Duck decoy with quick release, foldable wings

• US 6,493,980 B1
• Filed: 07/26/2001
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Plastics, LLC
• Original Assignee: American Plastics, LLC
• Inventors: Richardson, Barton D., Richardson, Johnny J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Piascik, Susan L
• Application Number:
  US09/915,498
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 43/2, 43/3, 446/153, 446/156, 446/158
• US Class Current: 43/3
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 31/06 Decoys

Abstract

A decoy has outwardly projecting wings rotated by a motor secured by modularized mounting system shrouded within a lifelike plastic shell. The mounting mechanism comprises a resilient internal plate comprising integral bosses for connection to the shell. One boss receives a motor mount and a battery clamp respectively securing the internal battery and the motor that dynamically drives the wings. Shoulders defined in the boss and the motor mount are engaged by downwardly projecting lips projecting from the battery clamp and the motor mount, and the motor is retained within a special rectangular orifice. Axle ends projecting from the motor quick-connect with the wings. A special coupling with angled slots quick connects or quick-disconnects the wings and allows folding. A spring on each axle yieldably maintains the wings in place. The wings rotate about their longitudinal axis. The wings stop moving with their bright white bottoms aimed downwardly.

Claims

1. A modularized hunting decoy comprising:

a shell decorated like a target animal, the shell comprising an interior;

a longitudinal axis;

a pair of rotational moving wings extending outwardly from the decoy substantially perpendicularly from the longitudinal axis;

a modular wing control system for moving the wings, the wing control system comprising a motor with a transverse driveshaft having outwardly extending axle portions on each side of the decoy, a battery for powering the motor, an elongated, generally planar mounting plate disposed within said interior, a recess for receiving the motor, a step-like, generally cubicle, raised boss comprising a transverse upper shoulder perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, and a motor mount coupled to said boss or securing said motor within said recess, the motor mount comprising a downwardly projecting lip to register within said boss shoulder to preserve alignment, and a projecting arm bearing against the motor;

quick connect means for releasably connecting the wings to an axle portion such that after they are axially connected and aligned coaxially with the axle portions they may thereafter be folded in a rotational plane that is substantially coplanar with the plane of said axle portions to selectively move them between a storage position and a deployed position.

2. The decoy as defined in claim 1 wherein the motor mount comprises a transverse upper shoulder and the modular control system further comprises a battery clamp adapted to be coupled to the motor mount, the battery clamp comprising a downwardly projecting lip that registers within said motor mount upper shoulder to preserve alignment, and an arm projecting towards the battery to clamp it down.

3. The decoy as defined in claim 1 wherein said quick connect means comprises a wing-to-driveshaft coupling system comprising:

a forward tongue on each axle;

a spring captivated on each axle;

a barrel-like coupling coaxially secured to each axle and biased outwardly by said spring, the coupling having a longitudinal axis;

a locking pin transversely penetrating said tongue;

a companion fitting on each wing adapted to be releasably mated to said barrel-like coupling, the fitting comprising a longitudinal axis and pair of semi-cylindrical halves separated by an elongate channel in the form of a parallelepiped, the channel admitting the tongue locking pin, and each half comprising an arcuate slot comprising a first angled portion that is neither parallel with nor perpendicular to the fitting axis and a second angled slot portion that intersects the first angled slot portion and is neither parallel with nor perpendicular to the fitting axis.

4. The decoy as defined in claim 3 wherein the modular control system comprises:

an elongated, generally planar mounting plate disposed within said interior;

a recess for receiving the motor; and

, means for-maintaining the motor in said recess.

5. The decoy as defined in claim 4 wherein tile modular control system further comprises:

a step-like, generally cubicle, raised boss comprising a transverse upper shoulder perpendicular to said longitudinal axis; and

,

a motor mount adapted to be coupled to said boss for securing said motor within said recess, the motor mount comprising a downwardly projecting lip to register within said boss shoulder to preserve alignment, and a projecting arm bearing against the motor.

6. The decoy as defined in claim 5 wherein the motor mount comprises a transverse upper shoulder and the modular control system further comprises a battery clamp adapted to be coupled to the motor mount, the battery clamp comprising a downwardly projecting lip that registers within said motor mount upper shoulder to preserve alignment, and an arm projecting towards the battery to clamp it down.

7. The decoy as defined in claim 6 wherein the modular control system comprises:

an elongated, generally planar mounting plate disposed within said interior;

a recess for receiving the motor;

means for maintaining the motor in said recess;

a step-like, generally cubicle, raised boss comprising a transverse upper shoulder perpendicular to said longitudinal axis;

a motor mount adapted to be coupled to said boss for securing said motor within said recess, the motor mount comprising a downwardly projecting lip to register within said boss shoulder to preserve alignment, a projecting arm bearing against the motor; and

upper shoulder; and

,

a battery clamp coupled to the motor mount and comprising a downwardly projecting lip that registers within said motor mount upper shoulder to preserve alignment, and an arm projecting towards the battery to clamp it down against said mounting plate.

8. A modularized hunting decoy comprising:

a decorative shell formed and colored and shaped like a target bird, the shell defining an interior;

a longitudinal axis;

a pair of rotational wings extending outwardly from the decoy substantially perpendicularly from the longitudinal axis;

a modular wing control system for moving the wings, the wing control system comprising;

an elongated, generally planar mounting plate disposed within said interior;

means for pivotally connecting the shell to the plate;

a motor with a transverse driveshaft having outwardly extending axle portions on each side of the decoy;

a battery for powering the motor;

a step-like, generally cubicle, boss comprising a transverse upper shoulder perpendicular to said longitudinal axis;

a motor mount adapted to be coupled to said boss for securing said motor, the motor mount comprising an upper shoulder, a downwardly projecting lip to register within said boss upper shoulder to preserve alignment, an upper shoulder, and a projecting arm for securing the motor;

a battery clamp adapted to be coupled to the motor mount, the battery clamp comprising a downwardly projecting lip that registers within said motor mount upper shoulder to preserve alignment, and an arm projecting towards the battery to secure it; and

,

quick connect means for releasably connecting the wings to an axle portion such that after they are connected, they may thereafter be rotated by said motor.

9. The decoy as defined in claim 8 wherein the mounting plate comprises a rectangular recess in which the motor is nested for preserving component alignment.

10. The decoy as defined in claim 8 wherein said motor oppositely extending drive axles, each comprise:

a forward tongue;

a spring captivated on each axle;

a barrel-like coupling coaxially secured to each axle and biased outwardly by said spring, the coupling having a longitudinal axis;

means for retaining the coupling; and

,

a locking pin transversely penetrating said tongue.

11. The decoy as defined in claim 10 wherein wing has a companion fitting adapted to be releasably mated to said barrel-like coupling, the fitting comprising a longitudinal axis and pair of semi-cylindrical halves separated by an elongate channel in the form of a parallelepiped, the channel admitting the tongue locking pin, and each half comprising an arcuate slot comprising a first angled portion that is neither parallel with nor perpendicular to the fitting axis and a second angled slot portion that intersects the first angled slot portion and is neither parallel with nor perpendicular to the fitting axis.

12. The decoy as defined in claim 11 wherein the mounting plate comprises a rectangular recess in which the motor is nested for preserving component alignment.

13. A duck hunting decoy comprising:

a decorative shell formed and colored and shaped like a target duck, the shell defining an interior;

a longitudinal axis;

a pair of rotational wings extending outwardly from the decoy substantially perpendicularly from the longitudinal axis;

a modular wing control system for moving the wings, the wing control system comprising;

an elongated, generally planar mounting plate disposed within said interior, the plate comprising boss means for securing the shell;

a motor with a transverse driveshaft having outwardly extending axle portions on each side of the decoy;

a battery for powering the motor;

a boss comprising a transverse upper shoulder perpendicular to said longitudinal axis;

a motor mount adapted to be coupled to said boss for securing said motor;

a battery clamp for securing the battery; and

,

quick connect means for releasably connecting the wings so that after they are connected, they may thereafter be rotated by said motor, the quick connect means comprising;

a forward tongue associated with each axle;

a spring captivated on each axle;

a barrel-like coupling coaxially secured to each axle and biased outwardly by said spring, the coupling having a longitudinal axis,

a locking pin transversely penetrating said tongue; and

,

a companion fitting adapted to be releasably mated to said barrel-like coupling, the fitting comprising a longitudinal axis and pair of semi-cylindrical halves separated by an elongate channel in the form of a parallelepiped, the channel admitting the tongue locking pin.

14. The decoy as defined in claim 13 wherein the fitting halves each comprise an arcuate slot comprising a first angled portion that is neither parallel with nor perpendicular to the fitting axis and a second angled slot portion that intersects the first angled slot portion and is neither parallel with nor perpendicular to the fitting axis for admitting the locking pin to permit subsequent wing folding.

15. The decoy as defined in claim 13 wherein the mounting plate comprises a rectangular recess in which the motor is nested for preserving component alignment.