Abstract:
A decoy apparatus, which in various aspects; the decoy apparatus may include a motor adapted to rotate a decoy body in a plane of rotation. The decoy apparatus may include a clamp adapted to detachably secure a decoy appendage, and an appendage servo in mechanical cooperation with the clamp to move the clamp and decoy appendage secured within the clamp in a plane perpendicular to the plane of rotation. The decoy apparatus includes a power source adapted to provide electrical power to the motor and to provide electrical power to the appendage servo, in various aspects. In various aspects, the decoy apparatus includes a remote transmitter to generate wireless signals adapted to direct motions of the decoy body servo and the appendage servo. The decoy apparatus includes a controller adapted to receive the wireless signals, the controller cooperates with the power source, the motor servo, and the appendage servo to cause motions of the decoy body and the decoy appendage as directed by the wireless signals, in various aspects. This Abstract is presented to meet requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) only. This Abstract is not intended to identify key elements of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This U.S. utility patent application claims the priority and benefits of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/614,355 entitled A WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS USED TO CONTROL MOVEMENT OF AN ANIMAL DECOY ON TWO (2) AXIS, WITH THE PURPOSE TO ADD LIFE LIKE MOTION filed on 22 Mar. 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to decoys and, more particularly, to movable decoys for the attraction of wild turkeys. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Many decoys are stationary, and, accordingly, lack life-like motion. Game may be wary and may not approach a decoy that lacks movement so that such decoys may be ineffective in attracting game. While various decoys may be available that include movement, the movement may be generally one-dimensional and therefore not sufficiently realistic to attract game. 
         [0006]    A search of the patent arts did not disclose any references that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related: 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat No. 5,029,408 published in the name of Randy J. Smith; 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat No. 5,459,958 published in the name of Darrell D. Reinke; 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat No. 6,487,810 B1 published in the name of Van Loughman; 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat No. 6,574,902 B1 published in the name of Conger et al.; 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat No. 6,658,782 published in the name of George W. Brint; 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat No. 7,627,977 published in the name of Arthur Denny; 
         [0013]    U.S. Patent Application no. 2004/0031185 A1 published in the name of Summers et al.; 
         [0014]    U.S. Patent Application No. 2005.0204604 published in the name of Noles et al.; and 
         [0015]    U.S. Patent Application No. 2011/0232153A1 published in the name of Jennings et al. 
         [0016]    Accordingly, there is a need for improved decoy apparatus as well as related methods that are moveable in multiple dimensions. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    These and other needs and disadvantages may be overcome by the decoy apparatus and related methods disclosed herein. Additional improvements and advantages may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of the present disclosure. 
         [0018]    A decoy apparatus is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the decoy apparatus may include a motor adapted to rotate a decoy body in a plane of rotation. The decoy apparatus may include a clamp adapted to detachably secure a decoy appendage, and an appendage servo in mechanical cooperation with the clamp to move the clamp and decoy appendage secured within the clamp in a plane perpendicular to the plane of rotation. The decoy apparatus includes a power source adapted to provide electrical power to the motor and to provide electrical power to the appendage servo, in various aspects. In various aspects, the decoy apparatus includes a remote transmitter to generate wireless signals adapted to direct motions of the decoy body servo and the appendage servo. The decoy apparatus includes a controller adapted to receive the wireless signals, the controller cooperates with the power source, the motor servo, and the appendage servo to cause motions of the decoy body and the decoy appendage as directed by the wireless signals, in various aspects. 
         [0019]    This summary is presented to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein as a prelude to the detailed description that follows below. Accordingly, this summary is not intended to identify key elements of the apparatus and methods disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  illustrates by perspective view an exemplary implementation of a decoy apparatus; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates by schematic view portions of the exemplary implementation of a decoy apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  illustrates by side view portions of the exemplary implementation of a decoy apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  illustrates by side view portions of the exemplary implementation of a decoy apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0024]    The Figures are exemplary only, and the implementations illustrated therein are selected to facilitate explanation. The number, position, relationship and dimensions of the elements shown in the Figures to form the various implementations described herein, as well as dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, flow and similar requirements are explained herein or are understandable to a person of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure. Where used in the various Figures, the same numerals designate the same or similar elements. Furthermore, when the terms “top,” “bottom,” “right,” “left,” “forward,” “rear,” “first,” “second,” “inside,” “outside,” and similar terms are used, the terms should be understood in reference to the orientation of the implementations shown in the drawings and are utilized to facilitate description thereof. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]      FIG. 1  illustrates an implementation of decoy apparatus  10 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , decoy apparatus  10  includes a decoy body  20  with outer surface  22 . Outer surface  22  of decoy body  20  may be configured such that decoy body  20  resembles at least a portion of a game bird or game animal such as a wild turkey, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Accordingly, outer surface  22  of decoy body  20  may be contoured in various ways, painted, textured, and so forth to lend outer surface  22  the desired appearance. Decoy body  20  may be formed of fiberglass, various plastics, wood, combinations thereof, and so forth, and decoy body  20  may be festooned with feathers, fur, or other natural or synthetic materials, as would be readily recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosures. 
         [0026]    Inner surface  24  of decoy body  20  defines cavity  26  so that decoy body  20  is generally hollow to allow placement of various mechanisms therein, in this implementation. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , decoy apparatus  10  includes compartment  30 , which is positioned within cavity  20  of decoy body  20 . Shaft  45 , as illustrated, extends forth from compartment  30  to engage decoy body  20 . Shaft  45  defines axis  101 , and shaft  45  rotates about axis  101  thereby defining a plane of rotation perpendicular to axis  101 . As axis  101  generally extends in the vertical direction, as illustrated, decoy body  20  rotates generally in the horizontal plane, as illustrated. When engaged with shaft  45 , rotation of shaft  45  causes decoy body  20  to rotate about axis  101 , as indicated by arrows  103 , in this implementation. 
         [0027]    Compartment  30  is further engaged with actuator arm  72  of decoy body servo  70 . Decoy body servo  70  is, in turn, mounted to end  93  of stake  90 , and stake point  91  of stake  90  may be driven into the ground, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , to hold decoy body  20  in position. Decoy body servo  70  is an electromechanical device configured to move actuator arm  72  generally along an arc indicated by arrows  107  in the Figure. In various implementations, decoy body servo  70  may be an RC servo, and decoy body servo  70  may be controlled by digital control signals, analog control signals, or combinations thereof. 
         [0028]    Stake  90  may be formed of metal such as steel or aluminum or various plastics, in various implementations. With stake point  91  driven into the ground, stake  90  supports the assembly of decoy body servo  70 , actuator arm  72 , compartment  30 , shaft  45 , and decoy body  20  in connection with one another, respectively, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Then, with stake point  91  of stake  90  driven into the ground, actuator arm  72  may be positioned by decoy body servo  70  between positions  75 ,  77 ,  79  (see  FIG. 4 ) such that decoy body  20  is toggled back and forth along an arc lying generally in a vertical plane as indicated by arrows  107  in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0029]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , decoy apparatus  10  includes appendage servo  130 . Clamp  140  is operatively coupled to appendage servo  130 , in this implementation, such that clamp  140  may be motioned by appendage servo  130  in the directions indicated by arrows  105  along with decoy appendage  27 , which is removably received in clamp  140 . Accordingly, as illustrated, decoy appendage  27 , which is configured as the tail feathers of a turkey in this implementation, is generally motioned in a vertical plane. Note that the vertical plane in which the decoy appendage  27  is motioned is perpendicular to the horizontal plane in which decoy body  20  is rotated, in this implementation. Appendage servo  130  is an electromechanical device configured to move actuator arm  133  (see  FIG. 3 ) generally along an arc indicated by arrows  107 . In various implementations, appendage servo  130  is an RC servo, and appendage servo  130  may be controlled by either digital control signals or by analog control signals. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  illustrates portions of decoy apparatus  10  including compartment  30 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , inner surface  34  of compartment  30  defines compartment cavity  36 . Motor  40  is secured to inner surface  34  of compartment  30  such that shaft  45  extends forth from compartment  30 . Motor  40  may be an electric motor generally configured to rotate shaft  45 . As illustrated in the implementation of  FIG. 2 , shaft  45  may be threaded, at least in part, and both nut  47  and wing nut  48  are threadedly received thereupon. Stop  46  is provided along shaft  45  to limit the traversal of nut  47  and wing nut  48  along shaft  45 . Shaft  45  may be passed through a hole (not shown) in decoy body  20  and the decoy body may be engaged between nut  47  and wing nut  48  such that nut  47  is biased against inner surface  24  and wing nut  48  is biased against outer surface  22  to secure removably the decoy body  20  to the shaft  45 . With the decoy body  20  so secured to shaft  45 , rotation of shaft  45  by motor  40  causes decoy body  20  to rotate, as indicated by arrows  103  in  FIG. 1 . Other methods of attachment may be used to secure decoy body  20  to shaft  45 , in other implementations. 
         [0031]    Controller  50  is in electrical communication with power supply  60  by pathway  121 . Pathway  121  passes through switch  65 , and switch  65 , which is mounted to outer surface  32  of compartment  30  in this implementation, may be toggled by a user between an off position and an on position to control the flow of electrical power from power supply  60  to controller  50 . 
         [0032]    Controller  50  is in electrical communication with motor  40  by pathway  111 , in electrical communication with decoy body servo  70  by pathway  117 , in electrical communication with appendage servo  130  by pathway  119 , in electrical communication with scent distributor  85  by pathway  115 , and in electrical communication with sound generator  88  by electrical pathway  89  to control the flow electrical power from power supply  60  to motor  40 , decoy body servo  70 , appendage servo  130 , scent distributor  85 , and sound generator  88 , and to control the operation of motor  40 , decoy body servo  70 , appendage servo  130 , scent distributor  85 , and sound generator  88 . Controller  50  may transmit analog control signals, digital control signals, or combinations thereof along pathways  89 ,  111 ,  115 ,  117 ,  119  to control the operation of sound generator  88 , motor  40 , scent distributor  85 , decoy body servo  70 , or appendage servo  130 , respectively. For example, controller  50  may transmit analog control signals, digital control signals, or combinations thereof along pathway  117  to control the positioning of actuator arm  72  by decoy body servo  70  such that decoy body servo  70  positions actuator arm  72  between position  75 ,  77 ,  79  or at positions intermediate of positions  75 ,  77 ,  79 . For example, controller  50  may transmit analog control signals, digital control signals, or combinations thereof along pathway  119  to control the positioning of actuator arm  133  by appendage servo  130  such that appendage servo  130  positions actuator arm  133  between position  132  and position  134  or at positions intermediate of positions  132 ,  134 . 
         [0033]    Controller  50  is adapted to receive wireless signals from wireless transmitter  150  with the wireless signals adapted to direct controller  50  to cause the motor  40  to rotate shaft  45 , decoy body servo  70  to position actuator arm  72 , appendage servo  130  to position actuator arm  133  (see  FIG. 3 ), activate scent distributor  85  to release scent, and activate sound generator  88  to generate sound. Accordingly, the operation of motor  40 , decoy body servo  70 , appendage servo  130 , scent distributor  85 , and sound generator  88  may be controlled by wireless transmitter  150  through wireless communications of wireless signals between wireless transmitter  150  and controller  50 . 
         [0034]    For example, the user may push button  151  on remote transmitter  150  thereby transmitting a wireless signal from remote transmitter  150  to controller  50 , the wireless signal causing controller  50  to activate motor  40  thereby rotating the decoy body  20  as indicated by arrows  103  in  FIG. 1 . In various implementations, the user may be able to control the rate of rotation of the decoy body  20  by motor  40 . The user, for example, may push button  152  on remote transmitter  150  thereby transmitting a wireless signal from remote transmitter  150  to controller  50 , the wireless signal causing controller  50  to activate motor decoy body servo  70  thereby toggling the decoy body  20  back and forth as indicated by arrows  107  in  FIG. 1 . In various implementations, the user may be able to control the rate at which the decoy body  20  is toggled or the length of the arc along which the decoy body is toggled. The user, for example, may push button  153  on remote transmitter  150  thereby transmitting a wireless signal from remote transmitter  150  to controller  50 , the wireless signal causing controller  50  to activate appendage servo  130  thereby motioning decoy appendage  27  as indicated by arrows  105  in  FIG. 1 . The user may be able to control the rate at which decoy appendage  27  is motioned or the length of the path along which decoy appendage  27  is motioned, in various implementations. Button  154  may initiate the transmission of wireless signals from remote transmitter  150  to controller  50  that, in turn, cause controller  50  to activate scent distributor  85 , and the user may be able to control the quantity of scent that is released. Button  155  may initiate the transmission of wireless signals from remote transmitter  150  to controller  50  that, in turn, cause controller  50  to activate sound generator  88  thereby generating sounds, respectively. The user may be able to control the magnitude or type of sound that is generated, in various implementations. 
         [0035]    Power source  60  may comprise one or more batteries of a standard size such as A, AA, D, combinations thereof, in various implementations. Sound generator  88  is adapted to make various sounds that may be attractive to the game bird or game animal. The type of sound may be selected by the user, and the magnitude of the sound may be selected by the user. Scent generator  85  is adapted to release various scents that may be attractive to the game bird or game animal. The type of scent or the quantity of scent released may be user selectable, in various implementations. 
         [0036]      FIG. 3  illustrates portions of decoy apparatus  10  including appendage servo  130 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , appendage servo  130  is mounted to plate  135 , and plate  135  may be mounted to decoy body  20  using threaded fasteners  136 ,  138  and wing nuts  137 ,  139  that are threadedly received upon fasteners  136 ,  138 , respectively. Threaded fasteners  136 ,  138  may be passed through holes (not shown) disposed about decoy body  20  for that purpose and wing nuts  137 ,  139  tightened thereupon to bias plate  135  against outer surface  22  of decoy body and wing nuts  137 ,  139  against inner surface  24  of decoy body to secure plate  135  to decoy body  20 . With plate  135  so secured to decoy body  20 , actuator arm  133  extends forth from decoy body  20  as does clamp  140 , which is secured to actuator arm  133 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Appendage servo  130  may be mounted to decoy body  20  in other ways, and other types of fasteners or fastener systems may be used to secure appendage servo  130  to decoy body  20 , in various other implementations. 
         [0037]    Decoy appendage  27  (see  FIG. 1 ) may be removably inserted into clamp  140  through clamp entry  143  such that portions of clamp  140  biases about portions of decoy appendage  27  to secure frictionally decoy appendage  27  within clamp  140 . Appendage servo  130  may position actuator arm  133  including clamp  140  and decoy appendage  27  secured within clamp  140  between position  132  (illustrated in solid) and position  134  (illustrated in phantom) to motion decoy appendage  27  as indicated by arrows  105 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  illustrates a portion of decoy apparatus including decoy body servo  70 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , decoy body servo  70  is mounted proximate end  93  of stake  90 , and actuator arm  72  is secured pivotally to decoy body servo  70  about pivot  73 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , decoy body servo  70  may pivot actuator arm  72  about pivot  73  to position actuator arm including decoy body  20  connected thereto between position  75  (illustrated in phantom), position  77  (illustrated in solid), and position  79  (illustrated in phantom) to toggle decoy body  20  back and forth along the arc indicated by arrows  107 . 
         [0039]    In operation, in some implementations the decoy apparatus  10  may be provided to the user completely assembled with decoy body  20  mounted to shaft  45  and with appendage servo  130  including actuator arm  133  and clamp  140  secured to decoy body  20 . In other implementations, the user may assemble at least portions of decoy apparatus  10  by mounting decoy body  20  upon shaft  45  and by securing appendage servo  130  including actuator arm  133  and clamp  140  to decoy body  20  in order to retrofit various portions of decoy apparatus  10  to a decoy body  20 . 
         [0040]    For example, the user may secure decoy body  20  to shaft  45  by passing shaft  45  through a hole (not shown) in decoy body  20  and engaging the decoy body  20  between nut  47  and wing nut  48  such that nut  47  is biased against inner surface  24  and wing nut  48  is biased against outer surface  22 . In some implementations, the hole through which shaft  45  is passed is provided in decoy body  20 , while, in other implementations, the user drills the hole through decoy body  20  and then passes shaft  45  therethrough. In still other implementations, decoy body  20  is provided to the user with the decoy body  20  mounted upon shaft  45 . 
         [0041]    The user may mount plate  135  to decoy body  20  by passing fasteners  136 ,  138  through holes (not shown) disposed about decoy body  20  for that purpose and tightening wing nuts  137 ,  139  against inner surface  24  of the decoy body  20  to bias plate  135  against outer surface  22  of decoy body  20  thereby securing plate  135  to decoy body  20 . When plate  135  is secured to decoy body  20 , actuator arm  133  with clamp  140  secured thereto extends forth from decoy body  20 . In some implementations, the holes through which fasteners  136 ,  138  are passed are provided in decoy body  20 , while, in other implementations, the user drills holes through decoy body  20  and then passes fasteners  136 ,  138  therethrough. In still other implementations, appendage servo  130  including actuator arm  133  and clamp  140  are provided to the user pre-mounted to decoy body  20 . 
         [0042]    With decoy body  20  mounted to shaft  45  and with appendage servo  130  including actuator arm  133  and clamp  140  mounted to decoy body  20 , stake point  91  of stake  90  may be driven into the ground to support decoy apparatus  10  at a desired location. The user may insert decoy appendage  27  into clamp  140 . The user may toggle switch  65  from the off position to the on position to activate controller  50  to connect controller  50  with power supply  60  in order to activate controller  50 . The user may toggle switch  65  from the on position to the off position to disconnect controller  50  from power supply  60  in order to deactivate controller  50 . 
         [0043]    With decoy apparatus  10  situated at the desired location and controller  50  activated by positioning switch  65  in the on position, the user may retreat to a concealed location where the user may transmit wireless signals from remote transmitter  150  to controller  50  to direct controller  50  to cause the motor  40  to rotate shaft  45 , to cause decoy body servo  70  to position actuator arm  72 , to cause appendage servo  130  to position actuator arm  133  (see  FIG. 3 ), to activate scent distributor  85 , or to activate sound generator  88 , as desired by the user. The user may direct the decoy body  20  to rotate, may direct motioning of the decoy appendage  27 , or may direct toggling of the decoy body  20 . The rotation of the decoy body  20 , the motioning of the decoy appendage  27 , and the toggling of the decoy body  20  may be consecutive, simultaneous, or combinations thereof, as directed by the user. 
         [0044]    Toggling of the decoy body  20  occurs in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane within which the decoy body  20  rotates. The decoy appendage  27  is motioned in generally the same plane as the decoy body  20  is toggled (the vertical plane), in this implementation, but decoy appendage  27  may be motioned in various other planes having various orientations, in other implementations. The decoy body  20  may be rotated or the decoy body  20  may be toggled in various other planes or combination of planes, in various other implementations. 
         [0045]    The user may withdraw stake  90  from the ground to relocate decoy apparatus  10 . The user may disassemble decoy apparatus  10  in part by removing shaft  45  from decoy body  20  by disengaging wing nut  48  and then removing shaft  45  from the hole in the decoy body  20 . The user may disassemble decoy apparatus  10  in part by removing decoy appendage  27  from clamp  140 . The user may disassemble decoy apparatus  10  in part by removing plate  135  from decoy body  20  thereby removing appendage servo  130 , actuator arm  133 , and clamp  140  from decoy body  20 . 
         [0046]    The foregoing discussion along with the Figures discloses and describes various exemplary implementations. These implementations are not meant to limit the scope of coverage, but, instead, to assist in understanding the context of the language used in this specification and in the claims. Upon study of this disclosure and the exemplary implementations herein, one of ordinary skill in the art may readily recognize that various changes, modifications and variations can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventions as defined in the following claims.