BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in FIG. 1, mouth-operated game calls are typically constructed with two primary parts—a generally cylindrical barrel (2) with a cylindrical hole through the center (4) and an insert (6) which is inserted within the hole (4) in the barrel. The insert includes a reed (8). As described above, reed (8) may include one or more individual reed elements. A hole through the insert (10) allows the passage of air through the insert and across the reed. The user blows into the end of the barrel opposite the insert, and the breath causes vibration of the reed (8) as it passes out of the call through the hole in the insert (10). Variations on this configuration are also used, and this invention in not limited to this particular game call configuration.
In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the barrel (2) of the call is made of a molded plastic material. A heating element (11) is disposed within the barrel (2) of the call. The plastic material is electrically nonconductive and the heating element may be located within the material without separate insulation. Suitable heating elements are well known in the art and generate heat as a result of the electrical resistance of the element. In this embodiment the heating element is molded into the barrel of the call at the time of fabrication of the barrel. Depending upon the desired application (preventing freezing of the reed, warming the user's hands, or both) the heating element may be located nearer the exterior surface or interior surface of the barrel. For example, in a freezing prevention application the element should be located nearer the interior surface of the barrel and should be approximately adjacent to the reed when the barrel and the insert are assembled.
Alternatively, the heating element may be attached to the interior surface of the barrel or to the surface on the insert. In this configuration the heating element should be covered with a water resistant coating.
Electrical current is provided to the heating element via wires (13), resulting in the heating of the barrel of the call. Electrical current is provided by batteries that may be contained within a compartment within a portion of the call or within in a cylindrical housing separate from the call. As shown in FIG. 2, the separate battery compartment (12) is attached to the same lanyard (14) as the call and is connected by wires (16) in the lanyard to the heating element in the game call. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the wire connecting the battery pack to the call passes inconspicuously through the lanyard. Lanyards made of rope, leather, plastic, and other materials are often worn around a user's neck and are used to hold multiple game calls, and this configuration makes it convenient to carry a suitable battery pack connected to the call. The size and shape of a battery pack containing one or two AA or C-cell batteries would be comparable in size and shape to a typical game call worn on a lanyard. The connection of the battery pack to the call may be designed to be easily disconnected and reconnected to facilitate changing of battery packs as necessary.
As shown in FIG. 2, a switch (18) is also provided to permit deactivation of the heating element without removal of the battery. Temperature sensors, regulators, and control circuits well known in the art may be included to improve control of the temperature of the call.
As shown in FIG. 3, in another embodiment the heating element (11) may be included within the insert (6) of the call. In this situation the heating element (11) would generally be intended to prevent freezing of the reed and the heating element would be located in a portion of the insert near the reed. The heating element could be molded within the plastic insert or could be installed on a surface of the insert that would be located inside the barrel near the reed when the call is assembled. In this embodiment the battery compartment (12) could be located in the separate housing described above or, as shown in FIG. 3, could be located within the insert. A small (AAA) size battery will fit within a game call insert without difficulty.
In using the preferred embodiment of this heated game call, the user wears a lanyard (14) containing the heated game call and the battery compartment (12). When the device is activated by inserting the battery in the battery compartment (12) and completing the circuit with the switch (18), electrical current passes through a heating element (11) molded into the barrel (2) of the call and maintains the interior of the call at a temperature above freezing, and, if desired, maintains the exterior of the barrel at a comfortable temperature. The user may hold the call in an un-gloved hand and, when he or she wishes to call game, blow into the barrel of the call to make the appropriate sounds. After calling, any moisture in the call does not freeze and the call remains ready for immediate use at the next appropriate time, even if the ambient temperature is below freezing and an extended period of time passes before game is again within calling range.
Patent Application
20070249257
