WO2010081017A2 - Scent dispersal device and method for dispersing a scented material - Google Patents

Abstract

A scent dispersal device includes a reservoir usable to hold a scented material that emits a desired scent. A controllable valve regulates a flow rate of the scented material through a fluid connection between the reservoir and a channel of the device. A scent dispersing element is wound upon a spool within the device such that, when it is unspooled, the scent dispersing element will pass through the channel to the external environment. As the scent dispersing element passes through the channel, the scent dispersing element is exposed to the scented substance, at a rate and/or a volume of exposure that is controlled by the controllable valve to apply the scented material to scent dispersing element. The scented scent dispersing element can be placed in a desired location and/or dragged along a desired path to imitate the natural scent trail of an animal.

Description

SCENT DISPERSAL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DISPERSING A SCENTED MATERIAL

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/143,285, filed January 8, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This application is also related to U.S. Patent Applications Serial Nos. 61/132,158 and 12/485,584, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

[0002] This invention is generally related to scent dispersal devices.

2. Background

[0003] Animals are known to react to various stimuli, including scents. For example, many game animals, such as deer, are particularly attracted to, intrigued by, startled by and/or repelled by certain scents, such as, for example, pheromones of other animals or scents of humans, such as, for example, fragrances from soaps. By placing and/or releasing appropriate natural or artificial scents at desired locations, hunters can entice animals to behave in desired manners, such as, for example, approach a tree stand, avoid a campsite, etc. For example, hunters often use attractant scents to help lure game animals to their location. Additionally, hunters often use various scent applicators to hide, mask or alter their own scent to avoid alarming game animals to their presence.

SUMMARY

[0004] Many animals, especially prey and game animals, have particularly acute senses of smell. For such animals, scents may indicate the presence of a threat, a potential mate, a territorial intruder and/or a source of food, as well as various other indications about the local environment. As such, animals may become curious about, attracted to or repelled by particular scents.

[0005] It should be appreciated that animals may be attracted to, intrigued by or repelled by different scents for various reasons. For example, a buck, or male deer, may be attracted to the scent of an estrus doe (that is, a female deer in heat or a receptive stage of the reproductive cycle that will accept a mate and is capable of conception, by a desire to mate with the doe. Likewise, a buck may be attracted to a scent of a second buck by a desire to declare dominance over, protect a territory from, or pursue a mate of, the second buck. The scent of an estrus doe and/or a buck may be reproduced or imitated by collecting and redistributing urine from a donor animal and/or by using a synthetic composition designed to simulate the scent of an estrus doe and/or a buck. Likewise, other desired scents may be reproduced or imitated using any known or later-developed natural and/or synthetic substance.

[0006] As outlined above, hunters often take advantage of a game animal's receptiveness or reaction to various scents to help entice the game animal to behave in a desired manner. For example, hunters often use sent lures to entice a game animal to approach a desired location, such as, for example, within a clear line-of-sight of a tree stand. Additionally, hunters may use various scent devices, such as, for example, scent neutralizing agents, and/or intentionally scent- free products, such as, for example, scent free soaps, shampoos, laundry detergents, etc., to help reduce or eliminate scents which would otherwise be emitted by the hunter. Likewise, hunters may use various scent products to mask or cover their own scent with that of another animal, such as, for example, a raccoon or a fox.

[0007] Regardless of the reason, such as, for example, to attract an animal, to repel an animal, to cover one's own scent, etc., hunters often wish to be able to mark an artificial scent path, such as, for example, a trail of a distributed substance that may emit a desired scent that approximates and/or imitates a natural scent trail left by an animal. For example, a hunter may desire to provide an artificial scent path to imitate a doe traveling through an area near a tree stand in order to entice bucks in the area to approach the tree stand in search of the imitated doe. Likewise, a hunter may desire to leave a trail that simulates and/or imitates a natural scent trail of a local animal and/or a scent trail that counteracts the hunter's own scent trail. Such a scent trail may help cover or mask the hunter's own scent trail while that hunter travels, such as, for example, to a tree stand, and thereby may reduce the likelihood that animals in the area will be alerted to the hunter's presence.

[0008] Traditionally, hunters use squirt bottles or the like to provide a scent trail. Such squirt bottles require a free hand to operate, are cumbersome and limit the other functions the hunter can perform, such as, for example, prepare to fire a weapon. Likewise, a hunter must remember to bring the squirt bottle when the hunter moves from one location to another and must remember to actively disperse the scent substance as the hunter travels.

[0009] Another traditional method of providing a scent trail involves using a cloth or pad attached to a hunter's foot, such as, for example, on a bottom surface of the hunter's shoe. The cloth or pad is saturated with a scented liquid, which is passed to the ground as the hunter walks. Such cloths or pads are prone to drying out during extended periods of non- movement, are not efficient with their use of scent substance and provide intermittent blotched scent patterns, which may not be consistent with natural scent paths or distribution or dispersal patterns.

[0010] A third traditional method of providing a scent trail involves dragging a tube behind the hunter as the hunter travels. The tube is connected to a reservoir, which contains a scented liquid. The scented liquid travels down the tube and onto the ground as the hunter travels. Such tube-based methods can disturb the ground and local foliage as the hunter travels, leaving a visual trail and producing noise. Additionally, such tube-based methods may continue releasing scent substance when the hunter is not moving, thereby wasting scent substance and possibly over saturating a location and counteracting the desired effect.

[0011] In various exemplary embodiments, a scent dispersal device according to this invention dispenses a scent substance at a controlled rate. In various exemplary embodiments, the scent dispersal device includes a line, cord, string or the like that can carry a scent substance and can be dispensed from the device. In various exemplary embodiments, the flow rate at which the scent substance is applied to the line, cord, string or the like can be adjusted and/or the flow started or stopped. In various exemplary embodiments, the dispensing rate of the line, cord, string or the like from the device can be adjusted and/or started or stopped.

[0012] In various exemplary embodiments, the scent dispersal device includes a controllable valve that can be adjusted to alter the rate at which a scent substance passes through the valve. In various exemplary embodiments, the scent dispersal device includes a needle valve that can be adjusted to alter the flow ratio, and/or start or stop the flow, of the scent substance being distributed by the scent dispersal device. In various exemplary embodiments, the needle valve or other controllable valve regulates a flow rate between a reservoir containing a scent substance and a channel containing a portion of the line, cord string or the like. In various exemplary embodiments, the channel also includes a scent distributing device such as, for example, a piece of felt that distributes the available scent fluid around the line, cord, string or the like. In various exemplary embodiments, the line, cord, string or the like passes through the channel as the line, cord, string or the like is being dispensed from the device, where the scent distributing device acts to distribute the scent substances roughly equally around and along the line, cord, string or the like and roughly proportionally to the flow rate of the scent substance from the reservoir to the channel. [0013] In various exemplary embodiments, a scent dispersal device includes a housing and a chamber in the housing that contains a spool of line, cord, string or the like. The housing is fluidly connected to a channel. The line, cord string or the like can be unspooled and fed through the channel to an exterior of the device. A reservoir that contains a supply of a scented material is controllably fluidly connected to the channel. A controllable valve regulates the flow of the scented material from the reservoir into the channel. Once introduced into the channel, the scent substance is applied to a portion of the line, cord, string or the like that is being dispensed from the device.

[0014] In various exemplary embodiments, a method of providing a scent trail using a scent dispersal device includes inspection and, if necessary, adjusting a controllable valve of the scent dispersal device to obtain a desired flow rate of a scented material from a reservoir of the device into a channel of the device. The method also includes dispensing a line, cord, string or the like from the device present through the channel, where at least some of the scented substance in the channel is applied to the line, cord, string or the like as it is being dispensed from the device. The method also includes distributing the line, cord, string or the like along a desired path to create, renew, or alter a scent trail.

[0015] These and other features and advantages of various exemplary embodiments of systems and methods according to this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed descriptions of various exemplary embodiments of various devices, structures and/or methods according to this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] Various exemplary embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention will be described in detail, with reference to the following Figures, wherein:

[0017] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one exemplary embodiment of a scent dispersal device according to this invention;

[0018] Fig. 2 is a front plan view of one exemplary embodiment of a scent dispersal device shown in Fig. 1 ;

[0019] Fig. 3 is a side plan view of the exemplary scent dispersal device shown in Fig. 1;

[0020] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the exemplary scent dispersal device shown in Fig. 1 ; [0021] Fig. 5 is a second exploded perspective view of the exemplary scent dispersal device shown in Fig. 1 showing the first, second and third housing portions and the channel guide 140 in greater detail;

[0022] Fig. 6 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the exemplary scent dispersal device shown in Fig. 1 taken along line 5-5 in Fig. 2;

[0023] Fig. 7 is a plan view of the exemplary scent dispersal device shown in Fig. 6;

[0024] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of the flow regulator 160;

[0025] Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective cut-away views of different portions of the exemplary scent dispersal device shown in Fig. 1 ; and

[0026] Fig. 11 is a front plan cross-sectional view of the exemplary scent dispersal device shown in Fig. 1 taken along line 1 1-1 1 in Fig. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS [0027] It should be appreciated that one exemplary embodiment of a scent dispersal device according to this invention is described below while being used by a hunter for hunting animals. However, any individual could use a scent dispersal device according to this invention for any desired purpose. For example, a nature photographer may use a scent dispersal device according to this invention to help the photographer approach a desired animal and/or to help the photographer to entice desired animals to approach him or her. As such, it should be appreciated that the following description is not intended to limit the use of scent dispersal devices according to this invention in any way and can include use by any user(s) for any purpose.

[0028] As outlined above, it may be advantageous and/or desirable for a hunter to provide a scent trail, such as, for example, of an attractive repellant and/or masking scent, as the hunter travels through a hunting area. Further, it may be desirable to provide the scent trail along a discrete desired path. For example, it may be desirable to provide a scent trail along a known traveling path, such as, for example, a run, of a desired animal to, for example, give the impression that an animal has recently traveled along that path.

[0029] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of a scent dispersal device 100 according to this invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are front and side plan views, respectively, of the exemplary scent dispersal device 100 shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Figs. 1-3, the scent dispersal device 100 includes a first housing portion 110; a winding assembly 120, a second housing portion 130; a channel guide 140; a third housing portion 150; a flow regulator 160 and a cap assembly 170. As shown in Figs. 1-3, the first housing portion 110 includes an outer side wall, a front wall portion, a top wall portion, a bottom wall portion and a rear wall portion. Similarly, the second housing portion 130 includes a side wall, a front wall portion, a front top wall portion, a first bottom wall and a second bottom wall, while the third housing portion 150 includes a side wall, a front wall, a bottom wall and a rear wall. The scent dispersal device 100 includes a scent dispersing element that is stored by winding it up into the scent dispersal device 100 using the winding assembly 120. As shown in Fig. 1, the scent dispersing element can be withdrawn from the scent dispersal device 100 through the opening 132 provided in the second housing portion 130. As most easily seen in Fig. 2, the opening 132 is provided between the second housing portion 130 and the channel guide 140.

[0030] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the exemplary scent dispersal device 100 shown in Figs. 1-3. Fig. 5 is a second exploded perspective view of the exemplary scent dispersal device 100 showing the first, second and third housing portions 110, 130 and 150 and the channel guide 140 in greater detail. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the first housing portion 110 includes a first portion of a reservoir 112 and a first portion of a spool chamber 114. A boss 111 extends into a bottom region of the first portion of the reservoir 112. An internal wall 113 separates the first portion of the reservoir 112 from the first portion of the spool chamber 114. In this exemplary embodiment of the scent dispersal device 100, the first portion of the reservoir 112 is defined by the internal wall 113 and the front wall and front portions of the side, top and bottom walls of the first housing portion 110, while the first portion of the spool chamber 114 is defined by the internal wall 113 and the rear wall and rear portions of the side, top and bottom walls of the first housing portion 110. A spindle or axel 1 15 extends into the spool chamber 1 14 from the inner surface of the rear portion of the side wall of the first housing portion 1 10. A first flange portion 116 of a threaded flange 1 18 extends from the front top surface of the first housing portion 110 above the reservoir 1 12.

[0031] Similarly, the second housing portion 130 includes a second portion of the reservoir 112, while the rear wall of the second housing portion 130, which mates with the internal wall 1 13, separates the second portion of the reservoir 112 from the spool chamber 114. That is, in this exemplary embodiment of the scent dispersal device 100, the second portion of the reservoir 112 is defined by the side, front, top, first bottom and rear walls of the second housing portion 130. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the second housing portion 130 also includes a wetting chamber 135 located below the second portion of the reservoir 112. In this exemplary embodiment, the channel guide 140 forms one side wall of the wetting chamber 135, while the second housing portion 130 provides the other side wall. The first and second bottom walls of the second housing portion 130 form the top and bottom walls of the wetting chamber 135. A second flange portion 136 of the threaded flange 118 extends from the top wall of the second housing portion 130 above the reservoir 112.

[0032] As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the third housing portion 150 includes a second portion of the spool chamber 114 and an opening 152 in a side surface of the third housing portion 150. A handle assembly of the winding assembly 120 extends through the opening 152. The second portion of the spool chamber 114 is defined by the rear wall of the second housing portion 130, the side wall and top, bottom, rear and front walls of the third housing portion 150. A front portion of the side wall and the front wall of the third housing portion 150 extend over the channel guide 140.

[0033] As shown in Fig. 4, the winding assembly 120 includes a spool 122, a length of a scent dispersing element 124, a crank 126 and a handle 128. The spool 122 is placed around and rotates on the spindle or axel 1 15 as the length of the scent dispersing element 124 is withdrawn from the scent dispersal device and/or as it is rewound onto the spool 122. A front flange 123 of the spool extends into and closes the opening 152 in the third housing portion 150. The front flange 123 includes a boss that rotatably connects one end of the crank 126 to the spool 123 to form the winding assembly 120. The handle 128 connects to the other end of the crank 126 to form the handle assembly of the winding assembly 120.

[0034] The flow regulator 160 extends through the side wall of the first housing portion 1 10 and a bottom region of the first portion of the reservoir 112 and into the wetting chamber 135. This will be described in greater detail below. It should be appreciated that the length of the scent dispersing element 124 extends through openings 132 at each end of the wetting chamber 135. The scent dispersing element 124 can be a line, a ribbon, a wire, a thread or any other elongated structure or composition of matter that is capable of picking up the scent material as it passes through the wetting chamber 135 and carrying the scent material until a user manipulates the scent dispersing element 124 to release the scent material into the desired location(s), path(s), trail(s) and/or the like.

[0035] As shown in Fig. 4, the cap assembly 170 includes an outer cap portion 172 and an inner cap portion 174. The outer cap portion 172 has a threaded opening 173 that the inner cap portion 174 is screwed into. The outer cap portion 172 also has internal threads that allow it to be screwed onto the threaded flange 118 provided on the top walls of the first and second housing portions 110 and 130. When the inner cap portion 174 is unscrewed slightly from the outer cap portion 172, air and other gasses in the ambient environment are able to flow through the threaded opening 173 into the reservoir 112. It should be appreciated that, when the inner cap 174 is tightly screwed onto the outer cap 172, as the scented material flows from the reservoir 112 to the wetting channel 135, a vacuum is created in the reservoir 112 that prevents additional scented material from escaping the reservoir. Unscrewing the inner cap 174 provides a second flow path to the exterior environment. That is, the unscrewed inner cap 174 acts as a vent, allowing the higher-pressure external atmosphere to push air and other gasses into the reservoir, equalizing the pressure and allowing the scented material to again flow into the wetting channel. It should also be appreciated that, because of the pressure is lower in the reservoir, vapors from the scented material do not flow out through the threaded opening 173 and thus do not inadvertently, inappropriately or undesirably taint or foul areas the user does not want to be scented by the scented material.

[0036] Fig. 6 is a partial cutaway perspective view of the exemplary scent dispersal device 100 shown in Figs. 1-3, taken along the line 6-6 shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a partial cutaway side plan view of the exemplary scent dispersal device 100. As shown in Fig. 6, the first and second housing portions 110 and 130 are connected together to form the reservoir 112, while the first, second and third housing portions 110, 130 and 150 are connected together to form the spool chamber 114. The reservoir 112 is usable to contain the scented material. In various exemplary embodiments, the scented material is a liquid. The threaded flange 118 defines an opening 117 into the reservoir 112 that allows the scented material to be added to or removed from the reservoir 112.

[0037] As outlined above, the spool chamber 114 contains the spool 122 and the length of scent dispersing element 124 of the winding assembly 120, which is placed on the spindle or axel 115. The spindle or axel 115 helps hold the winding assembly 120 in place. In general, the reservoir 1 12 and the spool chamber 114 are substantially isolated from each other by the internal wall 113 and the rear wall of the second housing portion 130 so that any scented substance contained in the reservoir 1 12 is sufficiently isolated from the length of scent dispersing element 124 stored in the spool chamber 1 14.

[0038] As outlined above, the cap assembly 170 can be screwed onto the threaded flange 1 18 to close the opening 1 17. It should be appreciated that, in various exemplary embodiments, cap assembly 170 can be implemented using the threaded cap describe in the incorporated '584 application. However, in various exemplary embodiments, the inlet 116 may be sealed with a push cap, a push seal or the like. Likewise, in various exemplary embodiments, the reservoir 112 may include a vent, such as through the vented cap outlined above, the vented cap described in the incorporated '584 application, a pop vent, and/or the like.

[0039] As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and as outlined above, the second housing portion 130 interacts with the channel guide 140 (not shown) to define the wetting channel 135. An orifice or opening 134 is provided in the wetting channel 135. The orifice or opening 134 fluidly connects the wetting channel 135 to the reservoir 112. A tapered valve end 162 of the flow regulator 160 extends through the reservoir 112 and into the orifice or opening 134. Depending on the position of the flow regulator 160, the tapered valve end 162 of the flow regulator 160 extends further or less far into the orifice or opening 134 to regulate the flow rate of the scented material through the orifice or opening 134. The openings 132 between the spool chamber 114 and the wetting channel 135 and the wetting channel 135 and the exterior environment connect the spool chamber 114 to the external environment. As outlined above, the length of scent dispersing element 124 wound upon the spool 122 extends through the openings 132 and the wetting channel 135 and out of the scent dispersal device 100. While passing through the wetting channel 135, at least a portion of the length of scent dispersing element 124 can be exposed to the scented material that flows from the reservoir 112 through the orifice or opening 134. As outlined above, the flow regulator 160 allows the user to control the flow rate of the scented material from the reservoir 112 through the orifice or opening 134 and into the wetting chamber 135.

[0040] It should be appreciated that, because the tapered valve end 162 of the flow regulator 160 can close or seal off the orifice or opening 134 between the reservoir 112 and the wetting channel 135, the scented material does not constantly contact the length of scent dispersing element 124. Consequently, in contrast to conventional scent distributing devices that use submerging baths to expose a distributing line to the scented substance, the user can easily change the type of scented material dispersed using the scent dispersal device 100. For example, before or after the length of scent dispersing element 124 is wound up onto the spool 122 of the winding assembly 120, the orifice or opening 134 can be close, the current scented material can be drained, flushed or otherwise removed from the reservoir 112 and a new scented material can be added into the reservoir 112, without having to take any special precautions or any special care to dry or otherwise remove any remaining scented material from the length of scent dispersing element 124. Likewise, there is no need for special fluidic seals as may be necessary in conventional devices that use submerging baths to expose the line to the scented substance.

[0041] As outlined above, in various exemplary embodiments, the flow regulator 160 is used to controls the flow rate of the scented material from the reservoir 112 into or toward the wetting channel 135. That is, rotating the flow regulator 160 to adjust the position of the tapered valve end 162 relative to the threaded boss 111 and the orifice or opening 134 alters the amount of scented material applied to, and/or rate at which the scented material is applied to, the length of scent dispersing element 124. It should be appreciated that, in various exemplary embodiments, a second distributing device may be provided between the orifice or opening b 134 and the wetting channel 135 in addition to or in place of, the flow regulator 160. Such a second distributing device could be usable to distribute the scented material to the length of scent dispersing element 124 in a more clean and even manner. The distributing device may also help prevent the scented material from flowing out of the wetting channel 135 through one or both of the openings 132 and either into the spool chamber 114 and/or out into the external environment. In various exemplary embodiments, the scented material is a liquid and the distributing device is, for example, a piece of felt provided in the wetting channel 135. The piece of felt can be placed adjacent to, opposite from and/or over the orifice or opening 134 to absorb some of the scented material as it passes from the reservoir 112 into the wetting chamber 135 through the orifice or opening 134 and to evenly distribute that scented material to the length of the scent dispersing element 124 as it passes through the wetting channel 135.

[0042] Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing one exemplary embodiment of the flow regulator 160. As shown in Fig. 8, the flow regulator 160 includes the tapered valve end 162, a seal structure 164, a threaded portion 166 and a thumb-screw portion 168. The threaded portion 166 is screwed into the internal threads provided within the boss 111 by rotating the flow regulator using the thumb-screw portion 168. The seal portion 164 interacts with the interior surface of the boss 111 to prevent the scented material stored in the reservoir 112 from leaking out through the boss 111. As shown in Fig. 11, the second housing portion 130 is provided with a tapered passage 133 behind the orifice or opening 134. As the flow regulator 160 is screwed into or out of the boss 111, the tapered valve end 162 moves deeper into or out of the passage 133, which restricts or opens, respectively, the flow rate of the scented material from the orifice or opening 134. [0043] In various exemplary embodiments, the flow regulator 160 is a needle valve, such as that described in the incorporated '584 application. As the needle valve is adjusted, the rate of flow between the reservoir 112 and the channel 135 is adjusted. It should be appreciated that, in various other exemplary embodiments, the flow regulator 160 may be a digital dial, a dial connected to a variable resistor, variable capacitor or the like and usable to control an electrical valve, such as, for example, a solenoid valve or the like. Likewise, the flow regulator may control the flow directly, such as, for example, by adjusting a static rate of flow, or indirectly, such as, for example, by periodically interrupting the flow to adjust the average flow rate.

[0044] In various exemplary embodiments, the scent dispersal device 100 includes an active valve in addition to or in place of the flow regulator 160. In such exemplary embodiments, the active valve may include a power source and/or a controller usable to adjust the rate of flow through the active valve. In various exemplary embodiments, the active valve is an electromechanical valve, such as, for example, a solenoid valve, and includes a controller usable to adjust a rate of flow through the electromechanical valve.

[0045] In general, the scent dispersal device 100 is usable to hold a scent material (that is, for example, a substance that is usable to emit a desired scent) and transfer at least some of the scent material to a length of scent dispersing material as the length of scent dispersing material is being dispensed from the scent dispersal device 100. It should be appreciated that the scent material may be any known or later-developed substance that is usable to provide or imitate a desired scent that is detectable by an animal. In various exemplary embodiments, the scent material is a liquid or a fine powder that flows like a liquid. In various other exemplary embodiments, the scent material is a solid, such as, for example, a powder or a collection of pellets. In various exemplary embodiments, the scent substance is a fluid, in that it is a flowable substance, such as, for example, a liquid, a gas, a flowable solid, etc.

[0046] Figs. 9 and 10 show partial cutaway perspective views of the scent dispersal device 100 in various states of assembly and/or disassembly. As shown in Figs. 8-10, the tapered valve end 162 of the flow regulator 160 projects from the boss 111, which is provided in the first reservoir portion of the first housing portion 110, toward the second housing portion 130. In various exemplary embodiments, screwing the flow regulator 160 into the boss 111 of the first housing portion 1 10 (that is, toward the second housing portion 130) causes the tapered valve end 162 to interact with the orifice or opening 134 to decrease the size of the fluid connection between the reservoir 112 and the wetting channel 135 through the orifice or opening 134 and ultimately to close off that fluid connection. Likewise, screwing the flow regulator 160 out of the boss 111 of the first housing portion 110 (that is, away from the second housing portion 130), increases the size of the fluid connection through the orificel34 and increases the flow rate of the scented material from the reservoir 112 into the wetting channel 135, and thus the rate at which the scented material is applied to the length of scent dispersing element 124 as it passes through the wetting channel 135. It should be appreciated that the amount and/or rate of exposure can be adjusted eater by adjusting the flow rate of the scented substance into the wetting channel and/or by adjusting the rate at which the length of scent dispersing element 124 passes through the channel 132.

[0047] Fig. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the exemplary scent dispersal device 100 along the line 11-11 in Fig. 3. As shown in Fig. 11, the tapered valve end 162 of the flow regulator 160 interacts with the passage 133 behind the orifice or opening 134 to regulate the flow rate of the scented substance from the reservoir 1 12 into the wetting channel 135. It should be appreciated that the reservoir 1 12 is otherwise substantially isolated from the wetting channel 135 and thus the spool chamber 1 14.

[0048] In one exemplary embodiment of a method for using a scent dispersal device according to this invention, a user screws a flow regulator into a threaded passage in a housing of the scent dispersal device to close off a flow passage between a reservoir of the scent dispersal device and a scent applying structure of the scent dispersal device. The user then adds or introduces a scented substance into the reservoir, such as, for example, by pouring a scented liquid through an opening into the reservoir. The user then closes the reservoir with the cap assembly

[0049] To provide the scent trail, the user opens the flow passage between the reservoir and the scent applying structure until the scented material begins to flow from the reservoir into the scent applying structure and/or onto and/or into a distributing device located within the scent applying structure. The user then unspools or withdraws a length of a scent dispersing element through the scent applying structure, where that length of the scent dispersing element is exposed to the scented material. That length of the scent dispersing element can then be placed in a desired location or dragged along a desired path to, for example, simulate a natural scent trail of an animal. After the user is done using that length of the scent dispersing element, or after the scent absorbed or placed onto that length of the scent dispersing element has been lost or used up, for example, because the liquid scent material applied to and/or absorbed by that length of the scent dispersing element has evaporated, that length of the scent dispersing element may be reeled back into the scent dispersal device for storage and/or reuse. In various exemplary embodiments, the scent dispersing element is manually withdrawn back into the device. In various other exemplary embodiments, the scent dispersing element is automatically and/or assistedly withdrawn back into the device, such as, for example, by using a motor or a spring loaded apparatus.

[0050] It should be appreciated that, in various exemplary embodiments, any number of the individual elements forming the scent dispersal device 100, whether or not specifically discussed above, may be provided as a single element. For example, in various exemplary embodiments, the first housing portion 110 and the second housing portion 130 may be provided as a single element. Likewise, in various exemplary embodiments, the crank 124 and the handle 126 may be provided as a single element. Similarly, it should be appreciated that, in various exemplary embodiments, any one of the elements of the scent dispersal device 100, whether or not specifically discussed above, may be provided as two or more separate elements.

[0051] While this invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements and/or substantial equivalents, whether known or that are or may be presently foreseen, may become apparent to those having at least ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is intended to embrace all known or earlier developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements and/or substantial equivalents.

Claims

IN THE CLAIMS:

1. A scent dispersal device, comprising: a housing, the housing comprising: a chamber, a channel connecting the chamber to an external environment, and a reservoir usable to contain a supply of a scented material and fluidly connectable to the channel; a spool located in the chamber; a scent dispersing element wound around the spool and passing through the channel to the external environment; and a controllable valve usable to regulate a flow of the scented material from the reservoir into the channel.

2. The scent dispersal device of claim 1, wherein the controllable valve is adjustable to selectively shut off the flow of the scented material from the reservoir to the channel.

3. The scent dispersal device of claim 1, further comprising a vent that allows a gas to flow between the external environment and the reservoir.

4. The scent dispersal device of claim 1, further comprising an opening into the reservoir, wherein opening is usable to add the scented material to and remove the scented material from the reservoir without the scented material passing through the channel.

5. The scent dispersal device of claim 1, further comprising a scent distributing device associated with the channel and usable to aid in distributing the scented material onto the scent dispersing element.

6. The scent dispersal device of claim 5, wherein the scent distributing device comprises a piece of felt.

7. The scent dispersal device of claim 1, wherein the controllable valve is a needle valve.

8. The scent dispersal device of claim 1, wherein the controllable valve is a solenoid valve.

9. The scent dispersal device of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises: a supply opening connecting the reservoir to an exterior environment, and a first threaded portion surrounding the supply opening; the scent dispersal device further comprising a cap assembly, including: an outer cap having a second threaded portion engagable with the first threaded portion, a threaded opening formed in and extending through the outer cap, and a threaded inner cap engagable with the threaded opening, wherein the threaded opening provides the reservoir with an adjustable vent when the outer cap is engaged with the first threaded portion and the threaded inner cap does not seal the threaded opening.

10. A method for providing a scent trail using a scent dispersal device, the scent dispersal device comprising: a chamber, a scent dispersing element storable in the chamber, a channel connecting the chamber to an external environment, and a reservoir usable to contain a supply of a scented material and fluidly connectable to the channel; the method comprising: supplying a flow of the scented material from the reservoir into the channel; dispensing the scent dispersing element from the chamber to an exterior environment, the scent dispersing element passing through the channel; applying at least some of the scented material to the scent dispersing element by exposing the scent dispersing element, as it passes through the channel, to the scented material in the channel; and distributing the scent dispersing element, with at least some of the scented material applied to the scent dispersing element, along a desired path of the scent trail.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the scent dispersal device further comprises an adjustable valve between the reservoir and the channel, the method further comprising adjusting the adjustable valve to control the flow of the scented material from the reservoir into the channel.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising, after dispensing the scent dispersing element from the chamber to the exterior environment, adjusting the adjustable valve to stop the flow of the scented material from the reservoir to the channel.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the scent dispersal device further comprises an adjustable vent fluidly connected to the reservoir, the method further comprising adjusting the adjustable vent to allow air to flow into the reservoir.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising, after distributing the scent dispersing element along the desired path, retracting the scent dispersing element into the device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein retracting the scent dispersing element into the device comprises manually retracting the scent dispersing element.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein retracting the scent dispersing element into the device comprises retracting the scent dispersing element using a motor.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein retracting the scent dispersing element into the device comprises spring-loading the scent dispersing element as it is dispensed from the chamber to the exterior environment.