Abstract:
A decoy stand that includes a base, a pivot rod extending substantially normal to the base, a mounting bracket configured to couple with a decoy and pivot about the pivot rod, and an arm extending from the base coupling the pivot rod to the base and configured to bend to provide a first motion to the decoy.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/422,299 entitled “Decoy Stand,” filed Oct. 29, 2002. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention relates to a decoy stand. More particularly, the invention relates to a decoy stand that for waterfowl decoys providing realistic decoy motion.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0003]    Waterfowl decoys are well known and have been used by hunters to attract game birds for a very long time. The more realistic and lifelike the waterfowl decoy, the better the decoy will be at attracting game. Decoys that simulate both walking and feeding activities of waterfowl in a natural environment are used to attract waterfowl. Attracting waterfowl is one of the more difficult aspects of hunting and requires a skillfully set spread of lifelike decoys.  
           [0004]    For waterfowl hunters, the critical part of any decoy is the ability to simulate lifelike natural movement comparable to that of live animals. No matter how realistic the decoy, it is crucial that the decoy appears natural and safe to attract waterfowl, turkey and other animals to the target area. With increasing hunting pressure, waterfowl and other animals are extremely suspicious and sensitive to decoys that lack realistic movement. The lack of lifelike decoy movement means danger to game animals, which alerts them to the potential of human presence.  
           [0005]    For this reason, hunters employ a number of methods to create a realistic environment and avoid spooking the game. For example, hunters will often use certain calls (duck, goose, elk, turkey, etc.) that simulate the sounds of the quarry being pursued. Typically, hunters wear camouflage clothing and use blinds to conceal their presence from the game. Some of the most effective tools in the hunter&#39;s arsenal are decoys that simulate live birds.  
           [0006]    Good decoys can lure the quarry being hunted into shotgun or camera range. These decoys are critical to ensuring that a natural and safe environment exists for the waterfowl to land at the target location. Decoys that provide natural lifelike movements are enormously valuable assets for any waterfowl hunter, or photographer.  
           [0007]    In addition, many homeowners enjoy using waterfowl and related bird lawn ornaments to decorate the landscape around their homes. Certainly, the addition of lifelike movement adds to landscape designs that incorporate waterfowl of other animal-decorations.  
           [0008]    Over the last few years, efforts have been made to address the lifeless movement of conventional waterfowl decoys. As described above, a motionless decoy implies a lack of life and frightens educated waterfowl. This problem has become more extreme in recent years due to increased hunting pressure and the increased longevity of waterfowl. By many accounts, waterfowl in many parts of the country now have a lifespan of more than twenty years. This amount of education and experience has led to waterfowl becoming continually more difficult to lure into hunting range.  
           [0009]    Great efforts have recently been made to achieve more life-like decoys in recent years. Manufacturers such as Dave Smith, Hard Core Goose Decoys, Bigfoot Decoys, Realgeese Decoys and Higdon Decoys, have continued to manufacture more and more realistic decoys. These decoys are an improvement over previous designs due to their more anatomically correct postures, better painting schemes, colors that more closely correspond to the real bird, photographic images in some cases, and a variety of poses. However, while the overall appearance of decoys has vastly improved, relatively little work has been put into actually creating lifelike movement of waterfowl and other decoys.  
           [0010]    Most hunters believe lifelike movements to be the most important element in luring educated waterfowl to a decoy spread. In fact, many hunters using stuffers (taxidermy mounted waterfowl) in their hunting spreads report live birds flaring off of these decoys due to their lack of natural movement.  
           [0011]    It may be desirable to provide a decoy stand configured to enable waterfowl decoys with a very lifelike appearance to also have very lifelike movements.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0012]    A decoy stand comprising a base, a pivot rod extending substantially normal to the base, a mounting bracket configured to couple with a decoy and pivot about the pivot rod, and an arm. The arm of the decoy stand extending from the base coupling the pivot rod to the base and configured to bend to provide a first motion to the decoy. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a decoy and a decoy stand according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is an assembly view of the decoy stand of FIG. 1.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a side view of the decoy stand of FIG. 1.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a top view of the decoy stand of FIG. 1.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a side view of a cross piece of the decoy stand of FIG. 1.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a side view of the cross piece of the decoy stand of FIG. 1, showing a cantilevered arm flexing up and down.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a cross-section taken along line  7 - 7  of the cross piece of FIG. 6, showing the cantilevered arm twisting along the arm&#39;s long axis.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is a side view of the decoy stand of FIG. 1, showing a control mechanism locking the stand to prevent motion in the support arm.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 9 is a side view of a decoy stand of FIG. 1, showing a control mechanism limiting the movement of the support arm.  
         [0022]    FIGS.  10  is a top view of a decoy mounted on the decoy stand of the present invention, showing the decoy&#39;s rotation about a vertical axis.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 11 is a schematic view of another embodiment of a decoy stand and decoy according to the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 12 is a side assembly view of the decoy stand of FIG. 11. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0025]    A decoy stand according to an embodiment of the present invention is generally indicated at  10  in FIG. 1. A decoy  12  is shown mounted on decoy stand  10 . Decoy stand  10 , when placed in a decoy set, or spread, in a hunting environment, enables decoy  12  to respond to wind forces by moving with three degrees of freedom. Decoy stand  10  pivots about a generally vertical axis, bends forward and rearward, and tilts side-to-side. Each of these movements and the structures that enable them will be discussed in more detail below.  
         [0026]    Decoy  12  may be any game bird decoy including turkey, waterfowl, or other migratory birds. It will be understood; any type of wildlife decoy, yard decorations, or similar item may be used in connection with decoy stand  10 . Scarecrows, replica dogs, replica cats, or other statuary commonly used to scare rodents and other vermin from gardens may also be used with decoy stand  10 .  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 2 shows an assembly view to the decoy stand of FIG. 1. Decoy stand  10  includes a mounting plate  14  configured to attach decoy  12  to stand  10 . Mounting plate  14  may include a pivot sleeve  16  configured to receive a pivot rod  18  that extends generally vertically. Pivot sleeve  16  may be configured to pivot relative to pivot rod  18 . Mounting plate  14  may include alignment tabs  20  configured to aid in mounting decoy  12  to stand  10 . Apertures  22  extend through mounting plate  14  to receive fasteners for securing decoy  12  to stand  10 . Mounting plate  14  may include retainer hooks  24 , or other suitable retention structure for securing a biasing member  26 .  
         [0028]    Pivot sleeve  16  extends generally downward from mounting plate  14 . Typically, pivot sleeve  16  is cylindrical and hollow. However, other shapes, configurations, and designs may be suitable for pivot sleeve  16 . Mounting plate  14  may include a cup  28  positioned within sleeve  16  configured to receive a rounded tip conical end  30  of pivot rod  18 , as shown in FIG. 3A. It should be understood that rounded tip conical end  30  may be other shapes. Cup  28  may be configured to receive end  30  and the shapes may be complementary and configured to reduce the amount of friction between pivot rod  18  and mounting plate  14 . It may be desirable to reduce friction so that light forces applied to mounting plate  14  may induce relative pivotal motion between the mounting plate and pivot rod  18 .  
         [0029]    Alignment tabs  20  of mounting plate  14  may be adapted to fit the bottom of decoy  12 . Typically, decoy  12  includes complementary structure for receiving the alignment tabs. It should be understood that the shape of alignment tabs  20  by depend on what type of decoy will be used with decoy stand  10 . A series of different mounting plates may be used with decoy stand  10  to accommodate different types of decoys. For example, goose decoys are larger than duck decoys and may require a different configuration for mounting plate  14 . Similarly in different applications, for example, lawn decorations at different mounting plate may be used.  
         [0030]    Any suitable fastener may be used for securing decoy  12  to mounting plate  14 . Typically, screws are used to secure decoy  12  to mounting plate  14  through apertures  22 , but other fastening structures may be used. For example, a quick lock, or snap in type structure may be included on mounting plate  14  that works with a complimentary structure on decoy  12 .  
         [0031]    Retainer hooks  24 , or retention structure  24 , may be located on a lower side of mounting plate  14 . Mounting plate  14  may include a plurality of retainer hooks  24 , located on the lower side. It should be understood that any suitable structure may be used to retain biasing member  26 . As shown in FIG. 2, biasing member  26  is an elastomeric band. It should be understood that any suitable biasing member may be used and that the size, shape, position, or other features of retainer hooks  24  may change to accommodate different biasing members.  
         [0032]    Pivot rod  18 , as noted above, extends generally vertically from a base  32  of decoy stand  10 . Pivot rod  18  pivotally couples with mounting plate  14  via insertion into pivot sleeve  16  of mounting plate  14 . Pivot rod  18  may include an attachment structure  34  configured to fit into a corresponding receiving structure  36  of base  32 . Typically, attachment structure  34  includes one or more prongs  38  and alignment tabs  40  that are configured to insert into an alignment opening  42  shaped to receive prongs  38  and alignment tabs  40 . Attachment structure  34  and receiving structure  36  are configured to be releasable.  
         [0033]    Prong  38  extends from attachment structure  34  on a coupling end of pivot rod  18  to releasably attach the pivot rod with a support arm. Typically, attachment structure  34  is a male-type key structure shaped to mate with a corresponding female-type key structure of the receiving structure  36 .  
         [0034]    Pivot rod  18  may include one or more hooks  44 , or retainer notches configured to secure biasing member  26  to the pivot rod. Hooks  44  may be positioned at discrete distances from end  30  of rod  18  to enable pretension adjustments to the biasing member. For example, in condition where wind forces are light the biasing member may be attached to the pivot rod at hook  44   a , which is located closest to end  30  of pivot rod  18 , resulting in light pretension in the bias member. . In heavy wind conditions where the wind forces are strong, biasing member  26  may be attached to hook  44   b , which is furthest from the end  30  of pivot rod  18 . The biasing member may be attached to any of hooks  44  between the two extremes  44   a  and  44   b  to provide the proper pretension in other wind conditions.  
         [0035]    Base  32  of stand  10  includes a cross member  46  that extends through the center of a ring member  48 . Cross member  46  passes through a center region contained within ring member  48  providing support for pivot rod  18 . Ring member  48  may include one or more apertures  49  for staking the base to the ground for more support, or to secure the decoy in high wind conditions. It should be noted that the size of base  32  will depend on the size of the decoy to be supported and the configuration of  
         [0036]    Cross member  46  includes a support arm  50  configured to include base attachment structure  36  for securing pivot rod  18  to base  32 . Support arm  50  may be configured to bend and flex in two ways, as clearly shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and  9 . The bending and flexing of support arm  50  causes decoy  12  to move in life like ways. For example, bending of support arm  50  as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 9, simulates a forward and rearward feeding motion in decoy  12 . Twisting or flexing along a long axis of support arm  50  creates a side-to-side waddle or walking motion in decoy  12 , as illustrated in FIG. 7.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 2 further illustrates, a control mechanism  52  may be used to limit the movement of support arm  50 . Control mechanism  52  includes a block  54  sized to fit between support arm  50  and cross member  46  to selectively limit the bending of support arm  50 . Control mechanism  52  further includes a clip  56  configured to fit over support arm  50  and secure block  54  in place to prevent movement of the block. Support arm  50  may include one or more discrete ridges  58 , or similar structure in order to position clip  56  and secure block  54  at a distinct location along the length of arm  50 .  
         [0038]    As shown in FIG. 8, varying the location of block  54  and clip  56  effectively changes the flexible length of support arm  50 , which in turn limits the bending and twisting motion of the support arm. By securing block  54  at the end of support arm  50  stand  10  is effectively locked and the only movement that a decoy attached to stand  10  will experience is the pivoting about pivot rod  18 . By securing block  54  between a pair of discrete ridges  58  the length of support arm  50  that remains flexible is reduced, thereby limiting the movement of a decoy mounted to decoy stand  10 .  
         [0039]    Turning to FIG. 3 a side view of stand  10  more clearly illustrates the cantilevered structure of support arm  50 . Support arm  50  is spaced a distance L from a lower section  60  of cross member  46 . The distance L may be selected to prevent support arm  50  from bending so much that the support arm is damaged. For example, if a hunter using decoy stand  10  accidentally steps on the decoy stand, support arm  50  will bottom out on lower section  60  of cross member  46 , before the support arm bends so much that it is damaged.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 6 illustrates the bending of support arm  50 , and the distance L is selected to prevent the bending from exceeding the elastic flexibility of support arm  50 .  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 4 illustrates the stand in a top view with all the components assembled. It can be clearly seen that base  32  is wide relative to decoy mounting plate  14 . A wide base enables wind forces blowing against the side to be translated into rotation, as will be described below, with reference to FIG. 10. It should be noted that other shapes may be used for the base. For example, an H-shape may be used to provide a wide base support, or an X-shape may be used to provide a wide base support. Any suitable shaped structure that permits a vertical pivot rod near the geometric center of the base shape may be used.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a side view of cross member  46 . Spacing L separating support arm  50  from the remainder of cross member  46 . As shown, cross member  46  includes a web and flange structure to provide a lightweight sturdy structure to resist bending. Support arm  50  extends from the web and flange structure of cross member  46  and is configured to flex up and down, as shown by arrow  62  in FIG. 6. The relatively rigid structure of cross member  46  provides for a more consistent bending response in support arm  50  to wind forces upon decoy  12 . Up ward and downward flex of support arm  50  causes decoy  12  to move in a bobbing forward and rearward motion, as shown in FIG. 9.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 7 shows a cross section of cross member  46 . An end view of support arm  50  is illustrated. Support arm  50  may twist, as illustrated in FIG. 12 to induce side-to-side waddle type motion in decoy  12 . The side-to-side motion provided by the twisting of support arm  50  simulates life-like movement of the decoy. Arrow  64 , in FIG. 11, shows the side-to-side motion of the decoy.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 10 illustrates decoy  12  pivoting about pivot rod  18 . As shown, winds striking the decoy cause it to rotate about pivot rod  18 . Biasing member  26 , as described above, attaches to mounting plate  14  and limits the pivotal rotation of decoy  12 . This rotation about the vertical axis simulates life like movement in decoy  12 . It should be understood that two or more biasing members may be used to limit the pivotal rotation of decoy  12 . Multiple hooks are provided so that multiple biasing members may be attached in high wind conditions.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment of a decoy stand according to the present invention, generally indicated at  110 . Decoy stand  110  couples with a decoy  112  via mounting plate  114 . Decoy stand  110  may be configured to enable decoy  112  to move in at least two degrees of freedom. Decoy stand  110  enables pivotal motion about a vertical pivot rod  118 , as one degree of freedom. A biasing member  126  limits the amplitude or displacement of the rotation caused by wind forces rotating decoy  112 . A ring base  132  is used to provide a solid base for decoy stand  110 .  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 12 further illustrates assembly of decoy stand  110 . Up and down bobbing motion is shown by arrows  162 , cause decoy  112  to move in a manner similar to that illustrated by FIG. 9, above. Decoy  112  may simulate a walking or feeding motion that simulates lifelike characteristics to waterfowl flying overhead.  
         [0047]    Although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to the foregoing operational principles and preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims.