Abstract:
A decoy apparatus and animal attraction method including a head and body formed to resemble a bird, a rotatable motor-driven shaft protruding from at least one side of the body, a wing coupled to the shaft, and a power source such that activation of the power source causes the wing structure to rotate. The wing is coupled to the shaft at an angle relative to the main axis of rotation to best simulate a broken or injured wing during rotation. The method involves only one wing of the decoy rotating to approximate the motion of a bird that has an injured wing and cannot take off.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/050,485 filed Feb. 2, 2005 by Richard A. Fiore et al. for “Simulated Wounded-Bird Decoy Apparatus”. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates generally to devices and methods that simulate wounded prey as a means for attracting an animal and more particularly to a decoy apparatus and method that simulates a wounded bird through a mechanically driven, rotating wing.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Many decoys and animal attractants of various types exist that enable a user to attract an animal for viewing, study, or hunting. Among these, chemical attractants, devices that mimic bird or other animal calls, and physical decoys are especially well known.  
         [0006]     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,431 by Price, Sr. et al. discloses bird-like decoy devices that include wind-driven wings that are fashioned as propellers in order to be rotated by the wind. Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,323 by McBride et al. discloses a decoy apparatus with motor-driven “blade wing” assemblies attached to a fowl-like body. While both of these inventions are designed to provide the illusion of a bird in flight, neither the paddle-like “blade wings” of McBride et al.&#39;s invention nor Price, Sr. et al.&#39;s “propeller-like wings” results in a realistic depiction of motion that mimics a wounded bird.  
         [0007]     More elaborate decoys have been designed to mimic a bird with a wounded wing. For example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0107623 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,132 by Brint disclose a bird apparatus suspended from a pole, with the apparatus featuring wings that mechanically “flap.” The wings are foldable so that one or both will “vibrate” rather than “flap,” thereby providing an appearance of distress.  
         [0008]     Due to the flapping motion of Brint&#39;s apparatus, the bird decoy must be mounted on a rod or hung in the air in order to achieve its intended purpose of flight simulation. Moreover, Brint teaches that using his apparatus to mimic injury or panic is preferably accomplished by mounting the device on a spring or (for an attenuated effect) directly on a rod, thereby allowing the decoy to move in circles.  
         [0009]     While the devices above may be suitable for their particular purpose, they are also relatively complicated by requiring the use of a stand or hanging implement. Moreover, none of the aforementioned inventions describes a decoy apparatus that simulates an injury or distress through the use of rotational wing movement.  
         [0010]     Thus, there remains a need in the art for a decoy apparatus and animal attraction method that mimic the motion of an injured bird (rather than of a bird flying), that are less complex then typical motorized decoys, and that are more adaptable to a variety of placement situations in that they do not require the use of a stand or suspension implement.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     The invention relates in general to a decoy apparatus including a body and head member formed to resemble a bird, a rotatable motor-driven shaft protruding from a side of the body and head member, a wing structure coupled to the motor-driven shaft, and a source of power. In one embodiment, the wing structure is coupled to the motor-driven shaft such that activation causes the entire wing structure, or a major part or majority of the wing structure, i.e., more than 50% of the wing structure, to rotate at an angle greater than zero and less than ninety degrees relative to the main axis of rotation of said motor-driven shaft, thereby producing motion that simulates an injured wing. One embodiment of the invention features a universal joint that couples the wing structure to the rotating shaft, thereby producing rotation at an angle to the main axis of rotation and a “flopping motion” that simulates wing injury graphically well.  
         [0012]     In another embodiment, the invention further includes a clamp on the body and head portion for attaching the decoy apparatus to an object, such as a tree branch. Preferably, the clamp is disposed on the bottom of the decoy such that the apparatus is kept in a substantially upright position when attached to something. However, the decoy of the invention can also be placed on the ground on its side to great effect in simulating an injured bird.  
         [0013]     In still another embodiment, the power source is a battery compartment that is covered by a removable strap, thereby allowing for easy access in order to activate or stop wing rotation. The strap may be removable at one (i.e., hinged) or at both ends. Preferably, a material such as a hook-and-loop fastener is used to attach the strap to the body and head member.  
         [0014]     Yet another embodiment of the invention includes a non-rectangular wing structure to approximate the look and motion of a broken or partially missing wing. Preferably, the non-rectangular wing structure includes a triangular flap.  
         [0015]     In yet still another embodiment of the invention, a decoy apparatus including a body and head member formed to resemble a bird, a motor-driven shaft protruding from the side of the decoy, a first wing structure coupled to the motor-driven shaft, and a second, non-rotating wing structure coupled to the body and head portion and substantially opposite in location to that of the first wing structure, is provided.  
         [0016]     According to a method of the invention, a decoy apparatus having a body and head member formed to resemble a bird, a motor-driven shaft coupled to a wing structure, and a power source is positioned in a particular location and activated so that a single wing rotates, thereby mimicking a wounded bird in distress or that cannot take off.  
         [0017]     Various other purposes and advantages of the invention will become clear from its description in the specification that follows. Therefore, to the accomplishment of the objectives described above, this invention includes the features hereinafter fully described in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, and particularly pointed out in the claims. However, such description discloses only some of the various ways in which the invention may be practiced.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]      FIG. 1  schematically depicts a first embodiment of the invention in elevational side view.  
         [0019]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  schematically illustrate wing configurations of the prior art in front elevational view.  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  schematically illustrates a second embodiment of the invention in elevational front view and depicts in phantom line an example of wing-structure motion.  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  depicts a third embodiment of the invention in cross-sectional view, with the two halves of the embodiment arranged as mirror images of each other.  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  depicts a fourth embodiment of the invention in perspective view.  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  schematically illustrates the embodiment of  FIG. 3  in use according to a method of the invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  schematically illustrates another embodiment of the invention featuring a universal joint.  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  schematically illustrates a second embodiment of the invention that features a universal joint.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]     The invention generally relates to a decoy apparatus that simulates an injured bird through the rotation of a motor-driven shaft coupled with a wing member. More specifically, the invention relates to a body and head member that contains a rotatable motor-driven shaft protruding from a side, a wing structure coupled to the motor-driven shaft, and a power source. Preferably, the wing structure is coupled to the motor-driven shaft such that the entire wing structure, or a major part or majority of the wing structure, i.e., more than 50% of the wing structure, rotates at an angle greater than zero and less than ninety degrees relative to the main axis of rotation.  
         [0027]     Turning to the figures, wherein like numeric references indicate like components,  FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of the invention. Decoy apparatus  2  includes a body and head member  4  fashioned to resemble a bird. Preferably, the body and head member  4  is integrally formed from a light weight material, such as high-density polyester foam or injection molded plastic. Protruding from a side  6  of body and head member  4  is the rotatable shaft  8  of motor  10 , which is energized by a power source (not shown in this view). Coupled to shaft  8  is a wing member  12 , which rotates as urged by shaft  8  and indicated by arrows Z.  
         [0028]     It has been observed that rectangular or propeller shape wings appear to “flap” when rotated, thereby simulating a flight or take-off motion. Accordingly, wing member  12  preferably is non-rectangular due to the observation by the inventors that rotation of non-rectangular shapes provides a motion that appears to look more like a folded or injured wing and less like a bird in flight, thereby enhancing the animal attraction aspects of the invention (particularly for predators, such as foxes, bobcats, coyotes, and the like).  
         [0029]     As seen in subsequent front-view figures and described in more detail below, the rotatable motor-driven shaft  8  protruding from the side  6  of body and head member  4  defines a main axis of rotation (as observed from a perspective other than a side view, e.g., a front or back view), such that a wing structure can be coupled to the shaft in a manner which permits the entire wing structure, or the major part or majority of the wing structure, i.e., more than 50% of the wing structure, to rotate at an angle relative to that main axis of rotation.  
         [0030]     With these definitions in mind,  FIGS. 2A and 2B  show two angles of rotation found in the prior art. Decoy body  16  has a rotatable shaft  18  that is coupled to a wing structure  20  ( FIG. 2A ) or  22  ( FIG. 2B ). Wing structure  20  is disposed upon shaft  18  at an angle  24  of ninety degrees relative to the main axis of rotation R of shaft  18 . On the other hand, wing structure  22  is co-linear with shaft  18  by being disposed upon shaft  18  at an angle  26  of one hundred and eighty degrees relative to axis of rotation R.  
         [0031]     Turning to  FIG. 3 , a decoy  30  of the invention is illustrated that includes a first wing structure  31  coupled to a rotatable shaft  32  via weld  33  and a second, non-rotating wing structure  35 . First wing structure  31  and second wing structure  35  are disposed on substantially opposite sides of body  37  to simulate actual wings. Shaft  32  has a main axis of rotation A that is co-linear therewith as shown. Because at least the major part or majority of first wing member  31 , i.e., more than 50% of first wing member  31 , is disposed at an angle  38  greater than zero and less than ninety degrees relative to the main axis of rotation A, the rotation of first wing member  31  appears to indicate a folded, clipped, or otherwise irregular or injured wing that draws the attention of other animals. The angle  38  is preferably in the range of 5 to 85 degrees. Decoy  30  further includes a clamp  40  located on the bottom of body  37 . The clamp  40  allows the placement of decoy  30  in an upright position on a tree branch, in a nest, and in a variety of other locations.  
         [0032]     As seen in mirror cross-sections  42  and  44  of  FIG. 4 , the invention preferably provides rotation to a wing structure through a battery  46 , terminals  48  and  50 , terminal wires  52  and  54  connecting the terminals  48  and  50  with poles  56  and  58  on electric motor  60 , and a rotatable shaft  62  that is rotated by motor  60 . Section  44  further contains spaces or hollow sections  64  and  66  for receiving bill  68  and fastener  70  of clamp  72 , respectively. Conversely, section  42  contains spaces or hollow sections  74  and  76 , which are adapted to receive battery  46 , wires  52  and  54 , and motor  60 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 5  illustrates in perspective view another embodiment of the invention that features a triangular flap  80  coupled with rotatable shaft  82 . Shown in phantom line are motor  84 , wires  86  and  88 , and battery compartment  90 , which are housed inside the body  91 . The power source, which is a battery  92  in this case, is covered by a removable flap  94 . Clamp  96  is disposed substantially at the bottom of body  91  to support the decoy upright at a desired location.  
         [0034]     Turning to  FIG. 6 , the decoy apparatus  30  of  FIG. 3  is shown attached to a tree branch  98 . According to the method of the invention, one wing is set in rotational motion  99  to simulate a bird that is in distress or that has an injured wing.  
         [0035]     Turning to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a universal joint  100  is used in another embodiment of the invention to provide an extra “flopping” motion (arrows F) at an angle relative to the main axis of rotation K. Universal joint  100  is a flexible coupling used to join rotating shafts  102  to wing members  104  and  106 , either directly or through an extender  108 . While other types of universal joints may be used with the invention, a typical universal joint will feature ends that form U-shaped yokes that dovetail into each other and pivot flexibly about a pivot point. This construction allows side-to-side and up-and-down movement, while still transmitting rotary motion.  
         [0036]     In view of the disclosure above, it is readily seen that the invention is especially useful for attracting animals by simulating a bird in distress.  
         [0037]     Various changes in the details and components that have been described may be made by those skilled in the art within the principles and scope of the invention herein described in the specification and defined in the appended claims. Therefore, while the present invention has been shown and described herein in what is believed to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures can be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent processes and products.