Abstract:
The waterfowl decoy support is formed of a length of stiff rod configured to support a ballasted flotation-type decoy above a land or water surface. The decoy support may have an elongated upper slot adapted to slide over the keel of the ballast weight of the decoy, or may have an upper support arm extending from the upper end of the rod, the uppermost end of the arm terminating in an eye. The eye provides a non-rigid connection to an eyebolt or the like secured to the back of the decoy, allowing the decoy to move in the wind. The lower end of the rod either may have a spike for insertion into the ground or a generally horizontal loop for placement on the surface of the ground.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to hunting decoys, and particularly to a waterfowl decoy support configured to attach removably to a buoyant waterfowl decoy in order to support the decoy either on land or in a shallow body of water. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Realistic hunting decoys are relatively costly, but they are necessary accessories for many types of hunting. An example of such is found in the field of waterfowl hunting, i.e., ducks and geese. Such amphibious game fowl may be found on the surface of a body of water or on land, and the successful hunter will require a number of high quality decoys adapted to each environment. This means that the hunter needs one set of decoys having supports for placement on land and a separate second set of decoys adapted for flotation on a body of water, thus increasing the cost of participating in the sport by a significant amount. 
         [0005]    Flotation decoys are specialized devices, in that they are provided with ballasted keels to keep them floating upright. The keels extend from beneath the decoy, and generally have some means of attaching an anchor line or the like as well. Thus a flotation type decoy is not adapted for placement on land, as the keel does not allow the decoy to sit upright when placed upon a solid surface. Decoys adapted for use on land do not have the ballasted keel of a flotation type decoy and thus do not remain upright to present a realistic appearance when placed upon a body of water, and may not even be capable of remaining afloat on the water. 
         [0006]    Thus, a waterfowl decoy support solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The waterfowl decoy support supports a waterfowl decoy having a ballasted keel either over a body of water or on land. Each of the decoy support embodiments is formed of a length of stiff, heavy gauge wire or rod having a square, round, or other cross-sectional shape. 
         [0008]    Various embodiments of the decoy support each include an upper portion bent to form a relatively long and narrow slot. The slot is adapted to slide removably over the stem of the ballast keel beneath the decoy and to grip the stem therein. A support rod or strut extends from the upper portion, the rod or strut being disposed substantially beneath the longitudinal center of the slot for proper balance of the decoy. The lower end of the support strut provides an interface with the underlying surface, comprising either a spike for driving into the solid surface or a loop of square, circular, or other planform, with the plane of the loop being generally normal to and centered about the axis of the support strut or rod. 
         [0009]    Other embodiments of the decoy each have a support arm extending upwardly and outwardly from the upper end of the support rod or strut. The support arm curves back over the support rod or strut and terminates in a decoy attachment eye spaced above the support rod. The attachment eye provides attachment to the back of the decoy by means of an eye screw or the like, which is threaded into the back of the decoy, thus allowing the decoy to sway and move slightly in any breeze that may occur. The lower end of the support strut may comprise either a spike or a square, circular, or other shaped loop, as in the case of the first embodiments of the decoy support. The decoy attachment eye is disposed above the plane of the loop. 
         [0010]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view showing a plurality of waterfowl decoys deployed upon a land surface and over a body of water, each of the decoys being supported by a waterfowl decoy support according to the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a waterfowl decoy support according to the present invention, showing the manner of attaching the decoy to the support. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a waterfowl decoy support according to the present invention, shown in a manner similar to  FIG. 2 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a waterfowl decoy support according to the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a waterfowl decoy support according to the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a waterfowl decoy support according to the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a waterfowl decoy support according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0018]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    The waterfowl decoy support enables flotation-type decoys to be deployed either upon or over the surface of a body of water, or upon a land surface. Various embodiments of the decoy support are disclosed, each of the supports being formed of a single length of stiff and rigid metal rod or wire of any practicable cross-sectional shape. 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  of the drawings is an environmental perspective view showing both first and second embodiments of the waterfowl decoy supports, designated generally as  10  and  110 , respectively, deployed in the field. Each of the decoy supports  10 ,  110  is shown supporting a flotation-type waterfowl decoy D (e.g., a duck, or other waterfowl species alternatively) thereon. The two types or embodiments of decoy supports  10 ,  110  illustrated in  FIG. 1  are shown in detail respectively in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The only difference between the embodiments of the decoy supports  10  and  110  of  FIGS. 2 and 3  and those illustrated in  FIG. 1  is that the decoy supports shown in  FIG. 1  are each formed of a single, unitary length of wire or rod having a round cross section, while the decoy embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3  are formed of a single length of wire or rod having a square cross section. 
         [0021]    The decoy support  10  illustrated in detail in  FIG. 2  includes an elongate, stiff rod portion  12  having a base end  14  and an opposite decoy attachment end  16 . The rod portion  12  defines an elongate axis A. The rod portion  12  may be of any practicable length. The base end  14  terminates in a ground penetration spike. The base end may be sharpened, if desired. It will be seen that the decoy attachment end portion  16  of the rod  12  is laterally offset from the rod axis A. An elongate first grip member  18  extends from the offset decoy attachment end  16 . The first grip member  18  has a 180° bend in its distal end  20 . An elongate second grip member  22  extends back from the distal end  20  of the first grip member  18  to lie laterally opposite and parallel to the first grip member. The two grip members  18  and  22  define a decoy keel gripping slot  24  therebetween, the slot  24  having a longitudinal axis L. The laterally offset decoy attachment end portion  16  of the rod  12  results in the longitudinal axis L of the decoy keel gripping slot  24  being coplanar with the axis A of the rod portion  12 , the two axes A and L being substantially normal to one another. 
         [0022]    Flotation type decoys D are conventionally provided with a longitudinally disposed ballast keel K extending therebeneath. The keel K has an inverted T cross section with a stem S and a laterally symmetrical flange F extending across the lower end of the stem normal thereto, generally as shown in  FIGS. 2 through 5  of the drawings. The two ends of the first and second grip members  18  and  22  that are opposite the distal end  20  of the first member that connects to the second member define a throat  26  into which the stem S of the decoy ballast keel K is inserted. The stem S is advanced through the slot  24  of the decoy support  10  until it is stopped by the closed distal end  20  of the grip members  18  and  22  so that the grip members  18  and  22  bear against the sides of the keel stem S to secure the decoy D to the support  10 . The decoy D cannot be lifted from the slot  24  due to the wider flange F of the keel K, which extends laterally below each of the grip members  18  and  22 . The lateral offset of the upper portion  16  of the rod  12  provides clearance for the flange F of the ballast keel. The decoy D may be installed upon the support  10  to face in either direction, and is not limited to the orientation illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  of the drawings illustrates a second embodiment of the decoy support, designated as support  110 . The support  110  is substantially identical to the support  10  of  FIG. 2  excepting for the base, with identical components sharing identical reference numerals. The base end  114  of the decoy support  110  is bent normal to the axis A of the rod  12  is formed into a support loop  128  having a square or rectangular periphery, being formed integrally with the rod  12  as a continuous extension thereof. The support loop  128  defines a plane that is substantially normal to the axis A of the rod  12 . The offset provided by the base end  114  of the rod  12  results in the axis A of the rod  12  penetrating the general center of the plane of the support loop  128 . The decoy support  110  of  FIG. 3  allows the support  110  and its decoy D to be placed upon firmer surfaces without the need to penetrate the surface, as would be the case with the first embodiment of the decoy support  10 . 
         [0024]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate two additional embodiments of the decoy support, respectively designated as decoy support  210  ( FIG. 4) and 310  ( FIG. 5 ). The decoy support  210  of  FIG. 4  has an elongate, stiff support rod  312  substantially identical to the support rod  12  of the decoy support  10  of  FIG. 2 , i.e., having an elongate axis A and a base end  214  terminating in a ground penetration spike. While the base end  214  may be blunt, as shown, preferably the end is sharpened to facilitate ground penetration in firmer ground. 
         [0025]    The opposite decoy attachment end  216  of the rod  210  has an arcuate decoy suspension arm  218  extending generally upwardly therefrom, with the suspension arm  218  terminating in a distal end  220 . A decoy attachment eye  222  is formed in the distal end  220  of the suspension arm  218 . The arcuate curve of the suspension arm  218  is sufficiently large to provide clearance for a waterfowl decoy D suspended from the attachment eye  222 . The decoy D has a support attachment eye or component C (e.g., an eye screw, etc.) extending from its back, and is removably connected to the eye  222  of the suspension arm  218  of the support  212 . (The decoy attachment eye  222  of the decoy support  210  may have a slight gap therein, as shown in  FIG. 4 , to allow the support attachment eye or component C of the decoy D to pass therethrough to install and remove the decoy D from the support  210 .) 
         [0026]    The movable link provided by the attachment component or eye C and the suspension arm eye  222  allows the decoy D to swing and move in any breeze that might occur, thus adding further realism to the decoy D. A conventional swivel or the like, e.g., fishing leader swivel, etc., may be installed between the support attachment component or eye C of the decoy D and the suspension arm eye  220 , if desired, to allow the decoy to pivot or revolve through 360°. While the suspension arm  218  is visible above a portion of the decoy D, its relatively thin structure results in its not being readily apparent. Additional concealment may be provided by covering it in a camouflage color or pattern (e.g., weeds, reeds, etc.) to provide a more natural appearance. 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  of the drawings illustrates a fourth embodiment of the decoy support, designated as support  310 . The support  310  is substantially identical to the support  210  of  FIG. 4 , excepting for the base, with identical components sharing identical reference numerals. The base end  314  of the decoy support  310  is bent normal to the axis A of the rod  212  and extends to a support loop  328  having a square or rectangular periphery, which is formed integrally with the rod  212  as a continuous extension thereof. The support loop  328  defines a plane that is substantially normal to the axis A of the rod  212 . The offset provided by the base end  314  of the rod  212  results in the axis A of the rod  212  penetrating the general center of the plane of the support loop  328 . The decoy support  310  of  FIG. 5  allows the support  310  and its decoy D to be placed upon firmer surfaces without the need to penetrate the surface, as would be the case with the decoy support  210 . 
         [0028]    As in the case of the other embodiments described further above, the decoy support  310  of  FIG. 5  may be provided in combination with a waterfowl decoy, if desired. The various decoy supports described herein provide much greater versatility for flotation-type decoys, enabling them to be used conventionally on the surface of a body of water or to be supported by means of any of the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 through 5 . While the various decoy support embodiments described herein are particularly well suited for the deployment of flotation-type decoys on land, it should be noted that they may also be placed in shallow water, if desired, as shown by one of the decoys and supports in the environmental view of  FIG. 1 . It should also be noted that while the embodiments of  FIGS. 4 and 5  show flotation type decoys having ballast keels, the attachment of the decoy to the support by a fitting or component attached to the back of the decoy allows other types of decoys to be used with such supports, if desired. 
         [0029]      FIG. 6  of the drawings illustrates a fifth embodiment of the decoy support, designated as decoy support  410 . The decoy support  410 , illustrated in detail in  FIG. 6 , includes an elongate, stiff rod portion  412  having a round cross-section defining a base end  414  and an opposite decoy attachment end  416 , similar to the corresponding components of the first embodiment decoy support  10  of  FIG. 2 . The rod portion  412  defines an elongate axis A. The rod portion  412  may be of any practicable length. The base end  414  terminates in a ground penetration spike. The base end  414  may be sharpened, if desired. It will be seen that the decoy attachment end portion  416  of the rod  412  is laterally offset from the rod axis A by a lateral bend of substantially 90°, rather than the shallower bend of approximately 30° used in other embodiments. 
         [0030]    An elongate first grip member  418  extends from the offset decoy attachment end  416 . The first grip member  418  has a generally triangular loop resulting in a 180° bend in its distal end  420 . This loop forming the 180° bend in the distal end  420  may have some other regular or irregular geometric shape, if desired. An elongate second grip member  422  extends back from the distal end loop  420  of the first grip member  418  to lie laterally opposite and parallel to the first grip member. The two grip members  418  and  422  define a decoy keel gripping slot  424  therebetween, the slot  424  having a longitudinal axis L. The laterally offset decoy attachment end portion  416  of the rod  412  results in the longitudinal axis L of the decoy keel gripping slot  424  being coplanar with the axis A of the rod portion  412 , the two axes A and L being substantially normal to one another. 
         [0031]    The two ends of the first and second grip members  418  and  422  that are opposite the distal end loop  420  connecting the first member  418  to the second member  422  define a throat  426  into which the stem S of the decoy ballast keel K is inserted, as in the case of the other decoy support embodiments of  FIGS. 1 through 3 . The terminating end  428  of the second grip member  422  is bent outwardly opposite its counterpart component between the decoy attachment end portion  416  and the first grip member  428 , as in the other embodiments of  FIGS. 1 through 3 . However, it will be noted that this terminating end  428  is staggered or offset toward the loop end  420  of the grip members  418  and  422 , rather than being aligned with its counterpart component as in the embodiments of  FIGS. 1 through 3 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 7  of the drawings illustrates a sixth embodiment of the decoy support, designated as support  510 . The support  510  is substantially identical to the support  410  of  FIG. 5 , except for the base, and is shown with identical reference numerals being used to designate those components and features identical to the support  410  of  FIG. 5 . However, the base is configured substantially identical to the base of the second embodiment decoy support  110  of  FIG. 3 , and is shown with like reference numerals to those used to designate components of the base of the decoy support  110  of  FIG. 3  being used to designate like components of the base of the decoy support  510  of  FIG. 7 . The decoy support  510  of  FIG. 7  is preferably formed of a length of rigid rod having a round cross-section, as in the case of the decoy support  410  of  FIG. 6 . 
         [0033]    The base end  114  of the decoy support  510  is bent normal to the axis A of the rod  412  and is formed into a support loop  128  having a square or rectangular periphery, being formed integrally with the rod  412  as a continuous extension thereof. The support loop  128  defines a plane that is substantially normal to the axis A of the rod  412 . The offset provided by the base end  114  of the rod  412  results in the axis A of the rod  412  penetrating the general center of the plane of the support loop  128 . The decoy support  510  of  FIG. 6  allows the support  510  and its decoy D to be placed upon firmer surfaces without the need to penetrate the surface, as would be the case with the first embodiment of the decoy supports  10 ,  210 , and  410 , respectively of  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  6 . 
         [0034]    Each of the waterfowl decoy support embodiments is formed of a single, unitary length of stiff rod or the like having either a round, rectangular, or other cross-section, with such material being relatively inexpensive. The dies, tooling, and/or other fixtures that may be used to form the shapes of the waterfowl decoy supports enable the various embodiments to be manufactured quickly and easily. As a result, the waterfowl decoy support in any of its various embodiments is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, enabling sellers of the device to set a reasonably economical price for the device. The hunter or other person requiring a number of waterfowl decoy supports for use with a corresponding number of decoys, may readily purchase the required number of supports without undue financial hardship due to the relatively low cost of the devices, particularly in comparison to other decoy accessories of the prior art and the preclusion of need of an additional set of decoys configured strictly for land use. 
         [0035]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.