Patent Application
20130225039
None
None
This invention relates to an improved device to simulate the multiplicity of clashing antler sounds made by two bucks fighting. This sound is known as rattling and is indicative of two bucks engaging in combat. The sound of bucks in combat has been shown to attract other deer to the area. The instant device serves to attract deer to a hunter by simulating the sounds of bucks fighting.
The prior art teaches several distinct types of devices used to simulate the sound of bucks engaging in combat—electronic devices, bag devices, and the use of real horns.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,757,574 issued to William J. Gardner et al on Jun. 29, 2004 reflects the state of the art with respect to simulating or reproducing animal sounds for the purpose of attracting them to hunters. The device disclosed in the '574 patent is essentially a device that plays pre-recorded sound clips of various animals in various situation. Included in these sounds is that of bucks fighting.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,234,865 issued to Michael L. Battey on May 22, 2001 teaches a device that comprises various antler parts inserted into a bag. The '865 patent represents the state of the art with respect to bag rattling devices. Actual or simulated antler parts are placed into a bag that contains strips of material. As the bag is shaken, the antler parts interact with the strips and produce a sound simulating combat between bucks.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,261 issued to Norman S. French on Dec. 21, 1999 teaches a device that discloses a mechanical method of simulating the sounds of bucks in combat comprising a plastic housing with nodes, a striker assembly and a method for moving the striker assembly against the nodes. The '261 patent represents the state of the art with respect to mechanical devices. There are two significant drawbacks to the French device. First, while the disclosure claims that the device can be operated with only one hand, in practice, it is virtually impossible to do so. The present device is specifically designed for easy one-handed operation. Second, the device does not produce the range of sounds at varying volumes that the instant device does.
Furthermore, U.S. Pat. D618,573 (Jun. 29, 2010) and D616,320 (May 25, 2010) both to Gregory S. Burcham represent variations on the mechanical rattling devices. However, they do not represent the same degree of sophistication and variability of sound produced by applicant's instant device. In fact, '573 and '320 are similar to designs developed by applicant and rejected as not producing the range of sounds required by a fully functioning rattling device.
While each of the above described devices are somewhat effective, they do have significant drawbacks. The electronic devices never quite reproduce the sound of bucks in combat while the rattling sound produced in the bag devices is somewhat muffled. In addition, the French device is cumbersome to use and does not feature the one handed operation that the applicant's instant device does. Finally, the '573 and '320 devices are monotonic in nature.
The instant device represents a significant improvement over the rattling device disclosed in U.S. Patent Application 20080318488 to the same applicant (Michael Castner) as the present invention.
None of the patents described above or the referenced prior art, taken either singly or in combination, are seen to disclose the specific combination of attributes disclosed by the present invention.
The present invention is directed toward an improved device that can be simply and easily used to simulate the multiplicity and wide range of rattling sounds of the antlers of two bucks clashing against other during combat. It is a well known fact that the sound of antlers clashing attracts other deer to the area where the sound is being produced. As a hunter progresses through a forest or is perched in a deer stand, there is a requirement that he or she be able to simulate very closely the sound of buck antlers clashing in combat in order to attract deer to the area. There is a further requirement that the sound of clashing antlers be produced only when the hunter wants it to be produced and not at other inopportune times. The present invention meets all these requirements.
The present invention consists of a rattling device which comprises a two-part contoured base body which contains a series of raised hollow or partially hollowed nodes and a facing striker assembly which also contains a series of raised nodes. The raised nodes on the two-part contoured base body and the raised nodes on the striker assembly face each other. Owing to the fact that the device is contoured to the upper thigh of a typical hunter, the device can be easily and comfortably attached to the upper leg of a hunter with a leg strap and can further be attached to the hunter's belt by use of a belt hanger device. The nodes are of various sizes and shapes in order to produce antler-like sounds of varying frequencies and intensity. The contoured base body and striker assembly are joined together, by either a metallic elastic spring or a rubberized elastic connector such as high strength surgical tubing. One of the keys to the effectiveness of the device is that in the rest or unused position, the nodes of the striker assembly and the contoured base body are nestled together and held tightly in position by the elastic connector or surgical tubing or other similar means so that no noise is produced. When the hunter wants to simulate the sound of antlers engaged in combat, he or she moves the striker away from the rest position by pulling it slightly away from his or her body. He or she then rotates the striker slightly. The raised nodes of the striker rub against the raised nodes of the contoured base body and produce a sound that replicates the sound of buck antlers clashing. The hunter has the ability to produce the sound at varying volume levels and frequencies for varying amounts of time. The key to this device is that it allows for the production of a variety of clashing antler-like noises simultaneously. Virtually all other mechanical rattling devices produce only one sound at a time. This is important because a multitude of rattling sounds of varying frequencies and intensities are produced while bucks are engaged in combat. If only one type of sound is produced by a rattling device, it will not sound like bucks engaged in combat and deer will not be attracted.
The two-part contoured base body and striker assembly of the present invention can be made of any rigid material—i.e. metal, molded plastic, wood, etc. The nodes should be made of hard molded plastic or actual pieces of deer antlers. The elastic spring should be made of a lightweight, yet strong and flexible material such as surgical tubing. The leg strap is made of cloth texture and has an adjustable clasp. The belt hanger is plastic or metallic.
The present invention is directed toward an improved mechanical device that can be simply and easily used to simulate the multiplicity and wide range of rattling sounds produced by the antlers of two bucks clashing against other during territorial combat. The present invention consists of a rattling device which comprises a two-piece contoured base body which contains a series of highly engineered raised hollow or partially hollowed nodes and a highly engineered facing striker assembly which also contains a series of raised nodes. The rear piece of the contoured base body is contoured so that it fits the contour of a hunter's upper thigh.
The raised nodes on the contoured body and the raised nodes on the striker assembly face each other. The striker assembly is further designed such that it contours to the hand of the hunter. The device can be attached to the upper leg of a hunter with a leg strap and can further be attached to the hunter's belt by use of a belt hanger device.
The nodes on the contoured body and the striker are engineered to be of various sizes and shapes in order to produce antler-like sounds of varying frequencies and intensity. The contoured base body and striker assembly are joined together, by either a metallic elastic spring or a rubberized elastic device such as high strength surgical tubing. One of the keys to the effectiveness of the device is that in the rest or unused position, the nodes of the striker assembly and the contoured base body are nestled together and held tightly in position by the metallic spring or surgical tubing or other similar means so that no noise is produced. When the hunter wants to simulate the sound of antlers engaged in combat, he or she moves the striker away from the rest position by pulling it slightly away from his or her body. He or she then rotates the striker slightly. The raised nodes of the striker rub against the raised nodes of the contoured base body and produce a sound that replicates the sound of buck antlers clashing. The hunter has the ability to produce the sound at varying volume levels and frequencies for varying amounts of time.
A key to the effectiveness of this device is that it allows for the production of a variety of clashing antler-like noises simultaneously. Virtually all other mechanical rattling devices produce only one sound at a time. This is important because a multitude of rattling sounds of varying frequencies and intensities are produced while bucks are engaged in combat. If only one type of sound is produced by a rattling device, it will not sound like bucks engaged in combat and deer will not be attracted.
Another key to the effectiveness of this device is the engineering of the nodes, the holes and the sound board created by the rear segment of the contoured base body. The nodes are designed such that they produce a range of sounds highly analogous to those actually produced by the antlers of bucks engaging in combat. The highly engineered nodes are contoured and either hollow or partially hollow as are the antlers of real bucks. The sounds created by the nodes striking against each other and sliding off each other are amplified by bouncing off the sound board and are broadcast to the local environment through the holes and slits in the front segment of the contoured base body.
A further key to the effectiveness of the device is that it allows for true one handed utilization. Virtually all other rattling devices require the hunter use both hands to produce some semblance of rattling noises.
The applicant tested several configurations of the nodes and sound board against the actual recorded sound of bucks engaging in combat. The present configuration is virtually identical to the sound produced by battling bucks. Results of this test can be found on applicant's website. http://www.backmountainoutdoorproducts.com.
The major components of the instant device are a two piece contoured base body, a striker assembly, an elastic material that holds the striker snuggly against the contoured base body when it is not being used, and a means for attaching the device to either the upper thigh of a hunter or to the hunter's belt. The contoured base body is further comprised of a front segment that contains the various nodes, slits, and openings and a rear segment that contours to the upper thigh of a hunter and functions as a sound board for the sounds produced by the nodes of the striker and front segment engaging. The front and rear segments of the contoured base body are semi-permanently attached via mechanical means such that they form a sound chamber which serves to amplify the sounds produced by the engaging nodes.
The contoured base body and striker of the present invention can be made of any rigid material—i.e. metal, molded plastic, wood, etc. The nodes should be made of hard molded plastic or actual pieces of deer antlers. The elastic device that attaches the striker to the contoured base body should be made of a lightweight, yet strong and flexible material such as surgical tubing. The leg strap is made of cloth texture and has an adjustable clasp. The belt hanger is plastic or metallic.
Referring to
The slits 55 represent another engineered feature of the device in that they allow for a small degree of axial movement of some of the smaller nodes thereby increasing the number of possible sounds and range of volumes produced by the engaging nodes.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In the rest position, the nodes of the striker 100 rest snuggly and are meshed in between the nodes of the base. The elastic connector holds the striker firmly against the outside of the base so that no sound is produced from the rest position. When the hunter wishes to create the sound of battling bucks, he or she merely grasps the outer side of the striker, which is contoured to comfortably conform to a hand, moves the striker slightly away from the base and rotates the hand slightly. The nodes of the striker strike the nodes of the base and create the rattling sound. The hunter can also move the striker up and down across the various nodes to create additional sounds.
Referring to
This view also presents the method in which the device is practiced. In general, the hunter grasps the outside of the striker, pulls it gently and slightly away from the base while the elastic connected provides resistance and then rotates the his or hand slightly to engage the various nodes of the base and the striker. The hunter can move the striker up and down as well as rotate it as is more clearly shown in applicant's website. www.backmountaintoutdoorproducts.com.
The device is generally between four and eight inches long, between three and seven inches wide, and between one half and two inches deep. The nodes are generally between one half and two inches in long diameter and are generally raised between one half inch and one and three quarters above the base. The openings are of varying sizes and are generally less than one inch along the major axis. The slits are generally less than one eighth inch wide.
