Abstract:
A decoy, typically used for hunting fowl, having a hollow body including a head, a tail and a pair of feet. The decoy includes a pair of wings mounted to the body of the decoy for multi-axis movement. A drive mechanism typically including an electric motor and a power source is positioned within the hollow body. A pair of crank members connect to the electric motor and extend outwardly from the body. A pair of link members connect the wings to the crank members whereby rotation of the crank members generates multi-axis movement of the wings.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    The present invention relates to bird decoys. More specifically, this invention is directed to a decoy having a movable wing. 
         [0006]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0007]    Decoys have long been used by hunters for attracting game birds, in many instances migratory waterfowl such as ducks and geese. Typically, a decoy is made of a one-piece construction that either floats on a body of water or can be placed on land. Typically, a plurality of decoys is placed in an area proximate to a blind with the hope that the natural appearance of the decoys will attract live birds to join the group. 
         [0008]    Decoys having movable wings or other movable appendages such as heads that turned or feet that move are also known. It is believed that decoys having movable appendages that emulate motions made by a live bird are more likely to attract live birds as they appear more natural. Therefore, a decoy should attempt to depict the movements of a live bird in a more realistic manner so as to attract rather than scare away live birds. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,128,958 to Snow discloses one type of decoy made to resemble a duck or a goose having movable wings controlled by strings or other flexible members. Pulling on the strings causes the wings to move in and up and down manner. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,896,448 to Jackson discloses another type of bird decoy having the wings attached to a flapping mechanism extending through slots formed in the body. The flapping mechanism includes a rotary drive wheel rotated by a motor. The rotary drive wheel is connected to a drive link that reciprocates along a slot wherein the drive link is connected to the wings. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,780 discloses a plastic shell game bird decoy having rod-like wing supports and a pivotal neck both of which can be actuated by an operation cord used to manually move the wings and rotate the neck. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,188 discloses another type of bird decoy having wing members rotatably connected to the body of the decoy and using an electric motor to rotate the wing members in a circular manner. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,493,980 discloses a decoy having a drive motor for operating a pair of outwardly projecting revolving wings, wherein the wings rotate about their longitudinal axis. 
         [0014]    One of the problems with bird decoys, as set forth above, is that the rotary or simple up-and-down motion do not necessarily create and maintain both a realistic appearance and realistic movement of a bird wing that accurately simulates that of a live bird. Enhancing the ability of a decoy by incorporating a wing movement in a lifelike manner helps to attract birds to the hunter. Accordingly, it can be appreciated that there is a need to provide a bird decoy having a wing that moves in a realistic manner and simulates the flight of a bird. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a bird decoy having simulated wing movement. The wing is attached to the body of the decoy and is driven in a manner simulating the wings of a landing bird. The wing is secured to the body of the decoy in a manner enabling multi-axis movement of the wing. A drive system connected to the wing is operative to drive the wing in a multi-axis motion. 
         [0016]    In one form of the invention, the mounting assembly includes a pivot pin having a longitudinal axis. The pivot pin is attached to the wing and coupled to the body, wherein the wing rotates about a longitudinal axis of the pivot pin and pivots about an axis skewed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the pivot pin. In one embodiment thereof, the pivot pin is disposed within an aperture of a bushing and a loop fastener, secured to the body of the decoy, surrounds the bushing to couple the pivot pin to the body. 
         [0017]    The drive system includes a motor, a crank member connected to the motor and a link connected to both the wing and the crank member. Thus, as the motor rotates the crank member, the crank member drives the link to impart motion to the wing attached to the link. 
         [0018]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a decoy that simulates a landing bird wherein the wings move in a multi-axis manner. In one embodiment, the wings move both up and down and back and forth. Depending upon the drive system and the mounting assembly, the wings can move through a complex degree of motion. 
         [0019]    These objects and other features, aspects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent after a reading of the following detailed description, appended claims and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a decoy according to the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the decoy according to the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the decoy according to the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is an exploded view of one embodiment of a mounting assembly used to attach a wing to the body of the decoy according to the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of the decoy according to the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIGS. 6-9  are partial side views of the decoy according to the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 1  showing various positions and movement of the wing; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a rear perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the decoy according to the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a top view of the alternative embodiment of the decoy as illustrated in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a rear view of the alternative embodiment of the decoy as illustrated in  FIG. 10 ; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 13  is a side view of the alternative embodiment of the decoy as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]    Turning now to  FIGS. 1-2 , there is shown a bird decoy, seen generally at  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The decoy  10  includes a body  12  having a head  14 , a tail  16  and a pair of feet  18 , with the body  12  extending along a longitudinal axis from the head  14  to the tail  16 . A post  20  extends outwardly from the body  12  and engages a support stand or pole  22  used to support the body  12 , typically above a body of water. The body  12  is typically formed of plastic or fiberglass with a hollow shell interior. A cover or hatch  24  allows access to the interior of the body  12 . In the present embodiment, the body  12  of the bird decoy  10  is configured in a lifelike manner to illustrate or simulate a game bird, such as a duck, about to land on a water surface. 
         [0031]    A pair of movable wings  26 ,  28  extend or project outwardly from the body  12 . A mounting assembly, seen generally at  30 , secures the wings  26 ,  28  to the body  12  whereby they may move or flap in a manner simulating a bird, such as a duck, during landing. The mounting assembly  30  is such that it allows the wings  26 ,  28  to have multi-axis movement; i.e., the wings  26 ,  28  move in more than one direction. An example of such movement is illustrated in  FIGS. 6-9  wherein the wings  26 ,  28  move both up and down and forward and rearward with respect to the body  12 . The wings  26 ,  28  are substantially identically shaped mirror images defining a left and a right and are colored or patterned based upon the particular type of bird being hunted. As illustrated in  FIG. 2  the wing  26  has a longitudinal axis  26   a  extending from the inner end  46  of the wing  26  to tip  47  of the wing  26 . The wing  26  also has a lateral axis  26   b  extending from the front or leading edge  49  of the wing  26  to the rear or trailing edge  51  of the wing  26 . The wings  26 ,  28  are typically made of a resilient material such as a plastic as the wing body is subjected to torque during operation of the bird decoy  10 .  FIG. 4  illustrates a preferred embodiment wherein the wings  26 ,  28  are made of a corrugated plastic material formed of upper  32  and lower  34  thin wall plastic sheets interconnected by a plurality of rib members  36 . The upper  32  and lower  34  thin wall plastic sheets and adjacent opposing rib members  36  forming a plurality of channels or passageways  38  extending through the wings  26 ,  28 . Forming the wings  26 ,  28  of such a corrugated plastic material results in a lightweight, strong and resilient wing  26 ,  28  that can be shaped to simulate the wing of a bird. 
         [0032]      FIGS. 3-5  illustrate one embodiment of a mounting assembly  30  used to attach the wings  26 ,  28  to the body  12  of the bird decoy  10 . The mounting assembly  30  includes a tie strap  40  attached to the body  12  by a pair of threaded fasteners or screws  42 . The tie strap  40  has apertures  44  located at each end. The inner end  46  of the wing  26  has a notch  48  sized to receive a bushing  50  having a flange portions  52 ,  54  at each end thereof. The bushing  50  has an aperture or through bore  56  extending between the flange portions  52 ,  54 . A pivot pin  58  extends through one of the channels or passageways  38  on one side of the notch  48  through the aperture  56  of the bushing  50  and into a corresponding channel or passageway  38  on the opposite side of the notch  48  to couple the bushing  50  to the wing  26 . The pivot pin  58  is of a diameter such that it fractionally fits within the passageway  38 . The diameter of the aperture  56  in the bushing  50  is slightly greater than the diameter of the pivot pin  58  whereby the bushing  50  rotates about the longitudinal axis  60  of the pivot pin  58  and also oscillates or pivots on the pivot pin  58  in a plane containing the longitudinal axis  60  of the pivot pin  58 . 
         [0033]    A fastener member, one example of which being a loop fastener or clip  62 , has a mounting portion that surrounds the bushing  50  between the flanges  52 ,  54 . An attachment portion of the fastener member is used to secure the fastener member to the body  12  of the bird decoy  10 . The loop fastener  62  has an attachment portion that contains an aperture  64  through which a fastener  66  extends to secure the loop fastener  62  and correspondingly the wing  26  to the body  12  of the bird decoy  10 . As illustrated the fastener  66  extends through the aperture  64  and into the aperture  44  located in the tie strap  40 . Accordingly, the present invention provides for a loose fit or gap between the components of the mounting assembly  30  that enables multi-axis movement of the wing  26 ; whereby the wing  26  moves in both and up and down manner and also rocks back and forth, that is it extends forward and rearward with respect to the body  12  of the bird decoy  10 . 
         [0034]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 5-9 , the bird decoy  10  contains a drive system, seen generally at  68 , used to drive the wings  26 ,  28  in a flapping manner to simulate a flying or landing bird. The drive system  68  generally includes a power source or battery  70 , typically a battery disposed within the hollow shell of the body  12 . An electric motor  72  receives power from the battery  70 . Upon actuation of a switch  74  connected to the battery  70 , power from the battery  70  energizes the electric motor  72  thereby driving the axles  78 . A connector  80  connects a crank member  82  on one end thereof to each of the drive axles  78 . Any convenient fastener (not shown) may be used to secure the connector  80  to the crank member  82 . A flexible, yet resilient sleeve  84  is attached to the opposite end of each of the crank members  82 . 
         [0035]    A drive link  86  having a plate member  88  connected on one end thereof attaches to the under surface  90  of each of the wings  26 ,  28 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , such that the plate member  88  engages the under surface  90  of each of the wings  26 ,  28 , for example at the midpoint between the ends of the wings  26 ,  28 . An annular member  92  attached to the opposite end of the drive link  86  houses a spherical bearing  94 . The sleeve  84  is journaled in the spherical bearing  94 . As with the mounting assembly  30 , the sleeve  84  fits loosely in the spherical bearing  94 , shown in  FIGS. 6-9 , to allow the spherical bearing  94  to move or slide as necessary with respect to the annular member  92  which houses the spherical bearing  94 . In addition, the sleeve  84  has a certain degree of resiliency whereby it flexes as the wings  26 ,  28  moves. 
         [0036]    Turning now to  FIGS. 6-9  for purposes of illustration there is shown only one wing  26  recognizing that both wings  26 ,  28  together experience the motion generated by the movement of the drive axles  78  and connectors  80 . The wing  26 , is shown in various stages of motion as the left drive axle  78  and connector  80  (as viewed from front to rear end of the bird decoy) rotates in the direction shown by the arrow  96 . Starting with  FIG. 6 , the left drive axle  78  and connector  80  is located such that the crank throw  82   a  of the crank member  82  is in the lowest vertical position. As the left drive axle  78  and connector  80  rotates in a clockwise direction, as illustrated by the arrow  96 , and the wing  26  moves from the position illustrated in  FIG. 6  to that shown in  FIG. 7 , the crank member  82  acting upon the drive link  86  lifts the wing  26  upward in the direction illustrated by the arrow  98 , which also causes the wing  26  to move in the forward direction illustrated by the arrow  100  in  FIG. 6 . Upon reaching the position illustrated by  FIG. 7 , the wing  26  is placed in the fully forward position and is at the midpoint of its up and down stroke. Continued rotation of the left drive axle  78  and connector  80  in the direction of the arrow  96  causes the wing  26  to move from the position illustrated in  FIG. 7  to that shown in  FIG. 8 . During the transition from the position illustrated in  FIG. 7  to that shown in  FIG. 8 , the wing  26  continues its upward motion, however, the wing  26  now moves in the rearward direction illustrated by the arrow  100 . Thus, in  FIG. 8 , the wing  26  is placed in its fully up position and is located at the midpoint of its forward and back position. As the left drive axle  78  and connector  80  continues to rotate, and the wing  26  moves from the position illustrated in  FIG. 8  to that shown in  FIG. 9 , the wing  26  continues its rearward motion as illustrated by the arrow  100  in  FIG. 8 . However, the wing  26  now moves downward in the direction illustrated by the arrow  98 . Thus in  FIG. 9 , the wing  26  is at its fully rearward position and the midpoint of its up and down stroke. Finally, continued rotation of the left drive axle  78  and connector  80  in the direction of the arrow  96  moves the wing  26  from the position shown in  FIG. 9  to that shown in  FIG. 6  and completes one rotation of the left drive axle  78  and connector  80 . As the wing  26  moves from the position illustrated in  FIG. 9  to that shown in  FIG. 6 , the wing  26  continues its downward motion as illustrated by the arrow  98  in  FIG. 9 , however the wing  26  moves in the forward direction as illustrated by the arrow  100  in  FIG. 6 . Upon reaching the position illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the wing  26  returns to its lowest and midpoint position. Accordingly, it should be understood that for each rotation of the left drive axle  78  and connector  80 , the crank member  82  causes the wing  26  to move in both an up and down manner and a forward and rearward manner as illustrated by the arrows  98 ,  100  in  FIGS. 6-9 . 
         [0037]      FIGS. 10-13  show an additional embodiment of the present invention, with like parts having like reference numbers, wherein the mounting assembly  30  includes a plurality of notches  110  located in each wing  26 ,  28  with a pivot pin  112  extending across or spanning the notches  110  and connected to the wings  26 ,  28 . A pair of loop fasteners  114  is used in combination with fasteners  116  to attach the wings  26 ,  28  to the body  12  of the bird decoy  10 . Once again, the loop fasteners  114  are sized whereby the pivot pin  112  fits loosely thereby allowing a certain amount of play and enabling the wings  26 ,  28  to pivot or move about the mounting assembly  30 . As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the link member  118  is pivotably connected to a pin  120  attached to the under surface  90  of each wing  26 ,  28  by a bracket  124 . The opposite end of the link member  118  having an annular member  122  that houses a spherical bearing  94  that fits over the sleeve  84  coupled to the crank member  82 . As with the previous embodiment, the annular member  122  fits loosely over the spherical bearing  94  which is held by the sleeve  84  to allow movement thereof along the sleeve  84  as the crank member  82  rotates about the longitudinal axis of the drive axles  78 . 
         [0038]    Accordingly, the present invention provides a mounting assembly  30  and drive system  68  combining to drive each wing  26 ,  28  in a manner that simulates the landing of a bird. That is, the wing  26 ,  28  has a multi-axis movement, both back and forth and up and down. 
         [0039]    The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.