Abstract:
A device to lift a motion decoy includes a main chamber; a piston that extends inside and outside of the main chamber; an end of the piston outside of the main chamber adapted to connect to the decoy; a gasket on the piston, inside the main chamber, that helps the pressure of the water urge the piston to rise so that the piston lifts and lowers the decoy, the gasket helping stabilize the piston relative to the main chamber when the piston has risen; a water pump that provides the main chamber with water under pressure so as to urge the piston to rise; and a contact switch on the piston that, upon lack of contact between the contact switch and the main chamber, allows the decoy to activate a motion. An inner piston may rise out of the piston to further lift the decoy.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Patent Application No. 61/229,437, filed Jul. 29, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to decoys and more specifically to a device to lift a motion decoy. 
         [0003]    Existing decoys and decoy systems do not have lifelike flight motion. 
         [0004]    It would be desirable to have a decoy system with lifelike flight motion that stops the motion when the decoy appears to land. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect of the present invention, a device to lift a decoy includes a main chamber; a piston that extends inside and outside of the main chamber, an end outside of the main chamber adapted to connect to the decoy; and a pump that provides the main chamber with pressure so as to urge the piston to rise, thereby lifting the decoy. 
         [0006]    In another aspect of the present invention, a device to lift a decoy includes a main chamber; a piston that extends inside and outside of the main chamber; an end of the piston outside of the main chamber adapted to connect to the decoy; a gasket on the piston, inside the main chamber, that helps the pressure of the water urge the piston to rise so that the piston lifts and lowers the decoy, the gasket helping stabilize the piston relative to the main chamber when the piston has risen; a water pump that provides the main chamber with water under pressure so as to urge the piston to rise; and a contact switch on the piston that, upon lack of contact between the contact switch and the main chamber, allows the decoy to activate a motion. 
         [0007]    In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of simulating a bird in flight and then landing includes pumping water into a main chamber; activating a motion for a decoy; utilizing water pressure in the main chamber to lift a piston attached to the decoy, thereby lifting the decoy; pressing the water out of the main chamber, thereby lowering the piston and the decoy; and upon contact between the main chamber and the piston, deactivating the motion for the decoy. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  depicts a side view of an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  depicts the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the pump on; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  depicts the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the pump off; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  depicts a perspective view of a three stage embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  depicts a side view of main chamber cylinder “A” of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  depicts a side view of piston cylinder “B” of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  depicts a side view of inner piston cylinder “C” of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  depicts an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention utilizing a steel rod; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  depicts a side view of an embodiment of a stake according to the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a stand according the present invention; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  depicts a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    The preferred embodiment and other embodiments, which can be used in industry and include the best mode now known of carrying out the invention, are hereby described in detail with reference to the drawings. Further embodiments, features and advantages will become apparent from the ensuing description, or may be learned without undue experimentation. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, except where otherwise indicated. The following description of embodiments, even if phrased in terms of “the invention” or what the embodiment “is,” is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but describes the manner and process of making and using the invention. The coverage of this patent will be described in the claims. The order in which steps are listed in the claims does not necessarily indicate that the steps must be performed in that order. 
         [0020]    Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally provides a device to lift a motion decoy. An embodiment of the present invention may generally use water pressure from a bilge pump to fill a chamber to provide a lift for one or more pistons to lift a decoy so as to provide a vertical lift. Embodiment of the present invention may add up and down motion to a decoy to create the illusion of a fowl, waterfowl, or other decoy resembling a bird in flight and landing. The system may use a water pump controlled by the operator to raise a motion decoy to allow for lifelike flight and stopping the motion when the decoy is landed. 
         [0021]    As depicted in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , a device  10  may lift a decoy  12  utilizing a power source  14  that powers a pump  16 , which is connected to a main chamber  18  with a piston  20 . Embodiments of power source  14  may include, but are not limited to, an internal or external 12 volt battery, power generator, inverter, or power cable. Embodiments of pump  16  may include, but are not limited to, a 12 volt bilge pump and a connector hose to connect to main chamber  18 . Embodiments of pump  16  may be a bilge pump or other pump, where the gallons per hour (GPH) of the pump are adequate to lift a piston. Pump  16  may connect to main chamber  18 , which may be a conduit such as, for example, a 1¼″ inch (1¼″) substantially polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cylinder. Samples have been successfully tested with 2″ PVC and may be larger. Piston  20  may serve as the piston that provides the up and down vertical lift. Piston  20  may include ¾″ PVC, which has been found to provide stability when utilized with a 12-volt bilge pump. The diameter of piston  20  could be larger if a larger pump  16  were used. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  depicts the embodiment with pump power switch  32  in the “ON” position, with pump  16  running so as to raise and/or support the decoy  12 . When power source  14  is activated, water pump  16  may activate to allow water  24  to flow through a quick connect fitting  22  into the bottom of main chamber  18 . As the bottom of main chamber  18  fills with water  24 , pressure may be applied against a piston cap  26  glued or otherwise attached to the bottom of piston  20 , which may urge piston  20  to rise toward a main coupling  28  or cap near the top of main chamber  18  and raise the decoy  12 . A contact switch  30  or other motion sensor may activate and deactivate the wings of decoy  12 . When piston  20  reaches its maximum height, fittings may provide stability for piston  20  and the motion decoy  12 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  depicts the embodiment in the downward cycle with pump power switch  32  in the “OFF” position. When the power  14  is removed from the pump  16  the weight of the motion decoy  12  on top of piston  20  may push downward, slowly pressing the water  24  out of main chamber  18 . The decoy  12  may come to rest when the piston cap  26  on the bottom of piston  20  reaches the bottom of main chamber  18 . Depending on the motion decoy to be used, decoy  12  may be wired with contact switch  30  to allow the wings of the decoy to be activated when piston  20  begins to lift from its resting point. The wings or other elements may continue to move as piston  20  completes it designed cycle of lifting and returning to rest on top of main chamber  18 . When contact with contact switch  30  is made, the cycle is completed, decoy  12  comes to rest near the top of main chamber  18 , and the wings will stop. This may provide the look of a waterfowl rising in flight and returning to rest. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  depicts a three stage embodiment  36  according to the present invention. Piston  20  is a cylinder that rises out of main chamber  18 , and inner piston  34  rises out of piston  20  to support the motion decoy. The water pressure that lifts piston  34  may pass through the interior of piston  34  and also lift inner piston  34 . The size of inner piston  34  may depend on the size of piston  20  and main chamber  18  since they are dependent on each other and freely fit into each other. 
         [0025]    As depicted in  FIG. 5 , an embodiment of main chamber  18  (which may be called cylinder “A”) may be a 1¼″ PVC cylinder or other tubing that may be, but is not limited to, 12 inches to 48 inches in length. The bottom of main chamber  18  may have a 1¼″ female adapter  40 . A 1¼″ by ¾″ PVC hex bushing  42  may thread into the female adapter  40 . This hex bushing  42  may allow for access to main chamber  18 . A ¾″ male pipe thread (MIP) by ¾″ male hose thread (MHT) adapter  44  may thread into a ¾″ bushing  46  such as a rubber hose washer and ¾″ garden hose quick connect  48 , which may allow a hose  52  to connect the pump  16  being used with a ⅝ plastic barbed fitting  54 . The other end of main chamber  18  may have a 1¼″ coupling  28  or cap with a 1¼″ by ¾″ PVC slip hex bushing  50 . The ¾″ quick-connect bushing must be bored slightly to allow ¾″ PVC to pass freely up and down. 
         [0026]    As depicted in  FIG. 6 , an embodiment of piston  20  (which may be called cylinder “B”) may be ¾″ PVC but can be other sizes. Piston  20  may be approximately 6 inches longer than main chamber  18  to allow for decoy placement. A ¾″ PVC cap  26  is at the bottom and fittings above cap  26  include a plurality of ¾″ piston couplings  60  separated by “O” rings  62  or other gaskets. The “O” rings  62  may be placed in order to help provide a seal for the piston and serve as a stabilizer on the bottom of piston  20 . The PVC fittings may be glued in place and separated by a small space for the “O” rings  62 . 
         [0027]    As depicted in  FIG. 7 , an embodiment may include an inner piston  34  (which may be called cylinder “C”). Piston  20  may be a cylinder with the top left open, and inner piston  34  may be ½″ PVC fitted into the opening of piston  20 . A stop  64  or rubber plug may be located or placed on the bottom of inner piston  34 . A ½″ inch inner piston coupling  66  may be located near the bottom of inner piston  34  to help make a seal for the piston and help stabilize the bottom of inner piston  34 . The size used for inner piston  34  would depend on the size of main chamber  18  and piston  20  so that inner piston  34  freely slides into piston  20 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 8  depicts an exploded, detailed view of an alternate embodiment of a device  70 . The outer cylinder “A” is similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , but the inner piston cylinder “B” has a substantially steel rod in-line, down its center. The outer cylinder may include a 1¼″ PVC coupling  28  or cap at one end of a 1¼″ PVC schedule  40  (SCH 40 ) pipe  18 , and at the other end cylinder may be secured with a 1¼″ PVC female adapter  40 , a 1¼″×¾″ hex bushing  42  and a ¾″ MIP×¾″ female hose thread (FHT) adapter  44 . Two ¾″ bushings  46  or rubber hose washers may surround a hose quick connect  48 , which connects through a ¾″ slip×¾″ MHT  50  to a 12 volt pump  16 . The inner cylinder may include 4/40 steel washers  72 , 4/40 steel nuts  74 , 5″ long ¾″ square tubing  76 , 4/40×1¼″ steel bolts  78 , a 3×3 steel angle bracket  80 , a single-pole single-throw (SPST) momentary, normally closed (N/C) switch  82 , a switch nut  84 , and a ⅜″ nut  86 . A ⅜″ steel rod  88  is has a ¾″ PVC threaded plug  90  to retain a 6″ long  1 ″ PVC tube  92 . The bottom of the PVC tube  92  has more ⅜″ nuts  86 , another threaded plug  90 , a 1½″×⅜″ rubber washer  94 , and a 1×⅜″ steel fender washer  96 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 9  depicts an embodiment of stake  100  that may be utilized to hold a device to lift a motion decoy. Stake  100  may include a section of 5″ long ¾″ square tubing  102 , 1¼″×¼″ steel hex bolts  104 , ¼″ steel nuts  106 , 1¼″ conduit clamps  108 , and ¼″ wing nuts  110 . The stake  100  may be driven into the ground and that clamps  108  may be utilized to retain an embodiment of the device  10 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 10  shows an embodiment of a multipurpose stand  110  with device  10  inserted, as it would be used in water deeper than 18 inches. Embodiments may also include a timing function that may use a proper timing for a lifelike motion decoy. Embodiments may include a multipurpose stand to hold the device, provide a standalone water source, and be used to provide a floating device for deeper water situations. 
         [0031]    As depicted in  FIG. 11 , an embodiment of a multipurpose stand  110  may include a section of 4″×12″ PVC pipe  128  to hold a water supply. At the top of the water container is a 2″ by ½″ Fernco or other fitting  112  attached to one end of a section of 6″ long  2 ″ PVC tubing  114 , a 4″×2″ coupling  116 , and a waterproof wire inlet  118  to fill the container. At the other end are a 4″ female adapter  130 , a 4″ PVC plug  132 , and a 1″ boat plug  136 . Four 3″×24″ floats  134  are held with a 3″×3″ aluminum angle  126  to four ¾″×24″ square sections of aluminum  124  with four 14″×1½″ stainless steel bolt and stop nuts  120 , and four ¼″×1½″ clevis pins  122  or other fasteners. Each float  134  may be put in a first, extended position for use where the float acts as a flotation device for the device, or folded into a second position for storage. 
         [0032]    To use an embodiment of the invention, a hunter or other user may take the device to a water source and stand it in the water with a stake or with a multipurpose stand while waterfowl hunting. The device may be connected to 12 volt power source. A motion decoy may be placed on the top of the device. At the desired time the user may activate the device to raise and activate the wings of the decoy. This may allow the decoy to spin for a desired amount of time, or until the user gets the attention of passing fowl and deactivates the device to simulate to the passing fowl that a bird has just landed. This step can be repeated as desired or may be placed on a timer or remote control to repeat. Another embodiment may raise and lower the decoy with no added motion. 
         [0033]    An embodiment of a device for a decoy may include a power source, a pump, powered by the power source, the pump providing a source of water, a first cylinder having first and second ends, a first adapter at the first end of the first cylinder, adapted to connect to the source of water, a second cylinder that fits inside the first cylinder, a coupling on the second end of the first cylinder that allows the second cylinder to pass freely up and down, and a gasket between the first and second cylinders. The first cylinder, gasket, and second cylinder may cooperate to provide a piston that lifts and lowers the decoy.