Abstract:
Disclosed in this specification is a game call that emits a call for attracting wild game by rotating from an upright position to an inverted position. The game call includes an amplifier having a conic structure with a narrow circular aperture and a wide circular aperture. The narrow circular aperture is connected to the cylindrical top end such that it is within a perimeter defined by the narrow circular aperture.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of co-pending U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/437,791, filed Jan. 31, 2011, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a game call apparatus that emits sound for attracting wildlife. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     Numerous devices are known in the relevant art for use by hunters and others, such as photographers, for producing game sounds intended to be heard by wild game for the purpose of attracting the wild game to the source of the game sound. Such devices are collectively known as game calls and are available in various configurations. Some game calls, for example, are actuated by air and include a reed or other sound-producing member. In order to issue a call, a user must force air into and/or through such an air-actuated game call device. One such device is The Original Can™ Estrus™ Bleat Model No. 711, available from Primos, Inc. of Flora, Miss. 
     In order to more effectively attract game it is desirable that game calls are configured to produce an attractive sound that will travel an increased distance. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a game call apparatus including amplifier according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side plan view of a game call amplifier apparatus according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a game call amplifier apparatus including compression collar according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a side plan view of a game call amplifier apparatus including compression collar according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , a game call apparatus  1  according to one exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown as including a game call  12  and an amplifier apparatus  2 . The game call  12  can be a cylindrically-shaped bleat-type call for attracting wild game such as deer, for example. The call  12  may include one or more apertures disposed at a bottom end (not shown) and one or more apertures  14  disposed at a top end  16  such that covering the bottom aperture(s) with a thumb or finger and turning the call  12  upside down causes a sound-producing structure to emit an attractive sound from aperture(s)  14 . 
     Because the one or more apertures  14  are disposed substantially in the same plane and are of substantially the same size and diameter, the call  12  is generally configured to emit a sound with a wide range but limited in distance and is thereby less effective for attracting game at far distances. The improved game call apparatus  1  of the present invention includes an amplifier apparatus  2  configured to be disposed proximate the top end of a call  12  at a first end  8 . The amplifier apparatus  2  includes a conic structure  4  with an aperture at both first and second ends  8 ,  10  wherein the aperture at the second end  10  is of a wider diameter D 3  than the diameter D 2  of the aperture at the first end  8 . Accordingly, when disposed proximate the call  12 , the amplifier apparatus  2  provides for improved directionality and distance of sound emitted by the call  12  at the aperture(s)  14 . 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the amplifier apparatus  2  can be configured to detachably mount to the call  12  at the first end  8  such as by a collar  6 , for example. The collar  6  is an annular structure having, in one exemplary embodiment, a diameter D 2  slightly larger than the diameter D 1  of the call  12  at the top end  16 . The collar  6  can be configured to mount to the call  12  such as by press fit, adhesive, fixing member or any other means of attachment. In another exemplary embodiment, the collar  6  is formed along with the call as an integrated structure. 
     In yet another exemplary embodiment, an adapter  5  is optionally provided having an open first end  9 , having an inner diameter D 4  slightly larger than the diameter D 2  of the collar  6 , and an open second end  11 , having an outer diameter D 5  slightly larger than the diameter D 1  of the top end  16  of the call  12 . In this embodiment, the adapter  5  is configured to receive the amplifier apparatus at a first end  9  and the call  12  is configured to receive the adapter  5  at a top end  16 . The various components  2 ,  5 ,  12  can be retained, if desired, such as by press fit, adhesive, fixing member or any other means of attachment. As call  12  size and diameter D 1  vary based on type, volume, and pitch, for example, of the emitted sound, the outer diameter D 5  of the adapter  5  can vary along with diameter D 1  of the call  12  while the inner diameter D 4  of the adapter can remain the same thereby allowing various sized calls  12  to be used with the same amplifier apparatus  2 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-4 , in yet another exemplary embodiment, the amplifier apparatus  2  is configured to include a compression collar  7  disposed at a first end  8  for detachably mounting the amplifier apparatus  2  to a call  12 . The compression collar  7  is a substantially annular structure including a disjointed portion  19  disposed proximate the clamp portion  18 . The clamp portion  18  includes first and second clamp members  20 ,  22 , each disposed on an opposing side of the disjointed portion  19 . In one embodiment, at least clamp member  22  includes a threaded aperture  23  for receiving a threaded fastener (not shown). The aperture  23  of claim member  22  is configured to align with an aperture portion  25  of clamp member  20  such that a fastener received by clamp member  20  can extend to and be received by the threaded aperture  23  of clamp member  22  thereby drawing the clamp portion  20  closer to clamp portion  22  so as to reduce the diameter of the collar  6  and detachably mount the collar  6  to a call  12  a top end  16 . 
     In one exemplary embodiment, the aperture  25  includes a first portion  27  of a smaller diameter and a second portion  29  of a larger diameter such that a fastener member having a head portion of a larger diameter and a body portion of a smaller diameter can extend the head portion below the surface of claim portion  20  and abut the first portion  29  of the aperture  25  of a smaller diameter when received by the aperture  25 . In another exemplary embodiment, the head of the fastener member abuts the surface of the claim portion  20  when received by threaded aperture  23 . 
     The amplifier apparatus  2  can be made from any suitable material but is preferably made of a material highly reflective of sound waves. In an embodiment including a compression collar  6 , the amplifier apparatus  2  is preferably formed of a flexible material such as a thermoplastic, for example. 
     While the principles of the invention have been described herein, it is to be understood by those skilled in the art that this description is made only by way of example and not as a limitation as to the scope of the invention. Other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the present invention in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein. Modifications and substitutions by one of ordinary skill in the art are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.