Hunting retention system and method

A hunting retention system includes an elastic cord attached to each of the pair of rattling antlers and attached by a unique and novel attachment device to a user at the waist. Preferably, the restraining device takes the form of a belt, wherein an elastic cord extends on either side of the belt through eyelets externally of the belt so that the same can be attached to each end of one of the antlers of the pair of antlers. The elastic cord is looped through a metal ring lock, which is in turn attached to the antler. Proximate to the eyelet, a latch is attached to and retains the metal ring lock proximate to the user in all circumstances.

The present invention relates to a system and method for retaining a big game attractant device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method whereby a game calling device, such as a pair of rattling antlers, can be deployed, such that the same are ready for use by a hunter, but are maintained separate and apart from each other to minimize noise and other unwanted distractions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In North America, as well as elsewhere, there are at least 27 big game species that are regularly hunted by sportsmen. With regard to big game, such as deer, moose, and caribou, it is common to attempt to attract the game to a blind or other location for the purpose of harvesting the game. Many approaches are available for attracting such game, including scents, decoys, and bait. Further devices include calls, such as a doe bleat and a buck grunt/snort, which are designed to primarily attract a buck or other large male of the species for harvest. Also commonly used is a pair of previously harvested antlers from the big game at issue, which are “rattled” one against another so as to simulate the sound of two bucks in combat over territory and/or a female of the species. Such rattling approaches have particularly been found to be useful during the rut, or that week or two-week period in the fall when the game are most active.

While many of the attractants described above have their own uses and advantages, the use of rattling antlers has been problematic heretofore. Particularly, when entering the woods prior to a hunt, it is difficult to secure the antlers in such a way that they are not snagged by branches or twigs, lost by the hunter. Moreover, the hunter travelling through the woods with the antlers proximate to each other can likewise occasionally create interaction and undesired noise, thereby revealing the location and/or presence of the hunter prior to the hunt. Such can cause the game to become more suspicious and possibly cause the game to leave the hunting area altogether.

Also, even if the hunter is successful in getting to the hunt area or blind with the rattling antlers, it is sometimes awkward to maintain ready access to the antlers for purposes of rattling during the hunt. Also, it is not uncommon that after a game has been sighted, it is necessary to quickly and discreetly put away the rattling antlers so that the bow and/or firearm can be acquired and the game harvested. It is quite difficult to discard the rattling antlers in such a discreet manner that the game is not otherwise alerted with some game, such as, for example, North American whitetail deer, which have heightened senses, including smell, sound, and sight. Accordingly, a need has existed for an improved rattling deployment and retaining system for use during hunting of big game animals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned drawbacks and disadvantages of rattling systems have been identified and a solution is set forth herein in the invention in a rattling system and method that includes an elastic cord attached to each of the pair of the rattling antlers and attached by a unique and novel attachment device to a belt of the hunter at the side waist of the hunter on respective sides. Preferably, the restraining device includes a carrier that takes the form of a belt having inner and outer layers, wherein an elastic cord is fixed to the inner layer and extends on either side of the belt through eyelets externally of the belt so that the same can be attached to each end of one of the antlers of the pair of antlers. An eyelet is provided on either side to provide a smooth and robust opening for the elastic cord. The elastic cord is looped through a metal ring lock, which is in turn attached to a string that is then secured to the antler. Proximate to the eyelet, a latch is provided on the outside of the belt, whereby the latch can be attached to and retain the metal ring lock proximate to the belt in all circumstances.

During the hunting event, the latch is disengaged from the metal ring lock, allowing the elastic cord to be extended from the inside of the belt through the eyelet and out in front of the hunter so that each of the respective pair of rattling antlers can be brought into cooperating relationship and thereby used to simulate the sound of, for example, bucks fighting. In the event that game is sighted, the hunter can simply let go of the antlers, which will then be separated one from the other and brought to a position proximate the waist at each side of the hunter. Thus, the antlers would no longer be in a position to present any distraction to the game, but yet remain accessible to the hunter for further use, if necessary. When the latches are attached, that is, when the latch is engaged with the metal ring lock, the antlers are kept at each side of the hunter close to the hunter's side and twigs and branches are prevented from disengaging the antlers from the elastic cord.

Preferably, the belt is provided with a Velcro strap on the external portion of the outside surface so that a male end and female end of a buckle, respectively, can be looped through each end of the belt and brought back and secured in position through the use of the Velcro strap attached to the external portion of the belt. Thus, the belt can be extended to whatever length necessary for the waistline of the hunter, but yet kept relatively secure and snug so noise and looseness can be avoided. The buckles are preferably polymeric snap buckles having economical advantages.

Alternatively, the present system can employ a carrier that includes a pair of metal clips through which an elastic cord extends and to which the elastic cord is attached, each of the metal clips having a hole through which the cord extends. The cord is secured to the end of the antler through a metal lock ring as described above. Also, a latch is attached to the metal clip proximate to the hole for the elastic cord and is situated to likewise secure the lock ring proximate to the metal clip when the antler is not needed for rattling. The metal clip is preferably U-shaped and has a lower curve portion that secures to and around a conventional belt. Thus, each side of the hunter can be provided with these detachable belts without having to provide an entire belt system. Likewise, a separate system can include a multitude of different fastening devices to a belt, such as the C-clips used in military web style belts, a snap enclosure system, as is known, as well as keeper systems, likewise used in military belts.

The carrier of the present system can be combined with suspender type units, such as load-bearing equipment (“LBE”) commonly used in military applications, where a similar elastic loop and latch is provided proximate the chest at each side of the wearer for additional devices, such as doe bleats and buck grunts.

Finally, it is contemplated that the carrier of the present system can be incorporated into hunting garments altogether, that is, a hunting coat where the elastic cord and the latch are made available externally to the garment and on at least either side of the waist and preferably at each chest side for use in restraining the attracting devices described above.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent upon a consideration of the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The above brief description sets forth rather broadly the more important features of the present disclosure so that the detailed description that follows may be better understood, and so that the present contributions to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining the preferred embodiment of the disclosure in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangements set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The hunting retention system and method of the present disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for description and not limitation. Where specific dimensional and material specifications have been included or omitted from the specification or the claims, or both, it is to be understood that the same are not to be incorporated into the appended claims.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be used as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims are regarded as including such equivalent constructions as far as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with the patent or legal terms of phraseology, to learn quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. Accordingly, the Abstract is intended to define neither the invention nor the application, which is only measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

These and other objects, along with the various features and structures that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the hunting retention system and method of the present disclosure, its advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of the invention.

While embodiments of the hunting retention system and method are herein illustrated and described, it is to be appreciated that various changes, rearrangements and modifications may be made therein, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of the preferred embodiment, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding features throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The drawbacks and disadvantages of the prior art are overcome through the hunting retention system of the present invention, wherein the preferred embodiment is disclosed specifically inFIGS. 1-4. As better seen inFIG. 1, the hunting retention system of the present invention includes a polymer web belt having an inner layer and an outer layer. The external surface of the outer layer being shown in more detail inFIG. 1. The outer layer10is attached to the inner layer12along its edge by seams as are commonly known in the art. Attached to the inner surface of the inner layer12is an elastic band14. The elastic band14is comprised of a continuous elastic band, preferably a shock cord type of material, which is stitched in place alongside its middle length at stitching16, as shown inFIG. 3. The elastic band14has a pair of distal ends18created by the attachment of the elastic band14to the inner surface of the inner layer of the belt. As better seen inFIG. 1, an eyelet20and22are provided approximately one-third of the length of the belt, at approximately one-third of the length in from each side of the belt, through which extends the respective distal ends18of the elastic band14. Each distal end18of the elastic band is attached to a metal ring lock24, to which in turn is attached a string26that can be advantageously used to attach to the end of the antler28, for example, as that shown inFIG. 5.

The outside surface of the inner layer is also provided with a pair of Velcro strips30, which are attached at either end, as best shown inFIG. 2. Male end buckle32and female end buckle34can be attached to the end of the belt, which is then doubled back and then brought back so that the Velcro will attach to itself and thereby secure the male end and female end of the buckle32and34, respectively, at each end of the belt to the belt and allow the belt length to be infinitely adjusted. Preferably, the belt length initially is at least 55½ inches long. Likewise, the eyelets20and22are preferably disposed respectively at 19 inches from either end of the belt. The length of the relaxed elastic band14, as shown inFIG. 3, is preferably 21 inches. Proximate to and disposed adjacent with the eyelets20and22are a pair of latches36, as best shown inFIG. 1. As described above, the latches36for metal rings should be fixedly attached to the external surface of the outer layer of the belt and disposed so that they may each conveniently engage and retain the metal ring lock24to prevent undesired motion of the antler relative to the user's belt during ingress to and egress from the desired hunting locale. However, the latch36for metal rings should be easily manipulated, such that when needed, the hunter can readily detach the latch36from the metal ring lock24and thereby free the distal end18of each of the elastic cords for free use of the hunting retention system.

As shown inFIG. 5, an alternative embodiment is contemplated by the present invention and includes a metal clip38, having a front portion40and a rear portion42. The rear portion42is designed to engage a conventional belt44of a user and is preferably provided with a lip46for engaging the belt and maintaining the metal clip38in position. A latch48is fixedly attached to the metal clip38and is disposed proximate an orifice50, extending through the front portion40of the metal clip38. Extending through the orifice50is a loop of elastic cord52, which is secured behind the front portion40of the metal clip38and is restrained thereto. The elastic cord52likewise engages a lock ring54, which, as described above, is engaged by the latch48when it is desired that the antler be maintained proximate the user's side. Again, as before, when the user desires to deploy the antler, the user can simply detach latch48from the lock ring54and thereby free the antler for use. Preferably, a pair of the clips38is disposed on each side of the user, as shown inFIG. 7,

The rattling retention system of the present invention can also use clip-on devices to a user's belt that are not metal but are rather constructed of alternative materials. As shown inFIGS. 8,9, and10, approaches have been conceived that allow a multitude of different attachment mechanisms to either a military web belt or a conventional belt of the user. As shown inFIG. 8, the rattling retention system includes a base56made from web material to which the elastic cord (not shown) is attached to the front (not shown) and is restrained at the back of the base at attachment58. Attachment58can be of any known type, such as stake welding, stapling or even tightly made knots through eyelets disposed through the base56, as will be known to those having skill in the art. The base56also includes a C-clip60which is known and typically used in conjunction with military web belts for securing accessories to the web belt. Shown inFIG. 9is a further embodiment where the base62is provided with a cover64attached to the base62by a snap mechanism66. As is readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the cover64goes over the user's belt in a snap-in position and held therein by snap66. The attachment of the elastic cord is likewise provided by detachment58.

Finally,FIG. 10shows a base68using a pair of keepers70such as those typically used in modern military applications and which can be used to preferably attach the base68to a military web belt. In each of the embodiments shown inFIGS. 8,9, and10, it should be apparent that each utilizes a latch for metal rings on the front face thereof and the elastic cord is further provided with a metal ring lock to which is attached the end of the antler. The aforementioned description demonstrates that the method of the hunting retention system of the present invention can be accomplished in a variety of means and the present invention contemplates that other similar attaching devices can be utilized and applied to the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not to be limited by the description of the various attachment devices shown inFIGS. 8,9, and10, but rather should be deemed to include those and other types of attachment systems.

Additionally, it is contemplated in the present invention that additional elastic loops72can be attached near the breast of the user, for example, in the web belt system74shown inFIG. 11. Web belt system74includes shoulder harnesses76and web belt78and are typically known as load-bearing equipment or “LBEs” in the military. It is preferred that the shoulder straps of the LBE shown inFIG. 11also have an inner and outer layer through which is provided an eyelet and into which is fixedly attached an elastic cord, as well as a proximate latch and ring lock arrangement as described above. Finally, as shown inFIG. 12, it is contemplated that the hunting retention system of the present invention can also be employed into and made part of various hunting garments, obviating a need for separate attachment devices. As shown inFIG. 12, garment80is provided with a pair of elastic cords82at each side of the user's waist to which are secured metal latches84that likewise can engage the metal ring lock86attached to each of the elastic cords. It is presently contemplated that the elastic cord82and metal ring lock86, as well as the latch84, can be secured to the external surface of the garment so that they are readily available for use. However, it is also contemplated that the elastic cord82, latch84, and ring lock86could be disposed and protected within a zipperable or enclosed compartment that could be readily opened and made accessible for use when desired.

The solutions offered by the invention herein have thus been attained in an economical, practical, and facile manner. To wit, an effective and convenient hunting retention system provides reliable access to game attractants. While preferred embodiments and example configurations of the invention have been herein illustrated, shown and described, it is to be appreciated that various changes, rearrangements and modifications may be made therein, without departing from the scope of the invention. It is intended that the specific embodiments and configurations disclosed are illustrative of the preferred and best modes for practicing the invention, and should not be interpreted as limitations on the scope of the invention and it is to be appreciated that various changes, rearrangements and modifications may be made therein, without departing from the scope of the invention.