IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO FLOATING DECOYS
Year: 1884

page_text: I THOMAS WILLIAM DEANE of Almondbury Place Old Trafford, Manchester
in the County of Lancaster, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO FLOATING DECOYS" to be
as follows:-
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My invention relates to the imitations of birds as for example to the so termed
decoy ducks which are adapted to float upon water and are used by sportsmen as
decoys. Such decoys are usually heavy and cumbersome and liable to be capsized
by wind. My improved decoys are made of flat comparatively thin pieces of wood
papier maché or other suitable material which pack close together in a small space
but can quickly be put together to form the decoys. To form each bird two pieces
says for example of wood board are required. These pieces may be about one
quarter of an inch in thickness or less or more as preferred. One piece represents
in outline a horizontal section of the bird's body and the other a vertical section.
The two pieces are slotted partly across so that they fit together at right angles one
to the other. The pieces are painted, printed, stamped or covered with prepared
paper or material to impart a resemblance of the bird to be represented. In
connection with these decoys I use a light frame made by connecting together
three or more rods or strips. These rods are half notched and are secured at the
joints by means of india rubber rings or other convenient means of connection may
be adopted. When separated the parts pack together like the joints of a fishing
rod. Upon the said rods are secured cheeks to which the decoys can be jointed by
passing a copper wire pin or a suitable pin or bolt through the cheeks.and the
decoy. When in use the said frame is submerged and keeps the decoys from
capsizing and also keeps them at a suitable distance apart. The arrangements for
attaching the decoys to the frame may be varied. In some or in all cases I provided
the decoy with a hinged leg whereby the decoy can be supported in mud or earth
when desirable.
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page_text: I THOMAS WILLIAM DEANE of Almondbury Place Old Trafford Manchester
in the County of Lancaster Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO FLOATING DECOYS" and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement and accompanying drawings:---
My Invention relates to the imitations of birds as for example to the so termed
decoy ducks, which are adapted to float upon water and are used by sportsmen as
decoys. Such decoys are usually heavy and cumbersome and liable to be capsized
by the wind. My improved decoys are made of flat comparatively thin pieces of
wood, papier maché or other suitable material which pack close together in a small
space but can quickly be put together to form the decoys. To form each bird two
pieces suitably shaped are slotted partly across so that they fit together at right
angles one to the other. In connection with the decoys I use a light frame which
when in use is submerged and keeps the decoys from capsizing and also maintains
them at a suitable distance apart.
To render the description of my invention more clear. I will refer to a sheet of
drawings which I have provided to accompany this specification. In the said
drawings Fig: 1 represents a side view and Fig: 2 an end view of a decoy duck
formed in accordance with my invention. This decoy consists of two parts which
are separately represented by Figs: 3 and 4. These parts may be conveniently
made of thin wood boards say about one quarter of an inch in thickness. The
piece a is sawn to represent with more or less of accuracy the outline on a vertical
plane of a duck. The piece b. may represent the horizontal outline but it is not
absolutely necessary to attempt great accuracy of form. The shape indicated by
Fig 4 has been found to be suitable. In each piece a slot c. is sawn or cut each
slot being a little wider than the thickness of the material and to enable the parts
to be put together in the manner indicated in Figs: 1 and 2. The parts may be
painted printed or stamped or be covered with printed or prepared paper or
material so that when put together the decoy resembles a living duck sufficiently
to be suitable for its intended use.. When in use the decoy floats upon the water
the base piece b. giving the necessary stability and also imparting an appearance of
breadth especially when the decoy is viewed from above. In the example a bent
wire d. is employed to prevent the accidental displacement of the parts. The lower
part of the decoy is also notched as indicated at c in order that a leg or support
may be applied in the manner indicated by the dotted lines in Figs: 1 and 2. The
support is employed to keep the decoy in an upright position on land the lower
sharpened end of the leg being thrust into the mud or earth. I do not confine
myself to any particular formation of leg nor to the method of connecting it with
the decoy nor to the application of a leg to the decoy. I usually make a perforation,
indicated at f. for the attachment of the decoy to the frame represented by Fig: 5.
This frame is composed of three light wooden rods or bars g. indicated in section
about half the full size in Figs: 7 and 9. These rods are secured together to form
a triangular frame having a cross bar g'. At the intersections h. the bars are half
notched so as to facilitate the connection the joints being secured by means of
india-rubber rings. The method of connecting together the rods may be varied.
Upon the rods are cheeks or jaws i. indicated in Figs: 6 to 9. The decoys are
secured to the frame by entering the lower part of the decoy in the jaw and
passing a copper wire pin k. on a suitable joint pin or bolt through holes in the
jaws through the hole f. in the decoy. I do not confine myself to the triangular

page_text: form of the frame nor to the use of the frame with the improved decoys. When in
use the frame is submerged the decoys floating on the water. When not in use the
frame can be quickly taken to pieces and be packed into a small compass, as in the
case of a fishing rod. The two parts forming each decoy can be quickly taken apart
and these parts being flat and thin a number of decoys can be caused to occupy a
small space and when made into a package can be transported from place to place
with little inconvenience.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The decoy composed of two parts put together substantially in the manner
set forth and indicated herein before and in and by the accompanying drawings.
2. A decoy composed of two flat and comparatively thin pieces of wood or other
suitable material cut or shaped into suitable outlines and slotted to fit together
substantially as set forth and indicated.
3. The portable frame provided with attachments for floating decoys composed
of light bars which can be quickly jointed together for use and be readily disjointed
and packed into a small compass for carriage, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth and indicated.
4. The combination of the decoys with the frame all formed and fitted substantially
as set forth and indicated.