Audio decoy

The invention relates to a portable device for use by hunters, photographers, and others for luring wildlife into close proximity. The device plays back digitally recorded wildlife sounds. The digitally recorded sounds when played back have a uniquely clear characterization such that they sound like authentic wildlife sounds. The device is generally cylindrically shaped, having a speaker mounted in the top portion thereof. To actuate the sounds, the user merely presses upon the speaker grill, forcing the speaker into the housing, upon which the speaker engages a spring biased switch thereby starting the playback of the digitally recorded wildlife sounds. Another is provided to selectively choose the animal sound desired from a myriad of predetermined animal sounds. The device operates on a battery power supply, further enhancing portability.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 
Ser. No. 60/013,567, filed Mar. 18, 1996. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is an audio decoy for attracting wildlife for game 
hunting or photography. More specifically, the invention includes a 
digital playback of actual wildlife sounds for simulating the call of the 
wild, thereby luring wildlife into the focal range of the shooting 
instrument (i.e., firearm, bow and arrow, or camera). 
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
Many recording and playback devices are known. More particularly, numerous 
devices for recording and/or playing back wildlife sounds in wildlife 
areas are available. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,587, issued Aug. 
24, 1993 to Muckelrath, discloses a recording device for hunters to place 
in an open area thought to be frequented by wildlife. The device is left 
for a period of time such that the general sounds of nature can be 
recorded and subsequently reviewed by the hunter. Additionally, the device 
includes a digital time stamp for identifying the time which the sounds 
were recorded so that the hunter can plan to be located in the vicinity in 
order to bag his game. This device does not lure game for the hunter; 
rather, it merely makes unattended recordings to determine if a specific 
area is suitable for stalking and hunting game. 
Other types of devices for reproducing sounds and/or images are well known. 
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,562,590, issued Dec. 31, 1985 to DeLage, 
discloses a protective water resistant casing for audio equipment for use 
during recreational activities involving or near water. U.S. Pat. No. 
4,807,051, issued Feb. 21, 1989 to Ogura, discloses a video image 
recording device having audio recording and distance determining 
functions. U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,101, issued Apr. 4, 1989 to Lemelson, 
discloses a video camera with an audio recording feature. U.S. Pat. No. 
5,146,353, issued Sept. 8, 1992 to Isoguchi et al., discloses a still 
video camera having sound recording and playback features. 
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in 
combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
As can be understood from the prior art, a problem exists in that there is 
no sure way available to portably emit audio wildlife sounds in order to 
attract wildlife. Specifically, the prior art uses taped sounds which have 
been shown to be less than satisfactory in reproducing sounds. More 
elaborate and sophisticated equipment results in massive size and costs, 
reducing the ability to effectively use such systems while tracking 
wildlife and game. 
Therefore, the present invention provides a portable device for use by 
hunters, photographers, and others for luring wildlife into close 
proximity. The device plays back digitally recorded wildlife sounds. The 
digitally recorded sounds when played back have a uniquely clear 
characterization such that they sound like authentic wildlife sounds. The 
device is generally cylindrically shaped, having a speaker mounted in the 
top portion thereof. To actuate the sounds, the user merely presses upon 
the speaker grill, forcing the speaker into the housing, upon which the 
speaker engages a spring biased switch thereby starting the playback of 
the digitally recorded wildlife sounds. Another switch is provided to 
selectively choose the animal sound desired from a myriad of predetermined 
animal sounds. The device operates on a battery power supply, further 
enhancing portability. 
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a 
portable device for reproducing wildlife sounds. 
It is another object of the invention to provide an inexpensive portable 
device for reproducing wildlife sounds. 
It is a further object of the invention to reproduce authentic wildlife 
sounds with extreme clarity. 
Still another object of the invention is to control and transport a 
portable wildlife sound reproduction device efficiently and economically. 
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and 
arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is 
inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended 
purposes. 
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily 
apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently 
throughout the attached drawings. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The present invention, as seen in FIG. 1, is generally referred to at 10. 
The device 10 has a cylindrical shape, and is contained in a housing 18. 
The top of the housing 18 has a sealing rim 12. The rim 12 typically is a 
snap-on, or force fit retainer for housing 18. The rim 12 positions and 
holds the movable speaker (16, see FIG. 2) and protective speaker grill 
14. Speaker grill 14 is a perforated hard plastic shield that protects the 
speaker 16 from damage. Also, latch member 24A extends through the side of 
housing 18, and will be discussed further below. 
In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, a switch 50 is provided. Switch 50 allows 
the hunter or photographer to selectively choose the animal call of 
desire. Switch 50 has an "OFF" position and several other animal calls to 
choose from, generally indicated as hash marks 52. The number of hash 
marks indicated at 52 are illustrative, and not limiting to the myriad of 
calls that can be stored and chosen by the instant device. 
Referring to FIG. 2, the device 10 is shown in an exploded view so as to 
illustrate the internal components of the invention. Housing 18 supports 
sealing rim 12 as set forth above. Rim 12 positions and retains speaker 
grill 14, and speaker 16. In the side wall of the housing 18 is an 
aperture 54 having the indicia 52 adjacent thereto. The switch 50, mounted 
to circuit board 20, extends through the aperture 54 allowing the hunter 
or photographer activate the selected animal call chosen according to the 
indicated animal call selection or "OFF" at 52. 
Speaker 16 and speaker grill 14 are axially displaceable in housing 18. The 
displacement is limited by the sealing rim 12 at the top and a spring 
biased switch member 22 below. The user activates the device by pressing 
on the speaker grill 14, which moves the speaker, in unison, downwardly in 
housing 18 against the upward force of the spring biased switch member 22. 
When the speaker 16 is moved against the spring, the spring biased switch 
member 22 is depressed. The spring biased switch member 22 is mounted on 
and in electrical communication with a digital audio sound reproducing 
circuit board 20. 
The circuit board 20 is supported within housing 20 on a circuit board 
carrier 24. Circuit board carrier 24 is fixedly positioned in housing 18, 
and is secured by latch member 24A. Typically, there are at least two 
opposing latch members 24A. However, it is possible to provide a greater 
number of latch members 24A or even substitute any known latching 
arrangement for fixing the circuit board 20 in housing 18. 
At the bottom of housing 18 is a battery compartment 28. The compartment 28 
is conveniently located and accessed via a battery access door 26. Located 
in the battery compartment 28 is a battery 30 for providing electrical 
power to the circuit board 20. The battery access door 26 mounts to the 
bottom of housing 18 in a standard conventional manner known to those 
skilled in the art. Likewise, the battery 30 is also a conventionally 
provided power source and the skilled artisan is well aware of the 
appropriate power ratings. 
FIGS. 3 and 4 show typical arrangements for handling the device 10. A 
hunter or wildlife photographer will spend countless hours waiting in the 
shadows or brush hoping for the subject of choice to appear. The device 10 
assists the hunter or photographer by reproducing the sounds (i.e., animal 
calls) of the chosen wildlife subjects sought. For example, if ducks were 
the subjects of interest, device 10 would be selected for generating duck 
quacking calls. The hunter or photographer depresses the grill 14, as 
discussed earlier, activating the circuit 20 which then delivers via the 
speaker 16 duck quacking calls. Another example, if turkeys were the 
subjects of interest, device 10 would be selected for generating turkey 
gobbling calls. The hunter or photographer depresses the grill 14, as 
discussed earlier, activating the circuit 20 which then delivers via the 
speaker 16 turkey gobbling calls. Eventually, because the device produces 
such realistic sounds because of the digital sound reproduction 
technology, ducks or turkeys (or whatever animals that have been called) 
begin to gather nearby, ready to be shot by the hunter or photographer. 
To make it easier to access the device 10, a sleeve 32 wraps around the 
housing 18; sleeve 32 is held in position by standard hook and loop type 
fastener 34. Attached to the sleeve 32 is a strapping member 36 that is 
fitted around an appropriate support (e.g., tripod leg, rifle stock, users 
leg or arm, etc.) and also held by the same hook and loop type fastener 
34. Alternatively, a circular disk of 38 consisting of one part of a hook 
and loop type fastener is adhesively attached to the bottom 40 of housing 
18. A corresponding mating part (not shown) is adhesively attached to an 
appropriate support (likewise, as set forth above). In either arrangement 
the device 10 is supported in a manner that allows easy access for the 
user to reach the speaker grill 14 in order to activate the circuit 20 and 
produce the desired calls of nature. Also, the supporting arrangements aid 
in allowing the device to produce the sounds without obstruction because 
the housing 18 is supported such that the speaker 16 has an open audio 
range to project the wildlife sounds. Thus the device 10 provides a simply 
constructed, and extremely efficient portable audio decoy for attracting 
desired wildlife within the focal range of a hunter or photographer. 
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the 
drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as 
illustrative and not restrictive in character and scope. For instance, the 
housing 18 may equally and easily be adapted to accommodate different 
shape such as square or triangular, etc. In addition, it is within the 
spirit and scope of the present invention to adhesively couple or 
integrally manufacture the circuit board carrier 24 within the housing 18. 
Likewise, the sealing rim 12 may be secured in any one of a number of 
ways, viz., screw-on, tongue-in-groove interfit, or adhesive attachment to 
the top of housing 18. 
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the 
embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments 
within the scope of the following claims.