Game call with volume enhancing and tone stabilizing coil spring

The present invention utilizes a sized coil spring placed in the end of game call tubes, or mouthpieces that go into such tubes. When air is blown into the tube or mouthpiece, the air passes over and through the coil spring, causing the spring to vibrate and make a whirlwind effect. The vibrating coil spring increases the volume of the sound and also stabilizes each tone created on the mouthpiece or tube. The higher tones, or notes, are more easily obtained and become easier to reach and hold with consistency. The coil spring also helps to increase back pressure, making it easier to blow into call with less air to make the call work. This invention can be used in all types of game calls, such as calls for elk, deer, moose, wolves, predators, geese, ducks, and even some turkey calls. The invention makes the desired sounds more realistic and user friendly.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to game calls and, more specifically, to a game call that enhances the volume and stabilizes the tone of the call by means of a coil spring disposed in the call's airstream column, secured at an end proximate to the mouthpiece, but unrestrained along the spring's length and distal end. An unrestrained coil spring of the present invention may also be placed in a turkey box call to enhance and stabilize the call's tones.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Game calls are intended to produce sounds similar to those of wild animals so as to attract them toward hunters, wildlife watchers, or scientists. Game calls have also generated competitions and performances amongst persons attempting to simulate accurately the sounds of wild animals.

One category of game call uses air, usually from a person blowing into a call. Such calls include simple pipes for forming and amplifying the user's sounds. Other such calls use a reed or diaphragm over which air is directed to cause the reed to vibrate and produce desired sounds. An example of a reed call is the “Moose Call” described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,772,823 to Herter. Herter's moose call (10) has a mouthpiece (11) with a rear end (12) for the user's mouth. The user blows into the mouthpiece (11) through a longitudinal passage (13) and over a vibratable reed (14) secured by a reed mounting structure (15). The air continues into an air passage (16) to a flared outlet end (17). The reed (14) produces a sound when the user blows air past it and the sound then passes out through the flared outlet (17).

Producing a realistic call that will attract game requires significant skill and can be beyond the abilities of most people. Many attempts have been made to provide game calls that ease the difficulties of making realistic sounds. Reed calls were one means to assist people in producing realistic sounds, but they are still difficult to use consistently and convincingly. In addition to producing a sound, a realistic call requires consistent tone as well as the ability to hit different notes. One example of a game call intended to provide a game call that can be easily manipulated to produce a variety of sounds to simulate sounds of wildlife animals is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,804 to Primos, which discloses a game call with a reed (78) in a main assembly (32), an “enhancer section” (36), a “reciprocating reed engagement member” (44), and collapsible bellows (32). The user's fingers collapse the bellows (32) and push forward the reed engagement member (44) to produce different sounds. See Primos, column 8, at lines 51 through 64. Primos does not address the issue of increasing the call's volume or stabilizing the notes produced by the reed. Moreover, Primos is directed only to reed calls and does not assist more simple game calls with which the user produces the sounds into a tube and the call serves as a simple pipe, such as the one shown as reference number 7 in FIGS. 1 and 4 of U.S. Pat. No. 7,234,987 to Brazil.

Similar problems arise with friction-type calls, often used as turkey calls. One example of such a call is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,142,253 to Peel, which contains lists and descriptions of prior art turkey calls and discloses a turkey call with an interchangeable paddle/striker (10). As with game calls that use air to produce sounds, the prior art friction-type turkey calls have difficulty producing a realistic call requires with consistent tones.

What is needed is a game call that can enhance a call's volume without increasing the amount and force of air or pressure required from the user. Also need is a game call that will stabilize the tones produced and assist in changing those tones. Also needed is a game call that can provide these improvements for many different types of game calls, whether or not they employ reeds or other sound-producing, devices, and whether or not they are small or large calls.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention utilizes an unrestrained, sized coil spring placed in the end of game call tubes, or mouthpieces that go into such tubes. When air is blown into the tube or mouthpiece, the air passes over and through the coil spring, causing the spring to vibrate and make a whirlwind effect. The vibrating coil spring increases the volume of the sound and also stabilizes each tone created on the mouthpiece or tube. The higher tones, or notes, are more easily obtained and become easier to reach and hold with consistency. The coil spring also helps to increase back pressure, making it easier to blow into call with less air to make the call work. This invention can be used in all types of game calls, such as calls for elk, deer, moose, wolves, predators, geese, ducks, and even some turkey calls. The invention makes the desired sounds more realistic and user friendly.

The present invention is a game call with an unrestrained coil spring that enhances the volume of the call while also stabilizing the notes produced. The coil spring is secured to the call's mouthpiece at the end proximal the user's mouth, but the spring is unrestrained along its length and its distal end, allowing the spring to vibrate freely within the call's air column. The coil spring enhances the volume of the call and stabilizes the tones that can be produced. The coil spring also makes easier the transition between different tones and the ability to reach higher pitched tones. This invention may also be used in friction-type calls, such as turkey calls, that use friction between parts, usually wood, to produce sound. In a turkey call box, an unrestrained coil spring secured at one end to the box and unrestrained at the opposite end enhances the call's volume and stabilizes the tones that can be produced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 3show a preferred embodiment of a simple game call device of the present invention. The game call10used here for illustration is a simple pipe comprising a mouthpiece11having a mouthpiece length, air passage12, and bell13. A user makes a sound simulating an animal's call into a mouth aperture at the mouth end of the mouthpiece11and the air passes through the passage12into the interior space14of flared bell13. The second bell end has an inner diameter that is larger than the inner diameter of the first bell end, thereby forming the interior bell space14of the flared bell13. Within the mouthpiece11, proximal to the user's mouth (not shown), is a seat15for an end17of the coil spring16proximal to the portion of the mouthpiece11where a user's mouth (not shown) blows into the call10. The proximal end17of the spring16can be secured to the seat15by many means, such as a friction fit, as shown, or by clamping, threads or adhesive. The coil spring16has a length L extending through the air passage12and into the bell space14. The length L and distal end18of the spring16are unrestrained and free to vibrate within the air passage12and bell space14. The radius and length of the coil spring16depend on the size of the call. For a small, pipe-type call, with an air passage12diameter of approximately ¾″ and overall call length of about 3½″, it has been found that a coil spring16of between 12 and 16 gauge, diameter of about ⅝″ to ¾″, and a length of about 2½″ to 2¾″ works best. It has been found that, for such a pipe call, a coil spring16of 14 gauge, 0.62″ in diameter, and 2.6″ in length works well. For such a call, these dimensions translate to a ratio of coil spring length to call length of about 2:5 to 3:5 works well. During operation, it is undesirable that the spring16should be so flexible or proportioned that its length L or distal end18hit the interior walls of the bell space14or any other part of the call10. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, the distal end18of the spring16is located entirely within the bell space14, but the spring16may extend beyond the open bell13, as shown inFIGS. 2 through 4. When air is blown into the mouthpiece11, air passes over and through the coil spring16, causing the unrestrained portion of the spring16to vibrate and make a whirlwind effect. The vibrating coil spring16increases the volume of the sound and also stabilizes each tone created on the mouthpiece or tube.

FIG. 2is a side, cut-away view of a preferred embodiment of a reed-type game call utilizing the unrestrained coil spring of the present invention. The game call20comprises a mouthpiece21, air passage22, and bell23. Within the air passage22is a reed holder assembly29for holding a reed19within the air passage22and in position for a user's mouth (not shown). A user blows air over the reed19and into mouthpiece21. The reed19vibrates, making a sound which passes through the passage22into the interior space24of flared bell23. Within the mouthpiece21, proximal to the user's mouth (not shown), is a seat25for a proximal end27of the coil spring26. The coil spring26has a length L′ extending through the air passage22and into the bell space24. The length L′ and distal end28of the spring26are unrestrained and free to vibrate within the air passage22and bell space24. When the sound produced by the reed28passes over and through the coil spring26, the unrestrained portion of the spring26vibrates and makes a whirlwind effect, thereby increasing the volume of the sound and also stabilizes each tone created on the mouthpiece or tube.

FIG. 4is a side, cut-away view of a preferred embodiment of a tube-type game call utilizing the unrestrained coil spring of the present invention. The game call30comprises a mouthpiece31, air passage32, and open end33. A user makes a sound simulating an animal's call into mouthpiece31and the air passes through the passage32into an interior space34of the mouthpiece31and out the open end33. Within the mouthpiece31, proximal to the user's mouth (not shown), is a seat35for a proximal end37of a coil spring36. The coil spring36has a length L″ extending through the air passage32and into the interior space34. The length L″ and distal end38of the spring36are unrestrained and free to vibrate within the air passage32and bell space34. When the vibrating air of the user's call passes over and through the coil spring36, the unrestrained portion of the spring36vibrates and makes a whirlwind effect, thereby increasing the volume of the sound and also stabilizes each tone created on the mouthpiece or tube.

FIG. 5is a side, cut-away view of the tube-type game call30incorporated in a large game call assembly40. The open end33of the tube-type call30is received by an end41of a flexible accordion-type tube42. In the disclosed embodiment, the spring36is proportioned such that its L″ extends beyond the distal end33of the mouthpiece30and into the interior space43of the accordion tube42. At the opposite end44of the accordion tube42, a bugle45is mounted.

FIG. 6shows an alternative embodiment of the invention. As with the game call described in connection withFIG. 1, the call10is a simple pipe comprising a mouthpiece11, air passage12, and bell13. A call sound passes through the passage12into the interior space14of flared bell13. Within the mouthpiece11, proximal to the user's mouth (not shown), a seat15secures an end17of the coil spring16. The coil spring16extends through the air passage12and into the bell space14. The distal end18of the spring16is unrestrained and free to vibrate within the air passage12and bell space14. A rubber cap49is stretched over the distal end18of the coil spring16to prevent undesirable sounds in the event the distal end18of the spring16comes into contact with the interior surface of the bell13. This alternative embodiment may also be employed with other embodiments of the invention, such as those shown inFIGS. 2, 4, 7 and 8and described herein.

FIGS. 7 and 8show an alternative embodiment of the invention applied to a turkey call. A conventional turkey call box50forms a box51with a chamber space formed by a pair of oppositely disposed side walls, each side wall having an top or upper edge63, front end and rear end walls or blocks55, and a base54. A paddle52is pivotably mounted to one end of the box51, usually by a screw58. The upper edges63of the box can be arched, as seen inFIG. 8or flat. The paddle52has a paddle top surface and a paddle bottom surface that is rounded and has a handle60so that a user can swing the paddle52and rub the bottom of the paddle52against the top edges63of the box51, thereby generating a turkey call. The turkey call box50shown also has a cutter bar56that can swing up to limit the swivel movement of the paddle. The cutter bar56is made of a springy material, such as steel, so that some give and resistence is provided and the user can more easily manipulate the paddle52over the top edges63of the box51. Inside the box51, a coil spring57has a base end64secured to the base54by a washer61and a screw62. The opposite end64of the coil spring57is unrestrained. As described above in connection with the other disclosed calls, it has been found that a coil spring57of between 12 and 16 gauge works well and that a coil spring57of 14 gauge is preferred. As described above, the unrestrained coil spring57enhances the volume of the call and stabilizes the call's tones. As noted above, the cap49, shown inFIG. 6, may also be employed with this embodiment.

The drawings and description set forth here represent only some embodiments of the invention. After considering these, skilled persons will understand that there are many ways to make a game call according to the principles disclosed. The inventor contemplates that the use of alternative structures, materials, or manufacturing techniques, which result in a game call according to the principles disclosed, will be within the scope of the invention.