Abstract:
A waterfowl decoy has a body with a motor rotatably driving a shaft. A support rod is movably and eccentrically connected to the shaft. The support rod extends outwardly through an orifice in the body, rotation of the shaft causing the support rod to move inwardly and outwardly of the body through the orifice, and to swing upwardly and downwardly about the orifice. A foot on the outer end of the support rod performs a kicking action when the decoy floats in water. There may be two support rods extending through the belly portion of the waterfowl and reciprocating out of phase with each other.

Description:
CLAIM TO PRIORITY 
       [0001]    Benefit under Section 119(e) of United States Code Title 35 is claimed of Provisional Patent Application No. 60/835,334 filed 3 Aug. 2006. 
     
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to waterfowl decoys, particularly duck or goose decoys. The invention is particularly concerned with leg movement of the decoys. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    For many years hunters have used decoys when hunting ducks and geese, etc. Originally, these decoys where formed to look like the waterfowl being hunted and simply floated on the water or placed on land. More recently, some decoys have been made with one or more moving parts in an attempt to simulate a live waterfowl. 
         [0004]    Parr et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,936 discloses a waterfowl decoy which is orientated in a feeding position and has paddle members mounted on opposite ends of a rotated shaft. When the paddles are rotated by battery power, they splash the water on each side of the decoy. The paddles rotate in unison in a pure rotary motion on and about the same axis that is fixed in location relative to the body of the decoy. 
         [0005]    Another decoy somewhat similar to Parr et al. has appeared on the market, and has its electric motor mounted outside the decoy with a foot mounted on each end of the motor shaft for pure rotation therewith. 
         [0006]    Solomon U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,683 discloses a waterfowl decoy which is orientated in a swimming position and has wings extending from the sides through slots. Feet members are suspended downwards from the wings and move therewith. The wings are moved by an electric motor inside the decoy rotating a single crank engaging a common wing support of both wings. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    This invention is concerned with providing a decoy with one or more moving legs or parts that move in a simulated “kicking” or paddling action, whether the decoy is to be in a feeding position or any other position. 
         [0008]    This invention is also concerned with providing a decoy in a feeding position, that is with the front end below the water and the rear tail end above the water, and which is animated to appear more life-like to waterfowl flying, swimming or standing nearby. 
         [0009]    According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a waterfowl decoy comprising a body with a motor and a rotatable shaft, the motor being drivingly connected to the shaft for rotation thereof. A support rod is movably and eccentrically connected to the shaft. The support rod extends outwardly through an orifice in the body, rotation of the shaft causing the support rod to move inwardly and outwardly of the body through the orifice and to swing upwardly and downwardly about the orifice. 
         [0010]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waterfowl decoy comprising a body with a motor and a rotatable drive shaft, the motor driving the drive shaft. The drive shaft has two cranks that are out-of-phase with respect to each other. The body has two orifices therethrough. Two support rods are pivotally connected to the cranks, the support rods extending through the orifices to outside the body. Decoy feet are attached to outer ends of the support rods. 
         [0011]    According to yet another aspect of the invention, a waterfowl decoy comprises a body including a simulation of a rear tail end of a waterfowl, the body being weighted so that it floats in water with the rear tail end uppermost above the water. A motor and a rotatable shaft are in the body, the motor being drivingly connected to the shaft for rotation thereof. Two cranks are on the shaft, the cranks being 180 degrees out-of-phase with respect to each other relative to the shaft. Two support rods are movably connected to the cranks for angular movement relative to the cranks. The support rods extend outwardly through orifices in the body, one support rod moving outwardly as the other support rod moves inwardly through the orifices as the shaft rotates. A pair of feet are attached to the support rods, the feet each following a path of a loop when the motor rotates the shaft. The feet comprise web portions and leg portions, the leg portions being mounted on the support rods, and the web portions being at an obtuse angle to the leg portions, whereby when the decoy is floating in water, the motor drives the feet to simulate a paddling motion. 
         [0012]    According to yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waterfowl decoy comprising a body simulating at least a portion of the topside, underside, and lateral sides of a waterfowl. A motor mounted in the body, and two rotatable cranks spaced-apart and out-of-phase with respect to each other, the motor being drivingly connected to the cranks for rotation thereof. The underside has two orifices therethrough, these orifices being adjacent the lateral sides of the decoy. Two support rods are pivotally connected to the cranks, the support rods extending through the orifices. Decoy feet are attached to the support rods. 
         [0013]    The pivotal connections of the support rods to the cranks may allow for non-planar movement of the support rods. This will occur when the orifices are spaced apart differently than the cranks. The orifices may be spaced apart a greater distance than the cranks are spaced apart. 
         [0014]    Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters in the same or different Figures indicate like parts: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a waterfowl decoy according to the present invention in perspective view from above, with a ruler under feet of the decoy to indicate size; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is the decoy of  FIG. 1  in an exploded view showing separately a body portion, a base portion, and two feet; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic perspective view of a drive unit of the decoy of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are schematic perspective views of a driving linkage for the feet of the decoy of  FIGS. 1 to 3  showing two positions 90 degrees apart of drive cranks; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of the base portion of a waterfowl decoy of another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a longitudinal section of a bellows member of the embodiment of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of an assembled H-gasket connecting the body portion and the base portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a similar sectional view of the H-gasket of  FIG. 8  showing its configuration before it is assembled in the decoy; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 10 and 11  are fragmentary views illustrating a crank arrangement for driving the legs of the decoy; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  shows the decoy of  FIG. 6  floating in water with the legs kicking. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    The decoys illustrated in the drawings are ducks to be orientated when floating in water in the feeding position, with the head end out of sight and the rear or butt end projecting upwards above the water. Preferably, the rear end is shaped like the rear body and tail portion of a duck. The head end may be truncated as shown in  FIG. 1  (and  FIG. 12 ), or may be formed as the head end of a duck, or other waterfowl, or formed otherwise as discussed later. 
         [0027]    In  FIG. 1  the decoy  10  has no head end, and a “keel” weight  12  under a base portion  14  (see  FIG. 2 ) keeps the decoy orientated in the feeding position of  FIG. 1 . The decoy has a body portion  16 , in the form of the rear end of a duck, with the base portion connected to a lower end of the body portion. The keel weight  12  is attached to the underside of the base portion. The lower part of the body portion  16  has two orifices  18  through which outwardly extend two feet support rods  20 ,  22 . Molded plastic duck feet  24  are attached to the outer ends of the support rods. These feet have leg portions  26  and web portions  28 , and the rods  20 ,  22  penetrate into the leg portions  26 . The leg portions are attached to the rods in any suitable manner, e.g., by interference fit, gluing, screws, rivets, welding, etc. Each support rod forms a watertight sliding fit with its respective orifice  18 . The orifices may be formed as holes, or reinforced holes, in the body portion, but are preferably formed by watertight grommets. These grommets may be of resilient material, or of machineable hard material, and may be formed as flanged grommets, or as pivotal ball and socket arrangements. They may be in any form of watertight joints allowing sliding and pivoting action of the support rods  20 ,  22 . These orifices  18  are spaced apart laterally in what would be the underside (e.g. the belly) of the decoy, if the decoy were a complete waterfowl floating in a normal position on the water. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , although these orifices  18  are in the “underside” of the decoy, they are closely adjacent the lateral sides of the decoy. This enables the legs of the waterfowl to extend from the body of the decoy in a realistic location, and at an acute angle to the central vertical plane through the decoy. 
         [0028]    In  FIG. 2  the decoy  10  has been partly dissembled. The middle portion of  FIG. 2  shows the base portion  14  in plan view as it would be when floating in water. The upper portion of  FIG. 2  shows the rear end  16  of the decoy detached from the base  14  and in an inverted position. The lower portion of  FIG. 2  shows the two feet  24  of the decoy detached from their support rods  20 ,  22 . When assembled, the rear end  16  of the decoy is releasably attached to the base  14  in any suitable manner to form a watertight joint, e.g. by using clamped-together, abutting flanges with a resilient gasket in-between. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the two parts are a snug fit together and are sealed by a releasable glue joint. 
         [0029]    As can be seen in the upper portion of  FIG. 2 , a battery unit  30  is housed in the rear end  16  of the decoy. Although two 1.5 volt alkaline batteries are shown, it is preferable to use lighter-weight, long-life rechargeable batteries. The outer shell of the decoy rear end  16  contains an on/off switch (not shown) to actuate the device. If rechargeable batteries are used, a charging port may be located adjacent this switch. 
         [0030]    The middle portion of  FIG. 2  shows an electric motor  32  drivingly connected to a transverse rotatable shaft  34  via a reduction gear transmission  36 . The shaft  34  rigidly carries a crank  38  at each outer end; these cranks being spaced apart axially and disposed rotationally 180 degrees apart, as can be seen. The distal end of an arm of each crank  38  has a crank pin  52  pivotally connected to a respective one of the support rods  20 ,  22 . These pivotal connections may be simple rotary connections, sleeves, or ball races. These connections may be provided with a degree of “slop”, or ball joints or other types of universal joints may be employed as the pivotal connections, to allow for non-planar movement of the support rods as they move through the orifices  18  and pivot relative to the cranks  38 . Preferably, these pivotal connections are spaced apart a lesser distance than the orifices  18 , so causing the support rods to angle outwardly laterally (see  FIG. 1 ), and providing a more compact driving mechanism. The battery unit  30  is connected to the motor  32  by wires  40 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the drive unit  44  from the left side of  FIG. 2 , the drive unit comprising the motor  32 , reduction transmission  36  (see  FIG. 2 ), and shaft  34 . One of the cranks  38  and other parts have been omitted, and the near side of a housing  46  of the transmission is shown transparent to more clearly illustrate the transmission. The motor  32  drives a worm gear  48  that in turn rotates the shaft  34  through a series of gears  50 . As can be seen, a crank arm  38  is securely mounted on the right hand end of the shaft  34 . A similar crank arm (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) is similarly mounted on the opposite end of the shaft  34 , but disposed 180 degrees out of phase—as can be understood from  FIG. 2 . Such a drive unit is that from Tamiya, Inc., Shzuoka-City, Japan marketed under the designation “Worm Gear Box H.E.”. The crank pin  52  is in the form of a short stub shaft (see  FIG. 2 ) and is mounted through a hole  54  at the end of each crank arm. These crank pins  52  form, carry, or engage the pivotal connections to the support rods  20 ,  22 . 
         [0032]      FIGS. 4 and 5  schematically illustrate the driving of the decoy&#39;s webbed feet  28  (which are orientated the same as in  FIG. 1 ). The arrow  56  shows the rotational direction of the shaft  34 , and in  FIG. 5  the shaft  34  is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise past the position in  FIG. 4 . In  FIG. 5  the cranks  38  are vertical, and in  FIG. 4  the cranks  38  are horizontal. The cranks move the support rods  20 ,  22  inwards and outwards through the orifices  18  relative to the decoy&#39;s body  16 . At the same time, the rods  20 ,  22  oscillate upwards and downwards relative to the decoy&#39;s body  16  and the water. This is due to the guiding action of the orifices  18 , which are fixed relative to the rotational axis of the shaft  34 . The relative geometry between the effective length of the cranks  38 , the length of the support rods  20 ,  22  and feet, and the positioning of the guiding orifices  18  will determine the exact nature of the path executed by the webs  28  of the feet  24 . This will be a continuous closed circuit path and cause the webs  28  to move in a simulated kicking or paddling action. The closed circuit path may be designed to be a form of loop. The web portions  28  of the feet are at an obtuse angle x to the leg portions  26  and the support rods  20 ,  22 —see also  FIG. 1 . 
         [0033]      FIGS. 4 and 5  will now be compared. In  FIG. 4 , the support rod  20  is retracted in the body and ready to start moving outwards through its orifice  18 . The other rod  22  is almost fully extended through its orifice  18 . Whereas in  FIG. 5 , the rod  20  has pivoted counterclockwise about its orifice  18  and has started to move outwardly through the same orifice, while the rod  22  has pivoted clockwise about its orifice  18  and has started to retract through this orifice. It will be noticed that as one rod moves outwardly the other rod moves inwardly; also, as one rod pivots clockwise the other rod pivots counterclockwise. In this way the kicking or paddling action of each foot  24  of the decoy is achieved. 
         [0034]    In operation, the assembled decoy is switched on and placed on the water with the keel down. The decoy floats on the water, and the webbed feet perform a paddling or kicking action. The animated decoy more realistically simulates a live fowl in its feeding position in which it uses its feet to control the position of its head under water. 
         [0035]    It will also be realized that the decoy&#39;s feet move out of phase with each other, so creating a more realistic leg motion than with previous decoys. This out of phase angle is preferably 180 degrees, but could be less than 180 degrees, e.g. 120 degrees or 90 degrees. 
         [0036]    As illustrated in the drawings, the crank  38  is in the form of an arm secured to the shaft  34  and extending radially outwards from the shaft  34  with a crank pin  52  at the distal end of the arm. However, this crank could be in the form of a disc, a cam, or the like, with an eccentric thereon for connection of a support rod, or may be in the form of any other mechanism for connecting the support rod to the shaft  34  eccentrically thereof, including simply a crank pin on the shaft itself. Thus, the expression “crank” as used throughout the specification and appended claims is hereby defined to embrace all of these arrangements, including the arrangements illustrated in the drawings. 
         [0037]    Another embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 6 to 12 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 6  is a plan view looking down into the base portion  60  of this embodiment. This is somewhat similar to the base portion  14  of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , but the battery  62  is rechargeable and mounted in the base portion with a charging port  64 . Further, the drive transmission has been eliminated and the electric motor  66  drives the cranks  67  directly via its motor shaft  68  which extends from each end of the motor  66 . The motor  66  is a slow speed motor and rotates at 300 rpm under no load and about 100 rpm or less under load. For very slow speeds, the cranks  67  could be mounted on a lay shaft driven via a reduction belt and pulley arrangement from the motor shaft  68 . A convoluted boot or concertina member  70  extends in watertight manner between each orifice  18  and the corresponding foot  24 . As the support rods  20 ,  22  reciprocate through the orifices  18 , the boots  70  compress and extend maintaining a watertight arrangement. In  FIG. 6 , the left boot  70  is fully compressed while the right boot  70  is fully extended. A start switch  72  starts and stops the motor  66 . 
         [0039]    It will be noticed that in this embodiment the foot support rods  20 ,  22  are and move parallel to each other. The feet  24  extend from one wall  73  of the base portion  60 , this wall  73  being a bottom wall or “belly” of the duck decoy, although in the operative feeding position of the decoy in water (see  FIG. 12 ) this wall  73  is substantially vertical. It will also be noticed how the orifices  18  and the rods  20 ,  22  are adjacent the side walls  75  of the base portion  60 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 7  is an enlarged longitudinal view of the boot or bellows member  70 . A bellows portion  74  is integrally connected to a grommet portion  76  having the orifice  18  centrally therethrough. The grommet  76  has a peripheral annular groove  78  which engages the circumference of an aperture in the bottom wall of the base portion  60 , the bottom wall being part of the belly of the duck. The walls of the groove may form a water resistant seal with the base and body portions, or an adhesive or sealant may be applied. Opposite the grommet  76 , the bellows portion  74  has an open end  80  sized to fit over and be sealed to the leg portion of the duck&#39;s foot  24 . The boot member  70  is molded of a resilient material resistant to water, sunlight, etc. In its compressed position (left side of  FIG. 6 ) the boot member is about one third of its length in the extended position (right side of  FIG. 6 ). 
         [0041]      FIGS. 8 and 9  show vertical sections of a sealing gasket  82  employed to mount the body portion  84  (see also  FIG. 12 ) of the duck onto the base portion  60 . The gasket is in the form of a deformable annular ring having upper and lower grooves.  FIG. 8  shows the body and base portions  84 ,  60  engaged in the upper and lower grooves of the gasket. Preferably, the base portion  60  is glued in its groove, and the body portion is a tight sliding fit in its groove. This forms a watertight, or at least a splash resistant, connection of these portions. Additionally, Velcro (trademark) strips (not shown) may be employed to releasably reinforce the attachment of the body portion to the base portion.  FIG. 9  shows the gasket  82  before it is assembled in the decoy. The walls  86  of the grooves are biased to converge inwardly so causing them to be a tight fit against the body and base portions. Further, the outer edges  88  of the walls  86  are tapered on the inside to facilitate assembly of the body and base portions into the gasket&#39;s grooves. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 10 and 11  show a modified crank mechanism similar to that in  FIG. 6 . In  FIG. 11  the crank is 45 degrees before its angular position in  FIG. 10 . The change in angular position of the feet support rods  20 ,  22  between  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 10  can clearly be seen. It is this feature that gives the duck&#39;s feet a distinctive kicking action—as previously illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 12  illustrates the decoy in its operative feeding position floating in water having a surface  90 . The base portion  60  is both below and above the water surface  90 , while the body portion  84  is completely above the surface  90 . The feet  24  can be seen extending from the now vertical “belly” of the decoy and performing a kicking action with the upper foot  24  effecting splashes  92  of water in the air. Each foot in turn pass below the surface  90  of the water and then is raised up above the surface  90 . The body portion  84  is shaped and colored realistically as the rear end of a duck, and the feet  24  are also shaped and colored like those of the duck. This, coupled with the realistic kicking action and splashing of the feet  24 , makes this decoy look like a live duck feeding in the water. When the decoy is tethered below the water surface it tends to move slowly in circles about the tether point. 
         [0044]    In a modification, the base portion may be enlarged as a head end, which is submerged below the water, when the decoy floats. This head end could be shaped like the head end of a waterfowl, or simply be an enlarged plain shell. The head end enables the decoy to increase in buoyancy, and allows more room to house the battery unit and the motor. The keel weight could then be replaced, if necessary, by a weight or ballast inside the head end. The body of the decoy would then comprise the body end (i.e. the “butt” end) and the head end. These could be joined together in any suitable water-tight manner, e.g. telescoped together with an O-ring in-between, connecting flanges with a gasket in-between, or integrally joined together with an access hatch in the rear end or head end. 
         [0045]    In another embodiment, the body could be formed, e.g. by molding, as one integral unit, and a removable hatch disposed in an upper portion of the body for providing access to the interior. This hatch could be located well above the waterline when the decoy is floating. 
         [0046]    The orifices  18  could have inwardly extending tubes, integral with the decoy body, with the water-sealing joints at the inner ends of these tubes inwardly of the decoy body above the waterline. Such inward tubes could be shaped to accommodate any oscillating movement of the support rods  20 ,  22 . 
         [0047]    In a further modification, the decoy is provided with only one movable support rod. Thus, only one foot on one side of the decoy is “paddled”, this enabling the decoy to move in circles in the water. A second stationary or loosely flapping foot may be located on the other side of the decoy. 
         [0048]    The above described embodiments, of,course, are not to be construed as limiting the breadth of the present invention. Modifications, and other alternative constructions, will be apparent which are within the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed herein.