Patent Application
20100115818
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the US Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
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1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, generally, to hunting systems, apparatus and methods. Particularly, the invention relates to hunting decoy systems, apparatus and methods. Most particularly, the invention relates to turkey hunting decoy systems, apparatus and methods.
2. Background Information
Existing technology in this field is believed to have significant limitations and shortcomings. For this and other reasons, a need exists for the present invention.
All US patents and patent applications, and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
The invention provides an turkey hunting decoy system, apparatus and method which are practical, reliable, effective and efficient, and which are believed to fulfill the need and to constitute an improvement over the background technology.
In one aspect, the invention provides a wild turkey decoy for use in wild turkey hunting to attract wild turkeys. The decoy includes both static and dynamic decoy features. The decoy has a decoy body, an actuatable fan assembly removably connectable to the decoy body, and a support assembly connected to the decoy body.
In another aspect, the invention provides decoy apparatus comprising a decoy body, a fan assembly attached to the decoy body, the fan assembly including a longitudinally pivotable bracket and a laterally pivotable fan attached to the bracket; and means to actuate the fan assembly so that the bracket longitudinally pivots and the fan laterally pivots.
In a further aspect, the invention provides portable, wild turkey decoy apparatus, comprising:
And in yet another aspect, the invention provides a realistic, collapsible full-body, full strut, jake decoy with a removable fan. It includes a string-activated mechanical tail that changes from the full strut open position to a fully closed down position by simply pulling the string. In use, the jake body and tail provoke aggressive mature tom turkeys to come in and challenge the decoy, providing the user with an optimum shot with either a firearm or bow and arrow. The string, preferably 100 feet or more, is managed via line caddy. The decoy system may be contained in a mesh carry bag preferably with orange safety accents, for transportation, deployment and take down, and off season storage. The decoy system includes a 2-piece stake and the mechanical jake tail is removable.
The aspects, features, advantages, benefits and objects of the invention will become clear to those skilled in the art by reference to the following description, claims and drawings.
The decoy 10 includes primary elements of a decoy body 11, a fan assembly 12 connected to the decoy body 11, and a support assembly 13 connected to the decoy body 11 for contact with the environment. The decoy 10 is generally oriented with respect to a front 20, back 21, top 22 and bottom 23. A longitudinal aspect of the decoy 10 is aligned from front to back. A lateral aspect runs from side to side, perpendicular to the longitudinal aspect. The embodiment of the body 11 shown has a length of approximately 21 inches, a width of approximately 9 inches and a height of approximately 12 inches. These dimensions are with respect to the maximum measurable dimensions. The body 11 has a mounting area 24 on its back, top area for placement of the fan assembly 12. The mounting area 24 has a flat, horizontal bottom surface 78 which has are areas sufficient to mount elements of the fan assembly 12 and a substantially flat, vertical front side surface 79. Vertical surface 79 acts as a vertical backstop for the fan assembly 12. An actuator line aperture 25 is disposed in the bottom surface.
The embodiment of the decoy body 11 has a predetermined shape for mimicking the shape of an animal of interest, for example a wild turkey. In a most preferred embodiment, the wild turkey is a male or “tom” wild turkey. The body 11 is preferably constructed of a shell structure of a predetermined thickness and with predetermined outside dimensions and a generally hollow interior which is open at its bottom to minimize weight. The body 11 is preferably constructed of a lightweight, durable polymeric material. The body 11 exterior has a predetermined color and pattern arrangement also to mimic that of the animal of interest. Body, feather, and other features and patterns are preferably molded into the shell so that they are visible from the outside.
The fan assembly 12 is a dynamic, movable feature, in particular a fan tail of a male or “Tom” wild turkey, which is designed to create the illusion that the decoy 10 is alive and strutting. The fan assembly 12 embodiment preferably includes a bracket 40, a fan 41, a fan cover 42, and an actuator 43. The bracket 40 is connected to the body 11 at the mounting area 24. The fan 41 is connected to the bracket. The fan cover 42 is preferably a flexible structure or assembly that mimics the look and feel of a wing or appendage of the subject decoy species, for example the rear tail fan of a male (Tom) wild turkey. The cover 42 is preferably constructed of fabric which has a color pattern designed to simulate the rear tail fan of the turkey. The fabric is preferably a synthetic material, but may be a natural material or a blend of natural and synthetic materials. The fan cover 42 is coupled to the fan 41, preferably by covering it. Alternatively, it may be attached to one or both sides of the fan 41. In a still further alternative embodiment, the fan cover 42 may consist of individual natural feathers affixed to the fan 41 either mechanically (by sewing or connectors for example) or adhesively. In the preferred embodiment shown, the fan cover 42 has a, flat, thin, bag-type configuration with two fabric faces (one face 26a is shown in
The preferred embodiment of the actuator 43 is a flexible line having a predetermined length which is connected at one end to remaining elements of the fan assembly 12 and extends away from the decoy 10 to be held at its other end, or an intermediate position along the length of the line, by the user. The line is preferably string. The user actuates the fan assembly 12 by pulling on the line. In a preferred embodiment, the actuator line 43 includes a pair of proximal, first lines 44a and b, and a distal second line 45. The first lines 44a/b each (equally) have a predetermined, relatively short length of approximately 2 feet, and are disposed near the decoy 10 and as described in detail below. The lines 44a and b are disposed side by side. The second line 45 has a predetermined, relatively long length, preferably approximately 100 feet, and is connected to the distal ends of the first lines 44a/b by a connector 46. The connector 46 is preferably a swivel type connector. The second line 45 extends to the user. The distal portion of the second line 45 is preferably managed by wrapping around a line caddy 33.
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The function of the decoy 10 following deployment by way of the stake or other placement or support is best shown with reference to
In summary, the invention provides a realistic, collapsible full-body, full strut jake decoy with a removable fan. It includes a string-activated mechanical tail that changes from the full strut open position to a fully closed down position by simply pulling the string. In use, the jake body and tail provoke aggressive mature tom turkeys to come in and challenge the decoy, providing the user with an optimum shot with either a firearm or bow and arrow.
The embodiments above are chosen, described and illustrated so that persons skilled in the art will be able to understand the invention and the manner and process of making and using it. The descriptions and the accompanying drawings should be interpreted in the illustrative and not the exhaustive or limited sense. The invention is not intended to be limited to the exact forms disclosed. While the application attempts to disclose all of the embodiments of the invention that are reasonably foreseeable, there may be unforeseeable insubstantial modifications that remain as equivalents. It should be understood by persons skilled in the art that there may be other embodiments than those disclosed which fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Where a claim, if any, is expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function it is intended that such claim be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof, including both structural equivalents and equivalent structures, material-based equivalents and equivalent materials, and act-based equivalents and equivalent acts.
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/113,415, filed Nov. 11, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61113415 | Nov 2008 | US |
