flush with cap  150 ) extending therefrom to a release end  148 . Velcro hooks  152  hold scent wick  154  releasably in place.  FIG. 7  shows one possible embodiment of a scent wick.  
         [0048]     Another further embodiment of the present invention is seen in  FIG. 8 , wherein the modification is represented by a temperature buffering scent reservoir or pin hole  160  through cap  162 . Cap  162  provides sealable and releasable engagement with container  12 . Scent reservoir  160  holds the scent therein by surface tension. Reservoir includes an intake end  164  and a release end  166 . Velcro hooks  168  hold scent wick  170  releasably in place. As the air inside container  12  expands, the resistive surface tension action is overcome and the scent is forced out release end  166  onto scent wick  170 . The process is reversed as the day ends.  
         [0049]     Yet another embodiment of the present invention is seen in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The temperature buffering scent reservoir is designated  174 . Reservoir  174  is similar to a cap of a plastic ketchup or honey bottle and interiorly looks like reservoir  142  of  FIG. 6 . A closure  176  is available to seal the container  12  and reservoir  142 . Scent wick  180  is suspended below, but not touching, external reservoir tip  178 . Otherwise, wick  180  might necessarily draw out scent from container  12 . Scent wick  180  has opposing wings  182  for support and attachment to reservoir by Velcro hooks  184 .  
         [0050]     Another embodiment of the present invention is seen in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . The temperature buffering scent reservoir is designated  188 . Reservoir  188  resembles a cap to a glue bottle made of plastic. Reservoir  188  is exteriorly threaded  190  and supports a depending plug  192 . A closure  194  is interiorly threaded and secured onto reservoir  188 . Closure  194  has a small aperture  196  aligned with plug  192 . With closure  194  screwed outwardly, scent may be forced our to drip onto wick  180  with support wings  182  held in place by Velcro hooks  184 .  
         [0051]     Reservoirs  142 ,  160 ,  174 ,  188  and  200  of  FIG. 6  and  8  through  14  hold the scent within container  12  by surface tension due to their smaller release ends  148 ,  160 ,  196  and  206  and reservoir volumes. Hence these reservoirs do not require as great as a daily temperature variation as the reservoirs  22 ,  50 ,  70 ,  92  and  112  of  FIGS. 1 through 5 .  
         [0052]     A final embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . The temperature buffering scent reservoir is designated  200 . Reservoir  200  resembles a cap to a squeeze bottle made of plastic. Reservoir  200  is rotatably captured in cap  202 . Reservoir  200  is in flow communication with container&#39;s  12  interior  14  when rotated outwardly from its closed and stored position from recess  204 . Scent may be forced out release end  206  to drip onto wick  180  with support wings  182  held in place by Velcro hooks  184 .  
         [0053]     It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that a wide variety of modifications to the present invention with respect to, for example, reservoir and container shapes and dimensions, and with respect to the orientation thereof to each other and to the ground, can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the essential attributes thereof. Therefore, it is desired that the disclosed embodiments be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.