Abstract:
A bird decoy apparatus comprising a base, a spring-loaded pulley connected to said base, wherein said pulley comprises a pulley cable, at least one rod having a first end and a second end, wherein a bird decoy is attached to said first end of said rod; a pole connected to said pulley and to said second end of said rod; and a substantially circular track connected to said base, said track having varying heights, wherein said rod is in contact with said track. A method for attracting game birds is also disclosed comprising the step of pulling the pulley cable of the bird decoy apparatus, which causes the rod with a bird decoy attached to travel around the track.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The present invention relates generally to a bird decoy apparatus and, more particularly, to a duck and goose decoy. 
         [0005]    2. Brief Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    Decoys have been used for many years to attract wild game, such as ducks and geese, for hunting purposes. The prior art decoy devices can be positioned either on land or in water. Some of the attached decoys of the prior art devices remain stationary during operation, while others are capable of movement. To allow movement of the attached decoys, some of the prior art decoy devices require motors and gears. 
         [0007]    The prior art decoy devices, however, do not allow the operator of the decoy device to control both the lateral movement of the attached decoys above the water or land and the vertical movement of the attached decoys. 
         [0008]    It therefore would be desirable to develop a bird decoy apparatus that allows the operator of the decoy apparatus to manually control both the lateral and vertical movements of the attached decoys. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention is directed to a bird decoy apparatus comprising (a) a base; (b) a spring-loaded pulley connected to said base, wherein said pulley comprises a pulley cable; (c) at least one rod having a first end and a second end, wherein a bird decoy is attached to said first end of said rod; (d) a pole comprising a first end and a second end, said first end of said pole connected to said pulley and said second end of said pole connected to said second end of said rod; and (e) a substantially circular track connected to said base, said track having varying heights, wherein said rod is in contact with said track. 
         [0010]    The present invention is also directed to a method for attracting game birds comprising the steps of: (a) placing the bird decoy apparatus disclosed above in a body of water or on a piece of land, wherein said bird decoy apparatus further comprises a second cable; (b) attaching said second cable to a stationary object; and (c) pulling said pulley cable wherein pulling said pulley cable is effective to rotate said rod around said track. 
         [0011]    The present invention is also directed to a method for attracting game birds comprising the steps of: (a) placing the bird decoy apparatus disclosed above in a body of water, wherein said bird decoy apparatus further comprises a second cable; (b) attaching said pulley cable to a stationary object; and (c) pulling said second cable wherein pulling said second cable is effective to rotate said rod around said track and to move said bird decoy apparatus across the surface of said body of water. 
         [0012]    These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims in conjunction with the drawings as described following: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an elevated perspective view of the bird decoy apparatus. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2A  is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the bird decoy apparatus. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the bird decoy apparatus. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    According to a preferred embodiment, the bird decoy apparatus  10  is comprised of a base  12 , a spring-loaded pulley  14 , one or more rods  16 , one or more bird decoys  18 , and a track  20 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A, and  2 B. 
         [0017]    The base  12  is a container which is preferably a semi-spherical shape. The base  12  has a substantially flat top surface and an upwardly arched bottom surface. The base  12  has an opening  22  in its bottom surface for filling and draining a ballast material (e.g. water) from the base  12 . A plug  24  is received by the opening  22  and prevents leakage of the ballast material contained in the base  12 . The base  12  is capable of floating in a body of water, including, but not limited to, in a pond or lake. 
         [0018]    Attached to the top surface of the base  12  is a platform  26 . Platform  26  is preferably a circular-disc shape and made of plastic or a similar material that is light-weight and durable. The platform  26  is preferably filled with foam to maintain buoyancy in the event that the plastic comprising the platform  26  becomes damaged through use. The diameter of the platform  26  is preferably greater than the diameter of the base  12 . 
         [0019]    Resting on the top surface of the platform  26  is a spring-loaded pulley  14 . The pulley  14  is connected to the base  12  and to the platform  26  by fasteners such as those well-known to those skilled in the art, including, but not limited to, bolts, rivets, and screws. The pulley  14  is also of the type well-known to those skilled in the art. The pulley  14  includes a reel with a spool of cable  28 . The pulley cable  28  includes, but is not limited to, a string, line, or rope that is capable of being attached to the platform  26  and sufficiently strong to be pulled without breaking. The pulley  14  is positioned on the platform  26  such that the pulley cable  28  is horizontal to the platform  26  when it is extended from the pulley  14 . 
         [0020]    A pole  30  is attached to and extends vertically from the top of the pulley  14 . The pole  30  preferably is cylindrical in shape and 0.75-1 inch in diameter. The length of the pole  30  is variable, but is preferably less than the length of the rods  16 . Attached to the pole  30  are one or more rods  16 . The rods  16  are attached to the pole  30  by means well-known to those skilled in the art, including, but not limited to, brackets or hinges. The rods  16  are preferably cylindrical in shape, made of aluminum, fiberglass, or graphite, and 10-30 feet in length. However, the shape, material, and length of the rods  16  may vary. The rods  16  are preferably attached to the pole  30  at less than a 90 degree angle. In one embodiment, the rods  16  are attached to the pole  30  via a hinge. The rods  16  are separated from one another by an equal distance. A bird decoy  18  is attached to the rod  16  at the opposite end of the rod  16  from its attachment to the pole  30 . The decoy  18  is preferably a duck decoy, but instead may be any kind of game bird decoy. A second cable  32  is connected to the platform  26  and is of a similar type as the pulley cable  28 . 
         [0021]    An elevated track  20  is attached to the top surface of the platform  26 . The track  20  is preferably made of plastic. In one embodiment, the base  12 , the platform  26 , and the track  20  are molded as one plastic piece. The track  20  is positioned in a substantially circular arrangement and surrounds the pulley  14 . The diameter of the circle created inside the track  20  is less than the diameter of the platform  26 . The height of the track  20  increases and decreases around the course of the track  20 , preferably in the range of one inch to six inches in height. Thus, in one embodiment, the height of the track  20  gradually increases and decreases. However, in another embodiment, the height of the track  20  abruptly increases and decreases. The top surface of the track is preferably 0.5-1 inch in width. The rod  16  preferably contacts the top surface of the track  20  at a point approximately four to six inches from the point of attachment to the pole  30 . The remainder of the rod  16  (from the point of contact with track  20  to the decoy  18  attached at the end of the rod  16 ) extends in the air over and away from the track  20  and the platform  26 . 
         [0022]    When the pulley cable  28  is pulled from the spool of the pulley  14 , either manually by hand or by mechanical means, the pulley  14  rotates in a clockwise direction. This rotation of the pulley  14  causes a corresponding rotation of the pole  30  attached to the top of the pulley  14 . As the pole  30  rotates, the rods  16  attached to the pole  30 , and the decoys  18  attached to the rods  16 , also rotate in a clockwise direction. Because of the contact between the rods  16  and the track  20 , the rods  16  travel up-and-down along the track  20  as the pulley  14  rotates. Since the pulley is spring-loaded, when the pulley cable  28  is released back into the spool, the pulley  14 , pole  30 , rods  16 , and decoys  18  rotate counter-clockwise. This movement of the rods  16  along the track  20  causes a circling movement of the decoys  18  in the air above the platform  26  in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction (depending on whether the pulley cable  28  is being pulled or released) and movement of the decoys  18  at varying elevations. Thus, by manipulating the pulley cable  28 , the operator of the decoy apparatus  10  can simulate the circular flight patterns of game birds and control the movement of the decoys  18  vertically. 
         [0023]    During this process, the second cable  32  is attached to a stationary object nearby, including, but not limited to, a tree, post, or stake. By tying the second cable  32  to a stationary object, the decoy apparatus  10  remains floating in essentially the same location in the water. 
         [0024]    If, instead, the second cable  32  is pulled while the pulley cable  28  is tied to a nearby stationary object, then the operator can simultaneously control the movement of the decoys  18  both vertically and laterally. By pulling the second cable  32 , the entire decoy apparatus  10  moves in the direction in which the second cable  32  is pulled. Therefore, the decoys  18  move laterally in the same direction as the rest of the decoy apparatus  10 . Because the pulley cable  28  is tied, as the rest of the decoy apparatus  10  is pulled in the opposite direction, the pulley  14  is forced to rotate to release more pulley cable  28 . This clockwise rotation of the pulley  14  causes a corresponding rotation of the pole  30  attached to the top of the pulley  14 . As the pole  30  rotates, the rods  16  attached to the pole  30 , and the decoys  18  attached to the rods  16 , also rotate in a clockwise direction. Because of the contact between the rods  16  and the track  20 , the rotation of the rods  16  causes the rods to travel up-and-down along the track  20  as the pulley  14  rotates. During this process, the decoys  18  both circle the platform  26  at varying heights as the rods move along the track  20 , and move above the water in the direction in which the second cable  32  is being pulled. Thus, by manipulating the second cable  32 , the operator of the decoy apparatus can simultaneously control the movement of the decoys  18  both vertically and laterally. 
         [0025]    In an alternative embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2A , the decoy apparatus  10  is positioned on land instead of in water. In this embodiment, at least two stakes  34  are attached at opposite edges of the platform  26  at approximately 90 degree angles. In one embodiment, the stakes  34  are attached to the bottom of the platform  26 . In another embodiment, the platform  26  has holes in its top surface which receives the stakes  34 . The stakes have pointed tips and serve to anchor the decoy apparatus  10  in the ground. Stakes  34  may also be utilized in shallow water in which the decoy apparatus  10  would not be capable of floating. When the pulley cable  28  is pulled from the spool of the pulley  14 , the pulley  14  rotates in a clockwise direction. This rotation of the pulley  14  causes a corresponding rotation of the pole  30  attached to the top of the pulley  14 . As the pole  30  rotates, the rods  16  attached to the pole  30 , and the decoys  18  attached to the rods  16 , also rotate in a clockwise direction. Because of the contact between the rods  16  and the track  20 , the rods  16  travel up-and-down along the track  20  as the pulley  14  rotates. Since the pulley is spring-loaded, when the pulley cable  28  is released back into the spool, the pulley  14 , pole  30 , rods  16 , and decoys  18  rotate counter-clockwise. This movement of the rods  16  along the track  20  causes a circling movement of the decoys  18  in the air above the platform  26  in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction (depending on whether the pulley cable  28  is being pulled or released) and movement of the decoys  18  at varying elevations. Thus, by manipulating the pulley cable  28 , the operator of the decoy apparatus  10  can simulate the circular flight patterns of game birds and control the movement of the decoys  18  vertically. 
         [0026]    In another embodiment, instead of stakes  34  being attached to the platform  26 , at least two rope loops (not shown) are attached to the top surface of the platform  26 . The rope loops are capable of being extended from the platform  26  and staked in the ground, thereby anchoring the decoy apparatus  10  in the ground. Two cable holders (not shown) may also be attached to the top surface of the platform  26 . The pulley cable  28  and the second cable  32  may be wrapped around the cable holders for storage when the decoy apparatus is not in use. 
         [0027]    In yet another embodiment, a set of wheels (not shown) is attached to the bottom surface of the base  12 . With wheels, the decoy apparatus  10  is capable of moving laterally across the ground. In this embodiment, the operator of the decoy apparatus  10  is capable of simultaneously controlling the movement of the decoys  18  vertically and laterally by manipulating the second cable  32  as explained above. 
         [0028]    The decoy apparatus  10  preferably is 25-50 pounds in weight and is capable of being transported in a backpack. 
         [0029]    The present invention has been described with reference to certain preferred and alternative embodiments that are intended to be exemplary only and not limiting to the full scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims. The present invention has also been described with reference to certain dimensions and materials which also are intended to be exemplary only.