Abstract:
The invention relates to a portable device used by hunters and wildlife enthusiasts to lure a variety of animals into close proximity. The device selectively plays back pre-recorded wildlife vocalizations stored as analog signals within an integrated circuit. The device utilizes an external speaker that can be remotely located from the device to provide an opportunity for the operator of the device to be secluded from view of wildlife. The device incorporates the selective use of one of two audio amplifier circuits, thereby enhancing the range of volume control. The device incorporates a selective and replaceable plug-in module used for determining and varying the specific species of animal vocalizations to be played back. The device operates from either an integral rechargeable battery or an auxiliary, direct current power source to further enhance its portability and includes the use of a battery charger and auxiliary power cord.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Not Applicable  
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not Applicable  
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX Not Applicable  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an animal luring device for attracting wildlife for purposes such as hunting, photography or viewing. More specifically, the present invention relates to a new and improved luring device whereby pre-recorded vocalizations of wildlife, stored as analog signals within an integrated circuit, can be played back to effectively lure wildlife to within closer proximity of the operator of the luring device.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Many recording and playback devices have been developed for use by hunters, photographers, and wildlife enthusiasts for luring wildlife to within a desirable range. Many wildlife luring devices in use are mechanical in nature in that they are operated by either passing a volume of air across a reed or diaphragm or by mechanical movement between two frictional surfaces. Each of these methods of operating a luring device requires the user of the device to employ physical movement during operation of the device which is apt to prematurely alert wildlife, and both methods require the use of one or both hands, limiting the ability to discharge a weapon or photograph the wildlife. Also, these types of mechanical luring devices are intended to imitate as closely as possible the sounds of wildlife, but lack the realism of recorded wildlife vocalizations. Both U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,649 to Robertson (1993) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,954,115 to Metiva (1990) are examples of these types of luring devices, depending upon air being blown through a mechanism to create wildlife sounds. U.S. Pat. No. 6,159,068 to Trotter (2000) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,493 to Long (2000) are game call devices that are actuated by friction created by movement between two parts.  
         [0005]     Furthermore, there are numerous wildlife luring devices that have been developed using mechanisms such as tape recorders for recording and playback of wildlife sounds, however these devices consume considerably more electric power than solid state electronic devices. U.S. Pat. No. 5,239,587 to Muckelrath (1993) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,353 to Isoguchi (1992) relate to audio or audio/video recording devices that utilize mechanical-type recorders.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Considering the disadvantages of current wildlife luring devices as noted in the prior art, it is reasonable to expect that the present invention would provide energy efficient playback of realistic wildlife sounds while requiring little extraneous movement on the part of the invention user and would therefore afford the user an excellent opportunity to lure wildlife to within the desired proximity.  
         [0007]     The present invention further enhances its effectiveness as a wildlife luring device in that it employs a speaker that can be located an adequate distance from the user so that wildlife attention will be focused on a location other than that of the user.  
         [0008]     Furthermore, the present invention utilizes a means of storing audio signals within an integrated circuit in analog format rather than digital format so that no fidelity of the recording is lost during digital to analog conversion.  
         [0009]     The present invention further incorporates the use of an effective volume control arrangement that includes a potentiometer used in conjunction with a selector switch. The switch is used to select one of two audio amplifier circuits, of substantially different output power capabilities, within the electrical circuitry to provide for a wide range of audio volume.  
         [0010]     The present invention further utilizes a sealed, gel cell type rechargeable battery in conjunction with a recharging device so that ease of use is maintained as compared to the use of disposable batteries, and battery life is enhanced as compared to the use of nickel-cadmium batteries.  
         [0011]     Furthermore, the present invention also incorporates the optional use of an auxiliary power cord so that an auxiliary source of direct current, such as an automotive power receptacle, may be used rather than the integral rechargeable battery of the invention.  
         [0012]     The present invention further utilizes a plurality of plug-in modules containing unique recordings of various wildlife species such that a specific plug-in module may used to lure a particular specie or species of wildlife.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention including the housing with the hinged cover raised to illustrate the top. Also illustrated in  FIG. 1  is the external speaker and a plug-in module.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention including the housing, a plug-in module, and hinged cover. The proximal edge of the top is shown pivoted upward to illustrate the plug-in module port.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective cut-away view of the present invention with the proximal and left lateral sides of the housing partially removed and the circuit board removed to illustrate the rechargeable battery, battery compartment ridge, and circuit board guide.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective cut-away view of the present invention with the proximal and left lateral sides of the housing partially removed to illustrate the circuit board and module connector attached to the circuit board. The battery charger and auxiliary power cord are also illustrated.  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is an electrical schematic illustrating the components and connections of the circuit board.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is an electrical schematic illustrating the connections to the integrated circuit and connector used in a plug-in module. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     The present invention may be generally described with references to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 6 . A housing  10  is provided to enclose the rechargeable battery  23  and circuit board  25  of the present invention. The housing  10  incorporates a top  11 , which has attached to it several components of the present invention, and a cover  12 . The cover  12  is attached to the distal wall of the housing  10  with a hinge and is secured to the proximal wall of the housing  10  with a latching mechanism  18 . The top  11  is secured to the housing  10  by means of screws passing through the top  11  and into designated receptacles within the housing  10 . The housing  10 , top  11 , and hinged cover  12  are each of molded, one-piece construction. The interior or lower surface of the top  11  includes a molded plug-in module port  19  to facilitate alignment of the plug-in module connector  28   b  with its respective, mated electrical connector  28   a  on the circuit board  25 .  
         [0020]     The housing  10  includes an elevated ridge  24 , molded into the interior or upper surface of the bottom of the housing  10  and constructed perpendicular to the plane of the bottom of the housing  10  to provide a physical division to delineate a compartment for the rechargeable battery  23  contained within the housing  10 . The ridge  24  is constructed to approximate and incorporate the length and width of the rechargeable battery  23  such that movement of the rechargeable battery  23  in two geometric planes, specifically side-to-side and front-to-back, is restricted and minimized. Hold-down brackets  26 , secured with screws to the interior surface of the housing  10  and designed to fit appropriately close to the top exterior surface of the rechargeable battery  23  and to extend from their secured positions partially across the top exterior surface of the battery  23  secure the position of the battery  23  within the housing  10  and restrict and minimize its movement in a third geometric plane, specifically top-to-bottom. The housing  10  contains a circuit board guide  27  which functions to restrict the movement of the circuit board  25  within the housing  10  and to properly position the circuit board  25  within the housing  10  such that it maintains proper alignment with the plug-in module port  19 . The circuit board guide  27  is constructed as a bifurcated molding on the interior surface of the two lateral walls of the housing  10  and the interior surface of the bottom of the housing  10  resulting in two juxtaposed and parallel protrusions oriented in two parallel geometric planes such that the circuit board  25  can be positioned and secured between the protrusions. The parallel protrusions are spaced apart slightly more than the thickness of the circuit board  25  and function to maintain proper positioning of the circuit board  25 . The top  11  of the housing  10  secures the circuit board  25  within the circuit board guide  27 .  
         [0021]     The electrical terminals of the rechargeable battery  23  are connected to the circuit board  25  and electrical circuit by means of electrical cables and an associated connector, J 5 . The rechargeable battery  23  may be disconnected from the circuit board  25  by means of a cable connector, J 5 . The speaker connector jack  15 , the battery charger connector jack  16 , and the auxiliary power cord connector jack  17  are each connected to the circuit board  25  and electrical circuit by means of electrical cables.  
         [0022]     The external speaker  20  functions to receive electrical signals from the electrical circuitry of the present invention and convert the signals into audible sounds of pre-recorded wildlife as determined by a particular plug-in module  28  being used at a particular time. The external speaker  20  is connected to the electrical circuitry of the present invention by means of a plug  20   a,  J 1 -A, on the terminal end of the speaker cord inserted into a mating connector jack  15 , J 1 -B, located on the top  11  of the housing  10 . The speaker  20  may be disconnected from its respective jack  15  when not in use.  
         [0023]     The battery charger  21 , when powered from a nominal 120 volts alternating current source, provides current to recharge the rechargeable battery  23 . The battery charger  21  is connected to the electrical circuitry of the present invention by means of a plug  21   a  on the outlet end of the battery charger cord inserted into a mating connector jack  16 , J 3 , located on the top  11  of the housing  10 . The battery charger  21  may be disconnected from its respective jack  16  when not in use.  
         [0024]     The auxiliary power cord  22  may be connected to the electrical circuitry of the invention by a plug  22   b  on the outlet end of the auxiliary power cord  22  inserted into a mating jack  17 , J 2 , located on the top  11  of the housing  10 . Use of the auxiliary power cord  22  connected to an auxiliary 12 volt direct current power source enables the electrical circuitry of the present invention to be powered from an auxiliary source of power rather than the rechargeable battery  23 . The inlet end of the auxiliary power cord  22  contains an automotive-type plug  22   a  suitable for inserting into a 12 VDC power outlet common in many vehicles. The auxiliary power cord  22  may be disconnected from its respective jack  17  when not in use.  
         [0025]     Each jack  15 , 16 , and  17  is unique in its design with respect to the other two jacks of the present invention, and each jack is specifically designed to accept its respective mating plug  20   a,    21   a,  and  22   b.    
         [0026]     A plug-in module  28 , selected from a plurality of available plug-in modules, must be inserted into the plug-in module port  19  and connected to the electrical circuitry of the present invention to enable a pre-selected recording of a particular wildlife specie or species to be played back using the present invention. The plug-in module port  19 , an integral part of the interior surface of the top  11 , facilitates accurate alignment of the plug-in module connector  28   b  with its respective mating connector  28   a  on the circuit board  25 . The proximal end of the plug-in module port  19  fits into a mated recess within the proximal wall of the housing  10 . The distal end of the plug-in module port  19  terminates in proper alignment with and in close proximity to the plug-in module connector  28   a.  When a plug-in module  28  is properly and fully inserted into the plug-in module port  19 , the plug-in module connector  28   b  electrically connects a plug-in module  28  to the connector  28   a  on the circuit board  25  and, consequently, to the electrical circuit of the present invention.  
         [0027]     A combination switch-potentiometer, On-Off/Volume Control  13 , S 1 , is used to selectively switch power to the circuit board  25  of the present invention and also to provide control of the audio volume of the played-back wildlife recordings. When S 1  is positioned to the “OFF” position, power from either the rechargeable battery  23  or an auxiliary power source is interrupted to the electrical circuit of the present invention. When S 1  is positioned to the “ON” position, power from either the rechargeable battery  23  or an auxiliary power source is presented to the electrical circuit of the present invention. Once S 1  is positioned to the “ON” position, the included potentiometer influences the level of the audio volume output of the present invention.  
         [0028]     A three-pole double-throw (3PDT), low-high volume level switch  14 , S 2 , is provided to enable selection and use of one or both of two audio amplifiers, U 1  (LM386) and U 2  (TDA1516CQ), located on the circuit board  25 . The selection of one or both of the audio amplifiers, U 1  or U 2 , determines the coarse volume level (low or high level) of audio volume of the played-back wildlife recordings. Selection of the low volume level electrically connects a single audio amplifier, U 1 , into the electrical circuitry so as to provide a relatively lower audio level to the external speaker  20  than had the high volume level been selected. Selection of the high volume level electrically connects the output of the low level audio amplifier,U 1 , to the input of a second audio amplifier, U 2 , capable of relatively higher output than the low level audio amplifier, U 1 . Selection of the high volume level provides a relatively higher audio level to the external speaker  20  than had the low volume level been selected. The selective use of the low-high volume level switch  14  provides the operator of the present invention with a more selective range of audio volume control.  
         [0029]     The circuit board  25  located with the housing  10  contains the electrical components and circuitry necessary to receive and electrically amplify the pre-recorded wildlife vocalizations stored within a plug-in module  28 . The electrically amplified wildlife vocalizations are then presented to the external speaker  20  for audible transmission. The circuit board  25  receives nominal 12 volts direct current (12 VDC) from either the rechargeable battery  23  or an auxiliary power source as previously described. A replaceable electrical fuse, F 1 , located on the circuit board  25 , provides over-current protection to the electrical components of the circuit board  25 . The 12 VDC supplies power to both of the audio amplifiers, U 1  and U 2 , and also provides power to a voltage regulator, U 3  (LM340T/T0), the output of which supplies 5 volts direct current (5 VDC) power to the integrated circuit, U 4  (ISD2560P), located within a plug-in module  28 . The inputs of the low level audio amplifier, U 1 , are capacitively coupled to the outputs of the integrated circuit, U 4 , such that the pre-recorded wildlife vocalizations are presented to U 1 . The output of the low level audio amplifier, U 1 , is capacitively coupled to both the input of the high level audio amplifier, U 2 , and one of the electrical contacts of the 3PDT low-high volume level switch  14 , S 2 . When S 2  is placed in the low volume position, the following occur: 
        (a) 12 VDC negative (−) is connected to the speaker connector jack  15 , J 1 -B negative (−) terminal. This provides electrical reference for U 1  output circuit to speaker  20 .     (b) Terminal  5  of the low level audio amplifier, U 1 , is capacitively coupled to the speaker connector jack  15 , J 1 -B positive (+) terminal. This couples U 1  output to the speaker  20 .     (c) Terminals OUT  1  and OUT 2  from the high level audio amplifier, U 2 , are disconnected from the speaker connector jack  15 , J 1 -B negative (−) and positive (+) terminals, respectively. This disconnects U 2  outputs from the speaker  20 .     (d) 12 VDC (+) is disconnected from the terminals Vp and M/SS of the high level audio amplifier, U 2 . This disconnects 12 VDC power from U 2 .        
 
         [0034]     When S 2  is placed in the high volume position, the following occur: 
        (a) Terminal OUT  1  of the high level audio amplifier, U 2 , is capacitively coupled to the speaker connector jack  15  J 1 -B negative (−) terminal. This provides electrical reference for U 2  output circuit to speaker  20 .     (b) Terminal OUT  2  of the high level audio amplifier, U 2 , is capacitively coupled to the speaker connector jack  15 , J 1 -B positive (+) terminal. This couples U 2  output to the speaker  20 .     (c) 12 VDC (+) is connected to the terminals Vp and M/SS of the high level audio amplifier, U 2 . This connects 12 VDC power to U 2 .     (d) 12 VDC negative (−) is disconnected from the speaker connector jack  15 , J 1 -B negative (−) terminal. This disconnects U 1  output electrical reference from the speaker  20 .     (e) Terminal  5  of the low level audio amplifier, U 1 , is disconnected from the speaker connector jack  15 , J 1 -B positive (+) terminal. This disconnects U 1  output from the speaker  20 .        
 
         [0040]     A plug-in module  28 , comprised of a connector  28   b  and integrated circuit, U 4 , is partially encapsulated within an composite molding such that only the connector  28   b  is externally exposed. The plug-in module  28  is electrically connected to the circuit board  25  via mating connectors  28   a  and  28   b,  J 4 -A and J 4 -B. The plug-in module  28  is shaped such that it fits appropriately within the plug-in module port  19  and aligns the plug-in module connector  28   b  with the mating circuit board connector  28   a.  When the plug-in module  28  is fully inserted into the plug-in module port  19 , the plug-in module  28  is electrically connected to the circuit board  25 . When connected to the circuit board  25 , the integrated circuit, U 4 , located within the plug-in module  28  receives 5 volts direct current as power from the output of the voltage regulator, U 3 , located on the circuit board  25 . When U 4  is powered, analog representations of wildlife vocalizations stored within it are continuously presented, or played back, to the output terminals of U 4  which are capacitively coupled to the input of the low level audio amplifier, U 1 , as previously described. U 4  is configured such that when the playback reaches the end of the pre-recorded wildlife vocalizations, the playback loops back to the beginning of the stored vocalizations and repeats the playback. This cycle of playback continues until power is removed from the plug-in module  28 .  
         [0041]     The preceding description of preferred embodiments and drawings of the present invention are neither intended to limit the scope of the invention nor restrict modifications to the present invention as embodied within the respective claims of the invention.