Remote controlled animated decoy

Fishing – trapping – and vermin destroying – Decoys – Duck

Reexamination Certificate

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Reexamination Certificate

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06212816

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to devices for attracting game animals, and more particularly to animated decoy devices especially adapted for attracting waterfowl.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Decoys presently available typically include silhouette decoys, windsock decoys, shell decoys, and full body decoys. Windsock decoys are popular where movement is desirable to give the appearance of movement like a live bird. When prevailing wind conditions are favorable the windsock decoys are inflated by the wind simulating the appearance of a full body bird. Too much wind will damage the windsock fabric or the fabric attachment to its head. The effectiveness of windsock decoys are dependent on unpredictable wind.
Most decoys, with the exception of windsock decoys, are stationary objects which give a visual appearance of a bird. However, such stationary decoys are not realistic because real animals move. In this respect, it would be desirable for an animal decoy to move in a lifelike manner, rather than be stationary.
Of special interest are decoys which simulate waterfowl, such as ducks and geese, for hunting and to attract live birds or for other uses, including aesthetic purposes such as display, gardens, and lawns. In the prior art, waterfowl decoys are known which have wings or heads that are mechanically moved by pulling a string. For a more realistic decoy, it would be desirable if a waterfowl decoy body oscillated horizontally imitating a live bird. That is, a decoy, which turned from one position to another or oscillated from one position to another or any variation thereof would be more lifelike. Rather than a decoy being animated by unpredictable wind or controlled or animated by strings or chords which tangle in or snag on shrubs, bushes, or other objects, it would be desirable for an animated animal decoy to be powered by a motor and remotely controlled by a human operator.
Throughout the years, a number of innovations have been developed relating to waterfowl decoys. The following U.S. patents are representative of some of those innovations: U.S. Pat Nos. 4,172,335; 4,611,421; 4,753,028; 4,885,861; 4,928,418; and 5,172,506. More specifically, U.S. Pat No. 4,172,335 discloses a goose decoy that has no wings and is immobile when used. Leg assemblies have been employed to support decoys upright. U.S. Pat. No. 4,658,530, by Ladehoff, U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,861, by Gazalski, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,060, by Franceschini, disclose various types of leg assemblies which support a decoy in an upright, stationary position. These leg assemblies are hereinafter referred to as a “plug-in leg assembly.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,441,753 to Carpenter on May 18, 1948 shows a single panel type decoy mounted like a weather vane on a vertical shank of a stake for turning in the wind. The pivot shank theory is also shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,711,608 which issued to Fulster Jun. 28, 1955. In Aug. 6, 1991 U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,614 issued to Jackson which included a pivoting mechanism to pivot or oscillate the decoy body in a vertical plane to imitate a feeding action with the supporting assembly which pivots manually to present a high profile to game birds of the feeding action. U.S. Pat. No. 5,168,649, by Wright, discloses the posture of a hen turkey decoy, whereby the turkey decoy drops vertically downward in a nonpivotal fashion. U.S. Pat. No. 5,036,614, by Jackson, discloses a decoy which pivots in a vertical plane. U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,780, by Overholt, discloses a remotely controlled turkey decoy which produces sound and movement in one circular direction. U.S. Pat. No. 3,689,927, by Boston, disclosed a motorized, propeller driven decoy for movement in the water. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,576,207 and 2,575,252, by Berger, disclose a bird decoy with flapping wings and turning head.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The principal objects of the present invention are to provide an animated bird decoy and to provide a portable apparatus easily mounted to bird decoys of prior art to animate such decoys and to provide an apparatus easily incorporated into the manufacture of silhouette, shell and full body bird decoys giving a more life-like appearance to the decoy through horizontal oscillatory motion.
In accordance with one object of the invention, a plug-in leg assembly of a bird decoy of prior art is modified by incorporating a oscillatory mechanism and plugging the adapted plug-in assembly into the decoy. The oscillating mechanism is also incorporated into the stand or support assembly of a silhouette or shell decoy to imitate horizontal motion of a live bird on the ground either in a feeding or sentry position.
In accordance with one object of the invention, decoys are manufactured by incorporating a oscillatory mechanism into a simple panel or silhouette decoy, a shell decoy or adapting a plug-in leg assembly to incorporate an oscillatory mechanism for mounting to a decoy with features receive a plug-in leg and foot assembly to imitate horizontal motion of a live bird.
The present invention includes a portable oscillatory mechanism which is mounted in a housing and includes a remote radio controlled switch and receiver, a power supply, a programmed sensor device with a memory, a motor with rotating shaft, which turns the decoy body.
The present invention includes a power supply such as wet or dry cell batteries to power a motor with a rotating shaft. The switch and receiver are also attached to an auxiliary power supply such as wet or dry cell batteries. The power supply is connected to a sensor device with a memory. The rotating shaft has an axis of rotation which is the same as the axis of the rotation of the bird decoy body. The sensor device has a memory element programmed for predetermined rate and degree of rotation or counter-rotation or oscillation of the motor's rotating shaft which in turn oscillates or rotates the body in a horizontal plane imitating movement or turning actions of a live bird.
The invention also includes a rotating shaft which extends vertically through an opening in the top of the housing and supportive device and is operatively connected to a plug-in apparatus having plug-in features of a plug-in leg assembly which, in turn, plugs into a full body bird decoy. The plug-in apparatus includes a bearing to pivot the plug-in apparatus and decoy on top of the housing. The plug-in apparatus is of variable size, shape and features in order to plug into full body decoys of prior art with plug in or attachable foot stands including Carry Lite, Herters Model 599 and the like.
Another embodiment of the invention attaches to decoys with a shell body or hollow interior and to silhouette decoys. In another embodiment of the invention, the power supply is activated by a manual switch mounted on the housing or connected to an electrical wire of selective length for remote manual operation.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for designing other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved animated animal decoy which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages and may be incorporated into bird decoys of prior art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a remote controlled oscillatory mechanism for animal decoys which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a oscillatory mechanism for animal decoys which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a oscillatory mechanism for animal decoys which is of durable and reliable construction.
An even fur

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