Motorized two-piece head for owl

A scarecrow includes a scarecrow body corresponding generally in shape to a body of a live animal and an assembled hollow scarecrow head of molded plastic construction corresponding in shape to a head of the live animal. The assembled head includes a front face portion and a separate rear head portion fixed together to form the head, the front face portion having a front receiver and the rear head portion having a rear receiver. The scarecrow includes a motor having a rotatable motor shaft; a mounting insert fixed to the motor with the motor shaft extending below the mounting insert, the mounting insert received by the front receiver and the rear receiver to fix the mounting insert to the head; and a mounting bracket fixed to the scarecrow body and having a motor shaft receiver into which the rotatable motor shaft is received. Rotation of the motor shaft rotates the assembled scarecrow head relative to the scarecrow body.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to the field of scarecrows and particularly plastic owls having movable heads. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a scarecrow having a motorized two-piece head that rotates the head relative to a body of the scarecrow to mimic head movements of a live owl, and methods for assembling scarecrows.

BACKGROUND

Improvement is desired in the structure and assembly of scarecrow devices and the like of the type having a head that moves relative to a body under motorized movement. In particular, it is desirable to provide a scarecrow that has movement, and especially a scarecrow that can sense motion proximate the scarecrow and move when such motion is sensed.

The present disclosure advantageously provides improved scarecrow structures for incorporating a motor into a head which simplify assembly and result in other product improvements.

In one embodiment, a scarecrow owl is provided having a motorized head that senses motion proximate the scarecrow. When such motion is sensed, the motor is operated to rotate the head back and forth for a short time duration to mimic the head movements of a live owl. The head movement is continued as long as movement proximate the scarecrow is sensed. This advantageously provides a scarecrow that more realistically mimics the presence of a live owl to provide a more effective scarecrow device.

SUMMARY

The above and other needs are met by a scarecrow having a motorized movable head and methods for assembling scarecrows.

In one aspect, a scarecrow according to the disclosure includes a scarecrow body corresponding generally in shape to a body of a live animal and an assembled hollow scarecrow head of molded plastic construction corresponding in shape to a head of the live animal. The assembled head includes a front face portion and a separate rear head portion fixed together to form the head, the front face portion having a front receiver and the rear head portion having a rear receiver. The scarecrow includes a motor having a rotatable motor shaft; a mounting insert fixed to the motor with the motor shaft extending below the mounting insert, the mounting insert received by the front receiver and the rear receiver to fix the mounting insert to the head; and a mounting bracket fixed to the scarecrow body and having a motor shaft receiver into which the rotatable motor shaft is received. Rotation of the motor shaft rotates the assembled scarecrow head relative to the scarecrow body.

In another aspect, a scarecrow according to the disclosure includes a scarecrow body corresponding generally in shape to a body of a live animal and an assembled head of molded plastic construction corresponding in shape to a head of the live animal. The assembled head includes a front face portion and a rear head portion press-fit together, the front face portion having a front receiver and the rear head portion having a rear receiver. The scarecrow also includes a motor having a rotatable motor shaft and a mounting insert fixed to the motor with the motor shaft extending below the mounting insert. The mounting insert is received by the front receiver and the rear receiver to fix the mounting insert to the head.

In a further aspect, the disclosure provides a method for assembling a scarecrow, including the steps of providing a front face portion and a rear head portion of a scarecrow head, the front face portion having a front receiver and the rear head portion having a rear receiver; providing a motor assembly having a motor with a rotatable motor shaft and a mounting insert fixed to the motor with the motor shaft extending below the mounting insert; installing the mounting insert onto either the front receiver or the rear receiver; and fitting the front face portion and the rear head portion together.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With initial reference toFIG.1, there is shown a scarecrow10having a scarecrow body12and a head14mounted for motorized movement relative to the body12. The scarecrow10is configured as a great-horned owl, but it will be appreciated that scarecrows according to the disclosure may be configured as other birds and other animals, preferably predator animals such as hawks or cats. However, if desired for novelty or entertainment purposes of a moving body and a moving body part, with the moving body part configured of two-piece construction as described herein.

A motor assembly16is installed inside the head14and supported by the scarecrow body12to enable motorized movement of the head14relative to the body12. The motor assembly includes a motor16a, a mounting insert16b, and a mounting bracket16c.

The motor16ais preferably a direct current motor controlled by an electronic circuit18having a motion sensor20. The electronic circuit18is connected to the motor16aas by a wire18a. The electronic circuit18and the motor16aare powered as by a battery22. The battery20is charged as by a solar panel24that may be mounted on the head14(FIG.10A).

The body12corresponds to the body of the owl replicas described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,901,491, entitled “Owl With Movable Head,” issued May 11, 1999, U.S. Pat. No. 7,966,963, entitled “Owl With Intermittent Powered Movement,” issued Jun. 28, 2011, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,171,875, entitled “Owl With Intermittent Powered Movement,” issued May 8, 2012, each incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. In this regard, the body12externally resembles the shape and appearance of the body of a live owl. The body12includes a concave upper surface12ato receive a lower portion of the head14so that the head14is countersunk into the body12to enhance the realistic appearance of the replica and to avoid diminishment of this appearance during movement of the head14.

The head14is provided by a front face portion14aand a rear head portion14bthat assemble and matingly engage one another to provide the head14. The head14in the assembled state corresponds externally in shape to the head of a live owl. The assembled head14is generally hollow and globe-shaped. The assembled head14has an aperture14cadjacent the lower portion of the head14. A plastic mouth or beak30aand plastic eyes30bare installed into corresponding receivers14dand14e, respectively, formed on the front face portion14a. The front face portion14aadvantageously provides a structure that has a flattened profile and this profile facilitates automated insertion of the beak30aand eyes30b. The automated insertion of beak30aand eyes30bis difficult with a one-piece head and is generally done by hand. It will be appreciated that the beak and the eyes may be formed with the front face portion14aduring molding, but, the realistic appearance of separately molded mouths/beaks and eyes is generally better.

The front face portion14aand the rear head portion14bhave cooperating snap or press fit connectors32that matingly engage one another in press or snap fit relationships to facilitate tool-less assembly of the head14. One advantage of the two-piece molded head design includes a significant reduction in the labor and ease of installation of the motor assembly16.

For example, as shown inFIGS.2and3, the motor16ais connected to the mounting insert16b, and this assembly is secured to the rear head portion14bby pressing the mounting insert16binto a receiver34bformed on the rear head portion14bconfigured to receive a slotted or recessed edge16bbof the mounting insert16b. The front face portion14ahas a corresponding receiver34afor receiving the recessed edge16bbof the mounting insert16b, and the front face portion14amay be press-fit onto the rear head portion14bwhich greatly simplifies installation of the motor16aand the mounting insert16binto the head14. In this regard, it will be observed that the recessed edge16bbsurrounds the circumference of the insert16b.

The mounting insert16bincludes a central aperture16bbbthrough which a motor shaft16aapasses. The mounting insert16balso includes motor mount apertures16bbbbthrough which fasteners36may pass to fasten to the motor16a. For example, the fasteners36may be threaded fasteners and the motor16aincludes corresponding threaded apertures to receive the fasteners36.

The mounting bracket16cis configured as a pedestal to cooperate with the concave upper surface12aof the body12. The motor shaft16aaof the motor16aengages the mounting bracket16c. The motor shaft16aais desirably configured to fittingly mate into a corresponding motor shaft receiver16ccof the mounting bracket16c. Thus, when the motor shaft16aais fitted to the motor shaft receiver16cc, and the mounting bracket16cis secured to the scarecrow body12, operation of the motor16aserves to rotate the motor16arelative to the scarecrow body12.

The mounting bracket16cis secured to the body12, as by a fastener38or adhesive or other securement to rigidly fix the mounting bracket16cin place on the body12. The mounting bracket16cmay also be co-formed with the body12. The mounting bracket16cmay be installed onto the motor shaft16aaand then the head14with the motor assembly16installed onto the body12. Alternatively, the mounting bracket16cmay be installed onto the body12and then the head14, with the motor16aand the mounting insert16binstalled thereon, may be installed onto the mounting bracket16by engaging the motor shaft16aaonto the motor shaft receiver16ccof the mounting bracket16c.

Because the motor16ais fixed to the mounting insert16b, which is fixed relative to the head14, operation of the motor16aserves to rotate the head14relative to the body12, as depicted inFIGS.9A-9C and10A-10c. In this regard, the motor16ais configured to do about ⅛ of a revolution each direction, back and forth, to move the head about 45 degrees each direction. Thus, the motor16ais oriented so that the starting position of the shaft16aarenders the head14oriented relative to the body12so that the head14is forward facing relative to the body12.

The electronic circuit18and the battery22are desirably mounted within the rear head portion14b, with interior surfaces of the rear head portion14bconfigured to receive the electronic circuit18and the battery22. It will be appreciated that the two-piece construction of the head14greatly simplifies installation of the electronic circuit18and the battery22into the head14. The two-piece construction of the head14also facilitates replacement of the battery22, the circuit18, the motor16aor other components if repair or replacement is needed.

The electronic circuit18and the motion sensor20are operative to activate the motor16awhen motion is sensed by the motion sensor. For example, should a rabbit or the like be proximate and moving near the scarecrow10(e.g., within 5 feet), the motion sensor20will sense this motion and send a signal to the electronic circuit18. The circuit18will then supply power to operate the motor16afor a determined period of time, such as a few seconds, and the motor16awill operate to rotate the head14back and forth as depicted inFIGS.9A-9C and10A-10cto mimic the head rotation of a live owl to enhance the effectiveness of the scarecrow10. The electronic circuit18may be of any design suitable for providing this desired function.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the disclosure provides a scarecrow having a motorized head that senses motion proximate the scarecrow. When such motion is sensed, the motor is operated to rotate the head back and forth to mimic the head movements of a live predator such as an owl. This advantageously provides a scarecrow that more realistically mimics the presence of a live owl or the like to provide a more effective scarecrow device.