Abstract:
A hunting scent releasing device is disclosed including an upper housing, a lower housing, a threaded female post attached to one of the two housings, a threaded center post attached to the other housing, and a ring-shaped seal attached to one of the housings. The seal seals an interface between the upper housing and the lower housing when the device is in a sealed state. The threaded center post is configured to be threaded into the threaded female post, wherein an amount of engagement between the threaded female post and the threaded center post place the device in either the sealed state with the housings pressed against each other or in a scent releasing state with a gap between the housings. In the sealed state, the upper housing and the lower housing sealingly enclose an interior that contains a scent material deposited upon a scent releasing wad.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This disclosure claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/074,692, filed on Nov. 4, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to an object for use in hunting. In particular, examples of the present disclosure are related to a device used to house and to selectably release a scent used to attract game. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure. Accordingly, such statements are not intended to constitute an admission of prior art. 
         [0004]    Animals operate by scent. Deer and other game animals determine where other animals are and what state the other animals are in by the scent that the other animals leave in the environment. Hunters use game animal urine and other scent-emitting substances to elicit certain behaviors in game animals. In one example, a white-tail deer will approach an area marked with urine scent of another deer to the advantage of the hunter. 
         [0005]    To elicit behaviors in animals, hunters release scent into a hunting environment. In some instances, a hunter may wish to continuously release a scent in the hunting environment over a period of time. A hunter may also wish to leave a hunting environment for a period of time to allow for certain animal behaviors to occur, and may wish to return at some later time. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    A scent releasing device is disclosed which is selectably configurable in a closed or sealed state, preventing substances within the housing from escaping, or an open or scent releasing state, permitting game animals to detect the scent contained within the housing. The device includes an upper housing, a lower housing, a threaded female post attached to one of the two housings, a threaded center post attached to the other housing, and a ring-shaped seal attached to one of the housings. The seal seals an interface between the upper housing and the lower housing when the device is in the sealed state. The threaded center post is configured to be threaded into the threaded female post, wherein an amount of engagement between the threaded female post and the threaded center post place the device in either the sealed state with the housings pressed against each other or in the scent releasing state with a gap between the housings. In the sealed state, the upper housing and the lower housing sealingly enclose an interior that contains a scent material deposited upon a scent releasing wad. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    One or more embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates components of an exemplary scent releasing device with a central threaded post comprising a bolt inserted through a bottom housing of the device, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2A  illustrates the scent releasing device of  FIG. 1  in cross section, with the device tightened in a sealed state, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2B  illustrates the exemplary scent releasing device of  FIG. 1  in cross section, with the device opened in a scent releasing state, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates the exemplary scent releasing device of  FIG. 1  in the sealed state, with a fixturing mechanism embodied as a wire loop affixed to a fixturing cavity formed in the device, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates an alternative exemplary embodiment of a scent releasing device, with a central threaded post projecting upward through an upper housing of the device, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates exemplary embodiment of an upper and lower housing of the device, including ribs useful for aiding a user in opening and closing the device, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the device, including a camouflage pattern on the outside of the device, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the device configured to look like a golf ball, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the device configured to look like a duck, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an upper housing of the device, including two fixturing mechanisms attached to the upper housing including an alligator clip device and a safety pin, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an upper housing of the device, including a wire loop connected to two fixturing cavities formed in the upper housing, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  illustrates an exemplary scent releasing device similar to the device of  FIG. 4  including an exemplary drywall wall mechanism installed to the central post, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  illustrates an exemplary scent releasing device wherein both a threaded male post on the top housing and a threaded female post on the lower housing are both molded into the housings, thereby reducing leak paths from the device, in accordance with the present disclosure; 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  illustrates an exemplary scent releasing device with a cylindrically-shaped inner cavity and a pair of separable wads, in accordance with the present disclosure; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  illustrates an exemplary scent releasing device with a wad sized to substantially fill an inner cavity of the device when closed, in accordance with the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however, to one having ordinary skill in the art that the specific detail need not be employed to practice the present disclosure. In other instances, well-known materials or methods have not been described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the present disclosure. 
         [0024]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “one example” or “an example” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, “one example” or “an example” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable combinations and/or sub-combinations in one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, it is appreciated that the figures provided herewith are for explanation purposes to persons ordinarily skilled in the art and that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure may be embodied as an apparatus or process. 
         [0025]    Humans, especially hunters, utilize scent-emitting substances to elicit various behaviors from animals, especially game animals. In particular, hunters may wish to lure certain animals into particular areas of a hunting environment and discourage other animals from entering such areas while hunting. Depending on the types of animals whose behavior a hunter wishes to affect, a hunter may wish to carry a scent-emitting substance on his or her person. Alternatively, a hunter may wish to temporarily leave a scent-releasing substance in a hunting environment prior to, during or after hunting. 
         [0026]    A scent releasing device is disclosed which is selectably configurable in a closed position, preventing substances contained within an interior of the device from escaping, or an open position, permitting game animals to detect the scent contained within the housing. The scent releasing device can carry a number of affixing mechanisms which allow the device to be attached to a hunter&#39;s person, a tree, a bush, a decoy or other structure or object. The scent releasing device includes an upper housing part and a lower housing part, and a metallic threaded shaft spanning between the upper and lower housing parts. A scent releasing wad of material, for example, an absorbent pad, can be fit within the interior of the device to hold the scent material. The metallic threaded shaft can take the form of a bolt fastener, and tightening of this bolt fastener in combination with a plurality of o-ring seals and/or rubberized coatings, permits the device to be fastened tightly when not in use, preventing the animal urine or other scented substance from spilling, for example, in the pocket of the hunter. The scent releasing device can further include one or a number of affixing mechanisms on an exterior of the upper housing part, the lower housing part or both the upper housing part and the lower housing part. 
         [0027]    According to one embodiment, the scent releasing device features ribs designed and manufactured such that a user can apply force upon the ribs to open the hunting scent housing. Hunters frequently hunt in late fall or winter months, and these ribs enable the hunter to grip the device and twist one housing in relation to the other with gloves on. According to another embodiment, the scent releasing device features ribs designed and manufactured such that the scent releasing device can remain upright on its lower housing. According to a further embodiment, the hunting scent housing carries an interference hole which receives a removable affixing mechanism. 
         [0028]    In one embodiment, the upper and lower housing parts are designed and manufactured with camouflage pattern and colors such that the scent releasing device blends in with its surroundings in a hunting environment. 
         [0029]    In another embodiment, the upper and lower housing parts of the scent releasing device are designed and manufactured with glow-in-the-dark material. In a further embodiment, reflective tape is secured around shafts of one or more of the affixing mechanisms. The features of these embodiments are configured to permit a hunter to easily find and retrieve the hunting scent housing devices when returning to a particular hunting environment. 
         [0030]    In one example, the upper and lower housing parts of the scent releasing device are made of a material or combination of materials that does not allow the flow of any matter into or out of the interior of the device, such that any scent and scent-releasing substance are not able to escape from the device. In another example, the upper and lower housing parts of the scent releasing device are made of a material or combination of materials that allows for air flow between the hunting environment and the interior of the device, such that scent is released continuously into a hunting environment. 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  illustrates components of an exemplary scent releasing device with a central threaded post comprising a bolt inserted through a bottom housing of the device. A semi-spherical upper housing  20  and a semi-spherical lower housing  30  are illustrated which are configured to be fastened together to form the scent releasing device. Center threaded post  60  is illustrated, in this non-limiting example, to include a bolt fastener. Lower housing  30  includes a hole through which post  60  can be inserted. Upper housing  20  includes threaded female post  22  including threaded section  24  configured to receive threaded end  62  of post  60 . Upper housing  20  include a generally rounded outer surface  21  and a surface  26  configured to hold gasket ring  50 . Upper housing  20  further includes fixturing cavity  28  configured to receive a fixturing mechanism permitting a user to attach the device to a tree, a fence, a bush, a string, or any other feature that might be present in the outdoors. 
         [0032]    Lower housing  30  includes a generally rounded outer surface  31  and sealing surface  32  configured to seal against gasket ring  50  as the upper housing is tightened against the lower housing. 
         [0033]    Fibrous wad  40  is illustrated including a cylindrical absorbent pad that can be soaked with the scent material. Fibrous wad  40  can include any of a number of materials known in the art, such as cotton, felt, or synthetic fiber materials. Wad  40  includes a central hole for post  60  to be installed therethrough. 
         [0034]    A small gasket  52  is configured to fit tightly around central post  60  can be used to seal a connection point between post  60  and the bottom hole of the lower housing to prevent the scent material from leaking out of the device. A small gasket an additionally or alternatively be used on post  60  a small distance off of the bottom of the housing to elevate wad  40  within the device and promote greater release of the scent by permitting air to get underneath wad  40 . 
         [0035]    Upper housing  20  and lower housing  30  can be made of any suitable and resilient polymer material, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polypropylene, or polyethylene. The housings can be made through injection molding, blow molding, vacuum molding, or any other manufacturing method known in the art and suitable for a particular configuration of the part. 
         [0036]      FIG. 2A  illustrates the scent releasing device of  FIG. 1  in cross section, with the device tightened in a sealed state. Upper housing  20  is illustrated including threaded female post  22  molded within the upper housing, such that post  22  cannot rotate with respect to housing  20 . Upper housing  20  can include thickened features  23  to reinforce the connection between the upper housing  20  and post  22 . Upper housing  20  further includes fixturing cavity  28  which in some embodiment can be formed to not penetrate the inside of the device, thereby avoiding a potential leak path for the scent material to escape the device. Upper housing  20  further includes tongue and groove feature  25  configured to accept and hold in place gasket ring  50  against the upper housing. 
         [0037]    Lower housing  30  includes hole feature  33  permitting post  60  to be inserted within and through feature  33 , such that the post extends upwardly from the lower housing  30  to be threaded into and hold fixingly the upper housing  20  and post  22 . Wad  40  is illustrated contained within the upper housing  20  and lower housing  30 . Gasket  52  is illustrated sealing a connection point between post  60  and feature  33 , such that leakage out of the lower housing at the connection between post  60  and lower housing  30  is reduced or eliminated. 
         [0038]      FIG. 2B  illustrates the exemplary scent releasing device of  FIG. 1  in cross section, with the device opened in a scent releasing state. Upper housing  20  can be rotated in relation to lower housing  30 , such that post  60  partially unscrews from post  22 . As a result, the housings  20  and  30  are separated, gasket  50  no longer seals against the lower housing  30 , and air can pass between the housings and pick up scent from the suspended wad. 
         [0039]      FIG. 3  illustrates the exemplary scent releasing device of  FIG. 1  in the sealed state, with a fixturing mechanism embodied as a wire loop affixed to a fixturing cavity formed in the device. Scent device  10  is illustrated including wire loop  100  inserted within fixturing cavity  28  of device  10 . Loop  100  can be easily connected to a tree branch or a wire on a fence. Reflective tape  110  is illustrated optionally attached to wire loop  100 , such that a hunter wishing to retrieve the device can shine a flashlight and quickly locate the device from a distance. It will be appreciated that the housings could be reversed, and the properties of the lower housing  30  and post  60  could be embodied on a top half of the device, and the properties of the upper housing  20  and post  22  could be embodied on a lower half of the device. 
         [0040]      FIG. 4  illustrates in cross section an alternative exemplary embodiment of a scent releasing device, with a central threaded post projecting upward through an upper housing of the device. A semi-spherical upper housing  220  and a semi-spherical lower housing  230  are illustrated which are configured to be fastened together to form the scent releasing device. Center threaded post  260  is illustrated, in this non-limiting example, molded within lower housing  230  such that the post  260  cannot rotate relative to the lower housing  230 . Upper housing  220  includes threaded female post  222  including threaded section configured to receive threaded end  262  of post  260  and permit the threaded end to extend upwardly through the upper housing. The exposed portion of post  260  can be used to attach fixturing mechanisms to the device. Upper housing  220  include a generally rounded outer surface and a flat surface around the perimeter of the connection with the lower housing to seal against gasket ring  50 . 
         [0041]    Lower housing  230  includes a generally rounded outer surface and grooved surface  232  configured grip to and hold in place gasket ring  50  around the perimeter of the lower housing  230 . 
         [0042]    Fibrous wad  40  is illustrated including a cylindrical absorbent pad that can be soaked with the scent material. A small gasket  52  is configured to fit tightly around central post  260  and is illustrated fitted to post  60  a small distance off of the bottom of the housing to elevate wad  40  within the device and promote greater release of the scent by permitting air to get underneath wad  40 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 5  illustrates exemplary embodiment of an upper and lower housing of the device, including ribs useful for aiding a user in opening and closing the device. Upper housing  320  is illustrated including two ribs  322  configured to aid in rotating the upper housing  320  in relation to lower housing  330 . Lower housing  330  is illustrated including a plurality of ribs  332  configured to aid the user in rotating the housings. A lower surface  334  of ribs  332  can be configured to be flat, such that the device can be placed in a stable condition on a table, a flat fence post, or any other surface upon which the user may need to adjust or fill the device. 
         [0044]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the device, including a camouflage pattern on the outside of the device. Device  400  is illustrated including an upper housing with a camouflage pattern  410  printed thereupon and a lower housing with a camouflage pattern  412  printed thereupon. Post  262  is illustrated extending from a top of device  400 . Post  262  is illustrated canted with respect to lower housing. In one embodiment, post  262  can be permitted to pivot with respect to lower housing, thereby allowing the user to tilt the upper housing with respect to the lower housing, thereby making it easier to put the scent material within the device or to adjust the wad position within the device. 
         [0045]      FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the device configured to look like a golf ball. Scent releasing device  500  is illustrated to be marketed to the sports enthusiast hunter. Upper housing  520  and lower housing  530  are dimpled and combine to form around facsimile of a golf ball. An exemplary fixturing mechanism  540  comprising a spring loaded pin is inserted within fixturing cavity  528  of upper housing  520  and is generally configured to look like a golf tee. A number of different sporting balls can be approximated, including a baseball, a basketball, a bowling ball, and a billiard ball, and the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular examples provided herein. 
         [0046]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the device configured to look like a duck. Scent releasing device  600  is illustrated in the shape of a duck to be generally marketed for appearance. Upper housing  620  includes duck head shape  622  and duck tail shape  624 . A fixturing mechanism  640  in this instance provided as a safety pin is inserted through a fixturing bracket  626  formed upon upper housing  620 . Upper housing  620  and lower housing  630  can be molded in a white or yellow plastic or painted with a similar color or a pattern imitating a mallard duck depending upon what is needed for the marketplace. 
         [0047]      FIG. 9  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an upper housing of the device, including two fixturing mechanisms attached to the upper housing including an alligator clip device and a safety pin. A first fixturing mechanism  730  including an alligator clip device and a second fixturing mechanism  640  including a safety pin are illustrated. Mechanism  730  includes a wire section that is inserted within fixturing cavity  728  of upper housing  720 . Mechanism  640  is illustrated inserted through fixturing bracket  626  formed upon upper housing  720 . Two ribs  722  are illustrated formed upon upper housing  720 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an upper housing of the device, including a wire loop connected to two fixturing cavities formed upon the upper housing. Upper housing  820  is illustrated including two fixturing cavities  828  receiving wire ends of wire loop  830 . Loop  830  can be used to suspend the device upon any of a number of objects. One or both ends of loop  830  can be easily removed from its respective cavity  828  and replaced to either attach or remove the device from an object for use. 
         [0049]      FIG. 11  illustrates a scent releasing device similar to the device of  FIG. 4  including an exemplary drywall attachment mechanism installed to the central post. Device  910  is illustrated in a closed state. An end portion  962  of a threaded central post is illustrated projecting from a top of the device. Threaded female post  922  is illustrated as a hexagonally shaped feature that fits into a matching shape upon upper housing  920 . In this way, post  922  need not be molded into the upper housing  920 . A drywall attachment mechanism  970  commonly used to secure a threaded fastener within a section of drywall is illustrated installed to portion  962 . A user can drill or find a hole or crevice within which the mechanism  970  can be inserted in order to fixture the device while in use. 
         [0050]      FIG. 12  illustrates an exemplary scent releasing device wherein both a threaded male post on the top housing and a threaded female post on the lower housing are both molded into the housings, thereby reducing leak paths from the device. Device  1000  is illustrated including upper housing  1020  and lower housing  1030 . Gasket ring feature  50  is illustrated installed to lower housing  1030 . Threaded female post  1022  is illustrated molded into lower housing  1030 , and threaded central post  1060  is illustrated molded into upper housing  1020 . By molding both posts  1022  and  1060  into the lower housing  1030  and upper housing  1020 , respectively, a leak path for the scent material to escape the device in a closed position, through holes made for a bolt or post to extend through the housings, is eliminated. Further, wad  1040  is illustrated constructed of a dense or stiffened material, such that the wad  1040  can be suspended over post  1022  without the aid of an o-ring gasket. 
         [0051]      FIG. 13  illustrates an exemplary scent releasing device with a cylindrically-shaped inner cavity and a pair of separable wads. Device  1100  is illustrated including upper housing  1120  and lower housing  1130 . Gasket ring feature  1150  is illustrated, including an exemplary square cross section, installed to lower housing  1130 . Threaded female post  1122  is illustrated threaded or screwed into housing  1120 , and threaded central post  1160  is illustrated threaded or screwed into lower housing  1130 . Inner cavity  1105  is illustrated including straight vertical sidewalls  1124  and  1132  to substantially match the profile of wads  1140  and  1141 . Wads  1140  and  1141  can be used together to increase an overall surface area of the wads providing the scent material to the air. Gasket  52  is illustrated installed to central post  1160  to elevate wad  1141  off of wad  1140 . Adhesive can alternatively or additionally be used to fasten both post  1160  and post  1122  into the respective housings. 
         [0052]      FIG. 14  illustrates an exemplary scent releasing device with a wad sized to substantially fill an inner cavity of the device when closed. Device  1200  is illustrated including upper housing  1220  and lower housing  1230 . Polymerized coating  1250  is illustrated applied to lower housing  1230 . Coating  1250  can be many different substances, for example, with a soft rubberized polymer being applied to the housing in a two shot molding process known in the art being one exemplary embodiment for the coating. Threaded female post  1222  is illustrated molded into housing  1230 , and threaded central post  1260  is illustrated molded into upper housing  1220 . Inner cavity  1205  is illustrated including straight vertical sidewalls and to substantially match the profile of wad  1240 . Wad  1240  is selected to substantially fill cavity  1205  when the device is closed. 
         [0053]    Scent-releasing substances may be liquids, gels or solids, or may exist in other forms. In one embodiment, the gasket is plastic. In another embodiment, the gasket is metal. In a further embodiment, the gasket is rubber. Different gasket materials or combinations of materials may more effectively contain particular types of scents or scent-releasing substances. 
         [0054]    The disclosure has described certain preferred embodiments and modifications of those embodiments. Further modifications and alterations may occur to others upon reading and understanding the specification. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.