U.S. patent application number 10/198869 was filed with the patent office on 2003-02-20 for system for delivering game scent.
Invention is credited to Lewis, Brian W..
Application Number | 20030034019 10/198869 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27393941 |
Filed Date | 2003-02-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030034019 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lewis, Brian W. |
February 20, 2003 |
System for delivering game scent
Abstract
A game scent delivery system includes a plurality of projectiles
having a game scent and a projector that is capable of projecting
one of the projectiles to a desired location. The projector
includes a projectile launching member, a projectile storage unit
that has a sufficient size to store a predetermined number of the
projectiles, and a single projectile dispensing unit. The single
projectile dispensing unit is integral with the projectile storage
unit and is capable of dispensing a single projectile of the
plurality of projectiles to the projectile launching member while
retaining all of the plurality of projectiles in the projectile
storage unit, except for the single projectile.
Inventors: |
Lewis, Brian W.; (Roswell,
GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Bryan W. Bockhop, Esq.
BOCKHOP & REICH, LLP
Bldg. 400, Suite 300
3235 Satellite Blvd.
Duluth
GA
30096
US
|
Family ID: |
27393941 |
Appl. No.: |
10/198869 |
Filed: |
July 19, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60314407 |
Aug 23, 2001 |
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60312652 |
Aug 14, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
124/20.1 ;
239/145 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41B 3/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
124/20.1 ;
239/145 |
International
Class: |
F41B 003/02 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A game scent delivery system, comprising: a. a plurality of
projectiles comprising a game scent; and b. a projector, capable of
projecting one of the projectiles to a desired location, the
projector including: i. a projectile launching member; ii. a
projectile storage unit that has a sufficient size to store a
predetermined number of the projectiles; and iii. a single
projectile dispensing unit that is integral with the projectile
storage unit and that is capable of dispensing a single projectile
of the plurality of projectiles to the projectile launching member
while retaining all of the plurality of projectiles in the
projectile storage unit, except for the single projectile.
2. The game scent delivery system of claim 1, wherein each of the
plurality of projectiles comprises: a. a porous member; and b. a
game scent that is absorbed into a portion of the porous
member.
3. The game scent delivery system of claim 1, wherein the projector
comprises a slingshot.
4. The game scent delivery system of claim 3, wherein the slingshot
comprises a handle having a bottom end that defines an opening, the
opening being of a size to allow at least one of the plurality of
projectiles to pass therethrough, and wherein the projectile
storage unit comprises a channel defined by the handle, extending
upwardly from the opening, the channel being of a size to allow a
predetermined number of projectiles to fit therein.
5. The game scent delivery system of claim 4, wherein the single
projectile dispensing unit comprises: a. a valve member, having an
axial center, disposed adjacent to the bottom of the handle, the
valve member defining a recess that is of a size that is
complimentary to a projectile of the plurality of projectiles, the
valve member having a first position in which the recess is
disposed within the channel and is capable receiving a projectile
therein, the valve member also having a second position in which
the recess is disposed outside of the channel, the valve member
pivotally coupled to the handle so as to be capable of rotating
from the first position to the second position, the valve member
shaped to prevent projectiles from exiting the channel except when
the valve member is rotated from the first position to the second
position, in which case a single projectile is ejected from the
channel; b. an actuator, coupled to the valve member, that allows a
user to rotate the valve member from the first position to the
second position; and c. a spring, coupled to both the valve member
and to the handle, for returning the valve member from the second
position to the first position.
6. The game scent delivery system of claim 5, wherein the handle
defines a hole adjacent the bottom end and wherein the actuator
comprises a knob extending outwardly from the axial center of the
valve member through the hole.
7. The game scent delivery system of claim 3, wherein the slingshot
comprises a pouch, a portion of which is complimentary in shape to
at least a portion of one of the projectiles.
8. The game scent delivery system of claim 7, wherein the handle
comprises a first holding member adjacent the bottom end and
wherein the pouch comprises a second holding member, the first
holding member being shaped so as to be capable of engaging the
second holding member so that the pouch is held in a position to
receive a projectile from the opening defined by the bottom end of
the handle.
9. A scented projectile, comprising: a. a porous member; and b. a
game scent absorbed into a portion of the porous member.
10. The scented projectile of claim 9, wherein the porous member
comprises a spherical object.
11. The scented projectile of claim 9, wherein the porous member
comprises a wooden object.
12. The scented projectile of claim 9, wherein the porous member
comprises a paper.
13. The scented projectile of claim 9, wherein the porous member
comprises a clay.
14. The scented projectile of claim 9, wherein the porous member
comprises a paper and clay mixture.
15. The scented projectile of claim 14, wherein the porous member
further comprises a plaster.
16. The scented projectile of claim 9, wherein the game scent
comprises a liquid attractant scent that is absorbed into a portion
of the porous member.
17. A slingshot, comprising: a. a handle having a top end and an
opposite bottom end that defines a bottom opening, the bottom
opening being of a size to allow at least one of a plurality of
projectiles to pass therethrough, the handle defining a channel
extending upwardly from the bottom opening, the channel being of a
size to allow a predetermined number of projectiles to fit therein,
the handle defining a hole adjacent to the bottom end, a first
holding member adjacent the bottom end; b. a valve member, having
an axial center, the valve member defining a recess that is of a
size that allows only a single projectile to fit in the recess, the
valve member pivotally coupled to the handle adjacent the bottom
end so as to be able to rotate between a first position, in which
the recess is in communication with the channel so as to be capable
of receiving a projectile within the recess, and a second position,
in which the recess is disposed away from of the channel so as to
prevent projectiles within the channel from leaving the channel, a
knob extending outwardly from the axial center of the valve member
through the hole defined by the handle, the knob providing a
surface that allows a user to rotate the valve member from the
first position to the second position, a spring coupling the valve
member to the handle that returns the valve member from the second
position to the first position; c. a fork, including a first tine
and a spaced-apart second tine extending upwardly from the top end
of the handle; d. an elastic member having a first end and a second
end, the first end affixed to the first tine and the second end
affixed to the second tine; and e. a pouch, centrally affixed to
the elastic member, that is capable of holding a projectile
therein, a second holding member extending from the pouch, the
second holding member being shaped so as to be capable of engaging
the first holding member so that the pouch is held in a position to
receive a projectile from the opening defined by the bottom end of
the handle.
18. The slingshot of claim 17, wherein the elastic member comprises
a first portion, terminating in the first end and including a first
central termination, and a second portion, terminating in the
second end and including a second central termination, the first
central termination and the second central termination being
coupled to the pouch.
19. The slingshot of claim 17, wherein the handle defines a top
opening, in communication with the channel, that allows loading of
projectiles into the channel.
20. The slingshot of claim 19, further comprising a door, hingedly
attached to the handle and disposed to cover the top opening.
21. The slingshot of claim 17, wherein a portion of the pouch is
complimentary in shape to at least a portion of a projectile.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO A PROVISIONAL APPLICATION
[0001] This patent application claims priority on the following
Provisional Applications: Serial No. 60/270,383, filed on Feb. 21,
2001; Ser. No. 60/314,407, filed on Aug. 23, 2001; and Ser. No.
60/312,652, filed on Aug. 14, 2001, the entirety of each of which
is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to hunting equipment and, more
specifically, to a system for delivering game scent to a desired
location2.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] One of the major problems facing hunters and photographers
of wild animals is the difficulty of getting close the animals
without being detected. Hunters and photographers commonly use
animal attractants, such as game scents (e.g., doe urine and musk)
as an attractant. The scents attract the animals to a desired
area.
[0006] These scents are typically purchased in bottles and then
applied to the desired location. Currently, the most common method
of application for these scents is by physically going to the
location to be hunted and applying the scent manually to rocks,
trees, or shrubs in the hunting area. Alternatively, the scents may
be dispersed from spray bottles or soaked into wicks and hung from
branches. In those methods of scent application, the hunter is
subjected to the objectionable smell of the attractant scents, in
addition to contaminating the hunting area with human scent. Since
most wild animals are repelled by human scent, this type of
application lessens the effectiveness of the attractant scent.
[0007] One approach to overcoming these problems is by placing the
scent product into a pellet of a size that may be fired from a gun,
such as a carbon dioxide gas operated gun of the type used for
shooting paint or dye pellets, typically referred to as "paint ball
guns." This method of delivering the attractant scent to the
desired area eliminates the human scent contamination of the area
and also eliminates the objectionable element of the attractant
scent smell to humans. However, carbon dioxide powered guns give
off a characteristic "popping" sound upon firing, which often
scares off the game being attracted.
[0008] Another approach is to place liquid scent into hollow balls
and shoot the balls into the desired area with a slingshot. This
method is much quieter than using a carbon dioxide powered gun.
However, the use of an existing slingshot requires the hunter to
handle the ball containing the scent. This results in the hunter's
scent being imparted onto the ball. Furthermore, the ball must
impact a hard object, such as a rock or a tree, with enough force
to break the ball open and allow escape of the scent. Such
impaction will create a loud sound that can frighten game away.
Also, if the ball fails to strike a hard object, or fails to strike
it with sufficient force, it will be rendered useless. Typical
slingshots do not employ a system for storing and easily loading
projectiles. Thus, they require the hunter to carry an extra
container for the projectiles and are also hard to load in the
dark.
[0009] The above-described hollow balls are typically made of a
non-biodegradable plastic. Thus, when a hunter or photographer uses
them to attract game, if the user fails to clean up the remains of
the balls after use, the area being hunted will become littered
with the remains of the balls.
[0010] Therefore, there is a need for a system for delivering a
game scent to a desired location that is quiet, easy to use and
that does not impart the user's scent on the desired area and that
does not require clean-up after use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the
present invention which, in one aspect, is a game scent delivery
system that includes a plurality of projectiles having a game scent
and a projector that is capable of projecting at least one of the
projectiles to a desired location. The projector includes a
projectile launching member, a projectile storage unit that has a
sufficient size to store a predetermined number of the projectiles,
and a single projectile dispensing unit. The single projectile
dispensing unit is integral with the projectile storage unit and is
capable of dispensing a single projectile of the plurality of
projectiles to the projectile launching member while retaining all
of the plurality of projectiles in the projectile storage unit,
except for the single projectile.
[0012] In another aspect, the invention is a scented projectile
that includes a porous member and a game scent that is absorbed
into at least a portion of the porous member.
[0013] In yet another aspect, the invention is a slingshot that
includes a handle, a valve member, a fork, an elastic member and a
pouch. The handle has a top end and an opposite bottom end that
defines a bottom opening. The bottom opening is of a size to allow
at least one of a plurality of projectiles to pass therethrough.
The handle defines a channel extending upwardly from the bottom
opening. The channel is of a size to allow a predetermined number
of projectiles to fit therein. The handle also defines a hole
adjacent to the bottom end and a first holding member is adjacent
to the bottom end. The valve member has an axial center and defines
a recess that is of a size that allows only a single projectile to
fit in the recess. The valve member is pivotally coupled to the
handle adjacent the bottom end so as to be able to rotate between a
first position and a second position. In the first position, the
recess is in communication with the channel so as to be capable of
receiving a projectile within the recess. Whereas when the valve
member is in the second position, the recess is disposed away from
of the channel so as to prevent projectiles within the channel from
leaving the channel. A knob extends outwardly from the axial center
of the valve member through the hole defined by the handle. The
knob provides a surface that allows a user to rotate the valve
member from the first position to the second position. A spring
couples the valve member to the handle and returns the valve member
from the second position to the first position. The fork, includes
a first tine and a spaced-apart second tine extending upwardly from
the top end of the handle. The elastic member has a first end and a
second end. The first end is affixed to the first tine and the
second end is affixed to the second time. The pouch is centrally
affixed to the elastic member and is capable of holding a
projectile therein. A second holding member extends from the pouch
and is shaped so as to be capable of engaging the first holding
member so that the pouch is held in a position to receive a
projectile from the opening defined by the bottom end of the
handle.
[0014] These and other aspects of the invention will become
apparent from the following description of the preferred
embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings. As
would be obvious to one skilled in the art, many variations and
modifications of the invention may be effected without departing
from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the
disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a slingshot according to
the invention.
[0016] FIG. 1B is a cut-away perspective view of a slingshot
according to the invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a handle for a slingshot,
according to the invention.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a side view of a pouch.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a door.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a valve member.
[0021] FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram of a bottom portion of the
handle and a pouch, with the valve member in the first position
[0022] FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram of a bottom portion of the
handle and a pouch, with the valve member in the second
position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described in
detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts
throughout the views. As used in the description herein and
throughout the claims, the following terms take the meanings
explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates
otherwise: the meaning of "a," "an," and "the" includes plural
reference, the meaning of"in" includes "in" and "on."
[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2, the game scent delivery
system includes a plurality of scented projectiles 122 and a
projector, such as a slingshot 100. Other types of projectors may
also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention,
examples of which include a spring-loaded gun and a tube or arm for
flinging the projectiles 122 to a desired location. For most
applications quietness in projecting the projectiles 122 is
desirable. The projectiles 122 are porous members that have a game
scent, or other animal attractant, that is absorbed into at least a
portion of the porous member. Examples of suitable porous members
include wood spheres, paper spheres, clay spheres (bisque spheres
hold up better than unfired clay, but take longer to degrade) and
spheres made of a mixture of paper or cellulose fibers and clay. If
such a mixture is used, plaster may be added to the mix to make the
projectiles last longer. The projectiles 122 may be spheres, or any
other shape (e.g., cylinders) suitable for being launched by the
projector.
[0025] The slingshot includes a handle 110, a valve member 130 at
the bottom 114 of the handle 110, a fork 124 extending upwardly
from the top 112 of the handle 110, an elastic member 140 attached
to the fork 124 and a centrally disposed pouch 156 attached to the
elastic member 140.
[0026] The handle 110 has a top end 112 and an opposite bottom end
114 that defines a bottom opening 116. The bottom opening 116 is of
a size to allow at least one of a plurality of projectiles 122 to
pass therethrough. The handle 110 also defines a channel 118
extending upwardly from the bottom opening 116. The channel 118 is
of a size to hold a number of projectiles 122 therein. The valve
member 130 meters projectiles 122 from the channel 118 to the pouch
156. The handle 110 also defines a top opening 162, which is in
communication with the channel 118, through which projectiles 122
may be loaded into the channel 118. A door 164 (shown in greater
detail in FIG. 4) is attached to the handle 110 via a hinge and
covers the top opening 162.
[0027] The valve member 130, as shown in more detail in FIGS. 5, 6A
and 6B, has an axial center 132 and defines a recess 134 that is of
a size that allows only a single projectile 122 to fit in the
recess 134. The valve member 130 is pivotally coupled to the handle
110 adjacent to the bottom end 114 so as to be able to rotate
between a first position (as shown in FIG. 6A) and a second
position (as shown in FIG. 6B). While in the first position, the
recess 134 is in communication with the channel 118 and can receive
a projectile 122 within the recess 134. When in the second
position, the recess 134 is disposed away from of the channel 118,
allowing the projectile 122 to fall into the pouch 156, and the
valve member 130 prevents projectiles 122 within the channel 118
from leaving the channel 118. The handle 110 defines a hole 120
adjacent to the bottom end 114 and a knob 138 extends outwardly
from the axial center 132 of the valve member 130 through the hole
120 defined by the handle 118. The knob 138 provides a surface that
allows a user to rotate the valve member 130 from the first
position to the second position. A spring 135 that couples the
valve member 130 to the handle 110 returns the valve member 130
from the second position to the first position.
[0028] Returning to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the fork 124 includes a first
tine 126 and a spaced-apart second tine 128 extending upwardly from
the top end 112 of the handle 110. The elastic member 140 has a
first end 142 coupled to the first tine 126 and a second end 144
coupled to the second tine 128. The elastic member 140 may include
a first portion 146 and a second portion 148. The first portion 146
terminates in the first end 142 and also a first central
termination 152. Similarly, the second portion 148 terminates in
the second end 144 and a second central termination 154. The first
central termination 152 and the second central termination 154 are
both coupled to the pouch 156. In one embodiment, both the first
portion 146 and the second portion 148 include sections of rubber
tubing.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, the pouch 156 includes a projectile
compartment 158 that is complimentary in shape to at least a
portion of a projectile 122. This enables holding of the projectile
122 without the user having to put holding pressure on the pouch
156.
[0030] As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a first holding member 172,
such as a detente, extends from the bottom end 114 of the handle
110, and a second holding member 170, such as a loop, extends from
the pouch 156. The second holding member 170 is shaped so as to be
capable of engaging the first holding member 172 so that the pouch
156 is held in a position to receive a projectile 122 from the
opening 116. While a detente and a loop is shown, many other types
of holding members could be employed. For example, a hook and loop
fastener combination could be used. The holding members 170 and 172
allow the user to place the pouch 156 at the bottom end 114 of the
handle 110, where the pouch 156 is held as the user turns the knob
138 to cause a projectile 122 to be delivered from the channel 118
to the pouch 156. A spring 135 causes the valve member 130 to
return to the first position when the user lets go of the knob 138.
This enables the user to hold the handle 110 with one hand and
place the pouch 156 in a receiving position and then cause the
valve member 130 to drop a projectile 122 into the pouch 156 with
the other hand,. All this may be done without the user having to
touch the projectile 122, which prevents getting the user's scent
on the projectiles. In non-scent applications, such as using the
slingshot 100 as a weapon, this system allows for more rapid firing
of the slingshot 100. The shape of the pouch 156 and the holding
members 170 and 172 also facilitate use of the invention in the
dark or at other times when the user is unable to look at the pouch
156 while loading.
[0031] The game scent is any liquid scent that is attractive to the
animals that the user wishes to lure. Doe urine is one example of a
suitable scent for deer hunting applications. The porous members
are soaked in the liquid scent long enough for a suitable amount of
the scent to be absorbed. This time varies, depending on the
concentration and type of the specific liquid scent being used and
the type of porous member being used.
[0032] The above described embodiments are given as illustrative
examples only. It will be readily appreciated that many deviations
may be made from the specific embodiments disclosed in this
specification without departing from the invention. Accordingly,
the scope of the invention is to be determined by the claims below
rather than being limited to the specifically described embodiments
above.
* * * * *