Patent Application
20210378232
This invention is generally directed to game calls, more specifically, game calls including outer insulation layers.
Game calls frequently suffer from the problem of moisture, including saliva, freezing around a reed in the inner portion of the game call. Hunting is frequently conducted at temperatures that are below freezing. Under such conditions, moisture will freeze in the game call and thereby disrupt operation of the device. This is especially problematic in the portions of the game call that contain the reed which is frequently where moisture accumulates. When the reed freezes, the game call will generally become unusable.
Another frequent problem with game calls involves gripping the device. Many game calls are slippery, particularly in cold temperatures, and can be easily dropped or mishandled during use.
Accordingly, improved outer layers that can better insulate a game call in below freezing temperatures, and additionally provide benefits with respect to handling are needed.
The present disclosure is directed to a game call that can be used to attract, mimic, or communicate with game animals. The game call comprises a plurality of components including an insulating component comprising heat insulating properties. The insulating component is disposed in a location on the game call that provides insulation, in particular, to critical components located in interior portions of the game call. The insulating part may provide insulation to interior parts of the game call including reeds and other critical interior parts of the game call.
The insulating component may also provide a better grip for the game call. Materials for the insulation layer can include insulating material such as silicon, rubber, or other rubber containing materials which can provide increased friction for better handling as well as insulation.
In addition, the present invention allows the ability to easily display logos and designs on the product. The present invention allows for an easier manufacturing process applying murders and designs onto the product. Furthermore, the present invention allows the personalization and customization of the appearance of the game call. It allows the game call to be customized in a plurality of styles that can be easily and conveniently interchanged on the game call.
Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detailed description, the drawings, and the claims
Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements. The drawings may not be to scale, and the relative size, proportions, and depiction of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience.
The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, products, and/or systems, described herein. However, various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the methods, products, and/or systems described herein will be apparent to an ordinary skilled artisan.
A wild game call is used to attract, mimic, or communicate with animals. The present disclosure relates to a game call that comprises insulating components. More specifically, the game call includes a part or a plurality of parts that include a material that has insulating properties. The parts comprising an insulating type material are disposed in a location which provides insulation to the game call including critical components in the inner portion of the game call which may be referred to as inner parts of the call or the sound producing assembly.
The insulating material part(s) may provide, but is not limited to, the following characteristics. The insulating material part(s) provide insulation to the inner parts of the game call including reeds, the “guts” of the game call, and other parts that may be found inside the call. The insulating material part(s) may provide a grip like feature to the game call. Insulating materials such as silicon, rubber, or rubber like similar materials including other polymeric materials that have good heat insulating properties, may be used as the insulating material which also provides a comfortable friction for increased grip properties.
In this respect, the game call may have a higher coefficient of friction with respect to a human hand than other surfaces of the game call which are usually plastic or wood. The coefficient of friction (COF), often symbolized by the Greek letter μ, is a dimensionless scalar value which describes the ratio of the force of friction between two bodies and the force pressing them together.
See e.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friction.
The insulating material part(s) may also be used for improving the aesthetic properties of the game call including but not limited to logos, model names, advertisement, and custom designs. The insulating part(s) may be easily replaceable and interchangeable with other similar insulating parts of different design, color, logo, etc. for purposes of personalization, customization, aesthetics, or improved function.
The insulating parts may wrap around a part of the game call including a central portion of the game call in a form fitting shape such that there is substantially no space between the insulating part and the game call.
The ‘central portion’ of a game call as that term is used herein includes the sound making assembly or the guts. In embodiments this would include a reed, a wedge, and a tone board. The sound making assembly may also be made in other ways and be of different configurations known and used in the art, for example, in some cases portions of the sound making assembly are made of a continuous part of components molded together. One example of a sound making assembly comprised of portions molded together is the “J-Frame” style call in which the part otherwise known as the “toneboard” is continuously molded into the exhaust portion of the game call. The insulating parts may elastically wrap around one more components of the game call.
The insulating parts may also wrap around other parts of the game call including an upper portion of the game call including a mouthpiece as well as a lower portion of a game call including an exhaust.
In embodiments, the insulating parts may range in size from approximately ¼ inches to approximately 5.0 inches wide, and 1/16 inches thick to ½ inches thick. The insulating parts may have a length of 1 inch to 10 inches with the length being defined as the circumference. The length can be provided in a manner that allows for the insulating part to elastically fit snugly around the circumference of the portion of the call in which the insulating part is disposed such that there is substantially no space between the insulating part(s) and the game call and the insulating part(s) substantially conform with the shape of the game call. Preferred dimensions of the insulating parts range in size from 0.5 to 2 inches width, 2 to 4 inches length (circumference), and 1/16 to ⅛ inches thick.
As mentioned, the insulating part may comprise silicone. In embodiments, the insulating part may be made wholly from silicone, i.e., consist essentially of silicone or consist entirely of silicone. A silicone or polysiloxane is generally any of a number of polymers that include any synthetic compound made up of repeating units of siloxane, which is a chain of alternating silicon atoms and oxygen atoms, combined with carbon, hydrogen, and sometimes other elements.
Silicones are generally of low heat conductivity and can serve as insulating materials. Silicones can also be rubber-like. Preferred silicones for the present disclosure would include silicones with low heat conductivity and good insulating properties and that are generally rubber like.
The insulating part may also comprise natural rubber in all it varieties. Natural rubber, typically comes from latex of Hevea brasiliensis, and is mainly poly-cis-isoprene.
The insulating part may also comprise synthetic rubber. Synthetic rubber, like other polymers, can be made from various petroleum-based monomers. The most prevalent synthetic rubber is styrene-butadiene rubbers (SBR) derived from the copolymerization of styrene and 1,3-butadiene. Other synthetic rubbers can include polyisoprene, prepared by polymerization of synthetic isoprene; and chloroprene, prepared by polymerization of 2-chlorobutadiene.
The insulating part may also include combinations of the above materials or any other polymeric material that has low heat conduction, good insulating properties, good frictional properties.
The insulating part may be made by known methods of manufacturing silicone or rubber bands such as wristbands, etc.
The upper portion may include about ⅛ to about ⅔ of the total surface area of the game call.
While this disclosure includes specific examples, it will be apparent after an understanding of the disclosure of this application has been attained that various changes in form and details may be made in these examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents.
This application claims priority under 35 USC § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/816,297 filed Mar. 11 2019, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
