Wireless animal calling system and associated method

A communication system includes a housing with a base section and a lid pivotally connected thereto. The housing includes insulating layers positioned along a bottom surface of the base section and an inner surface of the lid. The lid includes a handle coupled to a distal end thereof. A power supply source is seated within the base section, and a power regulating circuit is coupled thereto. A controller is coupled to the power regulating circuit, and a transducer is coupled to the controller. A receiver is seated within the housing and includes a aerial connected thereto. A transmitter and a portable media player are positioned on a body portion of the operator. A receiver transmits a control signal to a controller, and the controller parses the control signal and generates a corresponding output signal that is transmitted to the transducer.

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This invention relates to animal calling systems, more particularly, to a wireless animal calling system for transmitting an animal calling signal during hunting conditions.

2. Prior Art

Throughout history, hunters and outdoorsmen have employed various devices to attract their prey. In particular, devices to mimic the calls of deer, moose, elk, water fowl, bear, turkey, and other wild game have been employed. Animal calls have also been employed by animal enthusiasts, wildlife photographers, recreational outdoorsmen and outdoor researchers in non-consumptive wildlife activities.

Rattling horns have been used to call wild game, for example deer. These rattling horns have traditionally been both large and small in size. Large rattling horns have the advantage of producing calls of greater volume, and thus are able to travel long distances and/or penetrate thick cover. However, these large horns are difficult to transport due to their size and bulkiness. Often hunters employ a string or strap tied around the horn and slung over their head, thereby offering the potential for entanglement as the hunter travels through brush or woods. Additionally, these large horns present a safety risk in that other hunters may see the movement of the horn and shoot at the moving horn without first ascertaining that the horn is attached to a hunter and not wild game. Smaller horns have also been employed to combat the size and bulkiness problems. However, smaller horns do not produce the volume of larger horns, therefore, the sound does not travel as well. Smaller horns are also often transported using a string or strap slung over the head presenting the same potential for entanglement.

Other methods employed to call wild game have included rattling bags which are small bags filled with bone chips or other hard material, grunt calls which are mouth operated and employ air and/or grunt sounds blown through the device, and treadle operated sounding devices. Grunt calls use a reed to produce their sound and must be disassembled to adjust a rubber O-ring in order to vary the sound. Treadle operated sounding devices require the hunter to step on a treadle, and thus restricts the hunters movement. Rattling bags, by design, require excessive movement, which may alert the prey. After repeated use of a mouth call on a cold day, the hunter's breath condenses in the call tubing or unit, creating moisture and rendering the call useless. Treadle operated sounding devices not only require excessive movement, they restrict the mobility of the hunter. Bow hunters have employed techniques such as rattling an aluminum arrow against the wooden riser of the bow to call their intended prey. Today, however, the majority of compound bows are manufactured entirely from aluminum, composite or other lightweight metal.

A disadvantage of the aforementioned methods of calling prey is that they are very technique sensitive. As a hunter's skill at shaking, rattling, grunting, or blowing improves, his ability to successfully call and attract his prey increases. Both novice hunter and expert often have difficulty creating realistic sounds and are frustrated in their attempt to call the prey. Additionally, all of these mechanical calls require significant movement on the part of the hunter and this movement often frightens away the prey.

One prior art example shows an electronic game caller comprising a means for receiving a power source in conductive connection with a digital recording circuit. The digital recording circuit is in conductive connection with at least one digital vocalization storage medium. The digital vocalization storage medium is in conductive connection with a user programmable microcircuit, wherein the programmable microcircuit is encoded with instructions for a predetermined sequence of playback and a predetermined pitch, tempo and volume. The programmable microcircuit is in conductive connection with a digital playback circuit.

The digital playback circuit is in conductive connection with at least one digital playback altering circuit. The digital playback altering circuits are in conductive connection with a first amplifier in conductive connection with a first speaker. A transmitter is in conductive connection with the digital playback circuit. A remote receiver is in conductive connection with a second amplifier in conductive connection with a second speaker and a means for receiving a second power source. At least one connected input control is provided. In other, economy forms, any or all of the digital recording circuit, programmable circuit, or remote receiver and second speaker are omitted. Unfortunately, this example does not provide a means for rendering game calls on modern electronic media, via an included selectively operable remote device.

Another prior art example shows an apparatus for use in hunting wild game animals and waterfowl, and more particularly to a weapon mounted wild animal game caller. This weapon mounted wild animal game caller finds particular application in attracting deer. It may be conveniently mounted and attached to an archery bow or to a hunting firearm. The game caller emits a grunting sound which is known to attract game animals, such as deer. The use of the grunter is very desirable for short range hunting making it the choice for many bow hunters. The activation of sound is accomplished by a novel air bladder that is filled with a resilient filamentous polyester type fiber.

When mounted to an archers bow, it is easily operated with the hand even with a fully drawn bow. In an alternative embodiment, the game caller uses an electronic recording system to store a plurality of prerecorded calls, such as deer, geese, duck and the like. The recording media may be either a magnetic tape recorder or a digital synthesizer having a plurality of game calls that are stored in digital memory. The entire game calling system can be worn on one's belt and activated silently by depressing a bow mounted or stock mounted switch. Unfortunately, this example does not provide a means of remotely calling an animal from a location other than that of the hunter.

Accordingly, a need remains for a wireless animal calling system in order to overcome the above-noted shortcomings. The present invention satisfies such a need by providing a system that is convenient and easy to use, is lightweight yet durable in design and transmits an animal calling signal during hunting conditions. Such a system conveniently allows a hunter to position the system in one location while taking an advantageous hunting position in another location. The system effectively allows a hunter to selectively change the game call from such a location through the use of a remote device, thus allowing a hunter to remain stationary during hunting conditions, and reducing the possibility of scaring away the intended prey. The system is simple to operate, is portable and is inexpensive. The system can be adapted for use with many different types of game.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for a wireless animal calling system. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are provided by a communication system for wirelessly transmitting an animal calling signal during hunting conditions.

The system includes a portable housing that has a base section and a lid pivotally connected directly thereto. Such a housing conveniently includes a plurality of insulating layers removably positioned along a bottom surface of the base section and an inner surface of the lid respectively. Such a lid is conveniently provided with a handle pivotally coupled to a distal end thereof. Such a handle is adaptable between raised and lowered positions while the lid is directly mated with the base section.

The lid is further provided with a chamfered top surface effectively defining a groove longitudinally extending along an entire longitudinal length of the housing. Such a groove advantageously terminates above the base section and includes open distal and proximal ends for providing easy access from distal and proximal ends of the housing. A bifurcated casing has pivotally adaptable top and bottom sections nested within the groove. Such a casing securely shields the transmitter (herein described below) housed therein.

The housing further includes a power supply source effectively seated within the base section, and a power regulating circuit electrically coupled directly to the power supply source for selectively adjusting an operating voltage of the communication system during hunting conditions. A controller is electrically coupled to the power regulating circuit, and a transducer is electrically coupled directly to the controller. A receiver is seated within the housing and conveniently includes a telescopically adjustable aerial electrically connected directly thereto.

The housing further includes a transmitter and a portable media player advantageously positioned on a selected body portion of the operator. Such a media player is manually controlled by the user such that selected media files are played back via the transducer upon receiving an instruction from the operator. The media player effectively instructs the transmitter to wirelessly send an RF control signal to the housing. The portable media player preferably includes an electronic media playback device selected from the group including an MP3 player, a compact disc player, a tape recorder and a tuner. Such a control signal bears data corresponding to a selected media file existing within the media player. The receiver effectively transmits the control signal to the controller. Such a controller parses the control signal and generates a corresponding output signal that is transmitted to the transducer such that the transducer advantageously projects an audible signal indicative of the media file housed within the media player.

The transducer conveniently includes a loud speaker provided with an amplifier for increasing a decibel level of the output signal. The housing has a distal end provided a plurality of apertures formed therein. Such apertures are juxtaposed adjacent to the transducer for allowing the output signal to effectively emanate away from the housing during hunting conditions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The system of this invention is referred to generally inFIGS. 1-11by the reference numeral10and is intended to provide a wireless animal calling system. It should be understood that the system10may be used to call many different types of animals and should not be limited in use to calling only those animals described herein.

Referring initially toFIGS. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8and9, the system10includes a portable housing20that has a base section21and a lid22pivotally connected directly thereto, without the use of intervening elements. Such a housing20includes a plurality of insulating layers removably positioned along a bottom surface of the base section21and an inner surface25of the lid22respectively. Of course, such layers can be produced from a variety of suitable insulating materials, as is obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Such a lid22is provided with a handle26pivotally coupled to a distal end27thereof. Such a handle26is adaptable between raised and lowered positions while the lid22is directly mated, without the use of intervening elements, with the base section21.

Referring toFIGS. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9and11, the lid22is further provided with a chamfered top surface28defining a groove29longitudinally extending along an entire longitudinal length of the housing20. Such a groove29advantageously terminates above the base section21and includes open distal31and proximal32ends, which is essential for providing easy access from distal33A and proximal33B ends of the housing20. A bifurcated casing34has pivotally adaptable top35and bottom36sections nested within the groove29. Of course, such a groove29can be formed in a variety of shapes and sizes, as obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Such a casing34securely shields the transmitter37(herein described below) housed therein.

Referring toFIGS. 2,4,5,6,7,8,9and10, the housing20further includes a power supply source38effectively seated within the base section21, and a power regulating circuit39electrically coupled directly to the power supply source38, without the use of intervening elements, which is critical for selectively adjusting an operating voltage of the communication system10during hunting conditions. The power supply38is preferably rechargeable, for added convenience. A controller41is electrically coupled to the power regulating circuit39, and a transducer is electrically coupled directly to the controller41, without the use of intervening elements. A receiver43is seated within the housing20and includes a telescopically adjustable aerial44electrically connected directly thereto, without the use of intervening elements.

Referring toFIG. 11, the housing20further includes a transmitter37and a portable media player45advantageously positioned on a selected body portion of the operator. Such a media player45is manually controlled by the user, which is crucial such that selected media files are played back via the transducer upon receiving an instruction from the operator. The media player45instructs the transmitter37to wirelessly send an RF control signal to the housing20. The media player45includes an electronic media playback device selected from the group including an MP3 player, a compact disc player, a tape recorder, a tuner, and any other appropriate electronic media.

Such a control signal bears data corresponding to a selected media file existing within the media player45. The receiver43transmits the control signal to the controller41. Such a controller41parses the control signal and generates a corresponding output signal that is transmitted to the transducer, which is vital such that the transducer advantageously projects an audible signal indicative of the media file housed within the media player45. The remote operability of the system10provides the unexpected benefit of allowing a hunter to be mobile, or stationary, as desired during hunting conditions, thereby overcoming prior art shortcomings.

Referring toFIGS. 4,5,7and10, the transducer includes a loud speaker48provided with an amplifier for increasing a decibel level of the output signal. The housing20has a distal end33A provided a plurality of apertures51formed therein. Such apertures51are juxtaposed adjacent to the transducer for allowing the output signal to effectively emanate away from the housing20during hunting conditions. Of course, such apertures51can be formed in a variety of shapes and sizes, as is obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

The present invention overcomes prior art shortcomings by combining a portable and versatile housing with an RF transmitter directly coupled to a media player and thereby providing the unexpected result of selectively and advantageously distributing animal calling sounds as needed by the hunter.