Abstract:
This invention includes a Remotely Activated Electronic Rotatable Decoy Stand designed to support and impart motion to a turkey decoy. The electronic rotatable decoy stand is removably coupled to the turkey decoy and is controlled directly by a human observer through activation of an electronic emitting remote fob. When activated, the fob imparts a signal to the rotatable decoy stand. Upon receipt of the signal, the rotatable decoy stand rotates the coupled decoy at a rotational speed like that of a male turkey when presenting and rotating in the natural strutting display. Bi-directional rotation of the decoy is dependent upon the signal direction chosen by the human observer. When positioned in a location likely to be observed by the turkey, the rotational motion provides a method of attracting turkeys. The Rotatable Decoy Stand may be coupled to other animal decoy forms and is not limited to the male turkey decoy.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/205,237 entitled “Remote STRUTTN 360 Decoy Stand,” filed Jan. 16, 2009. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention pertains to the field of hunting decoys. More particularly, the invention pertains to a remotely operated electronic rotatable decoy stand for supporting and rotating a hunting decoy. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    It has long been a common hunting tactic to attract pursued game with artificial decoys resembling said animals. For the most part, such decoys have been non-moving representations of the pursued animal. Static decoys have proven effective under certain circumstances, but their ability to deceive approaching animals often cease due to the animals ability to be educated when they observe the unnatural stillness of such decoys. As such, there is interest in decoys that move when commanded to do so. 
         [0006]    A number of strategies are employed to provide animate decoys. For instance, some are designed to move in response to natural forces such as wind or moving water. However, imperfect conditions and inherent limitations in the design and surrounding environment often cause these decoys to exhibit atypical or unrealistic movements which may startle or warn the target animal or may have no affect at all. As such, there is interest in decoys that move when commanded to do so. 
         [0007]    Other animated decoys incorporate mechanical apparatus using monofilament line to incorporate or simulate decoy movement. The major disadvantage of such deployment is that it is often cumbersome and limited in its ability to rotate in either a full continuous clockwise or counter clockwise rotation of the decoy. This design is further limited in that it often tips the decoy when being pulled by the concealed hunting observer. An even further disadvantage is that these animated decoys are limited to the control on one (1) decoy. As such, there is interest in decoys that move when commanded to do so that have the capability to move multiple decoys with one remote controller. 
         [0008]    Still other animated decoys us electric motors within the decoy to simulate animal movements. A major disadvantage of such mechanized decoys is that the means used for imparting movement is a permanent part of the decoy itself and thus adds substantially to the cost of the decoy. Also, it is widely known that these mechanized decoys are complex structures, often unreliable, are often cumbersome to store and transport, and difficult to assemble, operate and maintain. As such, there is interest in an inexpensive decoys that move when commanded to do so. 
         [0009]    Prior art animated decoys as described above are well represented in the literature. 
         [0010]    Samnara, U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,322, discloses the use of a wind activated animal decoy. Specifically, the patent discusses the use of a turkey decoy with tail-feathers, which upon wind activation, causes the head to move up and down and side-to-side. 
         [0011]    Brint, U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,356, discloses the use of a full body turkey decoy, having a tail, which uses a battery-powered electric motor and internal counter weights to simulate strutting turkey behavior. Furthermore, Brint shows a turkey decoy that, upon activation, causes the decoy to rotate intermittently on a pivotally attached support rod. 
         [0012]    Lenz, U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,427, discloses a battery-operated animal decoy mechanism having a motor. The motor has at least one projecting member which activates a tail flicking attachment, thus simulating the tail flicking of a live animal. 
         [0013]    Jerome, U.S. Patent Application No. 20,090,007,479, discloses a stake used to impart motion to a static decoy. The stake is controlled by remotely located hunter by means of an attached monofilament cord or line which rotates the decoy when pulled by said hunter. 
         [0014]    None of the above devices provide an inexpensive and simple way to impart lifelike movements representative of mating behaviors or intraspecific communication to an existing static decoy or that have the ability to on demand remotely control multiple decoys by a single signal from the remotely concealed hunter. There remains a need for such a device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The present invention includes a Remotely Activated Electronic Rotatable Decoy Stand designed to support and impart motion, especially to a male or female turkey decoy, when remotely demanded by a hunting observer. The electronic rotatable decoy stand is removably coupled to the turkey decoy via a decoy post and is controlled directly by a remotely located hunting observer through activation of an electronic emitting hand held remote fob. When the electronic signal from the fob is received by the rotatable decoy stand, imparted bi-directional motion is applied to the decoy. The first (1) electronic rotatable decoy stand can when desired, be coupled to up to four (4) additional electronic rotatable decoy stands, being controlled by a single electronic signal from the fob. 
         [0016]    The present invention provides a method of attracting a turkey or other pursued animals. The method includes removably coupling a male or female turkey decoy or other pursued animal decoys to the decoy post which is removably coupled to the rotatable decoy stand. The rotatable decoy stand and attached decoy are placed in a location where it is likely to be observed by the pursued turkey. Upon demand from a concealed hunting observer, movement is imparted to the decoy. The imparted rotational motion, at four (4) revolutions per minute, simulates that of a male turkey when presenting and rotating in the natural strutting display. This strutting motion replicates that of a male turkey displaying to attract a female turkey or to exhibit dominance against intruding male turkeys. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of the remotely activated electronic rotatable decoy stand. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  shows a cutaway section view of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  shows an isometric view of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of the invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  shows an end view of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    A Remotely Activated Electronic Rotatable Decoy Stand supports and upon demand, rotates a decoy. Since a remotely activated electronic rotatable decoy stand of the present invention is removably attached to the decoy, the same rotatable decoy stand may be used to animate different individual decoys. This provides a significant advantage since, for example, the same rotatable decoy stand may be used to animate decoys of different species, and may therefore be applicable in different seasons. For example, on one occasion the stake could be attached to a turkey decoy and used attract wild turkey and could, on a different occasion be attached to a predator or goose decoy and used to attract fox, coyotes or geese. Furthermore, because the movement imparting mechanism for the decoy is contained within the rotatable decoy stand rather than within the decoy, the high cost of purchasing individual animated decoys is avoided. 
         [0024]    An additional advantage of the present invention is that movement of the rotatable decoy stand is directly controlled by a human observer. The operator can observe the decoy and activate the rotatable decoy stand in a manner that causes the movement of the decoy to mimic a behavior appropriate for the circumstances and even to respond to the behavior of a pursued animal. Furthermore, the operator can exert control over the total angle of rotation and frequency of movement that is not achievable with non on demand operated mechanisms. For example, very small or large angular movements can be imparted to convey start and stop cues for mating behavior, alternatively, return movements can be imparted such that depending upon whether the animal within sight of the animated decoy is considered the dominate animal by other animals within the same animal species. Whether dominant or non dominant, angular position of the animated decoy triggers a pending approach of the pursued animal regardless of the approaching direction of the pursued animal. 
         [0025]    A further advantage of the present invention is its ability to realistically mimic actual animal behaviors of the pursued animal especially that of the male turkey when presenting in a strutting rotational manner. It is well known that male turkeys (toms) are highly territorial, and especially so during their spring mating period. This mating period corresponds with spring turkey hunting season and it is therefore possible to exploit this territoriality in attracting and harvesting male turkeys. Male turkeys use the strutting position whereby they will display their tail feathers in a fan like position while rotating in circular motions. While static decoys aid hunting observers their usefulness is limited in that they cannot animate and duplicate the fore mentioned rotational motion. It is well known that this behavior is used to display for two distinct purposes; first to display dominance and second, to impress the female turkey. By rotating the rotatable decoy stand such that a removably coupled male decoy faced the pursued male turkey, a confrontational presence is conveyed to the pursued male turkey and the pursed dominant turkey will approach to defend its territory. If said pursed turkey is considered by other turkeys to be the dominant male, the pursued male will approach the rotatable decoy stand and removably coupled decoy. If upon view by the hunting observer, the pursued male turkey does not respond to the front view of the decoy, the rotatable decoy stand can be rotated such that the fan or rear end of the decoy faces the pursued male turkey. If said pursued turkey is considered to be a lesser or subordinate male of the species, the fore mentioned rotational position provides communication that the animated decoy is more subordinate thus triggering the pursed male to approach without fear of facing a dominant male turkey. The results are much more effective than can be obtained with a static decoy. Similar strategies are effective for attracting other territorial animals such as other mating fowl, rutting deer, or predators such as coyotes. 
         [0026]    A further advantage of the present is that the first single remote decoy stand may be coupled to additional remote decoy stands. Upon activation four (4) additional remote decoy stands may be remotely electronically coupled to the first remote decoy stand. Whereas prior animated decoy systems can animate one decoy, this invention has the advantage that multiple decoys can be animated, on demand, by the remotely located hunting observer. It is a well known fact that many animals use the eyes of additional members of their species to identify danger. Animating multiple decoys adds realism to deception for the remotely located hunting observer. Movement in numbers as can be achieved by the remote decoy stand provides a distinct advantage for the hunting observer over competitive mechanisms. 
         [0027]    In the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 , the remote decoy stands power is supplied using a single 9-volt power source  9  which is located on the underside of the base shell  8 . In order that the power source is installed, the power source compartment door  10  must first be removed. The power source is fixedly attached to a set of leads that is fixedly attached via wire cable to the electronic control board  7 . The power source is then inserted into a pocket, held in place, and enclosed using the power source compartment door  10 . 
         [0028]    Rotational motion and control of the remote decoy stand is accomplished using a remote signal, which is emitted from a hand held fob received by the electronic control board  7 . The signal is used to drive a small gear-head electric motor  6  which is fixedly attached to the shaft of the electrical dc motion  6  which is oriented parallel to the output spindle  3 . In order that the appropriate maximum rotational speed of four (4) revolutions per minute is achieved, the small gear-head electric motor  6  output shaft speed is reduced using a spur gear mesh, Items 3, 4, and 5. At the same time that the output speed of the small gear-head electric motor  6  is accomplished, the output torque of said motor is increased and transferred to the output spindle  3 . 
         [0029]    The electronic control board  7  is fixedly attached to the base shell  8  using four (4) screws  11 . The gear-head electric motor  6  is fixedly attached to the electronic control board  7  by means of an electrical lead and connector. The gear-head electric motor  6  is inserted into a containment pocket which acts parallel to the plane of the output spindle  3  and is an integral part of the base shell  8 . The containment pocket in the base shell  8  produces an anti-rotation and opposite force such that the gear-head electric motor  6  produces the drive torque to rotate the output spindle  3 . 
         [0030]    The driver spur gear  5  in conjunction with the driven step spur gear  4  is fixedly attached on the gear-head electric motor  6  and sits atop a post, which protrudes from the interior of base shell  8 . The driver spur gear  5  is fixedly attached to the gear-head electric motor  6  using a suitable adhesive element. The driven step spur gear  4  is fixedly attached to the base shell  8  post using a socket head shoulder screw. 
         [0031]    The output spindle  3  sits atop a post, which protrudes from the base shell  8 . The gear-head electric motor  6 , the driven step spur gear  4 , and the output spindle  3  have been positioned such that the correct spacing for the gear pitch diameters is accomplished. 
         [0032]    The electronic control board  7  was designed such that the output spindle  3  is located through the center of mass of the assembled rotatable decoy stand. 
         [0033]    The electric switch  1  is inserted into the rotatable decoy stand lid  2  from the top. Once in place and secured, the electric switch  1  is fixedly attached to the electronic control board  7 . 
         [0034]    The rotatable decoy stand lid  2  is placed over the outer bearing surface of the output spindle  3  and slid down to its final resting position atop the base shell  8 . The rotatable decoy stand lid  2  and base shell  8  lip interface are designed such that a watertight overlapping surface-to-surface contact is produced. In order that water or liquid not enter the internal cavity of the enclosure, the surface-to-surface contact path between the rotatable decoy stand lid  2  and base shell  8  is of adequate interference, change in direction, and length such that liquids do not penetrate unless submerged in said liquid for extended periods of time. 
         [0035]    The rotatable decoy stand lid  2  is fixedly attached to the base shell  8  using four (4) screws  11 . These screws are inserted through the base shell  8  from the underside whereby they rest in a counter-bored hole with the securing end of the screws  11  protruding into the rotatable decoy stand lid  2  thus securing the rotatable decoy stand lid  2  and base shell  8  assembly. 
         [0036]    The blank end of Post  13  is inserted parallel and inline into the counter-bored hole, located on one end of the Coupling  12 . Post  13  is inserted until bottom of the coupling  12  bore is reached, two (2) socket headset screws are tightened such that the Coupling  12  and Post  13  are remotely coupled together. The threaded end of the Post  13  is inserted through the body of the decoy. The Post  13  is secured to the decoy using a nylon thumb screw nut. 
         [0037]    The rotatable decoy stand is secured to the earth using the four (4) Stakes  14  by first setting the rotatable decoy stand on the earth then inserting the four (4) Stakes  14  through each of the four (4) corners of the rotatable decoy stand penetrating the earth until the head of the Stakes  14  seats against the rotatable decoy stand. 
         [0038]    The decoy, Post  13  and Coupling  12  assembly is then inserted into the counter-bored output spindle  3 . The Coupling  12  and output spindle  3  use a tongue and groove male to female fit thus transferring motion and not letting slippage to occur. 
         [0039]    The electric switch  1  is used to energize the rotatable decoy stand by selecting the on position before returning to the desired position of the user. 
         [0040]    Multiple rotatable decoy stands may be electronically coupled such that the hunting observer can send an electronic signal by means of the hand held fob to all, up to five (5), rotatable decoy stands. With the single 9-volt power source  9  installed and electric switch  1  in the “on” position, electronic coupling is accomplished by removing rotatable decoy stand lid  2  from base shell  8  then depressing the ⅛″ black momentary switch located on electronic control board  7  until the closely located red Light Emitting Diode (LED) is illuminated. Once illuminated, the remote hand held fob is depressed until the illuminated diode is un-illuminated. The rotatable decoy stand is then electronically coupled to the hand held fob. This process is repeated until all rotatable decoy stands, up to five (5), are remotely coupled electronically together. 
         [0041]    A hunting observer can select a pre-installed program whereby the rotatable decoy stand can follow a pre-programmed pattern. The remotely located hunting observer can turn this function on and off by depressing the two control buttons located on the remote fob simultaneously for a period of five (5) seconds. Once the programmed function is operational, the rotatable decoy stand will repeat a selected rotational pattern every one-third of an hour. The hunting observer has the option of override the selected program by depressing one of the remote fob buttons. Upon which time, the hunting observer has on demand control of the rotatable decoy stand. 
         [0042]    The materials from which the remote decoy stand body  2 ,  8 , and  10  is constructed of high strength weather resistant plastic but may be varied within and through use of similar compounds and/or compositions. Material color should be one that remains inconspicuous to the pursued animal. It is therefore preferred that color be one that is neutral or that it be a camouflage duplication of the surrounding topography occupied by pursued animals. The post  13  is preferably constructed of steel and is coated such that it is relatively inconspicuous when removably coupled to a decoy. It is therefore preferred that its surfaces be of a neutral color suitable for blending in with the landscape where it is to be used, or that it be camouflaged. For the same reason, it is desirable that the stake not be overly large or bulky but must maintain longitudinal stiffness. In particular, the post member  13  is preferably slender, so that its attachment to a decoy does not detract from the visual illusion created by the decoy. The spindle  3  and gears  4  and  5  are constructed of plastic material that provides for non friction contact between the mesh of successive gear teeth. 
         [0043]    When a wild turkey appears and is in visual range of the decoy, the concealed user rotates the decoy by applying an electronic signal so that the decoy or preferred decoy directly faces the turkey. A territorial male turkey will typically perceive this movement as a behavior intended to challenge him and his territory and will approach and even attack the decoy, or if a non territorial turkey within visual range of the single decoy is a subordinate, rotating the decoy to face away from the subordinate turkey subordination is conveyed of which the pursued wild turkey will approach. In both instances, thereby giving a hunter an ample opportunity to fire on the male turkey. 
         [0044]    Similar strategies may be used to attract other animals. By considering how the animal represented by a decoy would naturally react to the approach of the animal being attracted, and by mimicking that expected behavior by appropriately rotating the decoy, a user may greatly increase the effectiveness of a decoy and increase his or her success opportunities for pursuing game animals. Since whether an animal directly faces toward or turns away from a distant individual is often an important form of animal communication, the appropriate rotation of a decoy on the present invention can convincingly mimic natural behaviors and presentation and thereby greatly increase the decoy&#39;s effectiveness relative to a non rotatable decoys, decoys animated with monofilament, partial motion mechanized decoys, or systems that only animate one decoy. 
         [0045]    Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.