Waterfowl decoy with realistic motion and interchangeable wings and feet

• US 20020152666A1
• Filed: 04/24/2001
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walter Solomon
• Original Assignee: Walter Solomon
• Inventors: Solomon, Walter
• Granted Patent: US 6,574,903 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 43/3
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 31/06 Decoys

Abstract

The present invention addresses an improved method of animating a waterfowl decoy or bird sculpture. An offset support assembly supports wing and paddle appendages that attach to a rotating or oscillating output shaft extending from the body of a waterfowl decoy or bird sculpture. The rotation or oscillation of the offset wing appendages produces a visual quality replicating the flapping of wings. The paddle appendages propel a floating decoy on the surface of the water and impart a side-to-side movement. The invention can be used to impart a more realistic motion and appearance to either floating or pole-mounted decoys, or can be used with decorative sculptures or models.

Claims

1. A waterfowl decoy, comprising:

a body portion having a head end, a tail end, and two sides;

a driver motor having at least one output shaft, wherein said output shaft has a longitudinal axis extending along the length of said output shaft;

an offset support assembly attached to the output shaft such that the offset support assembly provides rotational movement around said longitudinal axis when the output shaft rotates;

one or more appendages attached to the offset support assembly a radial length from the longitudinal axis, wherein such appendage provides rotational movement around said longitudinal axis when the output shaft rotates.

2. The waterfowl decoy of claim 1, wherein the offset assembly is a single molded structure.

3. The waterfowl decoy of claim 1, wherein the offset assembly comprises a plurality of molded structures.

4. The waterfowl decoy of claim 1, wherein the offset assembly is a single machined structure.

5. The waterfowl decoy of claim 1, wherein the offset assembly comprises a plurality of machined structures.

6. The waterfowl decoy of claim 1 wherein said offset support assembly has a supporting disk and one or more attachment brackets, said supporting disk having a hub for securing the offset support assembly to the output shaft and each attachment bracket having the capability of attaching one of said appendages to the offset support assembly.

7. The waterfowl decoy of claim 6 wherein the angle of inclination between the supporting disk and one of the attachment brackets is within the range of 45°

to 160°

.

8. The waterfowl decoy of claim 6 wherein the angle of inclination between the supporting disk and the attachment brackets can be manually adjusted.

9. The waterfowl decoy of claim 6 wherein the appendages can be attached to one or more positions on the attachment brackets.

10. The waterfowl decoy of claim 1 wherein the appendage is one or more wing structures.

11. The waterfowl decoy of claim 10 wherein one of said wing structures is composed of a resilient, shape-retentive material that bends away from the longitudinal axis during rotation.

12. The waterfowl decoy of claim 1 wherein the appendage is one or more foot paddle structures.

13. The waterfowl decoy of claim 12 wherein one of said foot paddle structures is composed of a resilient, shape-retentive material that touches a water level during rotation.

14. The waterfowl decoy of claim 1 wherein the driver motor has an adjustable speed setting to vary the rotational speed of the output shaft.

16. The waterfowl decoy of claim 15 wherein the angle of inclination between the supporting disk and one of the attachment brackets is within the range of 45°

to 160°

.

17. The waterfowl decoy of claim 15 wherein the angle of inclination between the supporting disk and the attachment brackets can be manually adjusted.

18. The waterfowl decoy of claim 15 wherein the appendages can be attached to one or more positions on the attachment brackets.

19. The waterfowl decoy of claim 15 wherein the appendage is one or more wing structures.

20. The waterfowl decoy of claim 19 wherein one of said wing structures is composed of a resilient, shape-retentive material that bends away from the longitudinal axis during rotation.

21. The waterfowl decoy of claim 15 wherein the appendage is one or more foot paddle structures.

22. The waterfowl decoy of claim 21 wherein one of said foot paddle structures is composed of a resilient, shape-retentive material that touches a water level during rotation.

23. The waterfowl decoy of claim 15 wherein the driver motor has an adjustable speed setting to vary the rotational speed of the output shaft.

24. The waterfowl decoy of claim 15 wherein the offset assembly is a single molded structure.

25. The waterfowl decoy of claim 15 wherein the offset assembly comprises a plurality of molded structures.

26. The waterfowl decoy of claim 15 wherein the offset assembly is a single machined structure.

27. The waterfowl decoy of claim 15 wherein the offset assembly comprises a plurality of machined structures.

29. The waterfowl decoy of claim 28 wherein one or more wing appendages may be attached to the offset assembly.

30. The waterfowl decoy of claim 28 wherein said wing appendage is composed of a resilient, shape-retentive material that bends away from the longitudinal axis during rotation.

31. The waterfowl decoy of claim 28 wherein one or more foot paddle appendages may be attached to the offset assembly.

32. The waterfowl decoy of claim 31 wherein said foot paddle appendage is composed of a resilient, shape-retentive material that touches a water level during rotation.

33. The waterfowl decoy of claim 28 wherein the driver motor has an adjustable speed setting to vary the rotational speed of the output shaft.

15. A waterfowl decoy comprising;

a body portion having a head end, a tail end, and two sides;

a driver motor having at least one output shaft, wherein said output shaft has a longitudinal axis extending along the length of said output shaft;

an offset support assembly having a supporting disk and one or more attachment brackets, said supporting disk having a hub for securing the offset support assembly to the output shaft,

one or more appendages attached to the offset support assembly at one of said attachment brackets, wherein such appendage provides rotational movement around said longitudinal axis when the output shaft rotates.

28. A method for imparting realistic wing movement in a waterfowl decoy:

providing a decoy with a body, a head end, and a tail end;

providing a driver motor in the decoy with an output shaft, said output shaft having a longitudinal axis extending along the length of said output shaft;

providing an offset assembly on the output shaft with a wing appendage attached to the offset assembly a radial distance from the longitudinal axis;

driving an output shaft with the driver motor to cause rotation of the offset assembly and the wing appendage, said wing appendage rotating around a circular path around said longitudinal axis.