Game tracking device

• US 10,624,333 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2019
• Issued: 04/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William K. Boyd
• Original Assignee: William K. Boyd
• Inventors: Boyd, William K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah, Tanmay K
• Application Number:
  US16/361,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20190216077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 3405392
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 31/002 Detecting animals in a given area
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A game tracking device for tracking a target that has been hit by a projectile is configured to attach to a projectile and includes a transmitter and a power source disposed within a transmitter housing having one or more catching members. The transmitter is operable to emit a locating signal that is capable of detection by a remote receiving device. The catching members include hooking elements or barbs configured to attach the tracking device to the target. The catching members remain in a retracted position where the hooking elements are generally concealed within the transmitter housing until deployed.

Claims

1. A game tracking device comprising:

a transmitter operable to emit a locating signal capable of detection by a remote receiving device;

a power source for providing electrical power to the transmitter;

a housing containing the transmitter and power source therein;

a catching member having one or more hooking elements for attaching the housing containing the transmitter and the power source to a target;

wherein the catching member is configured to project from a retracted position where the hooking elements are generally concealed within the housing to a deployed position where the hooking elements protrude external to the housing; and

wherein said power source is movable within the housing relative to said transmitter and said transmitter is stationary within the housing and wherein said power source configured to complete an electrical circuit with said transmitter in order to operate said transmitter in response to change in acceleration of said power source with respect to said housing.

2. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein said transmitter and said power source are configure to complete and electrical circuit with said power source and said transmitter upon launch of the tracking device.

3. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein said transmitter and said power source are configured to complete an electrical circuit with said power source and said transmitter upon impact of said tracking device.

4. The tracking device of claim 1 wherein movement of said power source within the housing is restricted until the change in acceleration.

5. The tracking device of claim 1, including an inertia sensing device for sensing the acceleration experienced by the transmitter, wherein an output of the inertia sensing device is used to project the catching member from the retracted position to the deployed.

6. The tracking device of claim 5, wherein the output of the inertial sensing device is used to project the catching member from the retracted position with a solenoid.

7. The tracking device of claim 5, wherein the output of the inertia sensing device is used to project the catching member from the retracted position to the deployed positon upon launch.

8. The tracking device of claim 5, wherein the output of the inertia sensing device is used to project the catching member from the retracted position to the deployed positon upon impact with a solenoid.

9. The tracking device of claim 1, including a mass movable relative to the housing wherein and wherein said catching member is configured to project from the retracted positon to the deployed positon in response to relative movement of said mass with respect to said housing and including a retention element configured to restrain movement of said mass within the housing until impact of said tracking device.

10. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the power source is a battery.

11. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the power source includes a piezoelectric element.

12. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the power source includes a photovoltaic element.

13. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the power source includes a thermoelectric element.

14. The tracking device of claim 1, wherein the power source includes an energy harvesting power supply.

15. A game tracking device comprising:

a transmitter operable to emit a locating signal capable of detection by a remote receiving device;

a power source for providing electrical power to the transmitter;

a housing containing the transmitter and power source therein; and

a catching member having one or more hooking elements for attaching the housing containing the transmitter and the power source to a target;

wherein the catching member is configured to project from a retracted position where the hooking elements are generally concealed within the housing to a deployed position where the hooking elements protrude external to the housing; and

an inertia sensing device for sensing acceleration experienced by the transmitter, wherein an output of the inertia sensing device is used to project the catching member from the retracted position to the deployed position.

16. The tracking device of claim 15, wherein the output of the inertial sensing device is used to project the catching member from the retracted position with a solenoid.

17. The tracking device of claim 16, wherein the output of the inertia sensing device is used to project the catching member from the retracted position to the deployed positon upon launch.

18. The tracking device of claim 16, wherein the output of the inertia sensing device is used to project the catching member from the retracted position to the deployed positon upon impact.

19. A game tracking device comprising:

a transmitter operable to emit a locating signal capable of detection by a remote receiving device;

a power source for providing electrical power to the transmitter;

a housing containing the transmitter and power source therein; and

a catching member having one or more hooking elements for attaching the housing containing the transmitter and the power source to a target;

wherein the catching member is configured to project from a retracted position where the hooking elements are generally concealed within the housing to a deployed position where the hooking elements protrude external to the housing; and

a mass movable relative to the housing wherein and wherein said catching member is configured to project from the retracted positon to the deployed positon in response to relative movement of said mass with respect to said housing; and

a retention element configured to restrain movement of said mass within the housing until impact of said tracking device.

20. A method of tracking a target, the method comprising:

having a tracking device with a transmitter and a power source disposed within a housing and having a catching member and projecting the catching member from a retracted position where the hooking elements are generally concealed within the housing to a deployed position where the hooking elements protrude external to the housing so as to attach the housing with the transmitter and the power source therein to a target; and

wherein said power source is movable within the housing relative to said transmitter and said transmitter is stationary within the housing; and

completing an electrical circuit with said power source and said transmitter in order to operate said transmitter in response to change in acceleration of said power source with respect to said housing.

21. A method of tracking a target, the method comprising:

having a tracking device with a transmitter and a power source disposed within a housing and having a catching member and projecting said catching member from a retracted position where the hooking elements are generally concealed within the housing to a deployed position where the hooking elements protrude external to the housing so as to attach the housing with the transmitter and the power source therein to a target; and

sensing acceleration experienced by the transmitter with an inertia sensing device and projecting the catching member from the retracted position to the deployed position in response to the sensed acceleration of the transmitter.

22. A method of tracking a target, the method comprising:

having a tracking device with a transmitter and a power source disposed within a housing and having a catching member and projecting the catching member from a retracted position where the hooking elements are generally concealed within the housing to a deployed position where the hooking elements protrude external to the housing so as to attach the housing with the transmitter and the power source therein to a target;

having a mass movable relative to the housing wherein and wherein said catching member is configured to project from the retracted positon to the deployed positon in response to relative movement of said mass with respect to said housing; and

restraining movement of said mass within the housing until impact of said tracking device.