Abstract:
A mounting device that is used with floating waterfowl decoys to enable the floating decoys to be converted for use in a dry field. This is accomplished by using a mounting platform that is equipped with flexible attaching means that loop over the extended part of the keel on a floating waterfowl decoy.

Description:
The invention claimed and disclosed herein deals with devices that are useful for converting floating waterfowl decoys to field waterfowl decoys without destroying the floating decoy capability. 
     Thus, what is disclosed is a mounting device that is used with floating waterfowl decoys to enable the floating decoys to be converted for use in a dry field. This is accomplished by using a mounting platform that is equipped with flexible attaching means that loop over the extended part of the keel on a floating waterfowl decoy. 
     Also disclosed is the combination of a floating duck decoy and the mounting device along with kits that are the mounting devices for the decoys. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor herein is unaware of any prior art devices analogous to the devices of this invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a full side view of a floating duck decoy mounted to a mounting device of this invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a full side view of a mounting device of this invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a full end view of a mounting device of this invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a full side view of the flat panel without the loops and the detachable rod. 
         FIG. 5  is a full bottom view of the flat panel without the detachable rod. 
         FIG. 6  is a full side view of a second embodiment of this invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a full side view of another mounting apparatus of this invention using two support rods. 
         FIG. 8  shows the components of the kit for the device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  shows the components of the kit for the device as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 10  shows the components of the kit for the device as shown in  FIG. 7  plus two elastomeric attachments means. 
     
    
    
     THE INVENTION 
     Thus, in a first embodiment of this invention there is disclosed in this specification a field conversion decoy for waterfowl hunting, said field conversion decoy comprising in combination a floatable waterfowl decoy having a keel, wherein the keel has a front end and a back end and a mounting apparatus. 
     The mounting apparatus comprises a flat panel and attachment means. The flat panel has a predetermined size and thickness. The flat panel has two side edges, each side edge has a center point, a bottom, a top, and the bottom has a centered first opening therein. The centered first opening has a detachable rod inserted therein. 
     The side edges each have two openings adjoining each other and near the center point thereof to provide a forward pair of openings, one on each side edge of the flat panel and a rearward pair of openings, one on each side edge of the flat panel. 
     There are two flexible attachment means each having a first end and a second end, one said attachment means has the first end fixed in one side edge forward opening and the second end fixed in the opposite side edge forward opening forming a loop over the front end of the keel. 
     The remaining attachment means has the first end fixed in one side edge rearward opening and the second end fixed in the opposite side edge rearward opening to form a loop over the back end of the keel. 
     A second embodiment of this invention is the mounting apparatus for converting floating waterfowl decoys to field waterfowl decoys comprising a flat panel having a predetermined size and thickness, wherein the flat panel has two side edges, each side edge having a center point, a bottom, and a top. In addition, the bottom has a centered first opening in it. The centered first opening has a detachable rod inserted in it. 
     The side edges of the flat panel each have two openings adjoining each other and near the center point to provide a forward pair of openings, one on each side edge of the flat panel and a rearward pair of openings, one on each side edge of the flat panel. 
     There are two flexible attachment means each having a first end and a second end, one said attachment means having the first end fixed in one side edge forward opening and the second end fixed in the opposite side edge forward opening forming a loop over the front end of the keel. The remaining attachment means has the first end fixed in one side edge rearward opening and the second end fixed in the opposite side edge rearward opening to form a loop over the back end of the keel. 
     There is a third embodiment of this invention that is a field conversion decoy for waterfowl hunting, wherein the field conversion decoy comprises in combination a floatable waterfowl decoy having a keel, the keel having a front end and a back end. 
     There is a mounting apparatus comprising a flat panel having a predetermined size and thickness, a bottom, and a top. The bottom has a centered first opening in it. The centered first opening has a detachable rod inserted in it. There are two separable flexible attachment means for attaching a floating decoy to the mounting apparatus. 
     In another embodiment, there is a mounting apparatus for converting floating waterfowl decoys to field waterfowl decoys comprising a flat panel having a predetermined size and thickness, a bottom, and a top. The bottom has a centered first opening in it and the centered first opening has a detachable rod inserted in it. There are two separable flexible attachment means for attaching a waterfowl decoy to the mounting apparatus. 
     In yet another embodiment, there is a field conversion decoy for waterfowl hunting, said field conversion decoy comprising in combination a floatable waterfowl decoy having a keel, the keel having a front end and a back end. 
     In addition, there is a mounting apparatus comprising a flat panel having a predetermined size and thickness. The flat panel has two side edges, each side edge has a center point, a bottom, and a top. The bottom has two centered first openings in it and each centered first opening has a detachable rod inserted in it. 
     The side edges each have two openings adjoining each other and near the center point to provide a forward pair of openings, one on each side edge of the flat panel and a rearward pair of openings, one on each side edge of the flat panel. 
     There are two flexible attachment means each having a first end and a second end, one said attachment means having the first end fixed in one side edge forward opening and the second end fixed in the opposite side edge forward opening forming a loop over the front end of the keel. 
     The remaining attachment means has the first end fixed in one side edge rearward opening and the second end fixed in the opposite side edge rearward opening to form a loop over the back end of the keel. 
     Going to another embodiment of this invention, there is a mounting apparatus for converting floating waterfowl decoys to field waterfowl decoys comprising a flat panel having a predetermined size and thickness. The flat panel has two side edges, each side edge having a center point, a bottom, and a top, said bottom having two centered first openings therein. Each centered first opening has a detachable rod inserted in it. 
     The side edges each have two openings adjoining each other and near the center point thereof to provide a forward pair of openings, one on each side edge of the flat panel and a rearward pair of openings, one on each side edge of the flat panel. 
     There are two flexible attachment means each having a first end and a second end, wherein one of the attachment means has the first end fixed in one side edge forward opening and the second end fixed in the opposite side edge forward opening forming a loop over the front end of the keel. 
     The remaining attachment means has the first end fixed in one side edge rearward opening and the second end fixed in the opposite side edge rearward opening to form a loop over the back end of the keel. 
     Still another embodiment of this invention is a field conversion decoy for waterfowl hunting wherein the field conversion decoy comprises in combination a floatable waterfowl decoy having a keel. The keel has a front end and a back end. 
     There is a mounting apparatus comprising a flat panel having a predetermined size and thickness, a bottom, and a top. The bottom has two centered first openings in it, each centered first opening having a detachable rod inserted in it. 
     There are two separable flexible attachment means for attaching the decoy to the mounting apparatus. 
     Going to another embodiment there is a kit for converting a floating duck decoy to a field decoy. The kit comprises a flat panel having a predetermined size and thickness, said flat panel having two side edges, each side edge having a center point, a bottom, and a top, said bottom having at least one centered first opening in it. 
     The side edges each have two openings adjoining each other and near the center point thereof to provide a forward pair of openings, one on each side edge of the flat panel and a rearward pair of openings, one on each side edge of the flat panel. 
     There is at least one detachable rod and two flexible attachment means each said attachment means having a first end and a second end, one said attachment means having the first end fixed in one side edge forward opening and the second end fixed in the opposite side edge forward opening. 
     The remaining attachment means has the first end fixed in one side edge rearward opening and the second end fixed in the opposite side edge rearward opening. 
     Finally, there is yet another embodiment of this invention which is a kit for a field conversion decoy for waterfowl hunting, said kit comprising in combination a mounting apparatus comprising a flat panel having a predetermined size and thickness, a bottom, and a top. The bottom has a centered first opening in it. 
     There is a detachable rod inserted in the centered first opening and two separable flexible attachment means for attaching the decoy to the mounting apparatus. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1  which is a full side view of a floating duck decoy  1  mounted to a mounting device  2  of this invention there is shown a floating duck decoy  1 , having a keel  3 , wherein the keel  3  has a front end  4  and a back end  5 . 
     Shown in  FIG. 2  is a full side view of a mounting device  2  of this invention and  FIG. 3  is a full end view of a device of this invention wherein there is shown a flat panel  6  having a predetermined size and thickness. The size and thickness of the flat panel is determined by the size of the decoy that is to be mounted thereon. Thus, duck decoys will require a smaller flat panel  6  than a goose decoy. 
     Nominally, the duck decoy flat panel  6  will range in size from about 3 to six inches long by about 2 inches wide, an about ½ inch thick, wherein the flat panel  6  for a goose decoy will range about 6 to 10 inches long by about 3 inches wide and about ½ inch thick. 
     The flat panel  6  is painted or dyed to imitate the bottom of the decoy being used thereon, for example, the common colors are white, gray and black. 
     The flat panel  6  has two side edges  7  and  7 ′. Each side edge has a center point P for purposes of orientation and clarification of the device with regard to the placement of openings  8  in the rear portion, and the openings  9  in the forward portion. 
     The bottom  10  of the flat panel  6  has a centered opening  12  in it for purposes of inserting a detachable rod  11  therein. It should be noted that it is not essential that the opening  12  be exactly centered, but in order to balance the decoy, it should be near the center of the flat panel  6 . 
     The detachable rod  11  is colored to imitate the legs of the various waterfowl, for example, black for geese, yellow for certain ducks, green for certain other ducks and orange for yet other species of ducks. 
     The detachability aspect of the detachable rod  11  allows for a quick change to accommodate the various species of ducks and geese that are decoyed in to the decoys. 
     Then, as set forth Supra, each of the side edges  7  and  7 ′ have openings  8  in the rear portion and openings  9  in the forward portion. 
     The holes  8  and  9  are thus paired in the rearward portion and in the forward portion of the side edges  7  and  7 ′ of the flat panel  6  in order to accommodate flexible attachment means  13  and  14 . The first end  15  of the flexible attachment means  13  is inserted into one side edge rearward opening  8  and the second end  16  is inserted into the opposite side edge opening  8  to complete a loop  17  over the back keel  5  and, the first end  18  of the other flexible attachment  14  is inserted into one side edge forward opening  9  and the second end  19  is inserted into the opposite side edge opening  9  to complete a second loop  20  over the front keel  4 . 
     The loops  17  and  20  are securely fastened into the openings  8  and  9  to ensure that they securely hold the decoy  1  on the flat panel  6 . It is contemplated within the scope of this invention to provide a recess or groove  27  in the top surface  21  of the flat panel  6  so that the keel  3  can be more securely held in place. 
     By “flexible” it is meant that the loops  17  and  20  have the capability to be drawn or stretched over the ends of the keel  3 . For example, an elastomeric material may be used that can be stretched and upon placement on the keel  3 , will provide a secure hold on the keel  3 . Yet, the flexibility will allow the elastomeric material to be stretched to remove it from the keel  3 . An example of the elastomeric material would be rubber O-rings that are commercially available. Also, rubber bands would be an example. It is also contemplated within the scope of this invention to use springs to accomplish the same result. It is also contemplated within the scope of this invention to utilize one loop as a non-stretchable material and the other loop to be a stretchable material. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , there is shown another embodiment of this invention which is a floatable duck decoy that is mounted on a mounting apparatus wherein the elastomeric material is rubber O-rings  22  and  22 ′ that are applied around the top 23 of the rod  11  and anchored around the front end  4  and the back end  5  of the keel  3  of the decoy  1  without the necessity of having the ends of the elastomeric material anchored in openings in the sides  24  and  24 ′ (not shown) of the flat panel  25 . 
       FIG. 7  is a full side view of a mounting apparatus  26  of this invention using two rods  11  as support. 
       FIG. 8  shows the components of a kit for the embodiment using attachable elastomeric materials for attaching the decoy to the mounting apparatus  2 . 
       FIG. 9  shows the components of a kit for the embodiment of  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 10  shows the components of a kit for the double rod embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , wherein in  FIG. 8 , there is shown the flat panel  6 , with the channel or groove  27 , the support rod  11  and the elastomeric attaching means  13  and  14 , while in  FIG. 9 , there is shown the flat panel  25 , the support rod  11  and the flexible attachment means  22  and  22 ′. 
     Shown in  FIG. 10  is the mounting apparatus  26 , shown in  FIG. 7  which comprises the flat panel  25 , with the groove  27 , the flexible attachments means  22  and  22 ′, and two support rods  11 . 
     The mounting devices of this invention can be manufactured from any water resistant material, such as wood, plastics, metals, such as aluminum, and the like. It is preferred to manufacture the devices of this invention from plastics, because they have the integrity to withstand continuous use and can be manufactured very inexpensively. 
     The inventive devices herein are used to convert floating decoys having a keel, to use in the field without having to remove or destroy the floating decoy keel. Using floating decoys in a field set up is not desirable because the keels will not allow the decoys to remain upright in the field. 
     Thus, by this means, a hunter will need to buy only floating decoys, and will not have to buy another set which are field decoys.