Patent Publication Number: US-8118017-B2

Title: Scent distributing airgun

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/114,738 filed on Feb. 4, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The present disclosure relates generally to scent distribution devices and methods, and more particularly, to a collapsible scent distributing airgun for hunters. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Hunters may enter an area to spray liquid-based animal scent or lures in order to attract game into that area. The scent may include deer musk, bear musk, doe urine, tarsal gland scent, acorn scent and apple scents. The hunters, however, may also leave behind their human scent thereby scaring the game away from the area. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     One embodiment of a collapsible scent distributing airgun (“airgun”) may include a body and a gas cartridge, which may be carried by the body and contain a pressurized gas. The airgun may also have a pressure regulator valve, which may be carried by the body and communicated with the gas cartridge. In addition, the airgun may also have a barrel that may be pivotally carried by the body and movable between collapsed and extended positions. The barrel in the extended position may have an end communicated with the pressure regulator valve to receive the pressurized gas. Further, the barrel in the collapsed position may have the end adapted to receive a projectile configured to emit a scent. Also, the airgun may have a trigger that may be pivotally carried by the body and coupled to the pressure regulator valve to selectively direct the pressurized gas into the barrel for launching the projectile. 
     An embodiment of a method for operating the airgun may include pivoting a barrel of the airgun to a collapsed position. The method may also include inserting a projectile into the barrel. The method may further include pivoting the barrel to an extended position so that the barrel is communicated with a pressure regulator valve of the airgun which is in turn communicated with a gas cartridge of the airgun. In addition, the method may also include operating a trigger coupled to the pressure regulator valve so that the valve may direct a predetermined amount of pressurized gas from the gas cartridge to the barrel for launching the projectile therefrom. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a collapsible scent distributing airgun, showing the airgun having a barrel moved to an extended position; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the airgun of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is another perspective view of the airgun of  FIG. 1 , showing the barrel moved to a collapsed position to permit a projectile to be loaded into the barrel; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the barrel of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the barrel of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an end view of the barrel of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the projectile of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Exemplary modes for carrying out the disclosure are presented and depicted in  FIGS. 1-7 . The exemplary embodiments described herein provide detail for illustrative purposes only and are subject to many variations. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , one embodiment of a collapsible scent distributing airgun (“airgun”)  10  may include a body  12  which in this form may be a pistol grip. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the body  12  may have first and second clamshell portions  14 ,  16  that may be held together in a closed position to define upper and lower seats  18 ,  20 . By way of example, the first clamshell portion  14  may have a back surface  22  with a pair of hinge elements  24  and the second clamshell portion  16  may have aback surface  26  with a pair of hinge elements  28  that may be pivotally attached to the hinge elements  24  to permit the body  12  to move between open and closed positions. Further, the first clamshell portion  14  may have top and bottom surfaces  30 ,  32  that have a respective pair of snap-fit fasteners  34 ,  36  and the second clamshell portion  16  may have top and bottom surfaces  38 ,  40  that have a respective pair of snap-fit fasteners  42 ,  44 , which may be attached to the snap-fit fasteners  34 ,  36  to hold the body  12  in the closed position. Of course, the body may instead have any number of portions that may be attached together by any suitable fasteners. In addition, the airgun  10  may include one or more partitions  46  that may be carried by the first and/or second clamshell portions  14 ,  16 . The partitions  46  may be disposed between the upper and lower seats  18 ,  20  and also have an opening  48  through which the upper and lower seats  18 ,  20  may communicate with each other during assembly. In addition, each of the first and second clamshell portions  14 ,  16  may be made of plastic and have an inner surface  50  with a plurality of ribs  52  or webbing to reinforce a respective one of the clamshell portions  14 ,  16 . Of course, the body may instead be made of metal or other nonplastic materials. The body  12  may also have a front surface  54  including an orifice  56  that may be communicated with the upper seat  18  during assembly. The orifice  56  in this form may be defined by a pair of notches  58 ,  60  formed in a respective one of the first and second clamshell portions  14 ,  16  and aligned together when the clamshell portions  14 ,  16  are moved to the closed position. The body  12  may also include a pivotal coupling  62 , which in this form may be a pair of cantilevered arms  64  extending from the front surface  54  of the body  12 . The pivotal coupling  62  may further include one or more guide members  66 , such as a pair of tongues that may extend from a respective one of the cantilevered arms  64 . Of course, the pivotal coupling and guide members may be any suitable pivoting fastener subassembly. The body  12  may further include a cam lock  68  or other fastener pivotally carried by the top surface  30  of the first clamshell portion  14 . Moreover, the first and/or second clamshell portions  14 ,  16  may have a lateral surface  70  that may extend between the front and back surfaces  54 ,  26 . Each lateral surface  70  may have an opening  71  that may be communicated with the lower seat  20 . 
     The airgun  10  may also have a gas cartridge  72  that may be carried by the body  12 . The gas cartridge  72  in this form may be received within the lower seat  20  of body  12 . However, the gas cartridge  72  may be carried by any portion of the body  12 . Further, the gas cartridge  72  may contain any amount of any suitable pressurized gas, such as 12 grams of carbon dioxide. 
     The airgun  10  may also have a pressure regulator valve  74  (“regulator”), which may be carried by the body  12  and communicated with the gas cartridge  72  to release gas from the cartridge  72  at a constant rate, despite the pressure in the cartridge decreasing as the airgun is being used. The regulator  74  in this form may be received within the upper seat  18  of body  12 . Of course, the regulator  74 , however, may be carried by any portion of the body  12 . The regulator  74  may be a conventional pressure regulator and include a piercing valve  76 , which may extend through opening  48  in the partition  46  and connect to the gas cartridge  72 . Further, the regulator  74  may include an O-ring  78  sandwiched between the piercing valve  76  and the gas cartridge  72 . 
     The airgun  10  may also have a barrel  80  pivotally carried by the body  12  and movable by, for example, 90 degrees between an extended position ( FIG. 1 ) and a collapsed position ( FIG. 3 ). As best shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , the barrel  80  may have a bottom side  82  including a pivotal coupling  84  that may be fastened to the pivotal coupling  62  of the body  12 . Of course, the pivotal coupling  84  may be carried by any portion of the barrel  80 . As best shown in  FIG. 6 , the pivotal coupling  84  in this form may be a cross bar  86  having a middle portion coupled to the bottom side of the barrel  80  and extending transversely outward therefrom. The cross bar  86  may have a pair of opposing ends that may be pivotally carried by the cantilevered arms  64  of the body  12 . Further, the barrel  80  may also have one or more guide members  88  that may be coupled to the guide members  66  of the body  12  to position an end  90  of the barrel  80  in the extended position so that an O-ring  92  may be sandwiched between the end  90  of the barrel  80  and the regulator  74  and further so that the barrel  80  may be communicated with the regulator  74  to receive pressurized gas therefrom. Each guide member  88  in this form may be a groove configured to receive a respective one of the tongues  66  on the body  12 . In addition, the barrel  80  may also have a top surface  30  including a latch  94  or other fastener that may be coupled to the cam lock  68  carried by the body  12  to hold the barrel  80  in the extended position and further decrease leakage of gas. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the airgun  10  may also have a laser sight  96  carried by the bottom side  82  of the barrel  80  or other suitable portion thereof. The laser sight  96  may be adapted to facilitate aiming the airgun  10  at a desired target. Of course, the barrel  80  may have a top side  98  with a front sight  100  mounted thereon, and the top surface  30  of the body  12  may have a rear sight  102  configured to align with the front sight  100  for aiming the airgun at the desired target. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the airgun  10  may also have a trigger  104  pivotally carried by the body  12  and coupled to the regulator  74  to selectively direct the pressurized gas into the barrel  80  when the trigger  104  is moved to a pressed position. The airgun  10  may also have a biasing member  106 , such as a torsional spring, that may be coupled to the trigger  104  to move the trigger to an unpressed position. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the airgun  10  may include a projectile  108  configured to emit a scent, such as deer musk, bear musk, doe urine, tarsal gland scent, acorn scent, apple scent or any other scent. The projectile  108  may have a shaft  110  terminating with a tapered head  112 . The shaft  110  and tapered head  112  may be made of metal or other material having a predetermined weight to facilitate travel of the projectile  108  through the air. The projectile  108  may also have a scent carrier  114  mounted to the shaft  110 . The scent carrier  114  may be a sponge, a cloth, a fabric, a fiber batting or other carrier having or adapted to have a liquid scent deposited thereon. 
     In use, the barrel  80  of the airgun  10  may be pivoted by, for example, 90 degrees from the extended position ( FIG. 1 ) to the collapsed position ( FIG. 3 ). Thereafter, the projectile  108  may be inserted into the end of the barrel  80 , and a scent may be poured or otherwise deposited onto the scent carrier  114  of the projectile  108 . Of course, the scent may instead have been previously applied to the projectile  108 . The barrel  80  may then be returned to its extended position so that the guide members  66 ,  88  are engaged to each other to sandwich the O-ring  92  between the regulator  74  and the end  90  of barrel  80  thereby communicating the barrel  80  with the regulator  74 , which is in turn communicated with the gas cartridge  72 . In addition, the cam lock fastener  68  may be fastened to the latch  94  in a locked position to hold the barrel  80  in the extended position, facilitate compression of the O-ring and decrease leakage of gas between the regulator  74  and the barrel  80 . The trigger  104  may be pressed or pulled to direct a predetermined amount of pressurized gas from the gas cartridge  72  through the regulator  74  and into the barrel  80  to launch the projectile  108  a somewhat consistent distance, such as 75 feet. In addition, ambient air may be drawn through the opening  48  in the lateral surface  70  of the body  12  to transfer heat to the cartridge  72  and regulator  74  and prevent the airgun  10  from freezing. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present disclosure to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present disclosure and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.