Abstract:
A floating water tight mechanical waterfowl decoy that produces a bobbing motion at the surface of the water for creating a radiating ripple pattern and a motion which also mimics a courtship behavior, both of which are effective lures for attracting waterfowl to a desired location. The waterfowl decoy includes a buoyant waterproof body to which an electric vertically reciprocating linear motion drivetrain is mounted to the bottom surface in the general head region that drives a disc shaped plunger positioned generally horizontally below the body surface. The waterfowl decoy further includes a waterproof magazine, also mounted to the bottom surface of the body generally in the posterior region behind the drivetrain, for containment of a timing/receiver circuit that controls the drivetrain and is in signal communication with a remote transmitter that functions as an ON/OFF switch. The waterfowl decoy is powered by a rechargeable battery pack also located in the magazine. The bobbing motion is produced by the up and down motion of the plunger in a dense medium such as water causing the motion to be transferred to the body. This motion, in addition to producing a visible wave train also mimics a courtship behavior making the motion and waves a very effective lure to passing waterfowl.

Description:
[0001]    The present disclosure is a CONTINUATION-IN-PART for application Ser. No. 11/686,558 filed on Mar. 15, 2007. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a waterfowl decoy device generally, and specifically relates to a waterfowl decoy that generates both movement and water agitation that mimic the actions of live waterfowl. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Waterfowl decoy devices have been in use since prehistoric times for the purpose of luring live waterfowl within range of the hunter for capture. There was very little development in decoys over the centuries other than improved morphological detail which was enhanced by the introduction of plastic molding during the 1940&#39;s. Historically it has been known that motion, which is a strong lure, can be imparted to decoys by the crude method whereby the hunter jerks on a line attached to decoys. This method is still used because it is effective in an environment where there is no water current, little floating vegetation, and a stationary hunting blind. If these conditions do not exist, the decoy may quickly become fouled in vegetation and require constant tending. This problem similarly impacts many mechanical decoys. 
         [0004]    Because there is normally no motion or water disturbance in prior art decoy spreads, live waterfowl learn to avoid artificial decoy spreads through learning unless the hunter can employ some method to create motion, particularly late in the hunting season. This has created an impetus to develop realistic motion producing decoys to replace or supplement the string jerk method. Early inventions were crude devices, but with the advent of improved technology, the development of mechanical decoys has quickly expanded. Patents have been granted for decoys that are propelled by water pumps, sculling paddles, and propellers. Patents have also been granted for waterfowl decoy motion by moving heads, splashing paddles, splashing wings, tilting bodies and eccentric weight movement. There are also patents for waterfowl decoys with spinning wings that are mounted on stakes or floating platforms. 
         [0005]    All the above decoy devices can be effective waterfowl lures because they produce motion, but each has deficiencies. The self propelled devices become entangled in floating vegetation and cease to function. The highly visible spinning wing variety are very effective early in the hunting season, but are learned to be avoided because the motion is recognized to be unnatural. Many of these designs are complex and delicate, and may require as much as ten minutes to assemble and deploy. Finally, none are completely waterproof. Thus there is a need for a mechanical waterfowl decoy that is durable, waterproof, easy to deploy, and produces a realistic motion, even in vegetation, that waterfowl do not become habituated against. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The disclosed invention relates to a bobbing mechanical waterfowl decoy for positioning at the water surface that produces, as a lure, highly visible ripples and mimics a documented waterfowl sexual behavior, the decoy comprising: a HDPE waterproof decoy body with a head and neck region, a front breast perimeter, and a bottom surface with a “T” shaped slot at the posterior end for attachment of a waterproof electronics magazine, and an anterior waterproof flange for attachment of a drivetrain, generally orthogonally below the head/neck region; an up and down reciprocating linear motion electric drivetrain for producing a bobbing motion of the decoy body at the water surface; and a submerged waterproof magazine for containing a central processing unit and a rechargeable power source for controlling and powering the drivetrain via a waterproof wire conduit joining the magazine to the body&#39;s bottom surface, and a removable waterproof plug for access to the magazine. The lower submerged end of the drivetrain is provided with a disc shaped plunger arranged horizontally that resists movement in water during the drivetrains up and down reciprocations, thus transferring the up and down bobbing motion to the body at the water surface. The ventral waterproof connections provided on the body surface for the submerged magazine and drivetrain, lower the decoys center of mass making it self righting and completely waterproof, and provide protection against damage from gunshot pellets. A pair of vertically moving brightly colored feet, generally submerged at the posterior end of the body to mimic swimming, may be connected to the drivetrain by a yoke and by a series of levers pivoting about a fulcrum, located centrally on the magazine, to increase visibility. The decoy may also be provided with a remote transmitter that functions as an ON/OFF switch to conserve battery power. A cleat is provided at the forward end of the decoy bottom surface for attachment of a conventional anchor line for mooring. The waterfowl decoy as described above has the advantages of being completely waterproof, self righting, resistant to damage, easy to deploy, non fouling in vegetation, highly visible, and exhibits a true waterfowl behavior that makes it an effective lure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The present disclosure will be better understood by those skilled in the pertinent art by referencing the accompanying drawings, where like elements are numbered alike in the several figures, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the disclosed decoy; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of the disclosed decoy; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of the disclosed decoy; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  shows an exploded view of the decoy assembly not including the internal drivetrain parts; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  shows a detailed exploded view of the drivetrain parts; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  shows a detailed exploded view of the drivetrain internal parts; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  shows a detailed exploded view of the magazine assembly. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a perspective of the foot assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]      FIG. 1  of the present invention shows a perspective view  100  of a bobbing mechanical waterfowl decoy designed to be a highly visible lure to passing waterfowl. In one embodiment, the decoy  100  may use a waterproof blow molded HDPE polyethylene decoy body  5  that may be larger and not scaled to the proportions of the waterfowl species it represents for both greater visibility to passing waterfowl and greater buoyancy to support the attached drivetrain assembly  112 . In other embodiments the decoy body  5  may comprise a segment of a waterfowl body it mimics. In the present embodiment, the decoy body  5  will have a head and neck region  116 , a front perimeter  108 , a drivertain  112  between the body  5  and a disc shaped plunger  21 , and movable feet  51  connected by levers  49  to the drivetrain  112 .  FIG. 2  is a top view of the decoy  100 .  FIG. 3  is a side cross-section view of decoy  100 . In this embodiment the decoy  100  mimics a mallard drake, but of course in other embodiments it may be modified to mimic other duck and goose species. 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the body  5 , in addition to having the head and neck region  116  and the front perimeter  108 , also has a bottom surface  132 . At the posterior end of the bottom surface  132 , a “T” shaped slot  104  is provided for the attachment of the “T” shaped strut  136  on the HDPE magazine  31  (for housing the CPU and battery to be discussed later) with the bottom of the body  5 . The plastic magazine  31  is provided with a wire conduit  144  at the foreword end of the strut that is welded with a plastic waterproof connection (not shown) to the bottom  132  of the body  5 . The interior of magazine  31  is generally rectangular and transitions to cylindrical at the posterior end for accepting a round expandable waterproof plug  17  that is compressed between washers  15  and  22  when nut  14  is tightened, said plug is the only accessible external opening on the decoy  100 . The front interior  140  of the magazine below the conduit  144  provides a plurality of contacts attached to a bracket  38  and held in place by a waterproof connection to screw  29  and O-ring  43 , however other suitable arrangements may be used. The wire conduit  144  is a waterproof pathway for a plurality of wires (not shown) that are in electrical and signal communication between the contacts  42  and the drivetrain  112  and antenna (not shown) within the body  5  interior. The antenna is positioned close to the interior dorsal midline for good signal communication with a remote transmitter that may be used as, but not limited to, an ON/OFF switch. At the anterior bottom surface of the body  5 , a hole  160  surrounded by a plurality of blind fasteners, molded into the HDPE body in a circular pattern, provides a site for mounting the drivetrain housing  20  in a generally orthogonal position below the head  116  by means of a lower flange  19 , an O-ring  168 , a waterproof gasket  30 , and a plurality of screws  46  that create a waterproof joint between the body  5  and drivetrain  112 . 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the drivetrain housing  20  and the watertight motor capsule  18  may be made of plastic. The housing  20  attaches to the lower drivetrain flange  19  by means of the lower threaded  22  portion of the housing  20 , the upper housing above  22  being internal to the body in the head region  116  and the lower housing below  22  being external to the body. The threaded  22  portion of the housing  20  also provides a site for attachment of an anchor line cleat  33  and a retaining nut  34 . The internal linear motion components of the drivetrain are coupled externally to the plunger assembly ( 16 ,  21 ,  25 , and  28  to be discussed later) by a tubular coupling  27  that exits the distal end of the housing  20 . 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , the drivetrain  112  ( FIG. 3 ) is driven by a reversible electric motor  36 . The reversible motor may be a 5.500 RPM, 9.6 VDC, or of any other suitable speed and voltage needed to give brisk movement to the drivetrain. The motor  36  attaches to the upper housing flange  220  of the drivetrain housing  20  by means of the adapter plate  35  which may be made of aluminum or any suitable material, and a plurality of screws  172 . Holes (not shown) fitted with O-rings are located in the housing flange  220  and the adapter plate  35  that provide a waterproof pathway for a plurality of wires that are in electrical communication between the motor  36  and the magazine contacts  42 . A capsule  18  surrounding the motor  36  and an O-ring  176  provide a watertight seal that protect the motor against water which may enter the hollow body  5 . The capsule  18  may be oil filled as a further precaution. The motor shaft  180  is made of a rust proof material such as but not limited to stainless steel, and passes through 2 cone shaped neoprene seals  39  and  40 , separated by a spacer  41 . The seals are contained within a plastic seal holder  23  and an O-ring  184  that mount within a pocket in the top flange  220  and provide a watertight barrier between the cylindrical interior drivetrain housing which is open to the exterior environment, and the motor  36  which is isolated from the exterior by said seals. The distal portion of the motor shaft  18 , after passage though the seals, has a ground flat for joining a linear motion device  44  in mechanical communication with the motor shaft by means of, but not limited to a set screw  188 . In one embodiment the linear motion device  44  is a lead screw, but should not be restricted to lead screws as other linear motion devices such as ball screws, and linear gears could also be used. The lead screw, unlike screws used as fasteners, is a new cousin to a group of linear motion devices known as “ball screws” but is less expensive, can be made smaller, and much lighter than ball screws. This family of screws has multiple helical starts “threads” that are called leads  124  (hence the name) which spiral down the shaft with an aggressive advance or pitch, similar to that found in gun rifling or drill flutes, for the purpose of converting rotational motion into linear motion, such that one revolution of a lead screw  44  in translational communication with its matching lead screw nut  24  may move its lead screw nut  24  a linear distance along the lead screw  44  a distance that exceeds the diameter of the lead screw  44 . Those familiar with the art will further understand that the lead screw nut  24  is usually attached to a movable appliance (in this case coupling  27  and the plunger  21 ) and prevented from turning and is thus forced to track up and down with translational communication with the leads  124  of the rotating lead screw  44 . The lead screw nut  24  has a top and a bottom and low friction leads “threads” (not shown) that mate with the lead screw leads  124  causing the lead screw nut  24  to move in operable dynamic linear translational communication up and down the lead screw  44  in a reciprocating motion determined by the decoys CPU  148  ( FIG. 7 , to be discussed later). The lead screw nut  24  is prevented from rotating by at least one fence arranged longitudinally inside the bore of the housing  20  (not shown). The lead screw nut  24  travels the linear distance of the lead screw  44  (about 60 mm) in the 0.20 seconds it takes the motor  36  to complete 7 revolutions before it is reversed by the CPU 3 seconds later thus producing brisk linear reciprocating movements with 3 second pauses in between. The brisk motion causes both axial shock to the drivetrain and noise as the lead screw nut  24  reaches the end of travel in each direction. To limit the shock and noise of the lead screw nut  24  upward travel, a first shock absorber  200  is mounted below the seal holder  23 , and to limit axial shock and noise at the end of the downward travel of the lead screw nut  24 , a second shock absorber  204  is mounted on the lower end of the lead screw nut  24 . The shock absorbers  200  and  204  may be made of any suitably compressible rust proof material such as but not limited to rubber and stainless steel springs. The shock absorbers  200  and  204  eliminate axial damage to the motor  36  and also reduce mechanical noise such that the residual noise resembles quiet guttural quacks called “feeding chuckles”. This noise may enhance the decoys luring qualities, but in no way alarums approaching waterfowl. A tubular coupling  27  is in mechanical communication between the lower end of the internal reciprocating lead screw nut  24  and the external plunger assembly  16 ,  21 ,  25 , and  28 . The coupling  27  may be made of rustproof material such as but not limited to stainless steel, brass and anodized aluminum. The tubular coupling  27  is equipped with a plurality of ports  208  and hollow interior to provide water passages for reducing hydrostatic pressure internally within the housing  20  against the motor seals  39  and  40  during reciprocating drivetrain motion, and the bottom  128  of the housing  20  is a spline shaped orifice (not shown) serving the same purpose for reducing pressure against the same said seals. Referring back to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a threaded reducer  28  is in mechanical communication with the distal end of coupling  27  and provides a mechanical attachment point for a third rubber shock absorber  25  and a flexible nylon screw  16  that joins the disc shaped plunger  21  to the reducer  28  creating a flexible mechanical weak link between the plunger  21  and the coupling  27 . This weak link, comprising  25  and  16 , allows the decoy  100  to be stored fully assembled with conventional decoys without damage to the coupling  27  or the drivetrain  112 , and eliminates assembly prior to deployment. 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the HDPE magazine assembly  31  has a generally hollow waterproof rectangular interior for containing the timing/receiver circuit CPU  148  and a rechargeable power source  45 . Referring back to  FIG. 4 , the magazine assembly  31  is mounted to the posterior bottom surface  132  of the body  5  on a “T” slot structure  104  that mates with the “T” shaped strut  136  on the magazine  31 . A waterproof pathway for a plurality of wires is provided between the body  5  and the magazine  31  by a wire conduit  144  that extends upward from the magazine front  140  and is attached to the bottom surface of the body by a watertight plastic weld on the centerline behind the flange  160 , but not limited to welds as other means of attachment are possible. The plurality of wires (not shown) are in electrical communication with the blade shaped pressure contacts  42  and the drivetrain motor  36  and in signal communication with contacts  42  and the antenna (not shown) that is arranged generally longitudinally below the dorsal midline of the body, so arranged for good signal communication with a remote transmitter. The plurality of wires may be bedded within the conduit  144  in a sealant such as silicone rubber to prevent water communication between the body  5  and the magazine  31  in the event that watertight integrity in either structure is breached. The removable timing/receiver circuit CPU module  148  is in mechanical, electrical and signal communication with the plurality of blade shaped pressure contacts  42 . The CPU  148  has both a timing circuit as a controller for the motor  36  and a receiver circuit that may be, but is not limited to function as an ON/OFF switch to conserve battery power. The CPU  148  has a plurality of front contacts that are in signal and electrical communication with contacts  42  and a rear inclined ramp  152  with a plurality of raised contacts mounted to said ramp that are in mechanical and electrical communication with the power source  45 . The CPU  148  is contained in a plastic box that is sealed with a 2 part resin to make said CPU module waterproof. The power source  45  is a 9.6 VDC Nimh rechargeable battery pack with a protection circuit that is contained in a water resistant plastic box. The front of the battery pack has a plurality of recessed contacts that are in electrical and mechanical communication with the raised contacts on the on the CPU ramp  152 . The ramp  152  provides a friction fit between the battery contacts and the CPU contacts, and accommodates for contact wear. The rear of the battery box (not shown) is equipped with a lanyard that may be made with but not limited to ribbon and a circular key ring. The said lanyard facilitates battery removal from the magazine  31 . The battery box may be brightly colored to prevent loss, and removed for purposes of charging or turning the decoy off. The posterior expandable watertight plug  14 ,  15 ,  17 , and  22  secures the battery  45  in communication with the CPU  148  and provides a watertight seal at the posterior cylindrical end of the magazine  31 . A safety line attached to hole  156  on the plug may be used to prevent loss. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 8 , an optional foot assembly can be added as an additional visual lure. The foot assembly is comprised of a yoke  48  that attaches to the reducer  28  on the lower drivetrain and is in mechanical communication with a plurality of levers  49  that are driven in an up and down by the reciprocating motion of the drivetrain. The levers  49  pivot about a plurality of fulcrums provided by a plurality of axels located on a second yoke  50  that snaps onto the generally central portion of the magazine (not shown). Attached to the rear distal end of the said levers are a plurality of feet  51  that may be brightly colored for visually attracting passing waterfowl. The feet  51  driven by the drivetrain  112  move in an opposite up and down reciprocating motion at and just below the water surface creating ripples that are additional to those produced by the drivetrain  112 . The feet  51  may provide meandering locomotion within the scope of the anchor line tether. 
         [0022]    Referring back to  FIGS. 3 ,  6 , and  7 , the programmable timing circuit of the CPU  148  is designed to electrically communicate the battery  45  with the reversible drivetrain motor  36  by energizing the motor  36  for short periods that are sufficiently long to accomplish the full travel of the lead screw nut  24 , in translational communication with the lead screw  44 , along the full linear length of the lead screw  44 , an event that takes about 0.20 seconds. There is then a 3 second resting period before the timing circuit CPU  148  reverses the electric polarity to the drivetrain motor  36  for 0.20 seconds causing the lead screw nut  24  to travel the full length of the lead screw  44  in the opposite direction, again followed by a 3 second resting period. This ON/OFF duty cycle was found to be optimal for both conserving battery life (about 10 hours) and maintaining a highly visible continually expanding wave train; however other duty cycles may be used. The waterfowl decoy  100  was designed without a switch since switches are unreliable and susceptible to introducing water leaks into the body  5  cavity, therefore battery insertion into the magazine  31  followed by the waterproof plug assemble was chosen as the best way to energize the waterfowl decoy  100  just prior to deployment, of course the remote transmitter in signal communication with the CPU  148  receiver circuit, if so provided, can perform but is not limited to the function of a remote ON/OFF switch and can be used to extend battery life by turning the decoy  100  OFF when no waterfowl are present to attract. 
         [0023]    Referring back to  FIGS. 1-6 , in the present embodiment the linear motion drivetrain  112  is in mechanical communication with the reversible electric motor  36  that is in electrical communication with the CPU  148 , by this communication pathway the CPU  148  controls the frequency and duration of the drivetrain up and down reciprocations, where the up and down drivetrain reciprocations cause the decoy body  5  to bob at the water surface. Because water is a dense fluid and resists rapid movement of a body through it such as the horizontally positioned disc shaped plunger  21 , the plunger  21  is therefore in operative communication with the surrounding water such that it resists movement in the water during the brisk 0.20 second long drivetrain reciprocations, thus mechanically communicating the reciprocating forces of the drivetrain  112  instead to the body  5 , causing it to bob up and down at the less dense water surface producing a radiating wave train that is visible to passing waterfowl. In other embodiments the plunger  21  may have other shapes and exert forces against other dense mediums such as but not limited to earthen substrates. 
         [0024]    Referring back to  FIGS. 3 and 4  shows that the drivetrain  112  is orthogonally arranged below the head  116  in a tower formation. The robust mass of the drivetrain extending into the head region  116  raises the decoy  100  center of mass making it unstable when deployed and bobbing. The internal mass of the magazine  31  and the strut  136  on the magazine  31  were used to lower the decoy center of mass, compensating for the mass of the drivetrain, thus making the decoy  100  stable and self righting. As an added benefit, the robust drivetrain  112  and the submerged magazine  31  are resistant to damage from gunshot pellets. 
         [0025]    The waterfowl decoy as described in this embodiment is a unique rugged, waterproof, easy to deploy, floating, waterfowl lure that produces a bobbing motion that radiates a highly visible wave train and mimics a documented duck courtship behavior, representing true waterfowl movement. The radiating wave train also assists in retarding ice formation in the immediate area during freezing weather. Of course the waterfowl decoy could be deployed on a terrestrial surface, absent water and ripples, wherein the bobbing motion would still mimic an element of courtship behavior and serve as a waterfowl lure. 
         [0026]    The novel design of this device required the engineering and manufacture of all parts, except hardware such as fasteners and O-rings, and are unique only to this device. 
         [0027]    It should be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, and “third” and the like may be used herein to modify elements performing similar and/or analogous functions. These modifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential, or hierarchical order to the modified elements unless specifically stated. 
         [0028]    While the disclosure has been described with references to several embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of this disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.