Game call

Abstract

A game call includes a thermoplastic body having a front edge with a cutout formed therein. An insert having a flexible diaphragm stretched across an open-ended frame is disposed in the cutout. The game call may be manufactured by providing a blank of thermoplastic material with a central cutout. The insert is placed on one half of the bank, and the other half of the blank is folded over to trap the insert. The halves of the blank are bonded to each other with heat and pressure or an adhesive.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A game call, comprising: 
 a body having an outer thermoplastic portion, the body sized and shaped for being molded to the hard palate of the mouth while in a heated, moldable state and thereafter positioned and held supralingually in the mouth during use, the body having a cutout formed therein for facing outwardly towards the teeth when the body is positioned in the mouth; and    a flexible diaphragm positioned in the cutout under a predetermined tension and in a plane wherein inhaled and exhaled air passes across an exposed surface of the diaphragm for generating an audible oscillation.    
     
     
         2 . The game call of  claim 1  further including a frame carried by the body, said frame having an open end onto which said diaphragm is mounted.  
     
     
         3 . the game call of  claim 1  wherein said body comprises first and second blanks which are placed on opposite sides of said diaphragm so as to trap said diaphragm therebetween.  
     
     
         4 . The game call of  claim 1  wherein said body comprises a single blank having a central opening formed therethrough, said blank being folded along a central fold line so as to define said cutout and first and second halves which trap said diaphragm therebetween.  
     
     
         5 . The game call of  claim 1  wherein said body comprises a vinyl acetate copolymer.  
     
     
         6 . A game call, comprising: 
 a body having an outer deformable portion, said body sized and shaped for being received in the hard palate of the mouth and held supralingually in the mouth during use, said body having a cutout formed therein for facing outwardly towards the teeth when the body is positioned in the mouth; and    a flexible diaphragm positioned in the cutout under a predetermined tension and in a plane wherein inhaled and exhaled air passes across an exposed surface of the diaphragm for generating an audible oscillation.    
     
     
         7 . The game call of  claim 6  further including a frame carried by the body, said frame having an open side onto which said diaphragm is mounted.  
     
     
         8 . A method of making a game call having a thermoplastic body sized and shaped for being molded to the hard palate of the mouth, said body including a cutout which receives a flexible diaphragm therein, said method comprising: 
 providing a flexible diaphragm;    providing a blank of thermoplastic material having first and second halves disposed on opposite sides of a central fold line, and an opening formed through the center thereof;    placing said diaphragm on said first half of said blank so that said diaphragm overlies said opening;    folding said second half of said blank over said diaphragm and said first half such that said diaphragm is trapped between said first and second halves; and    bonding said first and second halves to each other.    
     
     
         9 . The method of making a game call of  claim 8  wherein said first and second halves are bonded to each other with an adhesive.  
     
     
         10 . The method of making a game call of  claim 8  wherein said first and second halves are bonded to each other by applying heat and pressure to said halves.  
     
     
         11 . The method of making a game call of  claim 8  wherein said blank further includes a central member extending between opposite edges of said opening along said fold line.  
     
     
         12 . The method of making a game call of  claim 8  further comprising removing said central member after bonding said halves to each other.  
     
     
         13 . The method of making a game call of  claim 8  wherein said thermoplastic material comprises a vinyl acetate copolymer.  
     
     
         14 . The method of making a game call of  claim 8  wherein said diaphragm is mounted in an open-ended frame which is received by said body.  
     
     
         15 . A method of making a game call having a thermoplastic body sized and shaped for being molded to the hard palate of the mouth, said body including a cutout which receives a flexible diaphragm therein, said method comprising: 
 providing a flexible diaphragm;    providing a first blank of thermoplastic material having a cutout formed in a front edge thereof;    providing a second blank of thermoplastic material having a cutout formed in a front edge thereof;    placing said diaphragm on said first blank so that said insert overlies said cutout;    placing said second blank over said diaphragm and said first half such that said diaphragm is trapped between said first and second blanks; and    bonding said first and second blanks to each other.    
     
     
         16 . The method of making a game call of  claim 15  wherein said first and second blanks are bonded to each other with an adhesive.  
     
     
         17 . The method of making a game call of  claim 15  wherein said first and second blanks are bonded to each other by applying heat and pressure to said blanks.  
     
     
         18 . The method of making a game call of  claim 15  wherein said thermoplastic material comprises a vinyl acetate copolymer.  
     
     
         19 . The method of making a game call of  claim 16  wherein said diaphragm is mounted in an open-ended frame which is received by said body.  
     
     
         20 . A method of making a game call having a thermoplastic body sized and shaped for being molded to the hard palate of the mouth, said body including a cutout which receives a flexible diaphragm therein, said method comprising: 
 providing a flexible diaphragm;    providing a blank of thermoplastic material, said blank including: 
 a first half having a front edge with a cutout formed therein and a spaced-apart rear edge;  
 a second half having a front edge with a cutout formed therein and a spaced-apart rear edge; and  
 a strap connecting said rear edges of said first and second halves;  
   placing said diaphragm on said first half so that said diaphragm overlies said cutout;    folding said strap and positioning said second blank over said diaphragm and said first half such that said diaphragm is trapped between said first and second halves; and    bonding said first and second halves to each other.    
     
     
         21 . The method of making a game call of  claim 20  wherein said first and second halves are bonded to each other with an adhesive.  
     
     
         22 . The method of making a game call of  claim 20  wherein said first and second halves are bonded to each other by applying heat and pressure to said halves.  
     
     
         23 . The method of making a game call of  claim 20  wherein said thermoplastic material comprises a vinyl acetate copolymer.  
     
     
         24 . The method of making a game call of  claim 20  wherein said diaphragm is mounted in an open-ended frame which is received by said body.  
     
     
         25 . A method of making a game call having a thermoplastic body sized and shaped for being molded to the hard palate of the mouth, said body including a cutout which receives a flexible diaphragm therein, said method comprising: 
 molding a body of thermoplastic material having a front edge with a cutout formed therein and a spaced-apart, curved rear edge;    disposing a flexible diaphragm in said cutout; and    bonding said diaphragm to said body.    
     
     
         26 . The method of making a game call of  claim 25  wherein said diaphragm is bonded to said body with an adhesive.  
     
     
         27 . The method of making a game call of  claim 25  wherein said diaphragm is bonded to said body by applying heat and pressure to said body.  
     
     
         28 . The method of making a game call of  claim 25  wherein said thermoplastic material comprises a vinyl acetate copolymer.  
     
     
         29 . The method of making a game call of  claim 25  wherein said body is injection molded.  
     
     
         30 . The method of making a game call of  claim 25  wherein said diaphragm is mounted in an open-ended frame which is received by said body.  
     
     
         31 . A method of making a game call, comprising: 
 providing a flexible diaphragm; and    molding a body of thermoplastic material which captures said diaphragm, said body having a front edge including a cutout which leaves said diaphragm exposed for vibration in response to moving air, and a spaced-apart, curved rear edge.    
     
     
         32 . The method of making a game call of  claim 31  wherein said thermoplastic material comprises a vinyl acetate copolymer.  
     
     
         33 . The method of making a game call of  claim 31  wherein said body is injection molded.  
     
     
         34 . The method of making a game call of  claim 31  wherein said diaphragm is mounted in an open-ended frame which is received by said body.  
     
     
         35 . A method of fitting a game call to a user's mouth, comprising: 
 providing a game call comprising: 
 a body having an outer thermoplastic portion, said body having a cutout formed therein for facing outwardly towards the teeth when the body is positioned in the mouth; and  
 a flexible diaphragm positioned in the cutout under a predetermined tension and in a plane wherein inhaled and exhaled air passes across an exposed surface of the diaphragm for generating an audible oscillation;  
   heating at least said body to a working temperature at which said material is moldable;    placing said call in said mouth while said body is at said working temperature so that said outer portion is formed into a molded shape conforming to the hard palate of the mouth; and    cooling said body such that said outer portion remains in said molded shape.    
     
     
         36 . The method of fitting a game call of  claim 35  wherein said game call further includes a frame carried by said body, said frame having an open side onto which said diaphragm is mounted.