Fishing – trapping – and vermin destroying – Decoys – Duck
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-18
2002-04-23
Rowan, Kurt (Department: 3643)
Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying
Decoys
Duck
Reexamination Certificate
active
06374529
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of small game hunting, and more specifically to a decoy system for use in bird hunting, particularly waterfowl hunting. The present invention comprises a system of activation lines, pulleys, stakes, and springs, along which one or more decoys are attached. Pulling one end of the system of lines causes the decoy(s) to move over the surface of the water upon which they are floating, and/or to dip downwardly as though feeding on the shallow bottom.
2. Description of the Related Art
Early man evolved as a hunter, and many people find this activity enjoyable as a hobby even today. Accordingly, hunters have developed innumerable means for attracting and capturing wild game in the field. As an example, the use of floating and/or other decoys is well known for attracting waterfowl (e. g., ducks, geese, etc.) to concealed hunters.
However, conventional decoys are inanimate objects, and do not provide the movement required to simulate real waterfowl resting or swimming on the surface of a body of water. The unrealistic appearance of stationary, inanimate decoys floating on the surface, has proven to be less than optimally effective in attracting other waterfowl flying overhead, and causing those waterfowl to join the decoys in order to come within range of the hunter(s).
As a result, various mobile decoys have been developed, including individual decoys having remotely controlled movement and other features. Perhaps one of the most cost effective systems is that where a relatively long line is attached to one or more floating decoys, with the decoys moving over the surface of the water when the line is pulled by a hunter in a remotely located blind. Such prior art systems, however, still have not been developed to provide optimum effect in attracting waterfowl, particularly in their limited configurations. Such prior art systems are relatively limited in the number of decoys which may be controlled, the environment in which they are operable, and/or the action which they may impart to the decoy(s).
Accordingly, a need will be seen for a pulley action decoy system which is capable of controlling a relatively large number of decoys, distributed randomly about an area. The system must provide not only for horizontal movement of the various decoys, but must also provide a tipping or dipping action for one or more decoys, to simulate feeding on the bottom. The present system is not limited to linear movement of a single string of decoys, but rather provides apparently independent movement to each of a series of decoys by means of the multiple pulley and anchor stakes of the present system, to simulate more realistically the actions of a plurality of waterfowl upon a body of shallow water.
A discussion of the related art of which the present inventor is aware, and its differences and distinctions from the present invention, is provided below.
U.S. Pat. No. 261,910 issued on Aug. 1, 1882 to Charles T. Cochel, titled “Decoy,” describes various decoy embodiments. Cochel provides a series of decoys extended over a boat or blind for concealment thereof, with the apparently flying decoys being laterally movable for the hunter to fire from the boat after displacing the decoys. The simulated flying birds are not moved to attract live game birds, but are only moved from over the boat or blind when the game birds are in range in order to allow the hunter to fire on the game birds. A series of floating decoys is also provided, but no means is used to connect them to the boat for movement.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,252,795 issued on Aug. 19, 1941 to Charles L. Weems et al., titled “Decoy Gang Actuating Mechanism,” describes a system comprising a pair of lateral lines with decoys strung therealong, with an actuating line secured to the center of each lateral line. The actuating line extends from its attachment to the lateral lines to a pulley opposite the blind, and back to the blind. The two lateral lines and their decoys are pulled away from the blind when the hunter draws on the actuating line, and are drawn back to their original positions by elastic cords at each end of each lateral line when the hunter relaxes his pull on the actuating line. The Weems et al. system is quite limited with respect to the present decoy system, with its potential for multiple branching lines, movement in directions other than toward and away from the blind, vertical movement of one or more decoys to simulate feeding, etc., which the simple Weems et al. system cannot achieve.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,546,189 issued on Mar. 27, 1951 to Edward C. Keep et al., titled “Wild Duck Decoy,” describes a series of decoys each having a separate anchor line extending back to the boat or blind. One of the decoys includes a duck call, which is remotely pneumatically actuated by a bulb in the blind and an interconnecting pneumatic line to the decoy. However, Keep et al. make no suggestion that their decoys be moved by means of the anchor lines or pneumatic line, to simulate the movement of real waterfowl on the surface of the water. In any event, Keep et al. would require actuation of all of the lines, as each decoy has its own independent line and is not interconnected with the other decoys in the Keep et al. system, unlike the interconnected decoys of the present system.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,663,108 issued on Dec. 22, 1953 to Victor V. Dixon et al., titled “Animated Decoy And Actuating Means Therefor,” describes a decoy having mechanisms for producing sound, tilting the head and body, and flapping the wings. However, the Dixon et al. decoy is fixed in one location and cannot move over the surface, as in the present decoy system. Moreover, Dixon et al. describe only a single decoy. While other like decoys could be deployed at a hunting location, each would have to be operated independently of one another, rather than collectively by a single control, as in the present decoy system. Even so, no movement over the surface of the water is provided by the Dixon et al. decoy, which remains staked in a single location, unlike the decoys of the present system.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,167 issued on Feb. 27, 1979 to Lawrence L. Muehl, titled “Waterfowl Decoy Setting Means,” describes a system having a highly elastic section attached to a movable anchor weight, with an inelastic section of line extending from the elastic section to the hunter. The anchor weight is tossed into the water some distance from the hunter to string out the line, and the inelastic portion of the line is retrieved. Decoys are installed in series along the inelastic line, which is progressively released for the elastic to pull the line (and decoys) further out into the water. Additional “wing” lines may be extended from the main line, if desired. Muehl notes that his decoys may be moved by pulling on the shoreward line, but little, if any, movement would be imparted to the “wing” lines using his system. Rather, each “wing” line would have to be pulled separately, with the hunter disturbing his position from the blind and making his presence known to any game birds in the area. In contrast, the present system is operated using a single control line.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,560 issued on Aug. 20, 1985 to Jack O'Neil, titled “Duck Decoy Movement Apparatus,” describes a system wherein the decoys are interconnected by a series of rigid tubes or the like to form a frame. The actuating mechanism is a motor with variable timing means, which periodically draws a line inwardly which is connected to the decoy frame assembly. The assembly is drawn back to its rest position by an elastic band attached to the frame opposite the motor reel line. The frame assembly results in all of the decoys performing precisely the same action, with no direct control by the hunter. Should the motor activate just as waterfowl are coming into range, the sudden collective movement may startle the birds, causing them to leave. In the present system, the hunter has complete control over the movement of the decoys, and their att
Petroski Andrew P.
Petroski Patrick A.
Litman Richard C.
Rowan Kurt
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