Abstract:
A hunting decoy having two pairs of receiver slots for receiving a wire wing attachment which is flexible and moves gently when wind or air passes over a cloth clover of the wing attachment. A hook ring attached to the bottom of the wing allows a string to connect the wing to the ground or underneath of the body of the decoy to the other wing to provide a gentle bend to the wings and to prevent them from flying upwards.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of, and claims priority in, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/493,417, Filed Apr. 21, 2017, which claims priority in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/326,120 Filed Apr. 22, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a hunting decoy harness and method for use thereof, and more specifically to a hunting decoy wire-framed harness with wing accessories for use with existing hunting decoys. 
       2. Description of the Related Art 
       [0003]    Existing hunting decoys for geese and other birds have been rather standardized over the past twenty-plus years. These include models for all varieties of fowl and bird. Some standard decoys include the Bigfoot and B2 models of goose decoys sold by Cabela&#39;s Inc. of Sidney, Nebraska. Others include: the Fully Body Decoys manufactured by Dakota Decoy Company of Vermillion, South Dakota; various decoys by Flambeau, Inc. of Middlefield, Ohio; and other similar solid-bodied decoys. 
         [0004]    These decoys are generally stationary and require being placed on the ground. It is common for hunters to own dozens of these decoys and to deploy them around an area. However, geese and other birds soon learn what to look for with these stationary, standard decoys and learn to avoid their placement. What is needed is a modification for these existing decoys which allows the decoys to appear more life-like to geese and other birds such that they are more effective for attracting these birds. 
         [0005]    Heretofore there has not been available a system or method for a decoy harness with the advantages and features of the present invention. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention generally provides a harness assembly for a hunting decoy, such as a goose or crane decoy. The harness is made of wire for flexibility such that it can fit over most/all standard hunting decoys. The harness is made from a single piece of wire bent and formed with a central back arch, two side angles which bend generally perpendicular from the arch on either side, which then are bent again several times and terminate into leg hooks for hooking around the legs of the decoy, thereby securing the harness in place. Optionally, if the decoy has no legs, the lower portions of the harness can interlock beneath the decoy&#39;s body. 
         [0007]    The top corners of the harness include receiver slots for receiving a wire wing attachment which is flexible and moves gently when wind or air passes over a cloth clover of the wing attachment. The wire wing attachments include frames formed to appear structurally similar to the wings of a goose or other bird. The covers are made of a soft, durable material such as Tyvek ® cloth. A preferred embodiment would have the cloth crinkled and crumpled to create a softer exterior to the cloth. This exterior may be painted or otherwise colored to more accurately resemble a bird wing. A hook ring attached to the bottom of the wing allows a string to connect the wing to the ground or underneath of the body of the decoy to the other wing to provide a gentle bend to the wings and to prevent them from flying upwards. 
         [0008]    No motor or other device is used to make the wings and feet move—all movement is due to wind and the flexibility of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention illustrating various objects and features thereof. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a three-dimensional isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention at a first step. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a three-dimensional isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention at a second step. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a three-dimensional isometric view of a harness element of the present invention thereof. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of an embodiment of the present invention in a typical environment of a decoy body having no leg elements. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a three-dimensional isometric view of a wing frame element thereof. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view thereof. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a top plan view diagramming the combination of multiple elements of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view continuing the process from  FIG. 6 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view continuing the process from  FIG. 7 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a three-dimensional isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 11A  is a prior art foot element. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11B  is an alternative foot element which can be used in conjunction with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a diagrammatic front elevational view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention mounted on a pole structure. 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a three-dimensional isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the harness elements are built directly into the body of the decoy. 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is a three-dimensional isometric view thereof showing a second step of attaching the wing frames. 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is a three-dimensional isometric view thereof showing a third step of placing the wing covers to the wing frames. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     I. Introduction and Environment 
       [0026]    As required, detailed aspects of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
         [0027]    Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientated in the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof. Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction of travel, if appropriate. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning. 
       II. Preferred Embodiment Hunting Decoy Harness System  2   
       [0028]      FIG. 1  shows a hunting decoy harness system  2 , including a wire-framed harness  8 . The rest of the system, as further detailed in  FIGS. 2-9  show additional elements, including wing wire frames  24  covered in cloth wing covers  44 . Receivers  18  for receiving the wing wire frames  24  onto the wire-framed harness are welded onto front  14  and rear  16  plates onto the harness  8 . They receive wing wire frame  24  ends  38 . This entire system is installed on a standard decoy  4  provided by a third party of any size. The harness is designed to fit most or all solid bodied decoys. 
         [0029]    The harness frame is made of semi-flexible wire such that it fits snugly over the body of the decoy.  FIG. 3  shows the harness  8  alone. The harness  8  generally includes a wire frame which has a curved arch  10  designed to sit on the back of the decoy body, and two side wires  12  which connect front  14  and rear  16  welded plates. The side wires  12  are bent into a lower portion  20  which terminates into a hooked end  22  for wrapping behind the legs  6  of the decoy  4 . The curved arch  10  may include a tab  28  for receiving a screw or other connector for securing the harness  8  to the back of the decoy  4 . A secondary structural wire  26  may also be included between the receivers  18  on either side of the harness  8  and may further be used to secure the wing sleeve  44  as discussed below. The sleeve could be painted to resemble a bird&#39;s wings or could be screen printed with an actual photo of a bird&#39;s wings for a more realistic effect. 
         [0030]    Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the lower portions  20  of the harness  8  can be further bent such that the hooked ends  22  interlock with one another, thereby securing the harness about the body of a decoy with or without leg  6  elements. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show a wire wing  24  element. The wing has a wire frame  30  which terminates into two end inserts  38  which are received by the receivers  18  on the harness  8 . Structural cross wires  36  help to keep the shape of the wire wing  24 . A frontal structural wire  32  may include a loop  34  or other tie-down receiver for receiving a string or other tie-down element for securing the wing to the ground, the decoy, or another surface. This prevents the wings from lifting the harness off of the body due to wind. 
         [0032]    The wire wing includes a front edge  40  and a rear edge  42 . A wing sleeve  44  fits over the wire wing  24  and helps to secure the wing to the harness  8  as shown in  FIGS. 7-10 . As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a flap  50  can be wrapped about side wires  12  and/or secondary structural wire  26  of the harness. A hook-and-loop fastener can secure the flap  50  to the main body of the sleeve  44 , with a first portion hook-and-loop fastener  46  on the sleeve  44  and a second portion hook-and-loop fastener  48  on the flap  50 . The wing sleeves are made of a soft material intended not to make much noise when rustled by the wind. Suitable material includes crumpled Tyvek ®cloth or suitable material which provides high durability in the wind and other elements. The material may be painted or otherwise colored. The wings are designed to resemble natural wings and when the decoy is placed in a field, the wings catch the wind and raise and lower in a natural manner. 
         [0033]      FIG. 11A  shows a prior art solid foot  52  which is connected to the leg  6  of a decoy  4 . The foot  52  has an inset  54  which connects to the leg  6  and a base  56  which resembles the foot of a bird and which helps to balance the decoy. When raised in the air, these prior art feet  52  remain fixed, rigid, and unnatural. 
         [0034]      FIG. 11B  shows a new foot  58  which connects to the leg  6  of the decoy  4 . The connector  60  may be similar to that of the prior art, or may simply tie or otherwise engage the base of the leg  6  of the decoy  4 . The foot portion  62  is made of the same material as the wing sleeve  44 . When raised in the air such as via a pole and round washer as shown in  FIG. 11 , these feet will move gently in the breeze, simulating real life movement. The wings cause the decoy to turn into the wind about the round washer, simulating an actual bird landing or taking off from a field. This provides a real, life-like appearance to an otherwise stationary static decoy which provides superior performance of the decoy not provided by the base model 
       III. Alternative Embodiment Raised Decoy with Hunting Decoy Harness System  102   
       [0035]      FIG. 12  shows the hunting decoy harness system  2  as described above, but in this alternative embodiment system  102 , the decoy  4  is raised into the air on top of a pole  64 . A round washer  66  or other rotatable pedestal mount receives the base of the decoy and allows it to turn freely as wind blows the wings  22 / 24 . The feet  58  also move in the breeze. Ties  68  connect to the loops  34  of the wings and prevent them from raising to far, such that they remain natural and appear to be flapping in the wind. 
         [0036]    A hole could be drilled through the body of the decoy  4  such that the top of the pole  64  pokes through the decoy  4  and is received by the tab  28 . A pin could be used to secure the pole  64  end into the tab  28 , and the decoy can rotate about the pole. Alternatively, if the user didn&#39;t want to drill a hole through the decoy, a bungee cord could be wrapped about the body of the decoy  4  about the two front plates and that could be fastened to the pole. Alternatively, another pair of wire legs could wrap about the body of the decoy  4 , where one end of each leg is welded to a respective front plate  14 , and the other end of each leg are connected beneath the decoy  4  about the pole. 
       IV. Alternative Embodiment Decoy System  202   
       [0037]      FIGS. 13-15  show a decoy system  202  wherein a decoy  204  includes front  214  and rear  216  connectors which include receivers  218  for receiving the wing wire frames  24 , just as indicated in the previous embodiments. Here, the connectors  214 ,  216  are either built directly into the body  204  of the decoy, or are affixed to the exterior of the decoy  204  with screws, tape, adhesive, or some other semi-permanent affixing means. This foregoes the requirement to use a harness, and instead incorporates the elements of that invention directly into the body of the decoy, providing a location to hook up the wing frames  24  and wing covers  44  as previously discussed. A matching pair of front  214  and rear  216  plates and receivers  218  are located on the opposite side as shown in  FIGS. 13-15 . 
         [0038]    Optionally, the decoy system  202  may include a structural wire  226  which can be used to receive part of the wing covers  44  as in the embodiment described above. Additionally, a tab and receiver hole  228  can be used to receive a pole for mounting the decoy  204 . 
         [0039]    It is to be understood that while certain embodiments and/or aspects of the invention have been shown and described, the invention is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects.