Abstract:
A decoy adapter stand allows a floatable buoyant waterfowl decoy to be adapted for use on land. The decoy adapter stand includes an upper securing bracket, a base, and a vertical spacer joining the upper bracket to the base. The securing bracket is used to secure a floatable buoyant waterfowl decoy to the stand, and the base provides a stable support. In use, the vertical spacer distances the decoy from the surface of the ground, so that the decoy appears to be standing. A first, freestanding embodiment of the decoy adapter stand includes a footed base. A second embodiment of the decoy adapter stand includes a staked base, where portions of the base are insertable into the ground. A method of using the described apparatus to adapt a floatable buoyant decoy for land use is also described.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present invention claims priority under 35 USC 119(e) based on U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/574,244, filed May. 25, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to waterfowl decoys and related accessories. More particularly, the present invention relates to an adapter stand, which is usable with a buoyant waterfowl decoy, to allow a hunter to adapt the waterfowl decoy for land use. The present invention also relates to a kit including the novel adapter stand and a buoyant waterfowl decoy, as well as to a method of using the described adapter stand to modify and adapt a buoyant waterfowl decoy for land use.  
         [0004]     2. Background Art  
         [0005]     A variety of animal decoys are known and used by hunters, for placement in field environments to attract wild game. Many different decoys are known for simulating many different types of animals, in many types of environments.  
         [0006]     For example, waterfowl decoys are used to attract waterfowl into the target range of a hunter. Many types of waterfowl decoys have been developed over the years to improve hunters&#39; chances of attracting game, and these known decoys are designed for use either in an aquatic environment or on land, but not both.  
         [0007]     Some examples of buoyant three-dimensional decoys, and accessories therefor, are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,733,733, 5,172,507, 5,832,650, 5,899,014, and 6,543,176.  
         [0008]     For example, floatable buoyant decoys of one known style, such as the decoy  1  shown in  FIG. 1 , typically consist of a hard-shell housing  7  formed in the shape of a simulated waterfowl, and are often provided with a weighted bar or keel  8  along the underside of the housing  7 .  
         [0009]     This keel  8  may include a metal bar, or may be a hollow tube filled with pelletized metal weights (not shown) to properly orient and stabilize the decoy when it is floating in water. The keel  8  is essential to keeping the floatable buoyant decoy  1  upright when in water, but unfortunately, prevents the decoy from remaining upright when the decoy rests on land. The conventional decoy  1  shown in  FIG. 1  has a narrow portion formed between widest part of the keel  8  and the housing  7 , defining a recessed groove or channel  9  at the top of the keel on each side thereof.  
         [0010]     It is also difficult to use decoys designed for land use in water applications. These may include two-dimensional silhouette decoys, which are normally staked in place ( FIG. 2 ), or three-dimensional decoys, which are either self-supporting or require external support.  
         [0011]     Thus, hunters are required to acquire different decoys for each environment in which they intend to hunt. This incurs both increased cost and inconvenience, since multiple decoys must be stored, maintained, and transported to and from the hunting site.  
         [0012]     A limited number of adapter stands, for supporting decoys, are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,655,071 to Barnes et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,442,884 to Sceery, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,266,912 to Jirele each disclose mounting devices used to support waterfowl decoys. However, the inventor is unaware of any prior art that relates to or discloses a decoy adapter stand that adapts a floatable buoyant animal decoy for land use.  
         [0013]     A need still exists for a decoy adapter stand that can be used to adapt a floatable buoyant waterfowl decoy for land use, so that a single decoy can be used both on land and in water. A need also exists for a decoy adapter stand that is easy to use, regardless of land and weather conditions. A need exists for a decoy adapter stand that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, so that it can be affordably priced.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     The present invention provides a decoy adapter stand which allows a floatable buoyant decoy to be adapted for use on land, thus allowing a hunter to use a single decoy in different environments. When using the decoy adapter stand hereof, a single decoy can be adapted for use in multiple environments, thereby reducing equipment costs, and also reducing transportation and storage requirements for this equipment.  
         [0015]     In a first illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the inventive decoy adapter stand includes an upper bracket for use in securing a decoy to the stand, a base to provide stable support on land, and a spacer extending between the base and the bracket. The upper bracket and base are joined together by the vertical spacer, which distances the decoy upwardly from the ground surface, so that the decoy appears to be standing upright.  
         [0016]     When placed on the adapter stand hereof, portions of the upper bracket fit slidably into channels formed on the underside of the decoy, and the decoy rests on the upper bracket.  
         [0017]     The decoy adapter stand hereof, in a first aspect of the invention, is provided in a freestanding embodiment, which includes a footed base. In this first embodiment, the decoy adapter stand rests on the surface of the ground, and is especially well suited for frozen or rocky ground conditions.  
         [0018]     In a second aspect of the present invention, a decoy adapter stand is provided in a fixably mountable embodiment including a base with a stake extending downwardly thereon. In this second embodiment of the invention, the stake portion of the base is adapted to be embedded in the ground, to temporarily fix the decoy in place.  
         [0019]     Both embodiments are easy to use regardless of land or weather conditions, and both embodiments are of simple, curved rod design allowing for easy and economical manufacture.  
         [0020]     The present invention also relates to a decoy kit, which includes a floatable buoyant waterfowl decoy having a keel, and an adapter stand which is attachable to the keel to allow the decoy to be used on land.  
         [0021]     The present invention further relates to method of adapting a floatable buoyant decoy for land use by attaching the inventive adapter stand hereof to a keel portion of the decoy.  
         [0022]     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the reader is referred to the following detailed description section, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description and in the drawings, like numbers refer to like parts. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]      FIG. 1A  is a side plan view of a floatable buoyant prior art decoy, illustrating the use of a weighted keel at the underside of the decoy.  
         [0024]      FIG. 1B  is a front plan view of a floatable buoyant prior art decoy, also including a weighted keel at the underside of the decoy.  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a two-dimensional silhouette-style prior art waterfowl decoy.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a freestanding apparatus illustrating a floatable buoyant decoy resting on an adapter stand according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of a staked apparatus illustrating a floatable buoyant decoy resting on an adapter stand according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of an adapter stand according to the first embodiment hereof, illustrating a base portion having two horizontal parallel legs joined by a transverse horizontal cross bar.  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of another adapter stand according to the first embodiment hereof, including a base portion having two horizontally oriented diverging legs.  
         [0030]      FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of a stake post adapter stand according to the second embodiment hereof, including a threaded stake and a stabilizing arm.  
         [0031]      FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of a decoy mounted on the adapter stand of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0032]     The apparatus for adapting a floatable buoyant decoy for land use and the method for using the apparatus will now be described in detail with respect to the drawing Figures. Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , a freestanding decoy adapter stand  20 , according to a first illustrative embodiment of the present invention, is usable to support a floatable buoyant decoy  1 . The decoy  1  is a conventional floatable buoyant decoy as described above, including a housing  7  formed in the shape of a waterfowl.  
         [0033]     The decoy  1  is provided with a weighted keel  8  fixed to its underside  2 . The keel  8  includes a bar that protrudes downwardly from the underside  2  of decoy  1 , and extends in a direction from the front  4  to the rear  6  of decoy  1 . Weighted keel  8  keeps decoy  1  upright when placed in water, and helps it to maintain its directional orientation while floating. The cross-sectional shape ( FIG. 8 ) of the weighted keel  8  includes indented channels  9  formed in the bar adjacent underside  2 , and extending along keel  8  from front  4  to rear  6  of decoy  1 .  
         [0034]     As best seen in  FIG. 5 , the first embodiment of the invention is a freestanding adapter stand  20  that includes an upper bracket  22 , a spacer  30 , and a footed base  40 . A decoy  1  is shown mounted on and supported by the bracket  20  in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0035]     The upper bracket  22  of the adapter stand  20  is used to interconnect the floatable buoyant decoy  1  and the decoy adapter stand  20 . The upper bracket  22  is a bifurcated elongate rod formed into a V-shape, such that it has a first tine  24  and a second tine  26 . The first tine and second tines  24 ,  26  intersect at an apex  28 , and extend substantially perpendicularly to the spacer  30 , such that the upper bracket  22  generally lies in the horizontal plane. Preferably, the first tine  24  and the second tine  26  are each provided in a length which is at least half the length of a decoy.  
         [0036]     In use, the upper bracket  22  is aligned with and placed in back of the keel  8 , and the tips of the respective tines  24 ,  26  are placed in the channels  9  on opposite sides of the keel. The decoy is then slid back as far as possible in the bracket  22 . Alternatively, the decoy  1  may be held in place, and the adapter stand  20  may be slid along the keel as far as possible.  
         [0037]     In the installed configuration thereof, the decoy housing  7  rests on top of the upper bracket  22 , and the weighted keel  8  rests between and below the first and second tines  24 ,  26 , which are received within the channels  9  formed in the keel  8 . Preferably, the rear portion  6  of the decoy  1  overlies and covers the apex  28  of the upper bracket.  
         [0038]     The integral spacer  30  connects the upper bracket  22  to the foot or base  40 , and also vertically spaces the decoy  1  above the ground, so as to provide the impression of a standing waterfowl. Alternatively, a short spacer may be used, to provide the impression of a resting waterfowl.  
         [0039]     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the spacer  30  is an elongate rod having an upper end  32  and a lower end  34 . The upper bracket  22  is fixed to the upper end  32  of the spacer  30 , and the lower end  34  of the spacer  30  is integrally attached to the base  40 .  
         [0040]     The base  40  is provided to supportively rest on the ground or other solid substrate, and functions to support and stabilize the spacer  30  and the upper bracket  22 . In the first embodiment of the invention, the base  40  is provided with a first leg  42  and a second leg  44  that extend horizontally and are substantially parallel to one another.  
         [0041]     A transverse cross bar  46  extends between and joins first leg  42  and second leg  44 , such that the first end  48  of cross bar  46  is fixed to a first end of the first leg  42  and that the second end  52  of cross bar  46  is fixed to a first end of the second leg  44  so as to form a U shape. The mid portion  50  of cross bar  46  is fixed to the lower end  34  of the spacer  30 . The base  40  extends perpendicularly from the spacer  30 , such that the base  40  generally lies in a horizontal plane, and underlies the upper bracket  22 .  
         [0042]     The freestanding decoy adapter stand  20  according to the first embodiment hereof can be provided with an alternative footed base configuration, as shown in  FIG. 6 . In the modified embodiment of a freestanding decoy adapter stand  200  shown in  FIG. 6 , the U-shaped base  40  is replaced by a substantially V-shaped base  60 . The V-shaped base  60  is also provided for resting placement on a solid surface, and functions to support and stabilize upper bracket  22  and the spacer  30 .  
         [0043]     The base  60  is provided with a first leg  62  and a second leg  64  that extend in the horizontal plane and intersect to form an apex  66 . Apex  66  of base  60  is fixed to the lower end of the spacer  30 , such that the base  60  generally underlies the upper bracket  22 .  
         [0044]     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 7 , a second embodiment of the invention will now be described. Staked decoy adapter stand  70  includes an upper bracket  72 , a spacer  80 , and a staked base  90 . The upper bracket  72  is formed into a V-shape, such that it has a first tine  74  and a second tine  76  that intersect at an apex  78 . The spacer  80  has an upper end  82  and a lower end  84 . The spacer  80  and upper bracket  72  are identical to the components described above with respect to the footed, freestanding decoy adapter stand  20 .  
         [0045]     The staked base  90  is provided for anchored insertion within the ground, and functions to support and stabilize the upper bracket  22  and the spacer  30 . The staked base  90  includes an anchor stake  98  and a stabilizer arm  92 . Anchor stake  98  extends downwardly from lower end  84  of the spacer  80 , and may be tapered adjacent its terminal end, such that the terminal end is pointed. The exterior surface of the anchor stake  98  may, optionally, be provided with external threads on the tip of the terminal end, to permit rotatable threaded installation into hard or frozen ground.  
         [0046]     The stabilizer arm  92  is an elongate rod that extends integrally outwardly from a medial portion  84  of the spacer  90 , in a direction substantially perpendicular to the spacer  90  and has a first end  96  and a second end  94 . The stabilizer arm  92  lies generally horizontally and in a direction, which is opposed to the direction in which the upper bracket  72  extends, such that the stabilizer arm  92  does not underlie the upper bracket  72 . The stabilizer arm  92  may be used as a footrest, to receive the foot of a user (not shown) thereon, and to allow the user to force the anchor stake  98  downwardly into the ground, weather permitting. The stabilizer arm  92  also acts as a stop bar to limit the distance to which the adapter  70  may be inserted in the ground.  
         [0047]     In use, the anchor stake  98  of staked decoy adapter stand  70  is inserted into the ground to a depth at which stabilizer arm rests  92  on the surface of the ground.  
         [0048]     The decoy adapter stand  20 ,  200 ,  70  according to the present invention may be formed of multiple joined sections of metal rod. Where metal rod is used to form the stand hereof, the upper bracket  22  and the base  40 ,  60 ,  90  are joined to the upright post of the spacer  30  by welding.  
         [0049]     It is understood, however, that alternative materials, including but not limited to plastic, may be used to form the decoy adapter stand  20 ,  200 ,  70  hereof. When material properties allow, the inventive decoy adapter stand may be formed using alternative methods, such as die-casting.  
         [0050]     A method for adapting a floatable buoyant waterfowl decoy for land use will now be described. To avoid the necessity and cost of owning and maintaining two separate decoys, one for water use and one for land use, the following method allows a single decoy to be used in both land-based and aquatic applications. This method uses the above-described inventive adapter stand and a conventional floatable buoyant animal decoy.  
         [0051]     The method steps are as follows:  
         [0052]     Step 1. Place the decoy adapter stand  20 ,  200 ,  70  on a solid surface such that base  40 ,  60 ,  90  confronts and abuts the solid surface, and such that the spacer  30  extends upward from the base  40 ,  60 ,  90 . When freestanding decoy adapter stand  20 ,  200  is used, base  40 ,  60  rests on the solid surface. When staked decoy adapter stand  70  is used, the anchor stake  98  is inserted into the solid surface to a depth at which arm  92  confronts and abuts the solid surface.  
         [0053]     Step 2. Secure the floatable buoyant animal decoy  1  to upper bracket  22  of decoy adapter stand  20 ,  200 ,  70  so that decoy housing  7  rests on the upper side of upper bracket  22 , weighted keel  8  resides between first tine  24  and second tine  26 , first and second legs  24 ,  26  are received within channels  9  formed in weighted keel  8  of decoy  1 , and so that the rear  6  of decoy  1  overlies apex  28 .  
         [0054]     Positioning of first and second legs  24 ,  26  within channels  9  of weighted keel  8  secures decoy  8  to decoy adapter stand  20 ,  200 ,  70 , and provides a means by which decoy  1  is prevented from becoming dislodged from decoy adapter stand  20 ,  200 ,  70  as might be caused by jostling, high winds or other unforeseen circumstances.  
         [0055]     Alternatively, the upper bracket  22  of the adapter stand  20 ,  200 ,  70  may be aligned with the keel  8  of the decoy in a first step, the bracket  22  may be slid along the channels  9  as far as possible to mount the decoy  1  on the stand  20  in a second step, and the decoy and stand assembly may be placed on the ground in an upright configuration in a third step. Three different embodiments of upright configurations of the assembled decoy and stand are shown in  FIGS. 3, 4  and  8 . Where the staked embodiment of the adapter stand  70  is used, the method may include a step of forcing the stake  98  into the ground until the stabilizer arm  92  contacts the ground.  
         [0056]     Although the presently contemplated embodiments of an apparatus for adapting a floatable buoyant decoy for land use, a waterfowl decoy kit, and methods of adapting a floatable buoyant decoy for land use have been described herein, the foregoing description is intended to illustrate, rather than to limit the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that various substitutions and modifications can be made, without departing from the invention. All such modifications, which are within the scope of the appended claims, are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention.