Elk calling device

• US 4,761,149 A
• Filed: 03/14/1986
• Issued: 08/02/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald R. Laubach
• Original Assignee: Donald R. Laubach
• Inventors: Laubach, Donald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MUIR, DAVID N
• Application Number:
  US06/840,287
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 446/202, 446/203, 446/204, 446/205, 446/206, 446/207, 446/208, 446/209
• US Class Current: 446/208
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 31/004 Game callers

Abstract

An animal calling device which has a reed member stretched between two generally rectangular members which are bowed at each end in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis and positioned with the concave sides opposing one another to form a double-tapered cavity. The two rectangular members are constructed of resilient material and are hinged together along corresponding longitudinal edges thereof. A pair of notches are positioned at each end of one of the members and an endless rubber band is positioned across the outer back side of the member with notches and through the notches thereby forming two reed elements, one at each end of the device. The reed elements are positioned at the entrance into the cavity between the two members at each end thereof.

Claims

1. An improved elk calling device comprising:

a pair of rectangular, substantially coextensive, planar members with a longitudinal axis;

the members being bowed perpendicular to said longitudinal axes longitudinal axes thereof and positioned opposing one another with their open concave sides facing one another and flared to form a double-tapered cavity sandwiched between the two members, said cavity extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the two members with a flared opening at each end of said longitudinal axes;

a first endless elastic band encircling the two members in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axes thereof and at a position adjacent but spaced from a first end of the device;

a second endless elastic band means encircling the two members in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axes thereof and at a position adjacent a second end of the device for resiliently holding the two members together, the second end being opposite the first end of the device;

the first endless elastic band further having a portion of the band disposed in the double-tapered cavity, which portion comprises a reed element for the device;

the two resilient members being further adapted so that when the two members are squeezed together at the first end of the device, the members at the second end of the device are caused to separate because the portions of the first elastic band extending between the two members at the longitudinal edges thereof act as a fulcrum about which the two members pivot;

the two resilient members further being constructed of flexible and resilient material and further adapted so that when the two members are squeezed together at the first end of the device, the size of the double-tapered cavity is substantially reduced beginning at the ends of the double-tapered cavity and working towards the center of the cavity and when pressure on the two members is released, the size of the double-tapered cavity is restored to its normal size.

2. An improved elk calling device comprising:

first and second rectangular, substantially coextensive, planar members each with a longitudinal axis;

the first and second members being bowed perpendicular to said longitudinal axes thereof and flared so that when positioned opposing one another with their open concave sides facing one another a double-tapered cavity is formed sandwiched between the two members extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the two members with a flared opening at each end of said longitudinal axes;

an endless elastic band encircling the two members in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axes thereof and in a position adjacent but spaced from a first end of the device for resiliently holding the two members together;

the endless elastic band further having a portion disposed in the double-tapered cavity which portion comprises a reed element for the device;

a first bore positioned in the first planar member;

a pitch adjustment screw having a head portion positioned on the side of the first member opposite the cavity and a threaded shaft portion;

the threaded shaft portion being positioned to extend through the first bore, which is sized to freely accommodate the threaded shaft portion;

further the threaded shaft portion being threadably received by a threaded second bore formed in the second planar member, the second bore being aligned with the first bore, whereupon by turning the head of the pitch adjustment screw, the first and second members may be compressed towards one another;

the first and second members being adapted so that when the two members are squeezed together at the first end of the device, the members at a second end of the device, opposite to the first end of the device, are caused to separate because the portions of the endless elastic band extending between the two members at the longitudinal edges thereof act as a fulcrum about which the two members pivot;

the first and second members being constructed of flexible and resilient material and further adapted so when the two members are squeezed together at the first end of the device, the size of the double-tapered cavity is reduced beginning at the ends of the double-tapered cavity and working towards the center of the cavity and when pressure on the two members is released, the size of the double-tapered cavity is restored to its normal size.

3. An improved elk calling device comprising:

first and second rectangular, substantially coextensive, planar members each with a longitudinal axis;

the first and second members being bowed perpendicular to said longitudinal axes and flared at their longitudinal ends thereof, the bows being separated by an approximately flat portion of the members, the bowed portions being positioned opposing one another with their open concave sides facing one another to form a pair of double-tapered throats rear the first and second longitudinal ends of the device sandwiched between the first and second members extending in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of the two members;

the first and second members being hingedly joined along corresponding longitudinal edges thereof;

the first member having a first pair of spaced apart and parallel slits located adjacent a first transverse edge of the first member at the first longitudinal end of the device, the slits extending in a longitudinal direction;

the first member having a second pair of slits located at the second longitudinal end of the device adjacent a second transverse edge of the first member at a second end of the device opposite the first end, which slits are spaced apart and parallel and extend in a longitudinal direction;

an endless elastic band looped along the outside surface of the first member with the ends of the loop drawn through the slits to form a pair of reed elements within the cavity at opposite ends of the device;

the first and second members being adapted so that when the two members are squeezed together either at the first or the second end of the device, the first and second members at the opposite end of the device are caused to be spread apart with the unhinged corners of the two members at the end of the device being squeezed acting as a fulcrum about which the two members pivot;

the two resilient members further being constructed of flexible and resilient material such that when the two members are squeezed together, the size of the double-tapered cavity is substantially reduced beginning at the ends of the double-tapered cavity and working toward the center of the cavity and when pressure on the two members is released, the size of the double-tapered cavity is restored to its normal size.