Animated waterfowl decoy apparatus

• US 6,408,559 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2000
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Huntwise Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Robert Mathews
• Inventors: Mathews, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Ark, Darren W.
• Application Number:
  US09/737,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20010001913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 43/2, 43/3, 43/261, 43/262
• US Class Current: 43/3
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 31/06 Decoys

Abstract

An animated waterfowl decoy apparatus includes a decoy housing, a pair of decoy wing members rotatably connected to the decoy housing, and an elongated stand supporting the housing to position the decoy housing over the surface of a body of water. The apparatus may be readily converted between wind-powered operation and motor-powered operation.

Claims

1. An animated bird replica apparatus employable as a decoy, said apparatus comprising:

a housing having the configuration of a bird'"'"'s body having a housing top simulating a bird body top, a head end, said head end resembling a head of a bird, a tail end, and a longitudinal axis extending between said head end and said tail end, said housing defining a housing interior, and

a pair of bird wing members rotatably connected to said housing between said head end and said tail end, said pair of bird wing members extending outwardly from opposed sides of said housing laterally of said longitudinal axis and fully rotatable around a common axis, said pair of bird wing members further resembling a pair of extended bird wings,

an elongated support stand connected to said housing, said support stand extending downwardly from said housing, said support stand having a lower distal end for anchoring in the earth under a body of water and having adequate length to support said housing sufficiently above the surface of a body of water such that said bird wing members are out of contact with the water, but close enough to the surface of the water such that said housing and said bird wing members simulate a bird in flight near a surface of a body of water with wings extended as though about to land.

2. The animated bird replica apparatus of claim 1 including:

an electric motor disposed within said housing interior,

transmission means disposed within said housing interior for removably interconnecting said electric motor to said pair of bird wing members, said transmission means including a rotatable bird wing member support within said housing interior extending between, removably connected to, and supporting said bird wing members, and

electric battery means operatively associated with said electric motor to energize and cause operation of said electric motor, said transmission means operatively interconnecting said electric motor to said pair of bird wing members for causing rotation of said bird wing members responsive to operation of said electric motor.

3. The animated bird replica apparatus of claim 2 including:

said wing members having inwardly extending mounting shafts, and

cotter pins each extending through said rotatable bird wing member support and one of said mounting shafts releasably connecting said mounting shafts to opposed ends of said rotatable bird wing member support.

4. The animated bird replica apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said common axis is horizontal.

5. The animated bird replica apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

said housing is movable for adjusting the forward and aft pitch thereof relative to said support stand.

6. The animated bird replica apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said longitudinal axis extending between said head end and said tail end is generally transverse to said support stand.

7. The animated bird replica apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

each of said pair of bird wing members has a planar geometry including a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a wing tip portion, said proximal portion nearer said housing than said distal portion, and said proximal portion having a transverse dimension generally wider than said distal portion, and said wing tip portion being at a furthest outward extent of each of said wing members, said distal portion generally tapering off toward said wing tip portion.

8. An aminated bird replica apparatus employable as a decoy comprising:

a housing having a housing top simulating a substantially complete bird body, said housing having a head end, said head end resembling a head of a bird, a tail end, and a longitudinal axis extending between said head end and said tail end,

a pair of bird wing members rotatably connected to said housing between said head end and tail end thereof, said wing members extending laterally of said longitudinal axis of said housing from opposite sides of said housing and being fully rotatable about a common axis of rotation which is substantially perpendicular to said housing'"'"'s longitudinal axis, said pair of bird wing members further resembling a pair of extended bird wings, and

an elongated support stand connected to said housing and extending downwardly therefrom, said support stand having a lower distal end for anchoring said support stand in the earth below a body of water and having adequate length to support the bird body simulated by said housing sufficiently above the surface of the water such that said wing members are out of contact with the water, but close enough to the surface to simulate a bird in flight with wings extended about to land on the surface of the water,

said common axis of rotation of said wing members generally transverse to said support stand.

9. The animated bird replica apparatus of claim 8 wherein the length of said support stand is adjustable for permitting said housing and extended wing members to be placed in the desired position above the surface of the water.

10. The animated bird replica apparatus of claim 8 wherein said support stand is in the form of a single vertical pole structure having at least one laterally extending member for gripping when anchoring the support stand in the earth beneath the surface of the water.

11. The animated bird replica apparatus of claim 8 wherein said wing members extend about said common axis of rotation in a substantially planar geometry and each have an outline simulating the shape of a wing of a bird in flight such that rotation of the wing members near the surface of the water simulates the wing movements of a bird preparing to land on the water for attracting waterfowl.

12. The animated bird replica apparatus of claim 11 wherein said elongated support stand has a length which supports the bird replica sufficiently close to the surface of the water to permit the rotating wing members to agitate the water surface in proximity to the wing members.

13. An animated bird replica apparatus employable as a decoy, said apparatus comprising, in combination:

a housing having the configuration of a bird'"'"'s body having a housing top simulating a bird body top, a head end, said head end resembling a head of a bird, a tail end, and a longitudinal axis extending between said head end and said tail end, said housing defining a housing interior,

a pair of bird wing members rotatably connected to said housing between said head end and said tail end, said pair of bird wing members extending outwardly from opposed sides of said housing laterally of said longitudinal axis and fully rotatable around a common axis, said pair of bird wing members further resembling a pair of extended bird wings,

an elongated support stand connected to said housing, said support stand extending downwardly from said housing, said support stand having a lower distal end for anchoring in the earth under a body of water and having adequate length to support said housing sufficiently above the surface of a body of water such that said bird wing members are out of contact with the water, but close enough to the surface of the water such that said housing and said bird wing members simulate a bird in flight near a surface of a body of water with wings extended as though about to land,

an electric motor disposed within said housing interior,

transmission means disposed within said housing interior for removably interconnecting said electric motor to said pair of bird wing members, said transmission means including a rotatable bird wing member support within said housing interior extending between, removably connected to, and supporting said bird wing members, and

electric battery means operatively associated with said electric motor to energize and cause operation of said electric motor, said transmission means operatively interconnecting said electric motor to said pair of bird wing members causing rotation of said bird wing members responsive to operation of said electric motor.

14. The animated bird replica apparatus of claim 13 including:

said wing members having inwardly extending mounting shafts, and

releasable connector means releasably connecting said mounting shafts to opposed ends of said rotatable bird wing member support.

15. The animated bird replica apparatus of claim 14 wherein:

said mounting shafts are received within said rotatable bird wing member support.

16. The animated bird replica apparatus of claim 14 wherein:

said releasable connector means comprise cotter pins each extending through said rotatable bird wing member support and one of said mounting shafts.

17. The animated bird replica apparatus according to claim 13 wherein:

said elongated support stand includes at least two elongated relatively movable support stand members for varying the effective length of said elongated support stand, said support stand further having at least one laterally projecting handle member to facilitate positioning in and removing from the earth by hand of said support stand, and

lock means for selectively locking said support stand members against relative movement.

18. The animated bird replica apparatus according to claim 17 wherein:

said at least one handle member comprises two handle members projecting from opposing sides of said support stand facilitating use of two hands for support stand positioning and removal.

19. The animated bird replica apparatus according to claim 18 wherein:

said at least two support stand members comprises a first support stand member and a second support stand member sized for sliding disposition within an interior of a shaft of said first member, relative sliding movement of said first member and said second member varying the length of said support stand via a telescoping effect.

20. The animated bird replica apparatus according to claim 17 wherein:

said support stand has a rectilinear cross-section.

21. The animated bird replica apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising:

adjustable connector means adjustably and releasably connecting said elongated support stand to said housing, said connector means further for fixing said housing against rotation relative to a longitudinal axis of said support stand, and whereby the pitch of said housing relative to a transverse horizontal axis thereof can be selectively varied.

22. The animated bird replica apparatus according to claim 13 additionally comprising one handle member projecting laterally from said elongated support stand and sized for manual grasping by an individual to facilitate positioning of the elongated support stand in and removal of the elongated support stand from the earth.

23. The animated bird replica apparatus according to claim 13 wherein:

said transmission means is selectively adjustable to terminate operative interconnection between said electric motor and said pair of bird wing members and allow said pair of bird wing members to fully rotate responsive to the impact of wind thereon without said electric motor exerting a drag force impeding rotation.

24. The animated bird replica apparatus according to claim 13 wherein:

said elongated support stand includes at least two elongated relatively movable support stand members for varying the effective length of said elongated support stand, said support stand including a first support stand member and a second support stand member sized for sliding disposition within an interior of a shaft of said first support stand member,

a first aperture in said first support stand member,

a second aperture in said second support stand member, said second aperture in alignment with said first aperture, and

a threaded connector disposed in said first and said second apertures selectively locking said first and second support stand members against relative movement.

25. The animated bird replica apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising:

said elongated support stand having an aperture in a top end thereof,

a support member depending from said housing, said support member having a hole transverse to said longitudinal axis of said housing,

a threaded connector disposed in said aperture and in said hole adjustably and releasably connecting said housing to said support stand, said housing pivotally connected to said support stand about a longitudinal axis of said threaded connector, such that a forward and aft pitch of said housing may be varied relative to said support stand.

26. The animated bird replica apparatus according to claim 25 wherein:

said threaded connector comprises a bolt and nut.

27. The animated bird replica apparatus according to claim 13 wherein:

said support stand comprises a single telescoping shaft, and

said animated bird replica apparatus additionally comprises at least one handle member, at least one said handle member projecting laterally from said telescoping shaft and sized for an individual to grasp by hand to facilitate positioning of said shaft in and removal of said shaft from the earth.

28. The animated bird replica apparatus according to claim 27 wherein:

said at least one handle member comprises two handle members disposed on opposite sides of said shaft.

29. An animated bird replica apparatus employable as a decoy comprising:

a housing having a housing top simulating a bird body, said housing defining a housing interior and having a head end, said head end resembling a head of a bird, a tail end, and a longitudinal axis extending between said head end and said tail end,

a pair of bird wing members rotatably connected to said housing between said head end and said tail end thereof, said wing members extending laterally of said longitudinal axis of said housing from opposite sides of said housing and being fully rotatable about a common axis of rotation which is substantially perpendicular to said housing'"'"'s longitudinal axis, said wing members extending about said common axis of rotation in a substantially planar geometry and each having an outline simulating the shape of a wing of a bird in flight such that rotation of the wing members near the surface of the water simulates the movements of a pair of extended wings of a bird preparing to land on the water for attracting waterfowl,

an electric motor in said housing interior,

wing member drive means in the interior of said housing interconnecting said electric motor and said wing members such that activation of said electric motor will drive said wing members into rotation, and

an elongated support stand connected to said housing and extending downwardly therefrom, said support stand having a lower distal end for anchoring the support stand in the earth below a body of water and having adequate length to support said bird body simulated by said housing sufficiently above the surface of the water such that the wing members rotated by said electric motor and said wing member drive means are out of contact with the water but close enough to the surface of the water such that said housing and said bird wing members simulate a bird in flight with wings extended about to land on the surface of the water.

30. The animated bird replica apparatus of claim 29 wherein:

said electric motor has a drive spindle extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said housing, and

said wing member drive means includes a shaft rotatably supported in said housing interior substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said housing and parallel to the drive spindle of said electric motor, and further includes a pulley carried on said shaft and a removable drive belt between said pulley and the spindle of said electric motor,

said wing members extending from said shaft on the common axis of rotation and being driven into full rotation by said shaft when said drive belt is engaged, and being freely rotatable in the wind when said drive belt is removed.

31. The animated bird replica apparatus of claim 30 wherein each of said bird wing members are each releasably connected to the shaft of said wing member drive means using cotter pins extending through said shaft.

32. A method of attracting waterfowl to a location over the surface of the water comprising:

choosing a suitable location over the surface of a body of water having earth below the surface of the water in which a support stand of an animated bird replica can be anchored,

providing a bird replica which includes a housing having a housing top that simulates a substantially complete bird body with a head end, a tail end, and a longitudinal axis extending between said head end and said tail end, and which further includes a pair of bird wing members connected to said housing between the head end and tail end thereof, said wing members extending laterally of the longitudinal axis of said housing from opposite sides of said housing, said wing members fully rotatable around a common axis, and

supporting said bird replica sufficiently above the surface of the water such that the wing members are out of contact with the water, but close to the surface of the water to simulate a bird in flight with wings extended about to land on the surface of the water, said bird replica being supported on a support stand of suitable length capable of being anchored in the earth below the surface of the water at the chosen suitable location.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said wing members are rotatably connected to said housing and are free to rotate in the wind to simulate an animated bird in flight about to land on the surface of the water.

34. The method of claim 32 comprising rotating said wing members by internal drive power to simulate an animated bird in flight about to land on the surface of the water.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said bird replica is supported sufficiently close to the surface of the water such that the rotation of the wing members agitates the surface of the water.

36. The method of claim 34 comprising converting the wing members from rotation by said internal drive power to rotation by wind power.

37. A method of attracting waterfowl to a location over the surface of the water comprising:

choosing a suitable location over the surface of a body of water having earth below the surface of the water in which a support stand of an animated bird replica can be anchored,

providing a bird replica which includes a housing having a housing top that simulates a substantially complete bird body with a head end, a tail end, and a longitudinal axis extending between said head end and said tail end, and which further includes a pair of bird wing members rotatably connected to said housing between the head end and tail end thereof, said wing members extending laterally of the longitudinal axis of said housing from opposite sides of said housing and being fully rotatable about an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the housing'"'"'s longitudinal axis,

supporting said bird replica sufficiently above the surface of the water such that the wing members are out of contact with the water, but close to the surface of the water to simulate a bird in flight with wings extended about to land on the surface of the water, said bird replica being supported on a support stand of suitable length capable of being anchored in the earth below the surface of the water at the chosen suitable location, and

rotating said wing members by an internal drive to simulate an animated bird in flight about to land on the surface of the water, said bird replica being supported sufficiently close to the surface of the water to permit the rotating wing members to agitate the surface of the water.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising:

disengaging said wing members from said internal drive to convert said wing members from rotation by an internal drive power to rotation by wind power.

39. A method of attracting waterfowl to a particular location comprising:

supporting above and out of contact with the surface of a body of water an animated bird replica apparatus comprising a housing having the configuration of a bird'"'"'s body with a pair of bird wing members configured to allow rotation by wind rotatably connected to said housing extending outwardly from opposed sides of said housing and fully rotatable about a common axis of rotation, said housing containing means for energizing said bird wing members to rotate comprising an electric motor and transmission means for operatively interconnecting said electric motor to said pair of bird wing members, and electric battery means operatively associated with said electric motor to energize and cause operation of said electric motor;

activating said energizing means to rotate said bird wing members, and

selectively disconnecting said bird wing members from said energizing means to convert said animated bird replica apparatus to wind power use.