Abstract:
A decoy mounting and movement system for mounting a hollow animal species decoy and for simulating life-like movement of the animal species between a rest position and a vertically pivoted position which simulates feeding by the animal species having a decoy mounting stake formed of an elongate upper stake section and an elongate lower stake section interconnected via an elongate vertical return spring capable of bending along its length to create an angle between the upper and lower stake sections, the upper stake section dimensioned for insertion into the hollow of the decoy through an opening in its underside in communication with the hollow of the decoy, wherein the fulcrum for vertical pivoting of the decoy is positioned at the lower end of the upper stake section and the ratio D′/D is less than 0.25, wherein D′ is the distance between the underside of the decoy and the fulcrum for vertical pivoting, and D is the length of the upper stake section.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an adaptable decoy movement system and, more particularly, to a decoy movement system which allows controlled movement of hollow bodied animal species decoys to simulate life-like movement of the animal species. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Decoy mounting stakes for mounting hollow bodied animal species decoys, such as wild female turkey decoys, and which include a ground mounting stake and means for mounting an animal species decoy thereto for rotating movement of the decoy relative to the stake in response to natural, manual or mechanical applied force are well known. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,266,912-Jirele. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,459,958 and 4,965,953-McKinney disclose a ground mounting stake for supporting a hollow animal species decoy including mechanisms which, via use of a remotely operated activator line, imparts vertical or feeding movement to the decoy. Other decoy movement systems employ wind to cause the desired decoy movement. However, experience has shown that wind movement decoys are unreliable, only moving a decoy about 20% of the time. 
   One well known and reasonably effective decoy system for mounting and imparting movement to hollow hen turkey decoys, which has been marketed for several years via the Internet, comprises a ground mounting stake including upper and lower sections interconnected via a vertical return spring. A rotation return spring extends longitudinally along the upper section from a point near its top. A monofilament line attached to the bottom of the return spring extends around a rivet pin protruding from the upper section at a point spaced from the top of the vertical return spring and attaches to a formed wire which has one end surrounding the upper section and the other end extending generally outwardly from the upper section for connection to the underside of the decoy. Desirably the formed wire, at the end surrounding the upper section, includes a first loop around the upper section above the protruding rivet pin, a portion extending downward from the first loop parallel to the upper section past the rivet pin and a second loop around the upper section below the protruding rivet. In this manner, as will be seen from the description of its operation hereinafter, the downwardly extending portion of the formed wire engages the protruding rivet at some point in the rotation of the formed wire about the upper section to stop rotation of the decoy. 
   In use, the upper section of the stake is inserted into the underside of a hollow decoy until the decoy contacts and is attached to the outwardly extending portion of the formed wire, at which point the decoy is attached to the top of the stake via a push pin or screw. A separate control line encircles the neck of the decoy, extends to a ground mounted hook screw, which is positioned under the tail of the decoy and laterally offset from the rest position of the decoy toward the decoy operator, and extends from the hook screw to a spool which can be operated to increase or decrease tension in the control line encircling the decoy&#39;s neck. Initially, there is no tension in the control line and the decoy is in its rest position. As the spool is rotated counterclockwise by the decoy operator the control line is wound upon the spool, slides through the hook screw and pulls the neck of the decoy, causing a counterclockwise rotation of the decoy. Inasmuch as the formed wire is attached to the underside of the decoy, the formed wire also rotates counterclockwise, causing the monofilament to which it is attached to pull and stretch the rotation return spring. One rotation of the spool will cause a 180° rotation of the decoy. Continued rotation of the spool causes a vertical dipping or feeding motion of the decoy as the head of the decoy is pulled toward the hook screw. This vertical motion of the decoy is permitted by the vertical return spring, which interconnects the upper and lower sections of the shaft. The vertical dipping or feeding motion places the vertical return spring under spring tension and the 180° rotation places the rotation return spring under spring tension. Operation of the spool in a clockwise direction causes the decoy to first move vertically into its 180° rotated position and then to return to its rest position, in which the downward extending portion of the formed wire engages the rivet to stop rotational motion of the decoy. 
   This previously marketed decoy system for imparting rotational and vertical feeding motion to an attached decoy has the shortcoming that due to its configuration, the decoy frequently bends into the vertical feeding position before the 180° rotation of the decoy is completed. Thus, an important feature of the decoy system is compromised in that the decoy operator no longer has full control over the orientation of the decoy. There exists a need for an improvement to this previously marketed device to implement its intended manner of functioning. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a decoy system that can be adapted to a variety of commercially available animal species decoys to simulate life-like movements of the animal species. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a decoy system that can operate as a motionless decoy or can be transformed by a decoy operator into a life-like decoy capable of both horizontal and vertical movement anytime that it is required to do so to lure game for a hunter. 
   It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a decoy system which can be used on hard ground and which can be operated by a hunter with a minimum amount of movement by the user. 
   The foregoing and other objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention by providing an improved version of a previously marketed device wherein maintenance of the relative dimensions of components of the decoy system can avoid unwanted and untimely vertical motion of the decoy and provide the user with full control over the movements of the decoy. 
   In another aspect of the present invention, unwanted vertical movement and full control over the movements of the decoy can be assured by controlling the ratio of (1) the length of the upper stake section between the fulcrum of the vertical return spring and the bottom of the formed wire where it contacts the underside of the decoy, to (2) the length of the upper stake section between the fulcrum of the vertical return spring and the top of the stake, to a value less than 0.25, preferably in the range of 0.15 to 0.20. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of the decoy system of the present invention with the decoy in the rest position. 
       FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the decoy system of the present invention with the decoy in the 180° rotated position. 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevational view of the decoy system of the present invention with the decoy in the 180° rotated position and in the vertical feeding position. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the spool and the control line. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic view showing the functional relationship between the formed wire, the rotation return spring and the monofilament line. 
       FIG. 6  is a front elevational view showing the structural inter-relationship of the components mounted to the upper shaft section. 
       FIG. 6   a  is a magnified front elevational view of the connection between the rotation return spring and the monofilament line. 
       FIG. 6   b  is a magnified front elevational view of the connection between the formed wire and the monofilament line. 
       FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of the lower shaft section interconnected via the vertical return spring to the upper shaft section. 
       FIG. 8  is a partially cut away view showing the structural interconnection between the vertical return spring and the upper and lower shaft sections. 
       FIG. 9  is a front elevational view of the formed wire of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring first to  FIGS. 1-3 , there is shown an embodiment of the decoy system  50  of the present invention, which is adapted to be inserted into the ground and to mount any one of a variety of hollow animal species decoys  10 . The specific decoy  10  shown in the Figures is a hen turkey decoy intended to be used to lure tom turkeys within shooting range for hunting purposes. However, the invention is not limited to any particular species or design of decoy so long as the decoy is hollow bodied or can be adapted or modified to be sufficiently hollow bodied to allow the operational features of the present invention to function within the body of the decoy. 
   The decoy system  50  includes a decoy mounting stake  46  comprising an upper stake section  16  and a lower stake section  21 . At the lower end of the bottom stake section there is provided a mounting stake nail  26  which is used to penetrate the ground and to support the stake  46  and mounted decoy  10 . An L-shaped torque spike  25  has an extender portion extending from the lower end of lower stake section  21  generally parallel to the ground and a ground engaging portion to prevent turning of stake  46  when the decoy  10  mounted thereon is caused to rotate. Upper stake section  16  and lower stake section  21  are interconnected via vertical return spring  20 , into the ends of which the respective contiguous ends  16   a  and  21   b  of the upper and lower stake sections are inserted (as can be more clearly seen in  FIGS. 7 and 8 ). 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1-3  and  6 , a rotation return spring  14  extends longitudinally downwardly along and generally parallel to the upper stake section  16  from a point near, but below, (about 1 inch below) the top  16   b  of the upper stake section  16 , where spring  14  is attached at its upper end, e.g., via a screw  13 . A strong, flexible monofilament line  52 , such as a 60 lb. test line, is attached to the lower end of the rotation return spring and extends around a rivet pin  17  protruding from the upper stake section  16  at a point spaced above the top of the vertical return spring  20 . Preferably, monofilament line  52  is attached to the lower end of the rotation return spring via a bead  15  having an aperture therethrough and a secure knot  44  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6   a ) to permit easy adjustment of the length of the monofilament line  52 . The other end of monofilament line  52  attaches to a formed wire  18  via secure knot  45  (see  FIGS. 5 and 6   b ). Formed wire  18  has one end  18   a  surrounding the upper stake section  16  and the other end  18   b  extending generally outwardly from the upper stake section  16  for connection to the underside of the decoy  10 . Desirably the formed wire  18 , at the end  18   a  surrounding the upper stake section  16 , includes a first loop  18   c  around the upper stake section  16  above the protruding rivet pin  17 , a portion  18   d  extending downward from the first loop  18   c , past the protruding rivet pin  17 , and generally parallel to the upper stake section  16 , and a second loop  18   e  around the upper stake section  16  below the protruding rivet pin  17  (see  FIGS. 1-3  and  9 ). In this manner, as will be seen from the description of operation hereinafter, the downwardly extending portion  18   d  of the formed wire  18  engages the protruding rivet pin  17  at some point in the rotation of the formed wire  18  about the upper stake section  16  and rivet pin  17  serves as a stop. 
   In use, the upper section  16  of the stake  46  is inserted into the underside of the hollow  11  of decoy  10  until the top  16   b  is adjacent the upper end of the hollow decoy body and the underside of decoy  10  contacts and is attached, e.g., via a grommet  19 , to the outwardly extending portion  18   b  of the formed wire  18 . At this time threaded top pin  12  is inserted through an opening in the top of decoy  10  into the top end  16   b  of upper stake portion  16  and is threaded down sufficiently to securely mount the decoy  10  between the outwardly extending portion  18   b  of the formed wire and top pin  12  without interfering with the ability of the decoy  10  to swivel about stake  46 . A separate monofilament control line  28 , e.g., about 14 lb. test, is formed into a loop  23  which encircles the neck of the decoy  10 , extends to a ground mounted hook screw  27  which is positioned under the decoy&#39;s tail in the rest position of the decoy  10  (as shown in  FIG. 1 ), and laterally offset toward the decoy operator, and extends from the hook screw to a spool  33  which can be operated to increase or decrease tension in the control line  28  encircling the neck of the decoy  10 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , the loop  23  which encircles the neck of the decoy  10  is formed at one end of control line  28  using a bead  22  having an aperture therein and forming a multiple turn firm knot  43  to secure the end of control line  28  to bead  22 . A second bead  24  having an aperture therein is used to prevent loop  23  from getting too tight and knotting when the control line  28  is not attached to the neck of the decoy  10 . 
   The other end of the control line  28  is secured to spool  33  by passing multiple, e.g., five, loops of the monofilament through the aperture in bead  31 . The five loops prevent the control line  28  from unwrapping from spool  33  when unattended and provide a locking mechanism when the user wants to lock decoy  10  at some point of its 180° rotation. Referring to  FIG. 4 , line guide loop  29  of line guide  30  provides a feeding point to spool  33 . The spool  33  is maintained in position at the location of the decoy operator via spool stake  32 , which is inserted through a central aperture in spool  33 , and spool stake spike  35  which is secured to spool stake  32  and pushed into the ground. It is desirable to insert a plastic washer  34  on spool stake  32  under stool  33  to provide minimum friction on the spool when being rotated to increase or decrease tension in control line  28 . 
   Initially, there is no tension in the control line  28  and the decoy  10  is in its rest position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , facing in direction A. As the spool  33  is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise by the decoy operator to increase tension in control line  28  (counterclockwise in  FIGS. 1-3 ), the control line  28  passes through guide loop  29  on line guide  30  and is wound upon the spool, slides through the hook screw  27  and pulls the neck of the decoy  10 , causing a counterclockwise rotation of the decoy  10 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , facing in direction B. Inasmuch as formed wire  18  is attached to the underside of the decoy, the formed wire  18  also rotates counterclockwise, causing the monofilament  52  to which it is attached to pull and stretch the rotation return spring  14 . One rotation of the spool  33  will cause a 180° rotation of the decoy  10 . Continued rotation of the spool  33  causes a vertical pivoting motion of the decoy  10  as the head of the decoy  10  is pulled toward the hook screw  27 , simulating feeding or grazing by the animal species, as shown in  FIG. 3 , facing in direction C. This vertical motion of the decoy  10  is permitted by the vertical return spring  20 , which interconnects the upper  16  and lower  21  sections of the stake  46 . The vertical pivoting motion places the vertical return spring  20  under spring tension and the 180° rotation places the rotation return spring  14  under bending and spring tension. Operation of the spool  33  in the opposite direction (clockwise in  FIGS. 1-3 ) causes the decoy  10  to first move vertically into its 180° rotated position ( FIG. 2 ) and then to return to its rest position ( FIG. 1 ), in which the downward extending portion  18   d  of the formed wire  18  engages the rivet pin  17  to stop rotational motion of the decoy  10 . 
   The decoy system of the present invention is particularly advantageous and is an improvement over the previously marketed decoy system because it allows complete user control of the position and movement of the decoy  10 . The decoy  10  does not, as was the case with the prior art decoy system, tend to move vertically into the feeding position as the control line  28  attempts to rotate it from a position facing in direction A ( FIG. 1 ) to direction B ( FIG. 2 ). This improvement was accomplished by controlling the distance between the fulcrum for vertical rotation of vertical return spring  20 , which is the lower end  16   a  of the upper stake section  16 , and the bottom of the formed wire  18   b  where it contacts the underside of the decoy  10 . When control line  28  is wound upon spool  33 , both a rotating force and a downward force are applied to the neck of the decoy  10 . The force tending to cause vertical feeding motion acts along the upper stake  16  between the top  16   b  of the upper stake section and the pivot or bending point of the upper stake section  16  and vertical return spring  20  (hereinafter called the fulcrum of the vertical return spring  20 ), which is at the lower end  16   a  of the upper stake section  16  (length=D). By reducing the distance between the bottom of the decoy and the fulcrum of vertical return spring  20  (length=D′), the tendency for the decoy to move vertically toward the feeding position, while rotating, is reduced. The ratio D′/D represents the percentage of the length of the upper stake section  16  which is below formed wire portion  18   b . It is desirable for this ratio to be small in order to minimize the moment arm upon which the downward force may act. It has been found that a decoy system wherein the ratio D′/D is less than about 0.25 allows complete user control of the position and movement of the decoy without tendency for the decoy to move vertically while rotating. Most preferably, the ratio D′/D is in the range 0.15-0.20. 
   While the present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design or practice of the invention other than as defined in the appended claims.