Abstract:
A multi-purpose box call having an outside of the box and offset self-centering extension arm to constrain the lid, which permits generation of turkey cutting noises via merely repeatedly tapping an end of the lid in a single direction. No grasping or twisting of the lid is necessary, and no need to locate the proper orientation between the lid and the box is necessary. The box call can be played in a normal manner by removing or overpowering the rubber band.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention generally relates to hunting accessories, and more particularly relates to hunting game calls, and even more particularly relates to methods and systems for calling turkeys using a box call. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In the past, hunters have used various devices to call turkeys, such as the ubiquitous box call, in which a paddle or lid is dragged across one or two top edges of an open or hollow attached box to generate sound. Numerous variations of box calls have been used in the past. The various types of calls have included features directed to a variety of perceived problems with then existing calls. One variety of box calls in the past has utilized a simple rubber band disposed around the lid and box and located toward the far end of the box call from the connection point between the lid and the box. 
   Another variety has used a rubber band coupled to a central location on either the underside of the lid or the top side of the lid. Such a design is used in the Model #00882 . . . Champion Yelper Natural turkey box call sold by Hunter&#39;s Specialties of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This model has also been equipped with a second rubber band as described in the immediately preceding paragraph. 
   While these box calls and their various improvements have many advantages, they also have significant drawbacks. 
   In general, the skill required to successfully operate these box calls (which were designed to increase the ease of use of the call) is still often more than is possessed by inexperienced hunters or hunters who may use such a call only a few days or weeks each year. Many hunters are intimidated by such calls, fearing that they are difficult to operate correctly. Variations in force and angle of the lid can change a simple yelp to a cut, a purr to a putt or a cluck to a fly-down cackle. The variations in tone and vocalizations are many, and, therefore, a box call often requires a modicum of hands-on practice to use effectively in the field. 
   The simple rubber band around the entire call holding the lid toward the box helps to provide a somewhat constant pressure downward onto the box edge. However, it does not help position the call laterally other than centered over the box. 
   The prior devices, such as the Model #00882 . . . Champion Yelper Natural turkey box call sold by Hunter&#39;s Specialties of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with a rubber band attached to a central location on the lid and to a side location in the box, also helps to provide a downward force and even provide for a lid to be held in a position very slightly askew with respect to the box. But they do not provide for skewing the lid to the optimal position, nor do they provide for re-centering the lid to a significantly skewed position. 
   Consequently, there exists a need for improvement in game calling methods and apparatuses. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of one embodiment to provide a system and method for calling game in an effective manner. 
   It is a feature of one embodiment to utilize an offset lid location optimizing and centering system. 
   It is an advantage of one embodiment to increase the ease with which a box call can be effectively utilized. 
   One embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus and method for calling game, which is designed to satisfy the aforementioned need, provide the previously stated object, include the above-listed feature, and achieve the already articulated advantage. The present invention is carried out in a “finesse-less” manner in the sense that the requisite level of skill to effectively use the call to create a turkey “cutting” sound has been greatly reduced. The present invention is also carried out in an “experimentation-less” manner in a sense that the amount of experimentation needed to learn how to consistently make “cutting” sounds and how to consistently avoid making unwanted sounds, has been greatly reduced. 
   Accordingly, the present invention is a system and method comprising a box call with an offset lid location optimizing and self-centering mechanism. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention may be more fully understood by reading the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment where the lid is positioned in a non-resting position askew with respect to the box; the dotted lines represent axes about which the lid is pivotable. 
       FIG. 2  is a partially cut-away perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  which shows an opposing side and shows the paddle in a resting position; the cut-away portion of the lid  120  reveals the extension arm in combination with a rubber band. 
       FIG. 3  is a close-up plan view of one embodiment where the lid is displaced to expose a top side of the extension arm. 
       FIG. 4  is a close-up perspective view of an embodiment of the extension arm of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
       FIG. 5  is an elevation view of one side of the box call of  FIGS. 1-3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Now referring to the drawings, where like numerals refer to like matter throughout, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , which shows one embodiment of a box call, generally designated  100 , having a box  110  with a front end  112  and rear end  114 . The box  110  is very similar to box call boxes of the prior art and especially similar to Model #00882 . . . Champion Yelper Natural turkey box call sold by Hunter&#39;s Specialties of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Paddle or lid  120  is shown having a front end  122  and a rear or handle end  124 . Lid  120  is shown coupled to the box  110  via a multi-directional coupling  126  which may permit the lid to pivot horizontally around a vertical axis  150  shown by a dotted line, pivot up and down around a horizontal axis  160  and to twist around a longitudinal axis  170 . Couplings which can accomplish one, two or all three of these types of motions are well known in the art, and the precise type of coupling is a matter of design choice. The intended invention is intended to include such a coupling, but not to be limited to any one type of such coupling. A coupling built as follows may be considered preferred in some situations. The paddle is usually connected to the box at one end using a screw with a spring spacer. The spring is used to keep the end of the paddle supported above the box call side boards. At the opposite end of the paddle (in a central location) is a hole that one end of the rubber band is secured, the path of rubber band then goes down through the notch  134  of the extension arm  130  and then is brought up through notch  136  and is secured on the outer fork of notch  134 . The coupling may be either direct or indirect and may or may not involve physical contact between the lid  120  and the end piece of front end  112 . 
   One of the innovative aspects of one embodiment is achieved because of the protuberance or extension arm, generally designated  130 , having an outboard end  134 , a box attaching section  136  and a point  132  where outboard extension begins. The extension arm  130  is coupled to the lid  120  via biasing member  138 , which may be an elastic member, rubber band, spring or other resilient member suitable to allow the lid to deviate from a resting position and bias the lid  120  back to a resting position when no lid manipulating force is being applied to the lid  120 . The position as shown in  FIG. 1  is not a resting position; it is shown in such a perturbed position with an exaggerated angle between the lid  120  and the side  117 . This perturbation of the location of the lid  120  and the exaggeration of the angle is included to better show the extension arm  130  with respect to the side  117 . In a resting position, the biasing member  138  would generally be vertical or having its shortest possible length. This permits the call to be self centering in that if the lid is perturbed, it will return to its resting location irrespective of which direction the lid  120  is moved. 
   In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , side  117  is the only sounding board side; however, it should be understood that side  115  could be a sounding board, or other known dual-sounding board configurations could be substituted. 
   The combination of eyelet  128 , front rubber band  119  and front rubber band connection notch  118  provides for a downward pressure of the lid on the side  117  and a force which tends to resist motion of the lid which is especially useful when the multi-function box call is used in a typical manner as prior art box calls. 
   The exact type of extension arm  130  and the exact type of biasing member  138  will be a matter of design choice. However, the fact that a biasing member  138  applies a bi-directional restoring force on a lid  120  directed toward a location outboard of the box  110 , is believed to be beneficial and innovative. The dimensions and location of extension arm dictate the at-rest location of the lid  120 . This outward extension dimension can be selected so as to play a “sweet” spot or ideal location on the lid  120  to strike on a location on the side  117 . The extension arm  130 , shown in the figures, is a fixed dimension. However, it should be understood that adjustments in the dimension are contemplated. Such dimension adjustments could be accomplished by replacing the extension arm  130  with another having a different outward extension dimension. Alternately, the extension arm itself could be configured to be adjustable in length, thereby allowing for fine tuning of the sound produced when the extension arm  130  is used to simply generate “cutting” calls. 
   Now referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a perspective view of the box call  100  of  FIG. 1  showing an opposing side. The outboard end  134  of the offset extension art  130  is revealed by the cut-away portion of the lid  120  and clearly that outboard end  134  is outwardly of the box  110  and beyond the point  132 . Additionally, it shows that the biasing member  138  is generally vertical with respect to the extension arm  130 . The box attaching section  136  is clearly shown as being generally horizontal and disposed on a top edge of the rear end  114  of the box  110 . It should be understood that the box attaching section  136  need not be so configured, and horizontal attachment on a back side of the rear end  114  or vertically along a side of the box  110  clearly substitutes. Other suitable configurations of attachment of an extension arm  130  are envisioned as well. The location of the extension arm  130  is shown at the rear end  114  of the box. This may be preferred, but locations other than the rear end  114  and closer to the front end  112 , could be used as well. 
   The function of a pulling force to an outboard location could also be performed by a pushing force from some location on the box  110  toward an outboard location, such as by using a compressed spring, hydraulic or pneumatic plunger. Other structures and configurations could be substituted and still perform the function of biasing the lid  120  to a substantially skewed relationship with respect to the box  110 . 
   Now referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a top or plan view of the rear end  114  and extension arm  130  combination of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
   In operation, the method of the present invention can be performed as follows: 
   A lid  120  is provided with some means to provide a force which biases the lid  120  to a substantially skewed position with respect to the box  110 . 
   The lid  120  is then merely tapped so as to move the lid  120  from the resting skewed position to either a less skewed orientation or an even more skewed orientation. The lid  120  contacts a top edge of side  117  and thereby generates a predetermined desired sound. The biasing force then returns the lid  120  to the skewed resting position from which it can again be tapped to produce a very similar sound. 
   One beneficial aspect of one embodiment of the present invention is that the box call  110  can be used as discussed above with the mere repeated tapping of the lid  120  to repeatedly produce the same or very similar predetermined desired sounds, as well as to allow for typical operation of the box call such as would be done with a prior art box call either by overpowering the biasing force or by temporarily disconnecting the structure which provides the biasing force on the lid  120 . This multi-use or convertible configuration is one beneficial aspect of one embodiment. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the rubber band  138  can be merely removed, and then the box call  100  can be operated as would a typical prior art box call. A sound port/thumb rest  116  inside  115 , as was known in the prior art, is shown in  FIG. 1 , so as to permit the normal or typical operation of the box call. A sound port/thumb rest  116  may be inside  117  or omitted entirely. 
   Now referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a close-up perspective view of the extension arm  130 , which includes a second slot  402  for receiving the rubber band  138  when it is wrapped around the rear end  114  of the box call. A screw hole  404  is also shown for receiving a screw to retain the extension arm  130  to structure at the rear end  114 . 
   Now referring to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a side view of side  115 , which shows more detail with respect to the front rubber band connection notch  118  and the sound port/thumb rest  116 . 
   The materials for the components of box call  100 , except for the coupler  126 , front rubber band  119  and the biasing member  138 , are preferably rugged, rigid and lightweight. Numerous well-known suitable materials can be used to accomplish the present invention. 
   It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description, and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construct steps, and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of their material advantages. The form herein described is merely a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof.