Abstract:
A collapsible game decoy permits lifelike appearance during use and easy transportation or storage before or following use. The fully-assembled decoy comprises a decoy body and an air-capture-and-retention system associated with the decoy body. The air-capture-and-retention system releasably clips or snaps onto the decoy body. The resultant fully-assembled decoy is easily inflated through an air port in the air-capture-and-retention system and may be quickly collapsed, for example, manually.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to United States Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/117,765, filed Jan. 29, 1999 (the &#39;765 application). The &#39;765 application is hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     a. Field of the Invention 
     The instant invention is directed toward a collapsible game decoy. More specifically, it relates to a game decoy that may be collapsed for easy transportation and then inflated for a more realistic representation of the selected game. 
     b. Background Art 
     It is well known for hunters to use game decoys to attract game to a desired location. It is also known for hunters to use decoys that collapse for transportation and then are inflated to create a more realistic impression at a hunting site. A need exists, however, for a collapsible game decoy that is easily assembled, contains few parts, is realistic, and remains inflated, particularly when placed on water. If the decoy is used to attract water fowl by being placed on water, it is also desirable that the decoy not retain water if it overturns and when the user packs the decoys for storage or transportation after use. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the disclosed invention to provide an improved collapsible game decoy. 
     The instant invention is a collapsible game decoy comprising a decoy body and an air-capture-and-retention system. The decoy body has a bottom wall with an opening through it. The air-capture-and-retention system comprises a base and a snap ring that snappingly attached to the decoy body at the opening through the decoy body. An air port passes through the base of the air-capture-and-retention system to permit air to pass into the decoy body after the air-capture-and-retention system is attached thereto. In a preferred form, the base includes a domed top portion and a cylindrical bottom portion, and a circumferential lip divides the domed top portion from the cylindrical bottom portion. 
     Other aspects, features, and details of the present invention will be apparent from reading the following description and claims, and from reviewing the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a fully-assembled decoy according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention floating on a body of water; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the decoy body shown in FIG. 1, but the decoy body is shown detached from the air-capture-and-retention system of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the decoy body shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the fully-assembled decoy shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the fully-assembled decoy shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, but with the placement weight removed; 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the decoy body shown in FIGS. 2 and 3; 
     FIG. 7 is an isometric view depicting a base of the first preferred embodiment of the air-capture-and-retention system of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the base depicted in FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the base depicted in FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 10 is an elevational view of the base depicted in FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a circumferential lip on the base depicted in FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a top side of a snap ring comprising part of the first preferred embodiment of the air-capture-and-retention system of the present invention; 
     FIG. 13 is an isometric view of the bottom of the snap ring depicted in FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the snap ring depicted in FIGS. 12 and 13; 
     FIG. 15 is an elevational view of the snap ring depicted in FIGS. 12 and 13; 
     FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the snap ring depicted in FIGS. 12 and 13 taken along line  16 — 16  of FIG. 14; 
     FIG. 17 is an exploded, cross-sectional view taken in the plane of line  19 — 19  of FIG.  4  and depicting the decoy body, base, and snap ring positioned for assembly; 
     FIG. 18 is similar to FIG. 17, but depicts the decoy body, base, and snap ring at an intermediate stage of assembly; 
     FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view along line  19 — 19  of FIG. 4, depicting the fully-assembled decoy body, base, and snap ring; 
     FIG. 20 is similar to FIG. 19, but depicts the fully-assembled decoy floating on the body of water; 
     FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 19, but showing the decoy body collapsed around the base and snap ring for easy transportation or storage; 
     FIG. 22 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 4, but showing a fully-assembled decoy including an air-capture-and-retention system according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 23 is an exploded, isometric view of the air-capture-and-retention system according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 24 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along line  24 — 24  of FIG. 22; 
     FIG. 25 is a fragmentary, isometric view looking upwardly at the fully-assembled decoy depicted in FIG.  22  and further including an optional set of folding legs in an extended configuration; and 
     FIG. 26 is a fragmentary, isometric view similar to FIG. 25, but showing the set of folding legs in a retracted configuration. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown to good advantage in FIGS. 1-6, a first preferred embodiment of the fully-assembled decoy  10  of the present invention comprises three primary components: a decoy body  12 , a snap ring  14 , and a base  16 . The snap ring  14  and base  16  together comprise a first preferred embodiment of an air-capture-and-retention system. As shown to good advantage in FIGS. 22-24, a second preferred embodiment of a fully-assembled decoy  10 ′ (FIG. 22) of the present invention also comprises three primary components: the decoy body  12 , an alternative snap ring  14 ′, and an alternative base  16 ′. The alternative snap ring  14 ′ and the alternative base  16 ′ together comprise a second preferred embodiment of the air-capture-and-retention system. In these preferred embodiments, which are described below, each of these three primary components is preferably made by an injection molding process. The decoy body  12  is made from a flexible, air-tight material (e.g., rubber or latex). The snap ring  14 ,  14 ′ and base  16 ,  16 ′ are preferably made from a more rigid material (e.g., nylon or plastic). 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-21, the first preferred embodiment of the invention will be described. The decoy body  12 , which is shown in FIGS. 1-6 as a duck body, is made from a flexible material by an injection molding process. The decoy body  12  could be formed to resemble a particular type of duck or another animal. Alternatively, the decoy body could be painted or dyed after it is formed to better resemble the mimicked animal. As shown in FIG. 1, which depicts a fully-assembled decoy  10  on water  17 , a placement weight  18  may be attached to the fully-assembled decoy  10  by a cord  20 . FIG. 4 clearly shows how the upper end of the cord  20  could be tied off to a tie-off loop  22  comprising part of the snap ring  14 . The placement weight  18  keeps the fully-assembled decoy  10  near a desired location and also helps to stabilize the fully-assembled decoy  10  and maintain its upright position on the surface of the water  17 . If the user does not desire to attach a positioning weight  18  to the fully-assembled decoy  10 , or if the user decided to attach the positioning weight  18  in another manner, the snap ring  14  could be molded without the tie-off loop  22 , or the tie-off loop  22  could be broken off of the snap ring  14 . Clearly, the user could also use the snap ring  14  having the tie-off loop  22  without actually tying a positioning weight  18  to the tie-off loop  22 . 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the decoy body  12  and shows in phantom the placement of an opening  24  in the bottom of the decoy body  12 . This opening  24  is also shown clearly in FIG. 6, which is a bottom plan view of the decoy body  12 . As described further below in connection with FIGS. 17-19, the snap ring  14  and base  16  components of the air-capture-and-retention system of the present invention attach to an edge of this opening  24  in the underside of the decoy body  12 . FIG. 3 is a front view of the decoy body  12  detached from the air-capture-and-retention system of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the fully-assembled decoy  10  with the placement weight  18  removed. 
     Referring next to FIGS. 7-11, the base  16  of the air-capture-and-retention system of the first embodiment of the present invention is described next. FIG. 7 is an isometric view looking downwardly on the base  16 . As shown in this figure, the base  16  includes a domed top portion  26  and a cylindrical bottom portion  28 . A circumferential lip  30  divides the domed top portion  26  from the cylindrical bottom portion  28 . A hole  32  is present through the top of the domed top portion  26 , leading to a passage or air port  34  comprising a small cylindrical sleeve  36  (see, e.g., FIGS.  9  and  17 - 21 ). FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the base  16  depicted in FIG.  7 . As clearly depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8, the circumferential lip  30  extends outwardly from the bottom portion of the domed top portion  26  of the base  16 . 
     The amount of air captured by the base  16  can affect the stability of the fully-assembled decoy  10  when resting on a body of water  17 . Thus, adjusting the height of the domed top portion  26  of the base  16 , which is shown, for example, in FIGS. 7 and 10, permits the user to control the amount of air pumped into the decoy body  12  and trapped in the interior of the base  16  itself. In a preferred embodiment that is not shown in the drawings, the base  16  does not have a domed top portion  26 . Rather, the base  16  has a flat top surface above the circumferential lip  30 . In a further preferred embodiment of the base  16 , which is also not shown in the drawings, the top portion of the base  16  (i.e., the portion above the circumferential lip  30 ) is actually concave or dished downwardly toward the bottom or open end of the base  16  rather than being domed up or flat. This latter design facilitates quick removal of any water that might get inside of the decoy body  12  during use of the fully-assembled decoy  10 . The dished out shape of the top of the base  16  permits the water to easily flow out of the hole  32  in the base  16  and thereby exit the decoy body  12 . 
     Referring next to FIGS. 12-16, details concerning the snap ring  14  are described next. FIG. 12 is an isometric view looking downwardly on the snap ring  14 . As shown in FIG. 12, the snap ring  14  includes an overhung upper ring  38 . The tie-off loop  22  extends outwardly from the overhung upper ring  38 . The tie-off loop  22  may be used to facilitate removal of the snap ring  14  from the mold after it is formed. Also, once the snap ring  14  is in place over the base  16 , thereby entrapping a portion of the decoy body  12  and creating a watertight seal as described below, the tie-off loop  22  may be used to detach the snap ring  14  from the base  16  if one desires to take the fully-assembled decoy  10  apart. A bottom opening  40  through the snap ring  14  is dimensioned to slip over the cylindrical bottom portion  28  of the base  16  (FIG.  10 ), as discussed further below in connection with FIGS. 17-19. As shown to best advantage in FIG. 16, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line  16 — 16  of FIG. 14, the overhung upper ring  38  defines a retention groove  42  between it and the portion of the snap ring defining the bottom opening  40 . The circumferential lip  30  of the base  16  is designed to fit snugly within the retention groove  42 . 
     Referring next to FIGS. 17-19, assembly of the decoy body  12  with the air-capture-and-retention system according to the first preferred embodiment is described next. FIG. 17 is an exploded, cross-sectional view taken in the plane of line  19 — 19  of FIG. 4, and depicts the decoy body  12 , base  16 , and snap ring  14  positioned for assembly. FIG. 18 shows an intermediate stage in the assembly of the air-capture-and-retention system of the present invention with the decoy body  12  of the present invention. As shown to best advantage in FIG. 18, assembly continues by pushing the base  16  into the opening  24  (FIG. 6) in the bottom surface of the decoy body  12  until the circumferential lip  30  passes into the interior portion of the decoy body  12 . Since the opening  24  in the bottom of the decoy body  12  is dimensioned to snugly fit around the cylindrical bottom portion  28  of the base  16 , as shown in FIG. 18, a portion of the decoy body  12  rides against the outer surface of the cylindrical bottom portion  28  of the base  16  once the base  16  has been inserted partially into the opening  24  in the decoy body  12 . As previously discussed in connection with FIGS. 12-16, the bottom opening  40  in the snap ring  14  is dimensioned to slip onto the cylindrical bottom portion  28  of the base  16  as also shown in FIG.  18 . In FIG. 19, assembly is complete, and the snap ring  14  has been pushed upwardly until the portion of the decoy body  12  adjacent to the opening  24  in the bottom of the decoy body  12  has been releasably trapped between the circumferential lip  30  and the retention groove  42  of the snap ring  14 , creating a water-tight seal between the air-capture-and-retention system and the decoy body  12 . 
     FIG. 20 depicts the fully-assembled decoy  10  of FIG. 19 on water  17 . The air-capture-and-retention system of the present invention is designed to keep a slightly pressurized amount of air in the decoy body  12  so that the decoy body  12  remains inflated. The downward displacement of the water  17  in the cylindrical bottom portion  28  of the base  16  is exaggerated in FIG. 20, but illustrates that the air pressure within the decoy body  12  may be slightly greater than the atmospheric pressure pressing downwardly on the external surface of the water  17 . Since the cylindrical bottom portion  28  of the base  16  extends below the bottom surface of the decoy body  12 , it also helps to stabilize the fully-assembled decoy  10  on the surface of the water  17 . 
     FIG. 21 is a schematic, cross-sectional view most similar to FIG. 19, but shows the decoy body  12  in a collapsed condition. Since the decoy body  12  of the present invention is preferably made from a flexible material, it is possible to collapse the decoy body  12  around the air-capture-and-retention system as shown in FIG. 21 to facilitate easy storage and transport of fully-assembled decoys  10 . 
     FIGS. 22-26 depict a second preferred embodiment for the air-capture-and-retention system of the present invention. The decoy body  12  used in combination with the second preferred embodiment of the air-capture-and-retention system may be substantially the same as the decoy body  12  used in conjunction with the first embodiment of the air-capture-and-retention system shown in FIGS. 1-21. The size of the opening  24  (FIG. 6) in the bottom surface of the decoy body  12  may, however, need adjustment. 
     Referring most specifically to FIGS. 23 and 24, the second preferred embodiment of the air-capture-and-retention system is described next. FIG. 24 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view along line  24 — 24  of FIG.  22 . The alternative base  16 ′ includes a bowl-shaped portion  44 . A lower cylindrical section  46  is integrally formed at a low point on the exterior surface of the bowl-shaped portion  44  and extends downwardly. An intermediate, frusto-conical section  48  extends upwardly from an inner, lower surface of the bowl-shaped portion  44  of the alternative base  16 ′. As shown to best advantage in FIG. 24, an upper end of the lower cylindrical section  46  aligns with the lower end of the intermediate, frusto-conical section  48 . At the top of the frusto-conical section  48  is a circumferential lip  30 ′, which is similar to the circumferential lip  30  depicted in, for example, FIGS. 10 and 11. Extending from above this circumferential lip  30 ′ is an optional upper cylindrical section  50 . Finally, a circumferential shipping ring  52  (shown in FIG. 24 but not in FIG. 23) is formed at the upper end of the optional upper cylindrical section  50 . The purpose of the optional upper cylindrical section  50 , including the circumferential shipping ring  52  comprising part thereof, is described further below. An air port  34 ′ is defined through the center of the lower cylindrical section  46 , the frusto-conical section  48 , and the optional upper cylindrical section  50 . 
     Continuing to refer primarily to FIG. 23, the alternative snap ring  14 ′, comprising part of the second preferred embodiment of the air-capture-and-retention system, is clearly depicted. Similar to the function performed by the snap ring  14  of the first preferred embodiment of the air-capture-and-retention system, this alternative snap ring  14 ′ cooperates with the alternative base  16 ′ to trap a portion of the decoy body  12 , thereby securing the second preferred embodiment of the air-capture-and-retention system to the decoy body  12 . The alternative snap ring  14 ′ includes a mounting hole  54  (FIG. 23) that, as shown to best advantage in FIG. 24, snaps past the circumferential lip  30 ′ at the upper end of the frusto-conical section  48  to facilitate entrapment of a portion of the decoy body  12  between the alternative snap ring  14 ′ and the alternative base  16 ′. 
     To assemble the second embodiment of the air-capture-and-retention system with the decoy body  12 , the alternative snap ring  14 ′ is first placed within the decoy body  12  and positioned above the opening  24  (FIG. 6) in the bottom surface of the decoy body  12  as shown in FIG.  24 . The alternative base  16 ′ is then snapped onto the alternative snap ring  14 ′. To complete this connection, the alternative base  16 ′ is forced upwardly, causing the mounting hole  54  of the alternative snap ring  14 ′ to move downwardly on the optional upper cylindrical section  50  relative to the circumferential lip  30 ′. Upon sufficient advancement of the alternative base  16 ′ upwardly relative to the alternative snap ring  14 ′, the circumferential lip  30 ′ eventually snaps through the mounting hole  54 . As this occurs, the outer circumferential edge of the alternative snap ring  14 ′ snaps past a retention lip  56  (FIG. 23) formed along the perimeter of the upper edge of the alternative base  16 ′. The alternative snap ring  14 ′ is prevented from sliding too far downwardly on the frusto-conical section  48  by the cross-sectional diameter of the frusto-conical section  48 . In particular, the outside diameter of the frusto-conical section  48  immediately below the circumferential lip  30 ′ is approximately the same as the diameter of the mounting hole  54 . As shown in FIG. 24, a portion of the decoy body  12  is trapped between the outer perimeter of the alternative snap ring  14 ′ and the retention lip  56  around the upper edge of the alternative base  16 ′. 
     As mentioned above, the alternative base  16 ′ may include an optional upper cylindrical section  50  having the circumferential shipping ring  52  formed around the upper edge thereof. If one desires to ship an alternative snap ring  14 ′ and alternative base  16 ′ combination that has not yet been assembled with a decoy body  12 , the circumferential shipping ring  52  and optional upper cylindrical section  50  may be used. For example, if the mounting hole  54  of the alternative snap ring  14 ′ is forced over the circumferential shipping ring  52 , the mounting hole  54  will then ride on the external surface of the optional upper cylindrical section  50  between the circumferential shipping ring  52  and the circumferential lip  30 ′. Then, when it is time to assemble the second alternative air-capture-and-retention system with a decoy body  12 , the alternative snap ring  14 ′ is again placed within the opening  24  in the bottom surface of the decoy body  12 , and the alternative base  16 ′ is again forced upward until the circumferential lip  30 ′ snaps through the mounting hole  54  in the alternative snap ring  14 ′. 
     As shown to best advantage in FIGS. 25 and 26, folding legs  58  may optionally be used in connection with the fully-assembled decoy depicted in, for example, either FIG. 1 ( 10 ) or FIG. 22 ( 10 ′). A pair of leg mounts  60 , each leg mount  60  comprising two flexible arms  62  in the preferred embodiment (see FIGS. 22,  23 ,  25 , and  26 ), is attached to or molded into the base  16  or the alternative base  16 ′. As is shown to best advantage in FIGS. 25 and 26, a portion of the folding legs  58  may be snapped into position between the two flexible arms  62 . FIG. 25 depicts the folding legs  58  in an extended configuration. In this configuration, the fully-assembled decoy  10 ,  10 ′ could be placed securely in a shallow water body, obviating the need for a placement weight  18  such as the one depicted in FIG.  1 . Alternatively, with the folding legs  58  in the extended configuration depicted in FIG. 25, the fully-assembled decoy  10 ,  10 ′ may be placed in an open field by driving or pressing the folding legs  58  into the ground. When the folding legs  58  are in the retracted configuration shown in FIG. 26, the fully-assembled decoy  10 ,  10 ′ may be placed either on water  17  or on the ground. It should be noted that the fully-assembled decoys depicted in, for example, FIGS. 1 ( 10 ) and  22  ( 10 ′), could be placed on the ground without the folding legs  58 . If one desires to use a decoy according to the present invention on the ground without also using folding legs  58 , the first embodiment of the air-capture-and-retention system (shown in, for example, FIGS. 1 and 4) works better than the second embodiment of the air-capture-and-retention system. Also, depending upon the rigidity of the decoy body  12 , it may be necessary to seal the air port  34 ,  34 ′ after inflating the decoy body  12  if the fully-assembled decoy  10 ,  10 ′ is placed in a field rather than on the surface of a lake, pond, or stream. This could be accomplished, for example, by placing a cork (not shown) in the air port  34 ,  34 ′. Using a cork to seal the air port  34 ,  34 ′ when the decoy  10 ,  10 ′ is resting on a body of water would prevent any water from entering the decoy body  12 . 
     Although several embodiments of this invention have been described above, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention. For example, the decoy body  12  shown in the drawings, which most closely resemble a duck, could be formed in the shape of numerous different animals. Also, as alluded to in the discussion above, the specific configuration of the top portion  26  of the base  16  could be adjusted depending upon the size of the decoy  10 , the firmness desired in the resulting inflated configuration, the roughness of the water  17  upon which the decoy  10  is placed, the amount and placement of the positioning weight  18  attached to the decoy  10  for stabilization, and other factors. An important feature of this invention is that the decoy body  12  is attached to the air-capture-and-retention system that facilitates easy inflation and deflation of the decoy  10 ,  10 ′, yet facilitates a lifelike decoy during use. All directional references (e.g., upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise and counterclockwise) are used only for identification purposes to aid the reader&#39;s understanding of the present invention, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the invention. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting.