Abstract:
A system and method for holding turkey pan calls which utilize a holder with legs that elevate the bottom of the pan call, having a plurality of grasping fingers which grip a side portion of a turkey pan call in response to a mechanical adjustment.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   For years, the typical turkey pan call has been a circular friction call with a circular playing surface disposed above a generally cylindrical sound chamber with at least one hole in the bottom from where sound propagates. 
   A hunter often rests the call on the hunter&#39;s leg. This tends to attenuate the sound produced by the call. To avoid this, the hunter would often tip the call on its side to expose the bottom of the call. This makes it difficult to play, because the top-playing surface is then vertical, or at least no longer horizontal. 
   One method of avoiding the need to tip the call is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,607,091 to John Musacchia, which is an example of a call holder which accepts a turkey pan call into an aperture in a platform having legs. The legs elevate the bottom of the turkey pan call so that sound is not occluded by the operator&#39;s leg. The turkey pan call is held in place by resilient members or rubber bands which extend over the playing surface of the pan call. 
   While such turkey pan call holders have been used in the past, they do have some drawbacks. One of the most significant drawbacks to such a pan call holder is the obstruction caused by the resilient member extending over the pan call itself. The obstruction can make it difficult to freely move a striker about the entire playing surface of the call and thereby can restrict the operator from certain areas of the pan call surface unless the operator manually moves or otherwise pushes the resilient member to the side. However, when an operator is calling a turkey, it is often desirable to limit the motion occurring at the source of the sound call. 
   Consequently, there exists a need for improved methods and systems for holding a turkey friction pan call in an efficient manner. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a system and method for holding a turkey friction pan call in an efficient manner. 
   It is a feature of the present invention to utilize a plurality of side rim grasping pan call holding members. 
   It is another feature of the present invention to include a mechanical adjustment which accommodates variably sized pan calls. 
   It is an advantage of the present invention to achieve improved efficiency in holding various sized pan calls. 
   The present invention is an apparatus and method for holding turkey friction pan calls, designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features, and achieve the already articulated advantages. The present invention is carried out in a “wasted motion-less” manner in a sense that motion often associated with displacing any resilient member disposed over the pan call playing surface has been greatly reduced. 
   Accordingly, the present invention is a system and method including a turkey friction call holder with a plurality of rim grasping members which grip a side rim portion of the turkey pan call. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The invention may be more fully understood by reading the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a downward looking perspective view of a turkey friction pan call and pan call holder of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an upward looking perspective view of a turkey friction pan call holder of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a turkey pan call holder taken on line  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Now referring to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like matter throughout, and more specifically referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a call holder of the present invention generally designated  100 , including a turkey pan call  102  (which is shown without the slate or playing surface) disposed in the turkey pan call holder  110 . Turkey pan call  102  is shown having a turkey pan call edge rim  104 , a turkey pan call bottom sound port  106 , and a plurality of turkey pan call side sound ports  108 . Numerous variations exist in the prior art for turkey pan calls. The present invention is intended to be able to retain numerous varying types and sizes of pan calls. 
   Turkey pan call holder  110  includes a first leg  112  and a second leg  114  which each has a bottom end  116  and a top end  118 . Coupled to top end  118  is support  140  which is designed to provide support for the rim gripping member  120 . Rim gripping member  120  is shown as an “L”-shaped member with a top portion which extends generally vertically and a lower portion which extends generally horizontally. Rim gripping member  120  is disposed between supports  140  and pivots at pivot point  122 . The pivoting of rim gripping member  120  could be accomplished by many different ways, such as the pin or sleeve disposed through holes in rim gripping member  120  and support  140  as shown. It can be seen that a portion of rim gripping member  120  extends above and slightly over the edge of the turkey pan call edge rim  104 . This arrangement may be preferable; however, it is not essential. Rim gripping member  120  could be adapted to merely place pressure on the sides of the turkey pan call  102 . 
   Now referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a view of the turkey pan call holder  110  of  FIG. 1  (without the turkey pan call  102  disposed therein) which is viewed from below to expose more of an underside of turkey pan call holder  110 . More specifically,  130  is more fully shown. Additionally, rim mating void  202  in rim gripping member  120  is shown more easily when turkey pan call  102  is not present. 
   Now referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a cross-sectional view of the turkey pan call holder  110  taken on line  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2 . Actuator  302  is shown centrally disposed between the rim gripping members  120  and extending down to adjusting screw handle  130 . Actuator  302  includes an actuator top surface  304 , a gripping member lower end receiving void  306 , and a gripping member lower end retaining protuberance  308 . Actuator  302  further includes actuator threads  310  which mate with screw knob threads  312  of adjusting screw handle  130 . 
   In operation, when adjusting screw handle  130  is twisted, first leg  112  and second leg  114  prohibit adjusting screw handle  130  from moving upward so actuator  302  is drawn downward, causing the lower ends of rim gripping members  120  to be drawn downward as well. This causes the top portions of rim gripping members  120  to move inward, thereby making the space between them smaller and more capable of firmly retaining a turkey pan call  102 . Of course, the process could be reversed, and the rim mating voids  202  of the rim gripping members  120  would separate so as to allow for reception of a larger turkey pan call. 
   Throughout this description, reference is made to a turkey pan call because it is believed that the beneficial aspects of the present invention would be most readily apparent when used with a turkey call; however, it should be understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited to use with turkey calls and should be hereby construed to include use with other non-turkey calls as well. 
   The components of the turkey pan call holder  110  of the present invention are preferably made of an inexpensive and strong rigid material, such as PVC or other plastic material. Of course, any suitable material could be used as well. 
   It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construct steps, and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of their material advantages. The form herein described is merely a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof.