Patent Publication Number: US-2015059228-A1

Title: Decoy device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/695,251, filed Aug. 30, 2012 the contents of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to hunting devices and in particular to decoy devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the field of game hunting, hunting decoys are devices that mimic the game and are intended to attract the game towards it. It has been found that flying ducks are drawn to decoys that have a spinning, flashing element attached to their backs. 
     SUMMARY OF ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
     ADVANTAGES OF ONE OR MORE EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The various embodiments of the present invention may, but do not necessarily, achieve one or more of the following advantages: 
     the ability to provide a wind driven attraction device; and 
     provide a flashing device that is more attractive ducks and other game birdlife; 
     provide a device that causes a ripple on the water; 
     provide an attraction device that can be removable attached to a decoy; and 
     provide an attraction device that can be attached to a large number of available decoys. 
     These and other advantages may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification, claims, and abstract. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     In one aspect, the invention provides an attraction device for attachment to a decoy used in game hunting. The attraction device may comprise a bracket that supports a wing element. The wing element may be rotatably mounted onto the bracket such that the wing element can spin freely within the bracket. 
     In one aspect, the invention provides a method for providing an enhanced decoy. The method may include mounting an attraction device to a decoy. The attraction device may comprises a bracket that rotatably supports a wing element and a mounting arrangement for mounting the attraction device to the decoy. 
     In one aspect, the invention provides an attraction device comprising wing means and bracket means. The wing means may be for rotating to provide an attraction element and the bracket means may be for rotatably supporting the wing means. 
     The above description sets forth, rather broadly, a summary of one embodiment of the present invention so that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and contributions of the present invention to the art may be better appreciated. Some of the embodiments of the present invention may not include all of the features or characteristics listed in the above summary. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described below and will form the subject matter of claims. In this respect, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or as illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is substantially a perspective view of an attraction device; 
         FIG. 2  is substantially a front view of the attraction device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is substantially a side view of the attraction device; 
         FIG. 4  is substantially a side view of a wing element; 
         FIG. 5  is substantially a front view of the wing element of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is substantially a perspective view of a support shaft; 
         FIG. 7  is substantially a perspective of the mounting of the wing within one end of the bracket; 
         FIG. 8  is substantially an illustration of the attachment of the attraction device to a decoy; 
         FIG. 9  is substantially a perspective view of a fan bracket in position to be attached to an attraction device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is substantially a perspective view of a fan bracket attached to the attraction device of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is substantially a perspective view of a fan in position to be inserted into a fan bracket of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is substantially a perspective view of a fan attached to an attraction device of the presenting invention by a fan bracket. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     In  FIG. 1 , there is shown an attraction device  10  that can be attached to decoys to provide greater attraction to ducks and similar game. The attraction device  10  includes a substantially u-shaped bracket  11  having a base member  12 , first side member  13  and second side member  14 . Rotationally supported by the bracket  11  is a wing element  20 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 5 , and in particular  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the wing element  20  is a relatively thin component having straight upper  21  and lower  22  edges. Side edges  23 ,  24  are curved to have a substantially s-shaped profile, as seen most clearly in the side view of  FIGS. 3 and 4 . This profile is designed to catch the wind in order to cause the wing element to rotate. Other profiles that achieve this aim will be apparent to the person skilled in the art. For example, the wing element may be a flat rectangular element. 
     In another embodiment, wing element  20  is twisted along its longitudinal axis so that upper and lower edges  21  and  22 , respectively, form a double helix shape. The angle of twist from side edge  23  to side edge  24  may be different amounts. In one embodiment, the angle of twist is  23  degrees. One of the advantages of this embodiment is that the helical surface of wing element  20  always presents a surface that catches wind. In the case of the non-twisted embodiment, when the lateral axis is in a horizontal position, very little surface area is presented perpendicular to horizontally flowing wind. This may prevent wing element from moving in light winds. 
     Each of the side edges  23 ,  24  includes an aperture  26 ,  27  at approximately the centre of the side edge that extends inwards of the side edge. The apertures  26 ,  27  are sized to receive a shaft of a support bearing as will be described in more detail below. Nominal dimensions for the wing element  20  are illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , however such dimensions are provided by way of example only and are not intended to be limiting in any manner. The wing  20  may be a molded plastic, pressed metal, or other suitable material. 
     The side members  13 ,  14  of the bracket  11  each have apertures  16 ,  17  at a height that is able to align with the apertures  26 ,  27  of the wing element  20 . A cylindrical bearing  15  may be press fit into each of the apertures  16 ,  17 . The bearing  15  has central aperture (not shown) that receives a support shaft as will be described below. Alternatively, bearings  15  may be press fit into apertures in wing element  20 . 
     A support shaft  30  is used to support the wing  20  within the bracket  11 . The support shaft  30 , shown in  FIG. 6 , includes a first cylindrical shaft  31  and a second cylindrical shaft  32  separated by a central flange  33 . The first shaft  31  may be of a different diameter and/or a different length to the second shaft or these dimensions may be equal, allowing the support shaft  30  to be reversible. In one embodiment, the support shaft  30  is made of stainless steel, though other suitable materials, including plastics, metals, etc, will be apparent to the person skilled in the art. 
     The first shaft  31  of support shaft  30  is press fit into respective apertures  26 ,  27  of the wing. The press fit provides tight engagement between the support shaft  30  and the wing  20  so that the support shafts  30  do not spin freely within the wing  20 . 
     The bracket  11  may be a plastic, metal, or any other suitable material. In one embodiment, the bracket  11  is a molded plastic. The base member  12  of the bracket  11  may be provided with a notch  18  on the inner edge  19 . The notch  18  provides a thinning of the bracket  11  that allows the side members  13 ,  14  to be flexed outwardly to increase the distance between the apertures  16 ,  17 . To mount the wing  20  to the bracket  11  ( FIG. 7 ), a second shaft  32  of the first support shaft  30  may be received into the bearing  15  within the aperture  16  of first side member  13 . The side arms may then be flexed outwardly so that the second shaft  32  of the second support shaft  30  can be received into the bearing  15  within the aperture  17  of the second side member  14 , thereby accommodating the wing  20  into the gap between the side members  16 ,  17 . 
     The second shafts  32  of the support shafts  30  are received into the bearings  15  and are able to spin freely. The wing  20  is thus able to rotate within the bracket  11  about the axis of the support shafts  30 . 
     The attraction device  10  may be mounted to a decoy in any suitable manner. In one embodiment, a mounting flange  40  is provided on the base member  12  on an outer edge  41  opposite the inner edge  19 . The mounting flange  40  is depicted as a rectangular flange though other configurations and locations of the mounting flange  40  will be apparent to the person skilled in the art. The attraction device  10  may be secured to a decoy using a suitable tying device such as a cord, rope, string, etc. In one embodiment, an elastic cord  42  may be secured about the mounting flange  40  and the decoy, as shown in  FIG. 8 , to secure the attraction device to the decoy. Elastic cord  42  may form a  FIG. 8  with one loop going around the decoy&#39;s neck and the other loop going around the decoy&#39;s tail. The junction of the loops may be placed in notch  18  so that flange  40  is held against the back of the decoy. Other attachment mechanisms will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. 
     In use, with the attraction device attached to an otherwise static decoy, the wind will drive the wing member  20  causing it to rotate. The wind will create realistic movement in the decoy and add motion making them look more like live ducks sending water rings simulating wing beats. 
     The wing  20  and/or bracket  11  may be painted with a ultra violet (UV) reflective paint to better simulate feathers from live ducks, making the device  10  more visible to birds and protecting the device from fading due to UV rays. The UV paint may only be applied to one side of wing element  20 , which provides for a flashing effect. It has been found that flashing reflected UV light better attracts birds. In an alternative embodiment, a UV reflective substance is incorporated in wing element  20  rather than being applied to its surface. If wing element  20  is injection molded, for example, the UV reflective substance may be incorporated in plastic that is injected into one side of a mold. This provides reflectance on one side of wing element  20 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 9 through 12 , a fan bracket  50  is shown for attaching a fan to attraction device  10 . As seen in  FIG. 9 , bracket  50  is positioned to be attached to elastic cord  42 . A keyhole or channel  54  may be provided in an edge of bracket  50  for receiving elastic cord  42 . As seen in  FIG. 10 , both sides of bracket  50  may be attached to elastic cord  42  by engaging strands of elastic cord  42 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 11 , a fan  52  is positioned to be inserted into fan bracket  50 . Fan  52  may be battery or solar powered and it may be designed to resist water intrusion. In one embodiment, fan  52  is provided with an antenna, radio receiver and relay to allow the fan to be operated remotely. As seen in  FIG. 12 , fan  52  is inserted into bracket  50 . Bracket  50  holds fan  52  so that it directs a stream of moving air onto attraction device  10 . This allows attraction device  10  to be used when there is no naturally occurring breeze. Bracket  50  may hold fan  52  by way of friction, snaps, screws, elastic bands or other attachment mechanisms. 
     Reference to terms of orientation such as upper, lower, side, etc. refer to the depictions shown in the accompanying figures and are used for the sake of clarity. These terms are not used to refer to any required orientation of the apparatus when used and should not be considered limiting in any way. 
     Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the embodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given.