Devices for holding a slate bird caller

Abstract

A device for holding a slate bird caller including a slate holder including a backing ply secured to a cover ply, said cover ply providing a sounding aperture, wherein a slate for producing a bird call is received between said backing ply and said cover ply, with a portion of said slate exposed at said sounding aperture; and a fastener secured to said slate holder to secure said slate holder to an item of clothing.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to bird hunting accessories, and, more particularly, to slate bird callers. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is well known in the art, hunting activities can require specialized accessories. Many items are provided for a hunter's basic needs, while speciality equipment and accessories that go far beyond a hunter's basic needs are also provided.

Of particular interest here are bird callers, more particularly, slate bird callers. Currently, these items are typically carried by hunters, within pockets or packs, and are removed from such storage when needed. Unfortunately, they are needed quite often, and, during a given hunting expedition, a hunter must constantly store and retrieve his slate bird caller.

The art can be improved by the provision of a device for carrying slate bird callers wherein the device may be worn on the exterior of a hunter's clothing and always be available for use, without retrieving the slate caller from a pocket or pack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a device for holding a slate bird caller including a slate holder including a backing ply secured to a cover ply, said cover ply providing a sounding aperture, wherein a slate for producing a bird call is received between said backing ply and said cover ply, with a portion of said slate exposed at said sounding aperture; and a fastener secured to said slate holder to secure said slate holder to an item of clothing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device for holding a slate bird caller in accordance with this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a device for holding a slate caller in accordance with this invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, a device for holding a slate bird caller in accordance with this invention is shown and designated by the numeral 10. Device 10 includes a support strap 12 having a clip 14 at one end thereof. The strap may be made from any suitable material strong enough to resist wear and tear. Likewise, clip 14 may be virtually any type of suitable clip or other device for securing one item to another.

Slate holder 16 is secured to support strap 12 downwardly of clip 14. In this configuration, device 10 may be hung on a body, for example, by securing clip 14 to an eyelet on the exterior of one's clothing or on a belt loop or other appropriate location. Slate holder 16 is made from backing ply 18 and cover ply 20, preferably of elastic fabric so that sounding aperture 22 can expand to accept slate 24. In the figures, the slates are shown as received in the slate holders, and the dashed lines represent the perimeter of the slates, as received between the backing plies and cover plies. As used herein, “slate” is a term of art, and is not necessarily limited to actual slate material. Any material currently employed or hereinafter employed for these types of friction-based callers may be suitable as slate 24.

As known, slates must be rubbed with the blunt end of a call stick, and it is common to use more than one call stick during a hunting expedition because different call sticks produce different tones. Thus, although one or more than two call sticks may be incorporated into the design, backing ply 18 and cover ply 20 extend from slate holder 16 to provide first and second stick sleeves 28, 30 to hold first and second call sticks 32, 34. Stick sleeves 28, 30, because they are made from the aforementioned elastic fabric, squeeze the sticks 32, 34 to hold them, but sticks 32,34 can easily be removed. An optional pocket 36 is provided on support strap 12 to hold a mouth-blown bird caller or other appropriately sized item, if desired.

As with the call sticks, slates may also be provided to produce different tones. Thus, referring now to FIG. 2, it may be desirable to produce a device for holding more than one slate caller. In FIG. 2, such a device is shown and designated by the numeral 110, and like parts to the device of FIG. 1 receive like numerals although increased by 100. Thus, the uppermost slate holder 116 of device 110 is basically the device of FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, an additional slate holder 216 is provided hanging from an extension 212 of support strap 112. Slate holder 216 is preferably made of an elastic material having a backing ply 218 and cover ply 220 with a sounding aperture 222. Slate holder 216 receives slate 224. Appropriate fasteners, generally represented at the numeral 240 are provided so that slate holder 216 may be folded up and secured to slate holder 116 to provide a device that is less bulky to carry. In preferred embodiments, the fasteners 240 are hook-and-loop type fasteners.

The foregoing devices advance the art by providing a device for holding slate bird callers wherein the device can be worn on the exterior of the body and wherein the slate can be employed to sound a bird call without having to remove the slate from a pocket or pack or other storage area. With the devices of this invention hung from the loop of a belt, a hunter can simply reach down, grab a call stick, and sound a bird call on the slate, and the slate and call sticks are always ready for use.

In light of the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides devices for holding slate bird callers that substantially improve the art. While two call sticks are provided in the embodiments shown, one or more may be employed. Similarly, while FIG. 2 shows an embodiment with two slates, it will be readily apparent how the general design could be adapted to provide for three or more slates. Additionally, each additional slate holder could be adapted to hold additional call sticks. It will be appreciated that the present invention is not to be limited to or by any specific embodiment or description herein. The claims will serve to define the invention.

Claims

1. A device for holding a slate bird caller comprising: a slate holder including a backing ply secured to a cover ply, said cover ply providing a sounding aperture, wherein a slate for producing a bird call is received between said backing ply and said cover ply, with a portion of said slate exposed at said sounding aperture; and a fastener secured to said slate holder to secure said slate holder to an item of clothing.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising: at least one stick sleeve holding a call stick for sounding a bird call by rubbing against said slate.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said at least one stick sleeve is formed as an extension of said backing ply and said cover ply from said slate holder.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said cover ply is made from stretchable material, such that said sounding aperture of said cover ply may be expanded to selectively insert and remove a slate from said slate holder.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising: a support strap, said fastener being secured to said support strap at one end thereof, and said slate holder being secured to said support strap downwardly of said fastener.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising: an extension strap extending downwardly of said slate holder; and a second slate holder secured to said extension strap.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said second slate holder includes a second backing ply secured to a second cover ply, said second cover ply providing a second sounding aperture, wherein a second slate for producing a bird call is received between said second backing ply and said second cover ply, with a portion of said second slate exposed at said second sounding aperture.