Animal decoy with movable appendage

• US 4,845,873 A
• Filed: 05/02/1988
• Issued: 07/11/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stephen E. Hazlett
• Original Assignee: Stephen E. Hazlett
• Inventors: Hazlett, Stephen E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Godici, Nicholas P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Andes, William S.
• Application Number:
  US07/189,233
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 43/2, 43/3, 43/26.1, 43/26.2, 446/35, 446/338, 446/352, 446/353, 446/354, 446/384
• US Class Current: 43/3
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 31/06 Decoys

Abstract

An animal decoy with a movable appendage. An electric motor is mounted atop a frame contained within a chamber formed by an animal main body shell. In one embodiment, a neck and head is pivotally mounted to the frame and driven in pivot fashion by a rod pivotally connecting the neck to the electric motor output. In another embodiment, a pair of wings are pivotally mounted atop a pair of supports fixedly secured to the frame. The distal ends of the wings are pivotally attached to the forward end of a rod having a back end offset, but connected to the rotatable output of an electric motor. The connecting rod extends through a control post which limits movement of the rod and directs the movement of the wings in a flapping fashion.

Claims

1. An animal decoy comprising:

a frame with a longitudinal axis;

a simulated animal body mounted to said frame and defining a chamber;

an electric motor located within said chamber being connectable to a source of electrical energy and having a movable output;

a simulated animal appendage movably mounted on said simulated animal body;

connecting means extending within said chamber between said movable output and said simulated animal appendage and operable to move said simulated animal appendage when said electric motor is connected to a source of electrical energy; and

wherein;

said animal appendage includes a first wing and a second wing each with a proximal end located in said chamber, and further comprising;

movement control means mounted to said frame and operably associated with said first wing, said second wing and said connecting means and operable to direct movement of said first wing and said second wing in flapping unison; and

,

said movement control means includes a post fixed to said frame with said post having an aperture, said connecting means includes a connector and a reciprocating rod with said rod having a forward end connected to said proximal end of said first wing and said second wing and having a back end connected to said movable output by said connector about a horizontally extending axis of rotation, said rod extending through said aperture at an elevation differing from said horizontal axis of rotation pivoting said rod about said post in a vertical direction as said rod reciprocates moving said forward end back and forth along said longitudinal axis as well as vertically.

2. The animal decoy of claim 1 wherein:

said movement control means further includes a first support and a second support fixed to said frame, said first wing and said second wing are slidably mounted atop and supported respectively by said first support and said second support forward of said post, said movement control means being operable to control said first wing and said second wing to a movement in unison first forward in an upward direction and then rearward in a downward direction repeating said movement for each complete reciprocation of said rod.

3. The animal decoy of claim 2 and further comprising:

fastening means removably mounting said first wing and said second wing to said frame.

4. The animal decoy of claim 3 wherein:

said first wing and said second wing each include a rigid member extending lengthwise thereon and further include a rubber sheet attached to said rigid member simulating a wing.

5. An animal decoy with flappable wings for use in the sport of hunting comprising:

a frame with a longitudinal axis;

a simulated animal body mounted to said frame and defining a chamber;

an electric motor located within said chamber being connectable to a source of electrical energy and having a movable output;

a simulated animal appendage movably mounted on said simulated animal body, said animal appendage including a first wing and a second wing each with a proximal end;

connecting means extending within said chamber between said movable output and said first wing and said second wing and operable to move said first wing and said second wing when said electric motor is connected to a source of electrical energy; and

,

movement control means mounted to said frame and operably associated with said first wing, said second wing and said connecting means and operable to direct movement of said first wing and said second wing in flapping unison, said movement control means including a guide with said connecting means including a connector and a reciprocating link, said reciprocating link having a forward portion connected to said proximal end of said first wing and said second wing and having a back end portion connected to said movable output by said connector about a horizontally extending axis of rotation, said link entending through said guide at an elevation differing from said horizontal axis of rotation pivoting said link about said guide in a vertical direction as said link reciprocates moving said forward portion and back end portion back and forth along said longitudinal axis as well as vertically.

6. An animal decoy with flappable wings for use in the sport of hunting comprising:

a frame with a longitudinal axis;

a simulated animal body mounted to said frame and defining a chamber;

an electric motor located within said chamber being connectable to a source of electrical energy and having a movable output;

a simulated animal appendage movably mounted on said simulated animal body, said animal appendage including a first wing and a second wing each with a proximal end located in said chamber;

connecting means extending within said chamber between said movable output and said first wing and said second wing and operable to move said first wing and said second wing when said electric motor is connected to a source of electrical energy;

movement control means mounted to said frame and operably associated with said first wing, said second wing and said connecting means and operable to direct movement of said first wing and said second wing in flapping unison; and

,

on/off switch means connected between said electric motor and said source of electrical energy with said switch means being located remotely from said animal decoy allowing remote control of the animal decoy; and

wherein;

said movement control means includes a post fixed to said frame with said post having an aperture, said connecting means includes a connector and a reciprocating rod with said rod having a forward end connected to said proximal end of said first wing and said second wing and having a back end connected to said movable output by said connector about a horizontally extending axis of rotation, said rod extending through said aperture at an elevation differing from said horizontal axis of rotation pivoting said rod about said post in a vertical direction as said rod reciprocates moving said forward end back and forth along said longitudinal axis as well as vertically.

7. The animal decoy of claim 6 wherein:

said movement control means further includes a first support and a second support fixed to said frame, said first wing and said second wing are slidably mounted atop and supported respectively by said first support and said second support forward of said post, said movement control means being operable to control said first wing and said second wing to a movement in unison first forward in an upward direction and then rearward in a downward direction repeating said movement for each complete reciprocation of said rod.