Abstract:
A disposable single-use animal attractant dispensing device has a pouch formed by front and back panels joined along peripheral edges, which includes a pouch section for retaining an animal attractant and a single-use absorbent lure for absorbing the attractant. A first opening formed by un-joined portions of the panels is sealed together along with a portion of the lure to form a sealing section, forming a substantially impervious seal. A notch is provided to assist the user in rupturing the seal to separate the pouch and sealing sections and to expose the lure. A securement is provided for securing the pouch to a user, and may include a pouch connection member and a user connection member. An aperture disposed in the sealing section of the pouch receives a portion of the securement. A pocket on an outer surface of the pouch holds a portion of the securement.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/775,842, filed Mar. 11, 2013. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of hunting and trapping and, more particularly, relates to a disposable single-use animal attractant dispensing devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In watching, hunting and trapping animals, it is often useful to disperse a scent into the air or onto the surrounding areas. This may be done for a number of reasons. One reason is to conceal the hunter&#39;s own scent so as to avoid alerting animals to the hunter&#39;s presence. Another reason is that certain scents may, in fact, lure the animal to a particular location. Additionally, mobility is often desirable and required in order to track and trap animals. However, this may leave a scent trail so stationary scents are often inadequate. It is often preferred to avoid contact with the scent and that the scent not contact the hunter&#39;s person, clothing, equipment, etc. It is also preferable that the device be simple and quick to use, easy replenished and easily disposed of without requiring long-term storage after opening. Finally, it is also desired that the scent-dispersing device be able to disperse the scent automatically with little or no effort by the user. 
     Therefore, what is needed is a single-use animal attractant-dispensing device that is simple and easy to use, may be mobile, disperses the scent automatically, and is easily disposed of and replaced. 
     SUMMARY 
     The above and other needs are met by a disposable single-use animal attractant-dispensing device. The device includes front and back panels, which may be formed from a material substantially impervious to liquids. The pouch may be formed using a material that is substantially impervious to at least one of ultraviolet radiation and visible light. 
     The panels are positioned in face-to-face relationship and peripheral edges of the panels are joined together to define a disposable single-use pouch. The pouch includes a pouch section for retaining the animal attractant defined by a section of the peripheral edges of the front and back panels joined together. The pouch section also includes a first opening defined by a section of the peripheral edges of the front and back panels not joined together. A sealing section is formed by sealing together the peripheral edges and a section of the front and back panels located at the first opening. 
     The pouch includes a rupturable seal that is located between the sealing section and the pouch section. The seal permits the sealing section to be removed from the pouch section, thereby exposing the first opening of the pouch section. The device may also include a tear notch that is located in at least one of the peripheral edges of the joined front and back panels adjacent the rupturable seal. The tear notch assists the user in rupturing the rupturable seal and in separating the pouch section from the sealing section. 
     The device also has a quantity of animal attractant disposed in the pouch section. A disposable single-use lure is placed within the pouch. The animal attractant may include animal urine, such as deer urine. The lure may include a moisture absorbent material for absorbing at least a portion of the quantity of a liquid animal attractant. However, certain man-made attractants are in powder form rather than liquid and would also be suitable for the pouch. A section of the lure is sealed between the front and back panels of the sealing section such that the lure is removed from the pouch section when the sealing section is separated from the pouch section. 
     A securement is provided for removably securing the pouch to a user. The device may also include an aperture disposed in the sealing section of the pouch for receiving and fixedly connecting the securement to the pouch. The securement may include a lanyard or length of rope or string for removably securing the pouch to a user. The device may also include a pocket formed on an outer surface of at least one of the front and back panels for receiving and securely holding at least a section of the securement. 
     The device may also allow for easy use and exchange of multiple pouches. In particular, the device may include a pouch connection member that connects to the pouch and a user connection member that connects to a user. The pouch is then connected to the user by connecting the pouch connection member and user connection member together. After a first pouch has been used by the user, it may be replaced by disconnecting the pouch and the user connection members and then re-connecting the pouch connection member of a second pouch to the user connection member. Pouches may be provided with the pouch connection member already attached to the pouch. Additionally, multiple pouches may be sold together and may also include a single user connection member. 
     Further details of each of these and other embodiments of the invention are provided in the drawings and in the detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further advantages of the invention are apparent by reference to the detailed description when considered in conjunction with the figures, which are not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements throughout the several views, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation view depicting a disposable single-use animal attractant dispensing device attached to a shoe in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevation view depicting a disposable single-use animal attractant dispensing device in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is depicts the disposable single-use animal attractant dispensing device shown in  FIG. 2  after the rupturable seal has been broken and the pouch section is separated from the sealing section; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the device of  FIG. 1 , wherein the pouch section has been separated from the sealing section via the rupturable seal and the lure is partially removed from the pouch section; 
         FIG. 4A  depicts a user connection member being affixed to a rear portion of a shoe; 
         FIG. 4B  depicts the user connection member shown in  FIG. 4A  being connected to a pouch connection member that is secured to a disposable single-use animal attractant dispensing device; 
         FIG. 4C  depicts the disposable single-use animal attractant dispensing device of  FIG. 4C  with the rupturable seal partially broken; 
         FIG. 4D  depicts the disposable single-use animal attractant dispensing device of  FIG. 4C  with the rupturable seal fully broken and the pouch section separated from the sealing section and lure; 
         FIG. 4E  depicts the disposable single-use animal attractant dispensing device of  FIG. 4D  in use to form a trail of animal attractant along the ground; 
         FIG. 4F  depicts the trail of animal attractant attracting an animal; and 
         FIG. 5  depicts a disposable single-use animal attractant dispensing device after being secured near the hunter&#39;s hunting location away from the hunter. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the description with follow, like parts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and the proportions of certain parts have been exaggerated and/or shown in schematic form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. 
     Throughout this description, the term “attractant” is often used. This term is used as a shorthand method of referring to animal scents, attractants and baits, such as animal urine and the like, whose purpose is to attract animals, but also to scent covers, whose purpose is to conceal scents left by the hunter. These covers may include, for example, acorn, pine, earth, and other similar scents. Additionally, attractants may be provided in solid form, including as a power, in liquid form, or in a combination. 
     With reference now to the figures and, in particular, to  FIGS. 1-3 , there is provided a disposable single-use animal attractant dispensing device, generally referred to herein as a pouch  100 . The pouch  100  is designed to dispense an animal attractant so as to attract an animal to a hunter or trapper&#39;s location. In certain embodiments, the pouch  100  may be worn on a section of a shoe or boot or at the lower end of the pants leg of a user. A section of the device drags behind the user and dispenses an attractant onto a ground surface, surrounding natural features, or into the atmosphere as the user walks. 
     Users may prefer to minimize contact with certain animal attractants, such as animal urine. Accordingly, unlike other attractant dispensing devices, which are reloaded/refilled, cleaned, etc. after each use, the pouch  100  of the present disclosure is a single use, disposable pouch that is ready for use immediately upon opening the sealed pouch, requiring no additional preparation steps, and may be disposed of after a single use. 
     The pouch  100  includes a front panel  102  and a back panel  104 , which are preferably formed from a material impervious to liquids. Additionally, because certain attractants or scents may degrade when exposed to certain types of radiation, the panels may be formed from materials designed to inhibit the transmission of such radiation into the pouch  100 . For example, the panels are formed using a material that is substantially impervious to at least one of ultraviolet radiation and visible light. 
     The panels  102 ,  104  are disposed in face-to-face relationship with a section of a peripheral edge  106  of each of the panels joined together to define a disposable single-use pouch. The pouch includes a pouch section  108  and a sealing section  110  for sealing the pouch section. The pouch section  108  is defined by a section of the peripheral edges  106  of the front panel  102  and back panel  104  that have been joined together. 
     An animal attractant  112  such as animal urine (e.g., deer, bear, boar, etc.) or other scents may be placed into the pouch section  108 . Additionally, a lure  114  may be inserted into the pouch section  108  between the panels  102 ,  104  to absorb at least a portion of the attractant  112 . The lure  114  is comprised of an absorbent material, such as a piece of cloth, that is designed to absorb either liquid or solid animal attractant or both. 
     The exact composition, size and configuration of the lure  114  allow it to absorb and retain a quantity of the attractant  112  sufficient to disseminate an effective quantity of attractant on a ground surface, other natural features, such as trees, bushes, etc., or into the surrounding atmosphere, so as to attract an animal to a hunter&#39;s or trapper&#39;s location. 
     In manufacturing the pouch  100 , a section of the pouch section  108  may be left temporarily unsealed such that an attractant as previously described may be easily placed into the pouch section and/or to insert other items, such as the lure  114 , into the pouch section. The lure  114  is inserted into the pouch section  108  such that a section of the lure is submerged in the attractant  112  and such that another section of the lure is near the unsealed section of the pouch. The lure  114  and the remaining section of the unsealed section of the peripheral edge  106  are then sealed together, such that one end of the lure  114  is secured in the sealing section  110  of the pouch  100 . 
     The sealing section  110  provides a leak-proof, preferably odor-proof, seal at the opening in the pouch section  108 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the seal is a rupturable seal that may be ruptured by a user in order to separate the pouch section  108  from the sealing section  110  in order to expose the lure  114  and to withdraw it from the pouch section for use. Additionally, the pouch  100  may be provided with one or more notches  116  disposed in the peripheral edges  106  of the pouch  100  for assisting the user in separating the pouch section  108  from the sealing section  110 . 
     The pouch is further provided with a securement  118  that may be removably secured, on one end, to a portion of the sealing section  110  and, on another end, to a desired location such as a portion of a user (e.g., boot or pant leg) or to an object (e.g., a tree branch). One portion of the securement  118  may comprise a lanyard, length of rope or string, or other such device that is dimensioned to permit the lure  114  to contact and drag along a ground surface when connected to the user. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the pouch  100  may further comprise an aperture  124  for connecting a portion of the securement  118  to the sealing section  110 . 
     The securement  118  may include a pouch connection member  120  for connecting to the sealing section  110  and a user connection member  122  for connecting to a user. The pouch and user connection members  120 ,  122  allow a user to quickly and easily exchange a used pouch for a new pouch. In particular, after a pouch  100  has been used by the user, it may be replaced by first removing disconnecting the pouch connection member  122  of the used pouch from the user connection member  120  and then connecting the pouch connection member of a new pouch to the user connection member. In certain embodiments, the user connection member  122  includes a first lanyard  140  having a first end  140 A and a second end  140 B. The first end  140 A of the first lanyard  140  passes through the aperture  124  of the sealing section of the pouch  100 . Additionally, the pouch connection member  122  includes a connector  142  and a second lanyard  144 . The connector  142  has a clasp end  142 A and a connection loop  142 B mounted to the clasp end  144 . The clasp end  142 A removably connects to the second end  140 B of the first lanyard  140 . The second lanyard  144  has a first end  144 A and a second end  144 B. The first end  144 A of the second lanyard  144  is retained in the connection loop  142 B of the connector  142 . The second end  144 B of the second lanyard  144  removably connects to a user-selected location to facilitate the dispersal of the animal attractant. The first lanyard  140  may be selectively detached from the connector  142  and second lanyard  144  while the second lanyard remains connected to the user-selected location. 
     The pouch  100  may include a pocket  126  formed on an outer surface of at least one of the panels  102 ,  104  for receiving and securely holding at least a section of the securement  118 . 
     In use, as shown in  FIGS. 4A-4F , a user such as a hunter or trapper may attach a pouch to a portion of their clothing such as a pant leg or a boot, which, after the lure is exposed, disperses the attractant as the hunter walks in order to attract an animal to the hunter&#39;s location. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the user may attach the pouch to a location where the dispersal of the attractant is desired. For example, the user may attach the pouch to a tree or bush or to a tree stand, etc., in order to attract an animal to that location. 
     In particular,  FIG. 4A  illustrates the user connection member being affixed to a portion of a boot. Next, as shown in  FIG. 4B , a pouch is affixed to the user&#39;s boot by connecting the user connection member and pouch connection member together. In certain embodiments, two pouches may be used, where one pouch is attached to each shoe. These pouches may include animal attractant that have the same composition or different compositions. For example, it may be preferable to use a male (e.g., buck) scent on one shoe and a female (e.g., doe) scent on the other shoe to replicate the trail of a male following the female. 
     Next, as depicted in  FIGS. 4C and 4D , once the pouch is attached to the desired location, the user then tears the pouch open and separates the pouch section from the sealing section to expose the lure. As shown in  FIG. 4E , if the pouch is attached to the user&#39;s person, after exposing the lure, the user may then walk to the desired hunting location while dragging the lure behind. This dragging action causes the attractant to be dispensed on the ground, on the natural surroundings and in the atmosphere (i.e., air) and creates a trail to the user&#39;s hunting location. Ideally, as shown in  FIG. 4F , the intended prey will follow this trail to the user&#39;s location. 
     One primary benefit of this design is the avoidance of contact between the user and the attractant. In particular, by attaching the securement to an external portion of the pouch (i.e., to the sealing section), the pouch may be opened, the lure removed from the pouch and placed into use, and also removed after use, all without the user ever coming into contact with the attractant. Accordingly, this provides a clean and simple alternative to prior animal attractant lures and avoids contamination of the user&#39;s skin, clothing and/or boot by the attractant. 
     The various embodiments of the pouch  100  described herein provide a convenient package to enable the clean display and storage of multiple packs of lures including, for example, in a store display or storage room. Other advantages of the pouch  100  design is that the user may place one or more pouches in their pocket, bag, etc., for example, which allows users to easily access the pouch and easily and quickly swap a used lure with a new lure. Another benefit is that the user can utilize and replace the lure(s) without the need to contact the attractant and without having to store a supply of attractant to refill the lure. 
     The foregoing description of embodiments for this invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and described in an effort to provide illustrations of the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.