Abstract:
Decoy assemblies are disclosed. A decoy is printed on a base, self-standing structure that holds the decoys out without staking Decoy assemblies include reconfigurable interconnected hinged sheet systems configured to fold and deploy in a fanned out or accordion fashion. Decoy assemblies include a photographic image printed on a Y-board in some cases.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This document relates to decoy assemblies and related methods of use. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Y-board decoys, also known as V-boards, have three arms that each mount a decoy without staking Y-boards use a relatively heavy wood or metal base for mounting the decoys. Lateral stability is achieved by providing wide low profile arms, arm locking mechanisms, or a wide center block to mount the arms. The use of Y-boards declined over the latter half of the 20 th  century in favor of individual stakable decoys. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Decoy assemblies are disclosed. A decoy is printed on a base, self-standing structure that holds the decoys out without staking Decoy assemblies include reconfigurable interconnected hinged sheet systems configured to fold and deploy in a fanned out or accordion fashion. Decoy assemblies include a photographic image printed on a Y-board in some cases. 
         [0004]    A decoy assembly is disclosed comprising: three or more arms each formed of a sheet having a ground engaging edge; the arms being interconnected by hinges and moveable about the hinges between a closed position and a deployed position where the arms fan out to laterally stabilize one another while standing upright on the ground engaging edges; each arm having a scenery image covering the visual surfaces of opposed side walls of the arm, the scenery image including an animal image at a decoy part of the arm. 
         [0005]    A decoy assembly is also disclosed comprising: three or more arms each formed of a sheet having a ground engaging edge; the arms being interconnected by living hinges and moveable about the living hinges between a closed position and a deployed position where the arms fan out to laterally stabilize one another while standing upright on the ground engaging edges; and each arm forming a decoy part with an animal image on opposed side walls of the arm. 
         [0006]    A decoy assembly is also disclosed comprising: three or more arms each formed of a sheet having a ground engaging edge and a structural frame that is made of plastic and formed by opposed walls bridged by a low-density reinforcing core; the arms being interconnected by hinges and moveable about the hinges between a closed position and a deployed position where the arms fan out to laterally stabilize one another while standing upright on the ground engaging edges; and each arm forming a decoy part with an animal image on opposed side walls of the arm. 
         [0007]    An assembly comprising: three or more arms each formed of a sheet having a ground engaging edge; the arms being interconnected by hinges and moveable about the hinges between a closed position and a deployed position where the arms fan out to laterally stabilize one another while standing upright on the ground engaging edges; and each arm having a decorative image covering the visual surfaces of opposed side walls of the arm; and the top and side edges of each arm being shaped to conform to the silhouette of an object or animal in the decorative image. 
         [0008]    Methods of use and assembly of decoy assemblies are disclosed. A printed sheet of material is disclosed containing in uncut form the arms, and in some cases other components, of the decoy assemblies. The printed sheet may be cut and assembled to form a decoy assembly. Decoy assemblies may be deployed in a particular configuration and hunting operations commenced. 
         [0009]    In various embodiments, there may be included any one or more of the following features: The hinges are living hinges. Each hinge is formed on a connector sheet between adjacent arms. Each connector sheet has opposed hinge leaves, with each hinge leave having a ground engaging edge and forming a reinforcing layer upon a portion of a side wall of a respective sheet forming the adjacent arms. A hinge animal part with one or more animal images that cover portions of the side walls of adjacent arms to give the appearance of an animal extended across a respective hinge between adjacent arms. The one or more animal images of the hinge animal part is of a crouching, sitting, or nesting animal. The three or more arms form a Y-shape in the deployed position. At least one arm forms a ground engaging base that laterally spaces the decoy part from a respective hinge that connects the arm to an adjacent arm, the scenery image including a ground cover image on the ground engaging base. The top and side edges of each decoy part are shaped to conform to the silhouette of the animal image. The scenery images are photographic images. Each sheet has a structural frame that is made of plastic and formed by opposed walls bridged by a low-density reinforcing core. The low-density reinforcing core comprises a plurality of hollow channels whose central axes are perpendicular to the opposed walls. The arms are moveable between a range of deployed positions. The animal image is of a bird. Each arm has a slot or hole, and the slots or holes collectively align between arms when in the closed position. The three or more arms comprise a first arm, a second arm, and a third arm; a side end of the first arm connects to a first side end of the second arm; a side end of the third arm connects to the first side end of the second arm; and the three or more arms form a Y-shape when in the deployed position as viewed from above. Hinges whose respective hinge axes are perpendicular to a ground plane defined by the ground engaging edges of the three or more arms. Plural decoy animals are displayed on one or more of the sheets. Each sheet has a maximum thickness of less than or equal to  1  centimeter. The images display decoy animals in different positions. Decoy assemblies whose arms form a Z, C, or W shape when in the deployed position. 
         [0010]    These and other aspects of the device and method are set out in the claims, which are incorporated here by reference. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0011]    Embodiments will now be described with reference to the figures, in which like reference characters denote like elements, by way of example, and in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a decoy assembly whose arms form a Y-shape in the deployed position shown. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective cut away from of a part of a sheet that forms an arm of the assembly of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0014]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are top plan views of the hinge portion of the decoy assembly of  FIG. 1A  shown in the stacked and deployed positions, respectively. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view showing a method of connecting the front sheets shown in the decoy assembly of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a side elevation view showing a method of connecting the sheets shown on the left in the decoy assembly of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a sheet of material showing the printed layout of the component parts of the decoy assembly of  FIG. 1A . 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view of a cut pattern to be used with the sheet of material from  FIG. 6 , with bend lines shown in dashed lines. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the shape of a decoy assembly in a deployed position and whose arms form a Z-shape. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    Immaterial modifications may be made to the embodiments described here without departing from what is covered by the claims. 
         [0021]    A hunting decoy is a type of device that has been used for centuries in order to attract game to a particular location. Forms of decoys include representations of the creature being hunted. Decoys may be made with life-size proportions. A hunter places a number of decoys about the hunting area in order to encourage game such as wild birds to land nearby within the range of the concealed hunter&#39;s gun. 
         [0022]    Decoys are one of the items used by almost all fowl hunters, such other items including a shotgun, ammunition, a hunting blind, and a duck or goose call. The decoys are used to lure the birds within range and the blind conceals the hunter. When a hunter or hunters sees the fowl, he or she may call the duck or goose as may be relevant to the type of birds being lured. Once the birds are within range, the hunters rise from the blind and quickly shoot the birds before they are frightened off and out of shooting range. Duck or goose calls are often used to attract birds. Sometimes calls of other birds will also be simulated to convince the birds that there is no danger. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 1A , a decoy assembly  10  is illustrated comprising three or more arms  12 . Referring to  FIGS. 1A-5  each arm  12  is formed of a sheet  14 . Referring to  FIG. 1A  each sheet  14  has a ground engaging edge  16 , upon which the respective arm  12  stands upright from when deployed. Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the arms  12  are interconnected by hinges  18  and moveable about the hinges  18  between a closed position ( FIG. 2 ) and a deployed position ( FIGS. 1A and 3 ) where the arms  12  fan out to laterally stabilize one another. Laterally stabilize may mean stabilize against forces applied normal to the side walls  24  of an arm  12 . In the closed position arms  12  may be stacked together with the side walls  24  of adjacent arms  12  facing one another. In the deployed position the arms  12  may be spread apart from one another to collectively form a free standing base resting upon the ground engaging edges  16  without penetrating a ground surface  36 . Three arms interconnected in such a fashion provide a stable base structure and make decoys visible from all angles around the assembly  10 . Arms formed of a sheet and hinged together may form upright structures that are able to wave and move in the wind, thus creating a life-like appearance of movement. 
         [0024]    In the drawings, reference numerals for the arms  12 , sheets  14 , and related components may have a suffix A, B, or C appended to associate the reference numeral with a respective arm or sheet, even if the suffix is not explicitly used in the specification, or the generic reference numeral not explicitly used in the drawing. Similarly, in the drawings reference numerals for the hinges, and related components may have a suffix ′ or ″ appended to associate the reference numeral with a hinge  18 ′ between arms  12 A and  12 B, or a hinge  18 ″ between arms  12 B and  12 C, even if the suffix is not explicitly identified in the specification, or the generic reference numeral not explicitly used in the drawing. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1A , each arm  12  forms a decoy part  20  having an animal image  22 , for example of a bird such as a Canada goose as shown, over opposed side walls  24  of the arm  12 . The reference numerals for side walls may be referred to in the drawings and specification with the additional suffixes −1 and −2, in some cases appended to the suffixes A, B, and C, to refer to different side walls, see  FIG. 3  for example. The top and side edges  26  of each decoy part  20  may be shaped to conform to the silhouette  28  of the animal image  22 , to provide for a realistic appearance of the animal from different angles and from the perspective of a moving animal. In some cases the image on one side wall  24 - 1  may be the mirror image of the image on the opposed side wall  24 - 2  to ensure that the silhouettes  28  on the opposed side walls  24  align. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 1A , each arm  12  may have a scenery image  30 , such as the dynamic photographic image as shown, covering the visual surfaces of opposed side walls  24  of the arm  12 . Covering the visual surfaces means that all externally viewable surfaces of the arm  12 , including layered portions but excluding sheet edges, are printed upon with the scenery image  30 . A scenery image may include features and animals of a natural landscape. The scenery image  30  includes the animal image  22 , which may form part of a greater scenery image  30  that includes a ground cover image  32 . A photographic image is one that is composed of one or more images of naturally appearing scenery, ground cover (camouflage), and animals for a realistic representation of same on the arms  12 . Because the image  30  covers the visual surfaces, each arm  12  has the appearance from afar of forming part of the adjacent environment, when placed in an environment  31  that matches or blends with the scenery image, without unnatural parts such as single color or blank faces, which contrast with an external environment and may deter animals from approaching. The scenery image may be dynamic, which means that the image shown on each part is constantly changing across the part, as contrasted with the use of block color images. 
         [0027]    At least one arm  12 , for example each of arms  12 A-C in  FIG. 1A , may form a ground engaging base  34  that lies upon ground engaging edges  16  along a ground surface  36 . The base  34  may laterally space the decoy part  20  from a respective hinge  18  that connects the arm  12  to an adjacent arm  12 . The scenery image  30  may include a ground cover image  32  along the elongate base arm part  34 , for example ground cover  38  matching same in the environment  31  that the assembly  10  is deployed in. The example assembly  10  shown is selected to match a harvested corn field in fall. Other ground cover images may be of various grasses. Durham wheat, barley, corn, hay, snow, woodland, and other ground covers may be used. The ground engaging base  34  may itself form an arm or branch part that extends from hinge  18 ′ between the hinge  18 ′ and the decoy part  20 , thus providing separation between decoy parts  20 A,  20 B, and  20 C, to give a natural appearance of a group of animals. The separation distance between animals in the deployed position may be selected to be commensurate with a natural average separation distance between the animals in real life groups. One or more arms  12  may have plural decoy parts, such as parts  20 C on arm  12 C ( FIG. 1A ). The ground engaging edge  16  of each base  34  may extend continuously along the lateral length of the arm  12 . Each decoy part  20  may project vertically above the ground hugging base  34 , for example if the animal is shown standing. A low profile base  34  minimizes the casting of unnatural shadows that may deter animals. A top edge  27  of the base  34  may have an undulating or other non-straight profile. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A-3  at least one of the hinges  18 ′ and  18 ″may be living hinges as shown. A living hinge  18  is made from a single continuous piece of material that has a hinge line that defines opposed hinge leaves. A living hinge may be a thin flexible hinge such as a flexure bearing. Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , each living hingel 8  may be formed on a connector sheet  44  between adjacent arms  12 . Referring to  FIG. 3  the vertical hinge  18  may be thinned, for example by one or more of crushing as shown, or selectively cutting or scoring, for example cutting an inner side wall  25 - 2  of opposed side walls  25  of the connector sheet  44  and possibly core material  68  ( FIG. 5 ) leaving the outer side wall  25 - 1  intact, to allow the adjacent rigid pieces to bend along the line  39  of the hinge  18 . A living hinge has a relatively low cost compared to other hinges, and permits the hinge  18  to have scenery image  30  printed upon the connector sheet  44  and cut from the same blank of material used to print the sheets  14  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ). Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , each connector sheet, such as connector sheet  44 ′, may have opposed hinge leaves  46 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , hinge leaves  46  may each have a ground engaging edge  48 . Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , hinge leaves  46  may form reinforcing layers  50  upon portions, such as lateral end portions  52 , of adjacent side walls  23 , in this case  23 A- 1  and  23 B- 2 , of respective sheets  14  forming arms  12 . Hinge leaves  46  may be connected to adjacent components by suitable methods such as adhesives, staples, bonding, two or one sided tape, or fasteners. 
         [0029]    Hinge leaves  46  may be formed from one or more adjacent arms  12 . Thus, in some cases (not shown), a single continuous sheet may form two or more of arms  12  delineated by living hinges  18  in the sheet  14 . In other cases (not shown), one sheet  14  may be bent at end  52  to form a living hinge, with the outermost hinge leave forming a reinforcing layer on the adjacent arm  12 . However, relative to such examples the use of connector sheets  44  add reinforcement and lateral stability to the hinge structure and hence the decoy assembly  10  as a whole. Using connector sheets  44  to connect lateral ends of sheets  14  together also reduces the lateral length required for each sheet  14 , thus permitting printing on relatively narrower sheets. Images may be printed directly on the living hinge to provide a continuous image. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A, 4 and 5 , decoy assembly  10  may have a hinge animal part  53  with one or more animal images  54  that cover portions, such as respective lateral end portions  52  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) of the side walls  23  of adjacent sheets  14  to give the appearance of an animal extended across a respective hinge  18  between adjacent arms  12 . The animal image or images  54  of the hinge animal part  53  may be of a crouching, sitting, or nesting animal as shown, in order to provide a relatively low vertical profile but stable hinge base as shown. Displaying an animal at the hinge point also permits a relatively higher vertical wall height at the hinge than if no hinge animal is used, without sacrificing and in some cases enhancing realism at the arm transition. In the example shown, three distinct animal images are used for hinge animal part  53 —a first side image  60  appears across side walls  24 A- 1  and  24 B- 2  ( FIGS. 1A and 4 ), a mirror image  62  of the first side image  60  appears across side walls  24 A- 2  and  24 C- 1  ( FIG. 1A  but not directly shown), and a third image  64  being a rear image of the animal, for example made up of the rear halves of the images  60  and  62 , appears across sides walls  24 B- 1  and  24 C- 2  ( FIG. 5 ). Referring to  FIG. 1A  the top and side edges  26  of the hinge animal part  53  may be shaped to conform to the silhouette  28  of the animal images  60 ,  62 , and  64  as shown, to allow the animal image to project out of the greater image for a three dimensional effect. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the three or more arms  12  may form a Y-shape in the deployed position. Thus, a Y-board may be provided as viewed from above and that is made of sheets  14  standing upright on edges  16 . One way to assemble a Y-shape assembly  10  is as follows. A side end, such as lateral end portion  51 A, of a first arm  12 A connects by hinge  18 ′ to a first side end, specifically lateral end portion  51 B of a second arm  12 B. A side end such as portion  51 C of a third arm  12 C connects to the first side end, specifically portion  51 B, of the second arm  12 B. In the example shown the hinges  18 ′ and  18 ″ share a common hinge axis  40 , for example a vertical axis or axis perpendicular to a ground plane (not shown) defined by the ground engaging edges  16  as shown, about which the arms  12  radially spread out in the deployed position or positions. 
         [0032]    In the example shown each arm  12  is moveable between a range of deployed positions. Two or more of the arms  12 , in this case all three arms  12 , may each form free or terminal ends whose pivotal movement is governed by a single hinge axis and that are unrestrained by arm configuration locking mechanisms in use. Thus, a user may select one of a variety of configurations to use while deployed. In a Y-board example one configuration involves having the arms  12  spread apart at one 120 degree angles. In the Y-board example, with at least one decoy part on each arm  12 , at least two of the three decoys are visible from any location 360 degrees around the assembly  10 . 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 1B , each planar sheet  14  may have a structural frame  66  that is made of plastic. Structural frame  66  may be formed by opposed walls  23 , and a low-density reinforcing core  68 . Core  68  bridges the opposed walls  23 , for example-by being made up of components that add lateral stability to the structural frame  66 . Example of lateral stabilizers include a corrugated sheet, ribs, or a low-density gas or air containing bridging structure such as a foam. In the example shown the low-density reinforcing core  68  comprises a plurality of hollow channels  70  whose central axes  72  are perpendicular to the faces of the opposed walls  23 . Referring to  FIGS. 1B and 5 , each channel  70  may have a polygonal cross sectional shape such as a honeycomb pattern as shown, for example if each printed substrate  14  is made from a STINGER™ sheet. In other cases such as shown in the example in  FIG. 5 , the lateral stabilizers may be ribs or flutes  76  for example running parallel to the side walls  23 , for further example running perpendicular (vertical) or parallel (horizontal) to the ground engaging edge  16 . Horizontal flutes have been found to have greater lateral stability than vertical flutes. 
         [0034]    Suitable corrugated plastic or other reinforced plastic sheets may be used, for example those marketed as COROPLAST™, POLYFLUTE™, FLUTEPLAST™, INTEPRO™, PROPLEX™, CORREX™, TWINPLAST™, SINTRA™, COMATEX™, and INTACELL™. Corrugated plastic refers to a wide range of extruded twin wall plastic-sheet products produced from high-impact polypropylene resin with a similar structure as corrugated paper. Such materials are light-weight, rigid, tough materials that bend without breakage of side walls, and can easily be cut with a utility knife. Bendability is believed to stem from the use of flexible components that make up the structural frame, with the resulting frame providing sufficient rigidity to stand upright in the deployed position, while retaining the ability to bend up to  180  degrees without breaking the side walls. Suitable materials may be made from polymers such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate, plastic laminated foam board, and polystyrene. In some cases the selected material may be one that is resistant to work hardening, such as certain sufficiently elastic materials, such as polypropylene copolymers or polyethylenes, thus forming a rigid durable living hinge that retains ductility despite continual bending. For example, the material may be selected to be able to be moved, from an open position to a closed position of 180 degrees bend and back to the open position, more than 350 times without breakage. A decoy assembly  10  may be closed and opened 30-60 times a year, and in environments of ambient temperatures of minus 20 degrees Celsius and lower. The sheet material  12  used may be too thin to stand up on edge without external lateral stabilization. 
         [0035]    In some cases sheets  14  may have a thickness of between 5 and 10 mm, for example 5 mm STINGER™ plastic board. Sheets  14  may have a density of less than or equal to 2 kg/m 2 . Density may be below that of water to permit floating. Ground engaging bases  34  may have a minimum height of 12 cm to ensure sufficient strength to retain stability in wind. In some cases each arm may have a minimum base  34  height to decoy part  20  height of 1:4. Arms  12  may extend up to 1 m or more in a lateral direction. Each sheet  14  may have an integral, continuous structure extending the lateral length of the arm  12 . Side walls  23  and lateral stabilizers in the core  68  may have individual thicknesses of less than or equal to 3 mm. Each sheet  14  may have a lateral length of up to and greater than 100 cm. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , two or more, for example all, arms  12  may have a slot or hole  80  (shown in dashed lines). The slots or holes  80  may be positioned to collectively align between arms  12  when in the closed position. Aligned slots or holes  80  may thus provide a common handle to fit a user&#39;s hand or portion of a hand for carrying purposes in the closed position, or may provide a point from which the assembly can be hung by a hook (not shown) in the closed position. The slots or holes may be positioned at or near a center of gravity of the assembly when in the closed position. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7  the components of the decoy assembly  10  may be printed on a blank of material  82  ( FIG. 6 ), cut out according to a cut sheet pattern  84  ( FIG. 7 ), and assembled. Printing may be carried out using a suitable printer, such as an AGFA™ or TORO™ flatbed ink printer. Printing may be carried out using a UV-resistant, antiglare ink. Printing may include printing a primer or underlayer such as a white layer on a black sheet, followed by printing the desired image upon the white layer for brighter color in the final image. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , once printed the sheet of material  82  contains in uncut form the three or more legs of the decoy assemblies of any one of claims  1 - 17 . In the example shown the sheet of material  82  has printed sufficient components to assembly more than two assemblies  10 . The arrangement of components about the material  82  may be selected to maximize space usage and minimize wasted space. Components may be cut along pre-programmed cut lines by a suitable cutting machine, such as an oscillating cutting machine such as the ZUND G3™ machine. For example one suitable machine has an infrared camera that reads dots patterned on the sheet of material  82  during printing, the dots being registered on the material  82  according to the cut sheet pattern shown in  FIG. 7 , and the cutting machine reads the dots, and cuts out each component efficiently and automatically. Other cutters may be used such as a laser cutter used in CNC processes. The method of assembly may include bending the components as required to produce the hinges  18 . Bending may be carried out prior to, during, or after cutting. Bends may be introduced by crushing material  82  along pre-programmed bend lines  83  ( FIGS. 4, 5, 7 ), for example using a die cutter set to low pressure. Scoring may be carried out in addition to or instead of bending and folding processes. 
         [0039]    Once components are printed, for example on both sides of material  82 , and cut out, the decoy assembly  10  may be assembled. For example, arms  12  and connector sheets  44  may be connected together, using a suitable adhesive. Connection may be carried out to an extent sufficient to permanently affix the components together such that separation is not possible without damaging the components. For example a two part adhesive may be used, such as a bonding epoxy made by JB WELD™. One suitable epoxy is known as PL400™. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 1A , once assembled, decoy assembly  10  may be used by fanning out arms  12  from the closed position into a deployed position as shown. After deployment the assembly  10  may be left on the ground  36 , and a hunter may carry out hunting operations adjacent the deployed decoy. To pack up the assembly  10 , a hunter need only swing arms  12  back into the closed position ( FIG. 2 ), and stack the assembly  10  with other assemblies in a vehicle for transport away from the hunting site. Assembly  10  may be stored, for example on the wall of a garage, by leaning the closed assembly  10  against the wall or by hanging from a hook as discussed elsewhere in this document. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , an alternative embodiment is illustrated whose arms  12  form a Z-shape when in the deployed position. As shown, at least one arm  12 B may connect to two or more other arms  12 A,  12 C at different lateral positions along the length of the arm  12 B. Arms  12 A and  12 C are shown connecting to arm  12 B at intermediate lateral positions  92  spaced from lateral ends  51 B of arm  12 B, in order to avoid the occurrence of a relatively unnatural vertical terminal edge corner between adjacent sheets  14 , though such is not required. Other shapes are possible for arms  12 , including more complex articulating or accordion style shapes such as a W-shape, as well as shapes that incorporate both Z and Y shaped sections. C-shaped sections are possible. Additional hinge bends  90  may be present to permit folding of lateral free lateral end portions  65 A and  65 C to permit more compact stacking in the closed position. 
         [0042]    In some cases one or more arms lack a decoy part. Ground engaging base  34  may include nominal non-ground engaging parts. Undulating includes an edge profile with sharp corners. In examples where the top and side edges conform to a silhouette, the conforming edges may include downwardly oriented edges, including base edges, and some edges may define a lateral hole in the sheet  14 . In some cases, a decal or graphic wrap may be printed and applied to the surface of material  82  prior to cutting or wraps may be applied to each individual component after cutting. Screen printing may also be used. Components may be manually cut with hand tools from sheet of material  82 . 
         [0043]    Decoy assemblies  10  may be used with floats, and in such cases may have a lock to retain the desired deployed configuration. Each sheet may comprise two or more sheets layered together for reinforcement. Each image printed on opposed side walls may be a front and back image of the same scene or animal, or a mirror image. Connector sheets  44  need not be formed of identical material as arms  12  but may be of the same class of material. Each arm  12  may have display different images from other arms to give a more natural dynamic look to the decoy assembly  10 . 
         [0044]    Hinges  18  may have a zero displacement angle in the closed position, and an angle of between but not including 0 and 180 degrees in the deployed position. The entire image on an arm  12  may be of a decoy animal or animals. The animal shown in the image may be a bird, coyote, wolf, moose, deer, or other animal. Each ground engaging edge  16  may be straight from lateral end to lateral end. In some cases the entire ground engaging element of the assembly  10  consists of vertical boards stood on edge. A decoy part  20  may be located at a lateral end of arm  12  opposite a hinge lateral end. The assemblies  10  may withstand up to and above  30  kilometer per hour winds. The sheets  14  may be waterproof, lightweight, durable and portable. Non-living hinges  18  may be used such as pivot pins, door hinges, and other such hinges. Y-board embodiments may be deployed in a T-shape position. Decoy assemblies may have two, three, four, or more arms. 
         [0045]    Although decoy assemblies are shown in the drawings, other decorative assemblies may be used, such as one whose arms detail a Christmas image, for example including a decorative image with snowy ground cover and an image of a sleigh, reindeer, or snowman. 
         [0046]    In the claims, the word “comprising” is used in its inclusive sense and does not exclude other elements being present. The indefinite articles “a” and “an” before a claim feature do not exclude more than one of the feature being present. Each one of the individual features described here may be used in one or more embodiments and is not, by virtue only of being described here, to be construed as essential to all embodiments as defined by the claims.