Abstract:
In one example, the disclosure relates to a waterfowl decoy weight assembly comprising a weight including a tether attachment structure configured to attach to a tether of a floatable waterfowl decoy; and an elastic cord including first and second end portions, wherein the first and second end portions are attached to the weight at one or more locations to form a loop. In such an example, the weight assembly may allow for a tether wrapped around a decoy body to be secured by placing the loop formed by the elastic cord over the decoy body such that the tension keeps the tether in place and secure during transport.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/384,510, filed Sep. 20, 2010, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The disclosure generally relates to weight assemblies for securing floatable waterfowl decoys. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In some instances, waterfowl hunters may use floatable waterfowl decoys when hunting waterfowl over water, such as, a slew, lake, pond, or river. The waterfowl decoys may float on the water surface to mimic the presence of waterfowl at the location being hunted. To anchor a waterfowl decoy in place while floating in the water, the decoy body may be connected to weigh located on the bottom of the body of water via a tether. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In general, the disclosure relates to waterfowl decoy weight assemblies. In some examples, a waterfowl decoy weight assembly may include a weight and an elastic cord coupled to the weight on two end portions to form a loop with the cord. The weight may also be attached to one end of a tether with the other end of the tether connected to a floatable waterfowl decoy. The weight may be positioned on the bottom of a body of water anchor the waterfowl decoy via the tether when the waterfowl decoy is floating in water. 
         [0005]    When the waterfowl decoy is being stored or otherwise not in use, e.g., during transportation in a decoy bag, the tether may be wrapped around a portion of the waterfowl decoy to gather the length of the tether. While the tether is wrapped around the waterfowl decoy, the looped elastic cord coupled to the weight may be stretched by a user over a portion of the waterfowl decoy. When released, the elastic cord loop may be biased against the portion of the waterfowl decoy to secure the wrapped tether around the decoy body. In such a configuration, the tether may be prevented from coming unwrapped from the decoy and tangled, e.g., during transport of the waterfowl decoy. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a waterfowl decoy weight assembly comprising a weight including a tether attachment structure configured to attach to a tether of a floatable waterfowl decoy; and an elastic cord including first and second end portions, wherein the first and second end portions are attached to the weight at one or more locations to form a loop. 
         [0007]    In another example, the disclosure relates to a waterfowl decoy system comprising a floatable waterfowl decoy; a tether; and a decoy weight assembly, wherein the decoy weight assembly comprises a weight; and an elastic cord including first and second end portions, wherein the first and second end portions are attached to the weight at one or more locations to form a loop, wherein the tether is coupled to the floatable waterfowl decoy and is coupled the weight. 
         [0008]    In another example, the disclosure relates to a method of making a waterfowl decoy weight assembly, the method comprising attaching first and second end portions of an elastic cord to a weight to form a loop, wherein the weight includes a tether attachment structure configured to attach to a tether of a floatable waterfowl decoy 
         [0009]    The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example waterfowl decoy system including an example decoy weight assembly. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example decoy weight assembly. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example decoy weight of an example decoy weight assembly. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 4-6  are conceptual diagrams illustrating various example configurations in which an example decoy weight is secured to an example waterfowl decoy via an example elastic cord. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a conceptual diagram illustrating example waterfowl decoy system  10 . Waterfowl decoy system  10  includes waterfowl decoy  12  and waterfowl decoy weight assembly  17 . Water fowl decoy weight assembly  17  includes weight  16  and elastic cord  18 , and is connected to waterfowl decoy  12  via tether  14 . As will be described further with reference to  FIG. 2 , elastic cord  18  may be attached to weight  16  to form loop  19 . 
         [0015]    In the example shown in  FIG. 1 , waterfowl decoy  12  floats on surface  11  of a body of water, such, as, e.g., a slew, pond, lake, or river, to attract waterfowl to the area of water. Waterfowl decoy  12  may be any suitable type of decoy that may float on surface  11  of water. In some examples, decoy  12  may take for the form of a goose decoy and/or duck decoy. When waterfowl decoy  12  is floating on surface  11  of the body of water, weight  16  may be positioned on bottom  13  of a body of water anchor waterfowl decoy  12  via the tether  14 . In this manner, decoy weight assembly  17  may keep waterfowl decoy  12  in substantially the same location in the water and prevent waterfowl decoy  12  from floating away from the location. Such a configuration may be similar to that of a boat anchor used to keep a boat in one location in the water but on a smaller scale. 
         [0016]    In some instances, when hunting on water, a hunter has numerous waterfowl decoys placed in the water to attract waterfowl that is being hunted. Again, when the hunter throws a waterfowl decoy into the water, the weight keeps the decoy from moving down river, around the lake, and so forth. Once the hunter is done hunting for the day, he/she generally wraps the decoy tether back up around the decoy. For example, the decoy tether may be wrapped around the body or the keel of the waterfowl decoy. Usually, a large number of decoys are carried in one decoy bag for ease of transport and storage. If a decoy tether comes loose in the bag during transport, the tether can create knots, tangles, and general hassle for a hunter. 
         [0017]    As will be described further below, decoy weight assembly  17  may be used to secure tether  14  to waterfowl decoy  12  after being wrapped about a portion of decoy  12 , e.g., when waterfowl decoy  12  is being stored or during transportation in a decoy bag. Such a configuration is shown in  FIGS. 4-6 . As will be described further below, while tether  14  is wrapped around waterfowl decoy  12 , looped elastic cord  18  coupled to weight  16  may be stretched by a user over a portion of waterfowl decoy  12 . When released, elastic cord loop  19  may be biased against the portion of waterfowl decoy  12  to secure wrapped tether  14  around the decoy body. In such a configuration, tether  14  may be prevented from coming unwrapped from decoy  12  and tangled, e.g., during transport of the waterfowl decoy in a decoy bag. In some examples, decoy weight assembly  17  may allow one to wrap tether  14  around a portion of waterfowl decoy  12 , e.g., the body, head, tail, and/or the keel, and then place elastic cord loop  19  around a portion of waterfowl decoy  12 . In such an example, the tension created from pulling the elastic cord  18  around the body, head, tail, and/or keel of decoy  12  may keep the decoy tether  14  wrapped and in place to secure during storage and transport, e.g., to and from a waterfowl hunting location. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a conceptual diagram illustrating decoy weight assembly  17  shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a conceptual diagram illustrating decoy weight  16  of decoy weight assembly  17  without elastic cord  18 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , waterfowl decoy weight assembly  17  includes weight  16  and elastic cord  18  with two end portions coupled to weight  16  to form loop  19 . An end of tether  14  is also coupled to weight  16  with the other end coupled to floatable waterfowl decoy  12 . 
         [0019]    Weight  16  may have any suitable shape, size, and material. Although weight  16  is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  as having an egg shape or oval cross-section, other shapes are contemplated. For example, weight  16  may have a substantially square, trapezoidal, circular, or polygonal cross-section. In some examples, weight  16  may be substantially spherical or cubic. 
         [0020]    In general, weight  16  may have a mass (or weight) that is sufficient to anchor waterfowl decoy  12  when floating, and may depend on the size of decoy  12  as well as the conditions when decoy  12  is deployed, e.g., wind, water current, and the like. Additionally, in some instances, it may be desirable to keep the overall mass of weight  16  below some threshold amount since, e.g., waterfowl decoy weight assembly  17  generally is carried by a user, particularly is relatively large numbers, in a decoy bag as well as decrease the bulk of the decoy weight assembly. 
         [0021]    In some examples, weight  16  may have a mass of at least approximately 1 ounces (oz) or at least approximately 2 oz, such as, e.g., at least approximately 4 oz or at least approximately 8 oz. In some examples, weight  16  may have a mass of approximately 4 oz or approximately 8 oz. In some examples, weight  16  may have a mass less than approximately 20 oz. less than approximately 16 oz. In some examples, weight  16  may have a mass between approximately 1 oz and 20 oz, such as, e.g., between approximately 3 oz and approximately 8 oz. 
         [0022]    Weight  16  may be formed on a material with relatively high density to reduce the overall size of weight  16 . In some examples, weight  16  may be formed of lead. The use of lead to form weight  16  may be useful in that lead may be melted and poured into mold to form a desired shaped. Other materials suitable for such a process may also be used to form weight  16 . In some examples, weight  16  may comprise, consist, or consist essentially of plastic or other polymer (e.g., high-density plastic, such as, high density polyethylene (HDPE)), a metal-plastic combination (e.g., a plurality of metal pieces held together with a plastic or other polymer binder), tungsten (W), steel, Au, Ag, Pt, Fe, Ni, Zn, Sn, Cu, and bronze. 
         [0023]    Weight  16  may have a shape that allows first and second portions of elastic cord  18  to be attached to weight  16  to form loop  19 . For example, in the example shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , weight  16  includes first aperture  24  and second aperture  25 . In such a configuration, a first end portion of elastic cord  18  may extend through first aperture  24  and second end portion of elastic cord  18  may extend through second aperture  25 . As shown, each end portion of elastic cord  18  may be folded over and crimped via a metal crimp (e.g., hog ring) to prevent the respective portions of cord  18  from being pulled back through weight  16 . Additionally or alternatively, when folded, the folded portion of elastic cord  18  may be melted to secure the fold. In each example, tension may be applied by loop  19  without elastic cord becoming detached from weight  16 . In addition or as an alternative to crimping cord  18  as shown in  FIG. 2 , respective end portion may be knotted to prevent the respective portions of cord  18  from being pulled back through weight  16 . As another example, respective end portions of elastic cord  18  may be tied to each other when extending through first and second apertures  24 ,  25  to be attached to weight  16  and form loop  19 . Other examples configurations are contemplated. 
         [0024]    Additionally or alternatively, weight  16  may include one or more features for attaching elastic cord  18  to weight  16 . For example, weight  16  may include one or more protrusions that provide a point for cord  18  to be tied to weight  16 . In one example, such protrusions may include one or more eyelets for tying-off one or more ends of elastic cord  18  for attachment to weight  16  and to form loop  19 . In some examples, such protrusions may include “T” shaped pins extending from the outer surface of weight to provide points for tying-off one or more ends of elastic cord  18  for attachment to weight  16  and to form loop  19 . Other examples configurations are contemplated. 
         [0025]    Additionally, weight  16  may have a shape that allows for an end portion of tether  14  to be attached to weight  16  while the other end of tether  14  is attached to decoy  12 . Such a structure may be referred to as a tether attachment structure. In the example of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , weigh  16  includes third aperture  26 . In such an example, an end portion of tether  14  may be inserted through aperture  26  and then tied off to be attached to weight  16 . In the example shown in  FIG. 2 , tether  14  is tied to form knot  20  that prevent the end of tether from being pulled through third aperture  26 . Additionally or alternatively, weight  16  may include one or more protrusions that provide a point for tether  14  to be tied to weight  16 . For example, similar to that described above, the one or more protrusions may take the form of an eyelet or “T” shaped pins extending from the outer surface of weight  16  to provide points for tying-off an end portion of tether  14  for attachment to weight  16 . Other examples configurations are contemplated. 
         [0026]    Elastic cord  18  may be formed of any elastic material such that it may return to substantially the same size after being stretched. In this manner, as described above, loop  19  formed by elastic cord  18  may be stretched over a portion of decoy  12  when tether  14  is wrapped over a portion of decoy  12  and then provide tension against decoy  12  to secure tether  14  in the wrapped configuration. In some examples, elastic cord  18  may be formed of a bungee cord, which may comprise one or more elastic strands that form a core covered, e.g., with woven cotton or polypropylene sheath. In some examples, elastic cord  18  may comprise a plurality of rubber bands wound underneath a nylon cord cover. 
         [0027]    Elastic cord  18  may have any suitable length and diameter to allow decoy weight assembly  17  to function as described herein. In some examples, the length of elastic cord  18 , which may define the size of loop  19 , may depend to some extent on the size of decoy  12 , e.g., such that loop  19  may be stretched over a portion of decoy  19  and released to secure tether  14  in a wrapped configuration. In some examples, elastic cord  18  may be between approximately  4  inches and approximately  20  inches in length, such as, e.g., between approximately  10  inches and approximately  16  inches in length. In some examples, elastic cord  18  may have a length of approximately  12  inches. In some examples, elastic cord  18  may have a diameter between approximately 0.125 inches and approximately 0.625 inches. In some examples, elastic cord  18  may have a diameter of approximately 0.375 inches. Other materials, lengths, and diameters for elastic cord  18  are also contemplated. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 4-6  are conceptual diagrams illustrating various examples of waterfowl decoy system  10  of  FIG. 1  in a wrapped and secure configuration. In particular, in each case, substantially the entire length of tether  14  is wrapped about a portion of decoy  12  and loop  19  formed via elastic cord  18  is engaged with a portion of decoy  12  such that the tension of loop  19  prevents tether  14  from becoming unwrapped. For example, in  FIG. 4 , substantially the entire length of tether  14  is wrapped about keel  34  of decoy  12 , and loop  19  of elastic cord  18  is looped about keel  34  to prevent tether  14  from becoming unwrapped. In  FIG. 5 , substantially the entire length of tether  14  is wrapped in a “figure-eight” configuration about head  30  and tail  32  of decoy  12 . Loop  19  is looped over tail  32  of decoy  12  to secure tether  14  in the wrapped configuration. In  FIG. 6 , substantially the entire length of tether  14  is wrapped in a “figure-eight” configuration about head  30  and tail  32  of decoy  12 . Unlike that of  FIG. 5 , loop  19  is looped over head  30  of decoy  12  to secure tether  14  in the wrapped configuration.  FIGS. 4-6  are merely examples of configurations that may be used with decoy weight assembly  17 , and other configurations in which tether  14  is wrapped around decoy  12  and loop  19  is looped around a portion of decoy  12  to secure tether  14  are contemplated. 
         [0029]    Any suitable technique may be used to assemble waterfowl decoy weight assembly  10  by attaching first and second portion of elastic cord  18  to weight  16  to form loop  19 . In one example, a first end portion and a second end portion of elastic cord  18  may be attached to weight  16  to form a loop, such as, loop  19 . As described above, in some examples, respective portions of elastic cord  18  may be inserted into one or more apertures in weight  16  and then tied, knotted, and/or crimped to securely form loop  19  coupled to weight  16 . 
         [0030]    In one example, an assembly technique may include the following. First, molten lead may be poured into a mold having a desired shape. In some examples, the mold may be formed of clay, sand, plaster, or computer numerical controls out of some type of metal (e.g., steel or aluminum). Once the lead has cooled and solidified, the lead weight may be removed from the mold. In cases in which the lead weight has the example shape shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , for example, the ends of an elastic cord that has been cut to length (e.g., approximately 12 inches or approximately 14 inches) may be pulled through respective apertures formed in the lead weight. Each end of the weight may be folded over itself and then crimped together via a metal crimp to secure the fold. In this manner, the elastic cord may form a loop, and the crimped end to prevent the elastic cord from being pulled back through the apertures in the lead weight. Other manufacture techniques are contemplated and may vary based on the particular configuration of the weight and other components. 
         [0031]    Examples of the disclosure may provide for one or more advantages. For example, in some examples, an example waterfowl decoy weight assembly may reduce the hassle for a user of a waterfowl decoy by allowing the user to use the elastic cord loop to wrap around the head, tail, keel or other portion of the decoy to secure a tether wrapped about the decoy. As described above, in some examples, when the user wraps the elastic cord around one of these parts of the decoy, tension is created on the elastic cord and, in turn, keeps the wrapped tether from coming loose during transport, thereby eliminating knots, tangles, and the hassles that come with transporting a large number of decoys in a bag. 
         [0032]    Various embodiments of the disclosure have been described. These and other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.