Abstract:
Described and claimed is a decoy assembled from one of multiple bouyant decoy bodies having hinged wings on which one of multiple dressings may be selectably connected, thereby resembling any of a plurality of desired prey, the decoy body being selectably mounted on a propulsion module that may be remotely controlled to exhibit a desired flight pattern.

Description:
REFERENCE TO EARLIER APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This Application incorporates by reference and, under 35 U.S.C. §119(e), claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/058,694 filed on Oct. 2, 2014. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    This invention is not the subject of federally sponsored research or development. 
       RESERVATION OF COPYRIGHTS 
       [0003]    Portions of the disclosure of this document contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to any reproduction of the document or disclosure as it appears in official records, but reserves all remaining rights under copyright. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Man has hunted animals since the dawn of time. As man has evolved, so have hunting techniques and equipment with increasing success. One significant piece of equipment is the hunting decoy. 
         [0005]    Over time, decoys have become more realistic in appearance and behavior. This is partly due to improved dressing techniques and underlying mechanical carriers, which make decoys look and act in a manner that is attractive to the hunter&#39;s prey. 
         [0006]    While better, most hunting decoys lack realism for lack of imitating true movement, i.e. free flight. Although many birds may initially respond to existing hunting decoys, the unnatural behavior of the decoy becomes obvious and offputting, with the bird eventually losing interest and fleeing. Specifically, decoys presented via a long rod, flown like a kite or motored across an area via a wheel-driven carriage initially may draw the attention of, but then quickly spook, thus not draw into focus desired prey. 
         [0007]    What is needed and not taught or suggested in the art is a remotely controllable flying decoy that looks and acts like, therefore attracts a desired prey. 
         [0008]    The invention provides improved elements and arrangements thereof, for the purposes described, which are inexpensive, dependable and effective in accomplishing intended purposes of the invention. 
         [0009]    Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, which refers to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention is described in detail below with reference to the following figures, throughout which similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a top, front, right side elevational view of an embodiment of a remotely controllable flying decoy configured according to principles of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  wherein the body is disassembled from the propulsion module; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a top, rear, right side elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a partial, top, front, right side elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a top, front, right side elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a right side elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a partial bottom view of the body of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    This disclosure is not limited in application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth or illustrated in the drawings herein. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Phraseology and terminology used herein is for description and should not be regarded as limiting. Uses of “including,” “comprising” or “having” and variations thereof herein are meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, “connected,” “coupled” and “mounted,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. “Connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical or electrical connections or couplings. Furthermore, and as described in subsequent paragraphs, the specific mechanical or electrical configurations described or illustrated are intended to exemplify embodiments of the disclosure. However, alternative mechanical or electrical configurations are possible, which are considered to be within the teachings of the disclosure. Furthermore, unless otherwise indicated, “or” is to be considered inclusive. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , the invention is a remotely controllable flying decoy that looks and acts like, and attracts a desired prey. An embodiment of a decoy  10  configured according to principles of the invention includes a body  15  and a detachable propulsion module  20 . Detachability of body  15  and propulsion module  20 , and the ability to change a dress  90  covering body  15 , described in greater detail below, permits altering the appearance of decoy  10  by mounting on propulsion module  20  differently sized, configured and adorned bodies  15 . 
         [0021]    Body  15  is defined by a torso  30  and wings  25  that are appropriately matched to resemble a bird. Preferably, the invention is intended to employ or be configured to accommodate a plurality of bodies  15 , each approximating the shape of any of a variety of birds, such as, but not limited to ducks, geese and partridge. 
         [0022]    Torso  30  may be constructed of any material that is appropriate for its intended purpose, but preferably is constructed of closed-cell extruded polystyrene foam, commonly referred to as Styrofoam®, or comparable material. The material increases overall buoyancy of decoy  10  and deters its submersion upon alighting on a pond intentionally or by accident. The material also aids in protecting propulsion module  20  from some impacts should decoy  10  plummet precipitously to the ground. 
         [0023]    Wings  25  may be fixed, but preferably are hinged relative to torso  30 . Preferably, wings  25  are constructed of a semi-rigid or flexible material, such as thin foam or fabric. The flexibility of the material of wings  25  permits reliance on a “natural hinge,” essentially localized elasticity of the material between wings  25  and torso  30 , to promote realistic movement of wings  25  when decoy  10  is in flight. An embodiment of the invention includes a motor or driver (not shown) to induce motion of wings  25  relative to torso  30  in a flapping manner or spinning motion to mimic flapping. 
         [0024]    Propulsion module  20 , preferably, is a battery-powered, rotor-driven drone with wireless remote controls (not shown). A main compartment  35  houses an electric motor (not shown), battery pack (not shown) and a controller (not shown) having or connected to an antenna (not shown) through which the remote controls communicate instructions. 
         [0025]    Referring also to  FIG. 5 , each of four rotors  40  includes bearing-mounted propellers  45 ,  60  that the motor drives via gears  70 . Alternatively, propellers may be fixed to pulleys that are independently belt-driven by the motor. Controlling relative propulsion power of each rotor  40  controls the flight of decoy  10 . 
         [0026]    Propellers  45 ,  60  are configured or camouflaged so as not to be apparent to desired prey. To that end, front propellers  60 , preferably, are clear or white, while rear propellers  45 , preferably, are black. When rotating, front propellers essentially become imperceptible relative to the bright sky, while rear propellers  45  blend in with the black stanchions  65  that support rotors  40  ostensibly imitating feet, such as the black feet of geese. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 6-8 , decoy  10  is intended for use with essentially all types of winged prey. Therefore, commensurate with the different body portions that may be assembled with propulsion module  20 , body  15  may be configured, colored, appliqued or otherwise adorned so as to imitate the body configurations and colorations of desired prey. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , decoy  10  is provided with a dress  90  that is appropriate for the configuration of body  15  and wings  25  and cooperates therewith to give decoy  10  and overall appearance of resembling that which would attract a desired prey. Dress  90  should be understood broadly, including, but not limited to paint, as shown, appliques, feathers and/or covers constructed of fabric, plastic or other materials suitable for the purposed described herein. Embodiments of dress  90  that are not self-adherent may be mounted on body  15  and/or wings  25  with, but not limited to, glue, hook-and-loop fasteners, ties or other appropriate mounting convention. 
         [0029]    Decoy  10  also has legs  85  for maintaining decoy  10  in a stable fashion on a surface or the ground when not flying. An alternative embodiment of the invention employs legs (not shown) constructed of or connected to buoyant material or otherwise configured to provide buoyancy. Another embodiment of the invention employs legs (not shown) that are elongated or otherwise suited for positioning decoy  10  above the ground and above potentially fouling elements, such as long grasses and corn stalks. 
         [0030]    Referring also to  FIG. 8 , body  15 , preferably, defines a cavity  75  for receiving main compartment  35  of propulsion module  20 . Body  15  also may include a magnet  80  for securing body  15  to main compartment  35 . Rather than a magnetic attraction, other fastening conventions are contemplated, such as hook-and-loop fasteners, commonly referred to as velcro®, or the like. 
         [0031]    Another embodiment of decoy  10  configured according to principles of the invention includes a controller (not shown) for controlling the flight of decoy  10  according to a set of instructions stored in a memory that controller (not shown) can access. Controller (not shown) may be connected with or include an antenna or other communication equipment (not shown) appropriate for maintaining, accessing or navigating according to a global positioning system (GPS). 
         [0032]    A further embodiment of decoy  10  configured according to principles of the invention includes a controller (not shown) that is configured or connected with appropriate communication equipment (not shown) to communicate with other decoys  10 . Such communication may include instructing the other decoys  10  to fly according to a set of instructions stored in a memory that controller (not shown) can access. The instruction of multiple decoys  10  may provide for a coordinated flight pattern that simulates the flight of, for example, a flock of ducks. 
         [0033]    The invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described and depicted herein, rather only to the following claims.