Game trail monitoring device and method

• US 6,195,310 B1
• Filed: 06/28/1999
• Issued: 02/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arch Morgan II
• Original Assignee: Arch Morgan II
• Inventors: Morgan, Arch II
• Primary Examiner(s): MISKA, VIT W
• Application Number:
  US09/344,853
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10.11, 250/338.1, 250/339.14, 250/341.1
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 31/002 Detecting animals in a given area

Abstract

A monitoring device for assisting hunter'"'"'s and other person seeking to view animals in the wild along game trails and the intersection of multiple game trails. The monitoring device includes a monitoring assembly for detecting movement of an animal on or along the trail and a speaker used for generating an alerting sound to alert the individual of the approaching animal long before the animal appears. To assist individuals positioned at the intersection of multiple game trails the monitoring device is provided with a selection mechanism for allowing the user to select one sound from a number of different sounds. To prevent the sound from spooking the animal in the wrong direction the speaker is connected to the monitoring assembly by a length of cable greater than twenty feet.

Claims

1. A game trail monitoring device comprising:

a monitor assembly;

a speaker assembly; and

a length of cable in connection between said monitor assembly and said speaker assembly;

said monitor assembly including a monitor housing having a control circuit housed therein, and an infrared detector opening provided therethrough, a two-part monitor assembly attachment strap assembly affixed to an exterior of said monitor housing;

a monitor two-position on/off switch;

a multi-position animal alert sound select switch for selecting between alert sounds; and

an infrared game detector positioned within said monitor housing in a manner to seal said infrared detector opening of said monitor housing;

said speaker assembly including a sealed speaker housing having a speaker grate with a speaker positioned there behind;

said monitor two-position on/off switch being in controlling connection with said control circuit;

said multi-position animal alert sound select switch being in connection with a sound select input of said control circuit;

said infrared game detector being in connection with a game animal detection input of said control circuit;

said speaker being in connection with a speaker output of said control circuit;

said control circuit operating said speaker to produce a sound corresponding with a user set position of said multi-position animal alert sound select switch upon receiving a game animal detected signal from said infrared game detector on said game animal detection input of said control circuit.

2. The game trail monitoring device of claim 1 further comprising:

a multi-position a.m. timer start select switch for selecting an a.m. start time for said monitor control assembly; and

a multi-position p.m. timer stop select switch for selecting a p.m. stop time for said monitor assembly;

said multi-position a.m. timer start select switch being in connection with an a.m. start time input of said control circuit;

said multi-position p.m. timer stop select switch being in connection with a p.m. stop time input of said control circuit;

said monitor assembly being operational during a predetermined length period of operation selected to start and stop, respectively, at times set by a user by positioning said multi-position a.m. timer start select and p.m. timer stop select switches.

3. A game trail monitoring method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a game trail monitoring device comprising;

a monitor assembly;

a speaker assembly; and

a length of cable in connection between said monitor assembly and said speaker assembly;

said monitor assembly including a monitor housing having a control circuit housed therein, and an infrared detector opening provided therethrough, a two-part monitor assembly attachment strap assembly affixed to an exterior of said monitor housing;

a monitor two-position on/off switch; and

an infrared game detector positioned within said monitor housing in a manner to seal said infrared detector opening of said monitor housing;

said speaker assembly including a sealed speaker housing having a speaker grate with a speaker positioned there behind;

said monitor two-position on/off switch being in controlling connection with said control circuit;

said multi-position animal alert sound select switch being in connection with a sound select input of said control circuit;

said infrared game detector being in connection with a game animal detection input of said control circuit;

said speaker being in connection with a speaker output of said control circuit;

said control circuit operating said speaker to produce a sound corresponding with a user set position of said multi-position animal alert sound select switch upon receiving a game animal detected signal from said infrared game detector on said game animal detection input of said control circuit;

b) locating a target spot for waiting for the game animal along a selected game trail;

c) positioning the monitor assembly a first distance away from the target spot along the selected game trail in a manner such that the infrared game detector is located such that a detecting zone of the infrared game detector is positioned on the selected game trail to detect movement of an animal along the selected game trail; and

d) positioning the speaker assembly a second distance away from the target spot along the selected game trail, the second distance being greater than the first distance such that an animal would tend to flee away from the speaker assembly and toward the target spot should the sound resulting from operation of the speaker when a game animal is detected for the purpose of alerting a user positioned adjacent to the target spook a detected animal.