Abstract:
A bird-shaped decoy is supported on a swivel that is supported on a tubular component which allows the decoy to rotate. A bird-shaped decoy is mounted on a first swivel and a second swivel is mounted on a tubular component. An offset support rod connects the two swivels allowing the decoy to simultaneously orbit or rotate. The tubular component mounted swivel can have multiple support rods mounted thereon each extending to a swivel that supports a bird-shaped decoy.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    Applicant(s) claims priority based on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/036,805 filed Mar. 14, 2008, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       [0002]      FIG. 1  is a right side view of a first prior art decoy; 
         [0003]      FIG. 2  is a left side view of a second prior art decoy; 
         [0004]      FIG. 3  is an elevational view of a first embodiment of the present invention in use with the first prior art decoy; 
         [0005]      FIG. 4  is an elevational view of a second embodiment of the present invention in use with the second prior art decoy; 
         [0006]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         [0007]      FIG. 6  is an exploded view of the second embodiment of the present invention; 
         [0008]      FIG. 7  is an elevational view of the first embodiment of the present invention in use with the first prior art decoy; 
         [0009]      FIG. 8  is an elevational view of the second embodiment of the present invention in use with the second prior art decoy; 
         [0010]      FIG. 9  comprises elevational and frontal views of the first embodiment of the present invention with the frontal portion of the figure shown in phantom; 
         [0011]      FIG. 10  comprises elevational and frontal views of the second embodiment of the present invention with the elevational portion of the figure shown in phantom; 
         [0012]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view illustrating an alternative swivel which may be utilized in lieu of the swivel shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         [0013]      FIG. 12  is a sectional view of a swivel which may be utilized in lieu of the swivel shown in  FIG. 3  to simultaneously support three dove decoys; 
         [0014]      FIG. 13  is a top view of the swivel of  FIG. 12 ; 
         [0015]      FIG. 14  is perspective view of the swivel of  FIG. 12  showing the swivel with decoy supporting arms secured thereto; 
         [0016]      FIG. 15  is a front view of the swivel of  FIG. 12  having decoy supporting arms secured thereto; and 
         [0017]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the swivel of  FIG. 12  showing three dove decoys supported by arms which are in turn supported by the swivel. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Referring to the drawings and in particular  FIG. 1  thereof a prior art dove decoy system is shown, such as the MOJO Dove™ sold by HUNTWISE, Inc. d/b/a MOJO Outdoors®.  FIG. 2  shows a prior art duck decoy system such as the Super MOJO Mallard®, MOJO Mallard®, or Baby MOJO™, all sold by MOJO Outdoors®. Although not shown in the drawings, it should be understood that embodiments of the invention shown and described herein are compatible for use with other decoys and decoy systems sold by MOJO Outdoors®. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  is compatible with the decoy system depicted in  FIG. 4  and vice versa. 
         [0019]    It should also be understood that the various embodiments of the present invention are compatible for use with various types and kinds of decoys and decoy systems that are manufactured and/or sold by entities other than MOJO Outdoors®. Decoys and like systems compatible with the embodiments of the present invention will be readily apparent to those having skill in the art. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 7  an embodiment of the present invention is shown in use with a prior art dove decoy system  1  such as the MOJO Dove™. The prior art decoy system  1  comprises a tubular component  3  further comprising tubular members  5 ,  7  and  9  and a decoy  11 . Tubular members  5 ,  7  and  9  are designed to be inserted into each other and held in place via pin mechanisms to form the tubular component  3 . Tubular member  9  has a tapered end  13  which enables the decoy system  1  to be inserted into the earth using an arm portion  14  of tubular member  7  to drive the tapered end  13  into the earth. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 8  an embodiment of the present invention is shown in use with a prior art duck decoy system  15  such as the Super MOJO Mallard®, MOJO Mallard®, or Baby MOJO™. The prior art decoy system  15  comprises a tubular component  17  further comprising tubular members  19 ,  21  and  23  and a decoy  27 . Tubular members  19 ,  21  and  23  are designed to be inserted into each other and held in place via pin mechanisms to form the tubular component  17 . Tubular member  21  has a tapered end  25  which enables the decoy system  15  to be forced into the earth using an arm portion  28  of tubular member  21  to drive the tapered end  25  into the earth. 
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of one embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment comprises a first bearing  29 , a pin member  31  and a second bearing  33 . 
         [0023]    At its top end first bearing  29  is disposed with an aperture  35  for receiving a tubular portion  37  of a decoy  39  of a decoy system. Alternative embodiments of the first bearing  29  will have alternatively shaped apertures  35  that receive decoys having alternatively shaped tubular portions. In another embodiment the first bearing  29  and the tubular portion  37  of the decoy  39  are further held in place via a pin or other such mechanism, such means of attachment being well known to those having skill in the art. 
         [0024]    At its bottom end first bearing  29  is disposed with a seat  41  which engages one end of the pin member  31 . The respective ends of pin member  31  are offset. Similarly, the top end of second bearing  33  is disposed with a seat  43  which engages the other end of pin member  31 . 
         [0025]    The bottom end of second bearing  33  is configured to engage a tubular member  45  of a decoy system. In one embodiment the bottom end of second bearing  33  is inserted into the top end of the tubular member  45 . In an alternative embodiment the top end of tubular member  45  is inserted into the bottom end of second bearing  33 . In another embodiment the second bearing  33  and the tubular member  45  are further held in place via a pin or other such mechanism, such means of attachment being well known to those having skill in the alt. Alternative embodiments of the second bearing  33  will have alternatively shaped bottom ends that engage decoy systems having alternatively shaped tubular portions. 
         [0026]    Alternative embodiments of first bearing  29  and second bearing  33  will have alternatively shaped seats  41  and  43  respectively that engage pin members having alternatively shaped ends. Alternative first bearing  29  and second bearing  33 , pin members and means of creating the connections between the first bearing  29  and second bearing  33  and the pin members will be well known to those having skill in the art. 
         [0027]    In an alternative embodiment the placement of the seats  41  and  43  of first bearing  29  and second bearing  33  and the respective ends of the pin member  31  are reversed so that the pin member  31  has a seat at each end and the first bearing  29  and second bearing  33  have pin portions extending therefrom capable of engaging the seats of the pin member  31 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 9  rotational movement of the decoy  39  at first bearing  29  and second bearing  33  is shown. The rotational movement of the decoy  39  about first bearing  29  and second bearing  33  is relative to the tubular component  45 . In one embodiment rotational movement of the decoy  39  is caused by the wind. Rotation of the decoy  39  can also be effected by means of a battery powered motor. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIG. 6  an exploded view of another embodiment of the invention is shown. This embodiment comprises bearings  47  and  49  and pin member  48 . 
         [0030]    At its top end bearing  47  is disposed with an aperture  51  capable of engaging a tubular portion  53  of a decoy  55  of a decoy system. Alternative embodiments of the bearing  47  will have alternatively shaped apertures  51  that engage decoys having alternatively shaped tubular portions. In another embodiment the bearing  47  and the tubular portion  53  of the decoy  55  are further held in place via a pin or other such mechanism, such means of attachment being well known to those having skill in the art. 
         [0031]    At its bottom end bearing  47  is disposed with a seat  57  which engages one end of the pin member  48 . The other end of the pin member  48  is configured to engage a bearing  49 . In one embodiment the bottom end of bearing  49  is inserted into the top end of tubular member  59 . In an alternative embodiment the top end of tubular member  59  is inserted into the bottom end of bearing  49 . In another embodiment the bearing  49  and the tubular member  59  are further held in place via a pin or other such mechanism, such means of attachment being well known to those having skill in the art. Alternative embodiments of the pin member  48  will have alternatively shaped bottom ends that engage decoy systems having alternatively shaped tubular portions. 
         [0032]    Alternative embodiments of bearing  49  will have alternatively shaped seats  57  that engage pin members having alternatively shaped ends. Alternative bearings, pin members and means of creating the connection between the bearings  47  and  49  and the pin member  48  will be well known to those having skill in the art. 
         [0033]    In an alternative embodiment the placement of the seat  57  of bearing  47  and the respective end of pin member  48  are reversed so that the end of pin member  48  is disposed at the bottom end of first bearing  47  and the seat of first bearing  47  is disposed at pin member  48 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 10  rotational movement of the decoy  55  at bearing  47  is shown. The rotational movement of the decoy  55  about bearing  47  is relative to the tubular component  59 . In one embodiment rotational movement of the decoy  55  is caused by the wind. Rotation of the decoy  55  can also be effected by means of a battery powered motor. 
         [0035]      FIG. 11  is a cross sectional view of a swivel  65  which may be used in lieu of the bearing  47  to support the duck decoy  55  as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 10 . The swivel  65  comprises a mount  67 , an axle  69 , a thrust washer  71  and a shoulder bolt  73 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 12  is cross sectional view illustrating a swivel  80  which may be used in lieu of the bearing  29  shown in  FIGS. 5 and 9  to support a plurality of dove decoys. The swivel  80  comprises a mount  82 , an axle  84 , a thrust washer  86  and a shoulder bolt  88 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 13  is a top view of the swivel  80  illustrating three apertures  90  that receive pins (not shown in  FIG. 13 ) which in turn support dove decoys. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 14 and 15  illustrate the swivel  80  having three pins  92  extending outwardly therefrom at equally spaced intervals. Each pin  92  comprises a nominally horizontally disposed section  94  extending outwardly from the swivel  80  and a nominally vertically disposed section  96  extending upwardly from the distal end of the section  94 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 16  illustrates the swivel  80  in use to support three dove decoys  100  which are supported on the vertical sections  96  of the pins  92  by swivels  102 . The swivels  102  may be substantially identical in construction and function to the bearing  29  illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 9  and described hereinabove in conjunction herewith. 
         [0040]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate the fact that the use of the swivel  80  to support the dove decoys  100  allows the decoys to orbit about the axis of the swivel  80  while simultaneously pivoting about the axis defined by the swivels  102 . Orbital and pivotal movement of the decoys typically occurs in response to the wind. Orbital and pivotal movement of the decoys  100  can also be achieved by means of battery operated motors. 
         [0041]    The present invention has been described above in conjunction with products of MOJO Outdoors®. It will be understood, however, that the invention can be adapted for use with products of other manufacturers. In such case the invention may be modified for use with support structures other than the tubular components shown in the drawings. 
         [0042]    Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.