Abstract:
The present invention relates to a device for the controlled release of a plurality of game birds for hunting. Game birds constrained in the device, are catapulted into the air as if flushed when a remote radio signal is received by an electrically controlled latch mechanism mounted on the device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to animal release devices. More specifically, the present invention is drawn to a remote controlled device which contains and releases game birds for hunting. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Present day game birds are often pen-raised to ensure that an adequate number of birds are available for the ever increasing population of hunters. Pen-raised game birds, however, will not readily flush (fly up) like game birds raised in the wild. Because of this difference, pen-raised game birds must be flushed by a guide and/or hunting dog walking right up on a covey of pen raised game birds. This scenario results in many guides and dogs being accidently shot. 
     To alleviate this problem, many prior art devices exist which are designed to catapult the game bird(s) upwardly into the air so that the need for the guide or dog is eliminated at the flushing stage of the hunt. Examples of such prior art devices are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 154,494 (Knapp), U.S. Pat. No. 546,491 (Maierhofer), U.S. Pat. No. 2,642,036 (Stuart), U.S. Pat. No. 3,080,850 (Schrougham), and U.S. Pat. No. 3,303,820 (Boyles) The instant devices employ pull cords and the like to release spring driven platforms which propel the game birds into the air. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,063,412 (Colsher et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 3,294,064 (McKown), U.S. Pat. No. 3,310,032 (Adams), and U.S. Pat. No. 3,685,491 (Barrett) show game bird devices in which a solenoid operated latch trips a spring driven door or platform to release the birds. The above devices require extensive electrical wiring for the solenoid. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,357,405 (Stormon et al.) discloses a radio controlled pheasant release device. The instant device requires a relatively complex cage structure to secure a single pheasant. 
     A device shown in an Innotek advertisement appears to have no restraining latch to securely constrain the birds nor, is there a door opening to efficiently load the birds in the device. 
     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to disclose a radio controlled bird release device which can efficiently constrain and release a covey of quail or plural pheasants as will subsequently be described and claimed in the instant invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a structure which propels game birds into the air when the structure receives a radio signal generated by a remote transmitter. The structure includes a housing in which game birds are confined prior to their release. The birds are catapulted into the air via a mesh netting which is utilized to hold the birds in the housing. Plural elastic cords are stretched in a manner to provide the catapulting energy for the mesh netting when the stretching force is removed. A solenoid operated latch mechanism functions to release the stretching force when the solenoid receives a radio signal from a remote transmitter. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an apparatus which enhances safety for guides and dogs in game bird hunting situations. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus for releasing game birds from an enclosure in response to a radio signal. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus for releasing game birds, which apparatus will release the game birds in a manner similar to natural game bird flushing. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for releasing game birds which is easy to use. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof for the purposes described which are inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an end perspective view of the bird release device in its open position according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an end perspective view of the bird release device in its closed position according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the bird release device in its open position according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the bird release device in its closed position according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the latch mechanism of the bird release device according to the present invention. 
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As best seen in FIGS. 1-3, the bird release device of the present invention comprises an enclosure generally indicated at  10 . Enclosure  10  includes front wall  12 , rear wall  14 , side walls  16 , and bottom wall  18 . Front wall  12  has an opening  12   a  formed therein. Opening  12   a  is closed by a removable door  12   b . Door  12   b  is supported on wall  12  in a conventional manner. Rear wall  14  has no openings therein. Both front and rear walls are rectangularly shaped and have identical dimensions. The front and rear walls are preferably constructed of wood. However, other materials (metal plastic) may be utilized if desired. Side walls  16  and bottom wall  18  are made of expanded metal. The front wall, side walls, and bottom wall are attached in any convenient manner to form an eight inch by eight inch by sixteen inch open-top enclosure. 
     As best seen in FIG. 1, flat bars  20  and  20   a  are attached to and traverse the top and bottom ends of front wall  12 . Bars  20  and  20   a  are three-sixteenths of an inch wide and eighteen inches long. Identical bars  22 ,  22   a  are attached to rear wall  14 . Bars  20 ,  20   a ,  22 , and  22   a  may be constructed of the same material as are walls  12  and  14 . 
     With attention still directed to FIGS. 1-3, bars  24  and  24   a  are pivotally attached by pivot bolts or the like to the flat bar  20 . In similar fashion, bars  26  and  26   a  are pivotally attached to bar  22 . The location of the pivoting axis can be determined by one skilled in the art as will be subsequently explained. Bars  24 ,  24   a,    26 , and  26   a  are each three-sixteenths of an inch wide and fifteen inches long and may be constructed of the same material as are walls  12  and  14 . A three-eighths inch diameter rod  28  connects the lower end of bar  24  to the lower end of bar  26 . Similarly an identical rod  30  connects the lower ends of bars  24   a  and  26   a . The rods may be attached by any known convenient means (bolts etc.). An elastic cord  32  is fastened at one end to the lower end of bar  24 . Elastic cord  32  extends across front wall  12  and is fastened at its other end to an end of bar  20   a.  In similar fashion, elastic cord  34  is fastened to the lower end of bar  24   a  and extends across front wall  12  for fastening to the other end of bar  20   a . In identical manner, elastic cords  36  and  38  extend across rear wall  14  and are fastened to bars  26 ,  26   a , and  22 . 
     Rods  40  and  42  respectively connect the upper ends of bars  24 ,  26  and bars  24   a ,  26   a . Rods  40  and  42  are identical to rods  28  and  30 . Rods  40  and  42  support the ends of a vinyl mesh netting  44 . Netting  44  forms a canopy for the enclosure when the device is in the open position (FIG.  1 ). 
     Attention is now directed to FIG. 4 which shows the device in the closed (loaded) position. A metal shelf  46  is secured to one of the expanded metal sidewalls. Shelf  46  supports a solenoid-operated latch mechanism  48  and solenoid  48   a  thereon. The solenoid and latch mechanism are conventional and are not part of the inventive concept per se. The opposite expanded metal sidewall supports a metal bracket  50 . A restraining rod  52  has one end hinged on bracket  50  and a second end adapted to be received in latch mechanism  48 . A battery container  54  (shown in phantom lines) is supported in spaced relation to rear wall  14  in any convenient manner. A battery (not shown) is disposed in container  54  for supplying electrical power to operate the latch mechanism. 
     With reference to FIG. 5, a detailed view of the latch assembly is shown when in the closed or restraining position. An end of restraining rod  52  is secured by latch mechanism  48 . A retractable piston  48   b  is connected to latch  48  via a pull cord  48   c . Operation of the latch assembly will be explained below. 
     In use, the present invention is initially arranged in the closed position (FIGS. 2 and 4) with the mesh netting  44  disposed within the walls of the enclosure. In the closed position, elastic cords  32 ,  34 ,  36 , and  38  will be under tension thereby storing energy. Restraining rod  52  is positioned to be held in latch  48  thereby restraining the invention in the closed position. Game birds can now be inserted through opening  12   a  in front wall  12 . Mesh netting  44  will be furled around the game birds. Door  12   b  is positioned to cover opening  12   a  thereby ensuring that the game birds will remain in place until released. 
     Upon receiving a remotely generated radio signal, solenoid  48   a  will allow electric energy from the battery housed in container  54  to retract piston  48   b  and pull cord  48   c  causing latch  48  to release restraining rod  52 . The energy stored in the elastic cords will cause pivoting bars  24 ,  24   a ,  26 , and  26   a  to pivot and unfurl netting  44  to an open position (FIGS.  1  and  3 ). The energy imparted to the netting is enough to propel the game birds at least eight feet into the air, thus simulating natural game bird flushing. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is no limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any an all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.