Game alert system

• US 10,080,360 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2016
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hogman-Outdoors, LLC
• Original Assignee: Hogman-Outdoors, LLC
• Inventors: Hays, DeWayne L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Zhen Y
• Application Number:
  US15/388,759
• Publication Number:
  US 20170099829A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 3405732
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 31/002 Detecting animals in a given area
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 31/008 Lure dispensing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0204 Mounting supporting structures on the outside of casings

Abstract

A game alert system includes a device mountable on a game feeder that detects motion in a target area and automatically sends an electronic signal to a user, or a hunter, in a remote location to notify the hunter of movement in the area, without alerting or startling animals that triggered the device.

Claims

1. A method for notifying an animal'"'"'s presence, the method comprising:

powering on a presence detector device at a second location that is at least 50 yards away from a first location, wherein the second location includes a detection zone of the presence detector device;

scanning the detection zone using the presence detector device to detect the presence of at least one animal in the detection zone;

responsive to detecting the presence of the at least one animal, activating, for a predetermined period, a visual signal at the second location, wherein the visual signal is visible from the first location;

deactivating the scanning of the detection zone during the predetermined period;

shielding the visual signal from being visible from the detection zone;

deactivating the visual signal after the predetermined period ends; and

reactivating the scanning of the detection zone within five seconds after the predetermined period ends.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein scanning the detection zone further comprises continuously scanning the detection zone when the presence detection device is powered on.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined period is at least ten seconds.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein using the presence detector device to detect the presence of at least one animal in the detection zone further comprises detecting motion of the animal or the animals using at least one of:

a motion sensor, a passive infrared heat sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a microwave sensor, an acoustic wave sensor, and a vibration sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the visual signal further comprises:

responsive to detecting the presence of the animal or the animals, determining a size or characteristic of a detected animal;

comparing the size or characteristic to a preset limit; and

activating the visual signal when the detected animal falls within the preset limit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection zone is shaped as a 360°

cone under the detection device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to detecting the presence of the animal or the animals, transmitting a wireless signal.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the wireless signal comprises a radio frequency (RF) signal or a cellular signal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the wireless signal has a range of at least 500 yards.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the wireless signal is receivable by at least one of a BLUETOOTH®

device, a smartphone, and a portable computer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the presence detector device comprises:

a housing,

an electronic circuit contained in the housing;

a presence detector mounted in the housing and connected to the electronic circuit, the presence detector enabled for scanning the detection zone and detecting the presence of the animal or the animals;

a visual signal device mounted on the housing and connected to the electronic circuit, the visual signal device enabled for generating the visual signal, wherein the visual signal device shields the visual signal from being visible from the detection zone.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the visual signal device comprises one or more light emitting diodes.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the first location comprises a hunting stand or blind.

14. A method for hunting an animal comprising the steps of:

activating an electronic circuit of a presence detecting device mounted in a housing on a game attracting structure;

detecting the presence of one or more animals using a sensor, connected to the electronic circuit and at least partially contained in the housing;

in response to the detecting, receiving a signal from the sensor at a notification device connected to the electronic circuit;

outputting a visual notification, for a predetermined period, and a wireless notification using the notification device to a location at least 50 yards from the presence detecting device, wherein the visual notification is not observable by the one or more animals in a detection zone of the sensor;

deactivating the presence detecting device during the predetermined period;

receiving, using a wireless communication device at the location, the wireless notification indicating the presence of the animals near the game attracting structure;

deactivating the visual notification after the predetermined period ends; and

reactivating the presence detecting device within five seconds after the predetermined period ends.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the sensor comprises a motion sensor.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the game attracting structure comprises an automatic feeder.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the wireless notification comprises light from a light emitting diode.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the wireless notification comprises a radio frequency (RF) signal.

19. A device for hunting comprising:

a housing;

a sensor attached to the housing, wherein the sensor is operable to detect one or more animals in a detection zone of the sensor;

first means for determining a size of an animal detected by the sensor, wherein the first means is in communication with the sensor and is attached to the housing; and

second means for providing, for a predetermined period, a visual notification to a remote location from the housing, wherein the second means is attached to the housing and is responsive to the first means to provide the visual notification when the animal is of a preselected size, wherein the second means excludes the detection zone from illumination by the second means, and wherein the first means is deactivated during the predetermined period, the visual notification is deactivated after the predetermined period, and the first means is reactivated after the predetermined period.