Animal Decoy Apparatus

Abstract

An animal decoy apparatus comprises a stake that can be driven into the ground; wherein the stake has a channel opening therein; a decoy wire assembly inserted into the channel opening of the stake; and a decoy mounted on the decoy wire assembly; wherein the decoy may freely and bi-directionally horizontally rotate 360° about the decoy wire assembly and of the decoy wire assembly may freely and bi-directionally horizontally rotate 360° about the stake. The channel opening in the stake allows the decoy wire assembly to freely and bi-directionally horizontally rotate 360° about the stake and allows a limited vertical orbital rotation of the decoy wire assembly in relation to the stake in a range of motion of equal to or less than 90°. The apparatus is kinetic and requires minimal wind energy to set it in motion, wherein the decoy will pivot about and bob up and down in relation to the decoy wire assembly and the stake to mimic the natural motion of an animal.

Claims

1. An animal decoy apparatus comprising: a. A stake that can be driven into the ground; wherein the stake has a channel opening therein; and b. A decoy wire assembly inserted into the channel opening of the stake; wherein a decoy may be mounted upon the decoy wire assembly and the mounted decoy may freely and bi-directionally horizontally rotate 360° about the decoy wire assembly; and further wherein the decoy wire assembly may freely and bi-directionally horizontally rotate 360° about the stake.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further wherein the decoy wire assembly has a limited vertical orbital rotation in relation to the stake in a range of motion of equal to or less than 90°.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further wherein the decoy wire assembly comprises a first length, a second length, and a third length; wherein the first length is removably engaged with the stake, the second length allows the decoy to rotate freely 360° in a horizontal orbital manner about the decoy wire assembly, and the third length supports the decoy upon the decoy wire assembly and allows the decoy to rotate in a vertical orbital manner about the decoy wire assembly.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further wherein the decoy wire assembly comprises a first radius angle interposed between the first length and the second length, and a second radius angle interposed between the second length and the third length; wherein the first radius angle and the second radius angle open in opposite directions from each other.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the decoy wire assembly further comprises at a terminal end of the third length a decoy stop means and a pivot point.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the decoy further comprises a decoy attachment means; further wherein the decoy attachment means engages with the decoy stop means and the pivot point.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a stabilizer leg integral with the stake.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a cross bar integral with both the stabilizer leg and the stake.

9. An animal decoy apparatus comprising: a. A stake that can be driven into the ground; wherein the stake has a channel opening therein; and b. A decoy wire assembly inserted into the channel opening of the stake; wherein a decoy may be mounted upon the decoy wire assembly and the mounted decoy may freely and bi-directionally horizontally rotate 360° about the decoy wire assembly; further wherein the decoy wire assembly may freely and bi-directionally horizontally rotate 360° about the stake; and further wherein the decoy wire assembly has a limited vertical orbital rotation in relation to the stake in a range of motion of equal to or less than 90°.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further wherein the decoy wire assembly comprises a first length, a second length, and a third length; wherein the first length is removably engaged with the stake, the second length allows the decoy to rotate freely 360° in a horizontal orbital manner about the decoy wire assembly, and the third length supports the decoy upon the decoy wire assembly and allows the decoy to rotate in a vertical orbital manner about the decoy wire assembly.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further wherein the decoy wire assembly comprises a first radius angle interposed between the first length and the second length, and a second radius angle interposed between the second length and the third length; wherein the first radius angle and the second radius angle open in opposite directions from each other.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the decoy wire assembly further comprises at a terminal end of the third length a decoy stop means and a pivot point.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the decoy further comprises a decoy attachment means; further wherein the decoy attachment means engages with the decoy stop means and the pivot point.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a stabilizer leg integral with the stake.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a cross bar integral with both the stabilizer leg and the stake.

16. An animal decoy apparatus comprising: a. A stake that can be driven into the ground; wherein the stake has a channel opening therein; and b. A decoy wire assembly inserted into the channel opening of the stake; wherein a decoy may be mounted upon the decoy wire assembly and the mounted decoy may freely and bi-directionally horizontally rotate 360° about the decoy wire assembly; further wherein the decoy wire assembly may freely and bi-directionally horizontally rotate 360° about the stake; further wherein the decoy wire assembly has a limited vertical orbital rotation in relation to the stake in a range of motion of equal to or less than 90°; further wherein the decoy wire assembly comprises a first length, a second length, and a third length; wherein the first length is removably engaged with the stake, the second length allows the decoy to rotate freely 360° in a horizontal orbital manner about the decoy wire assembly, and the third length supports the decoy upon the decoy wire assembly and allows the decoy to rotate in a vertical orbital manner about the decoy wire assembly; further wherein the decoy wire assembly further comprises at a terminal end of the third length a decoy stop means and a pivot point; and further wherein the decoy further comprises a decoy attachment means; wherein the decoy attachment means engages with the decoy stop means and the pivot point.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further wherein the decoy wire assembly comprises a first radius angle interposed between the first length and the second length, and a second radius angle interposed between the second length and the third length; wherein the first radius angle and the second radius angle open in opposite directions from each other.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a stabilizer leg integral with the stake.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a cross bar integral with both the stabilizer leg and the stake.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0019] FIG. 1 is a side plan view of an animal decoy apparatus of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an animal decoy.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of an animal decoy.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a stake and a decoy wire assembly.

[0023] FIG. 5 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a stake and a decoy wire assembly.

[0024] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a third embodiment of a stake and a decoy wire assembly.

[0025] FIG. 7 is another plan view of a first embodiment of a stake and a decoy wire assembly.

[0026] FIG. 8 is a plan view of a fourth embodiment of a stake and a decoy wire assembly.

[0027] List of Reference Numerals

[0028] 2 apparatus

[0029] 4 stake

[0030] 6 stake channel opening

[0031] 8 decoy wire assembly

[0032] 10 decoy wire assembly first radius angle

[0033] 12 decoy wire assembly second radius angle

[0034] 14 stake cross bar

[0035] 16 decoy wire assembly stop means

[0036] 18 decoy wire assembly first length

[0037] 20 decoy wire assembly second length

[0038] 22 decoy wire assembly third length

[0039] 24 decoy

[0040] 26 decoy opening

[0041] 28 decoy attachment means

[0042] 30 pivot point

[0043] 32 stake stabilizer leg

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] The animal decoy apparatus of the present invention may be adapted for use with any game or fowl. However, the preferred embodiment disclosed is for use of the apparatus with a turkey or other fowl decoy.

[0045] With reference to FIGS. 1, 7 and 8, to assemble an animal decoy apparatus 2 of the present invention, a stake 4 is driven or mounted into the ground to secure the stake in place, while having from about 2.5″ to about 5.0″ of the stake exposed above ground. A decoy wire assembly 8 is inserted into a stake channel opening 6. A decoy 24 is placed upon the decoy wire assembly 8. Dashed lines used in FIGS. 1-8, such as portions of the decoy wire assembly 8 and the stake channel opening 6, are to indicate internal features or environment.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 5-8 there are different embodiments of a decoy wire assembly 8 and a stake 4 of the animal decoy apparatus 2 of the present invention. The decoy wire assembly 8 preferably is made of wire from at least about 12 gauge to about 20 gauge. Suitable metals for the wire are any metals with sufficient resilience to allow the wire to function in a spring-like manner, such as copper, aluminum, steel and the like.

[0047] With reference to FIGS. 5-8, the decoy wire assembly 8 has a first length 18, a second length 20 and a third length 22; however, as shown in FIG. 8, the first length 18, the second length 20 and the third length 22 of the decoy wire assembly 8 is a single, contiguous length which serves the combined purposes, as discussed below, of each of the first length 18, the second length 20 and the third length 22. The first length 18 is engaged with a stake 4 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 by means of insertion of first length 18 with a stake channel opening 6. The depth of the stake channel opening 6 is from about 1.25″ to about 1.75″ in depth to accommodate and securely but releasably engage the first length 18 in stake channel opening 6, which stake channel opening 6 is from about 0.125″ to about 1.25″ in diameter to be able to accommodate the diameter of the decoy wire assembly 8. The decoy wire assembly 8 is removably inserted into the stake channel opening 6 and is able to rotate freely 360° in a horizontal orbital manner in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction about the stake 4 and within the stake channel opening 6.

[0048] The second length 20 of the decoy wire assembly 8 allows the decoy 24 to rotate freely 360° in a horizontal orbital manner in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction about the decoy wire assembly 8. With reference to FIGS. 1-3, a decoy receiving opening 26 allows the decoy 24 and decoy wire assembly 8 to rotate independently of each other without restriction or interference with each other.

[0049] With reference to FIGS. 1-8, the third length 22 of the decoy wire assembly 8 supports the decoy 24 upon the decoy wire assembly 8. At a terminal end of the third length 22 of the decoy wire assembly 8 is a decoy stop means 16, such as a bushing, to support the decoy 24 on the decoy wire assembly 8, but which allows the decoy 24 to rotate freely about the decoy wire assembly 8. The terminal end of the third length 22 of the decoy wire assembly 8 engages with a decoy attachment means 28, such as an opening with a grommet, but which allows the decoy 24 to rotate freely about the decoy wire assembly 8.

[0050] As shown in FIGS. 4-8, decoy wire assembly 8 has a pivot point 30 at a top end of the decoy wire assembly 8 which pivot point also receives the decoy wire assembly stop means 16 and engages with the decoy attachment means 28. The pivot point 30 has a bend in it at its top end to attach securely to the decoy 24 at the decoy attachment means 28.

[0051] With reference to FIGS. 1-8, the third length 22 of the decoy wire assembly 8 also allows the decoy to rotate in a vertical orbital manner about the decoy wire assembly 8 in a range of motion equal to or less than 90° in either in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction. This rotation allows the decoy 24 to mimic the natural up and down vertical motion of an animal, such as a body and a head bobbing motion of a turkey or other fowl.

[0052] With reference to FIGS. 4-6, the decoy wire assembly 8 has a first radius angle 10 and a second radius angle 12. The first radius angle 10 is interposed between the first length 18 and the second length 20, and the second radius angle 12 is interposed between the second length 20 and the third length 22. The first radius angle 10 and the second radius angle 12 are preferably from about 90° to about 130° and open in opposite directions from each other. The radius angles may be arced or angular. The first radius angle 10 and the second radius angle 12 provide resiliency to the decoy wire assembly 8 and allow it function in a spring-like manner so that the animal decoy apparatus 2 of the present invention may best mimic the natural movement of an animal.

[0053] The curvature of the angles 10, 12 which angles 10, 12 may be curved or strictly planar, allows for free, bi-directional 360° rotation of the decoy 24 to rotate about the decoy wire assembly 8 and of the decoy wire assembly 8 about the stake 4. Curved angles, such as shown by the first radius angle 10 and the second radius angle 12, allow for more bobbing action and realistic movement of the decoy 24, as compared to planar angles. Additionally, the curvature of the angles 10, 12 may be adjusted as necessary to obtain a desired rotational ability of the animal decoy apparatus 2 of the present invention for a weight and balance of any particular animal decoy 24.

[0054] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, a decoy 24 of the present invention is shown having a decoy attachment means 28 for engaging with a decoy wire assembly stop means 16 and pivot point 30.

[0055] With reference to FIG. 3, a decoy 24 of the present invention is shown having a decoy attachment means 28, and a decoy opening 26 for receiving a decoy wire assembly 8.

[0056] With reference to FIGS. 4-8, a stake 4 of the animal decoy apparatus 2 of the present invention is shown. As also shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the stake 4 has a stake channel opening 6 therein for receiving (as indicated by the unlabeled downward directional arrow) the decoy wire assembly 8. The stake channel opening 6 may be a smooth slot or may optionally have threads to secure a decoy wire assembly 8 therein and need be only of sufficient diameter and depth to receive and retain the decoy wire assembly 8 within the stake channel opening 6. The stake 4 may be any stake that may be configured to be driven into the ground stably and securely.

[0057] With reference to FIGS. 4-8, the stake 4 may have an optional stake stabilizer leg 32 which is integral with the stake 4 and provides not only a surface with which a user may drive the stake 4 into the ground such as by stepping on a portion of the stabilizer leg 32 that is parallel to the ground; but also further the portion of the stabilizer leg 32 that is parallel to the ground serves as a stop means to prevent the stake 4 from inadvertently being driven completely below the ground. When the stake 4 is in the ground, a portion of the stake stabilizer leg 32 which would be below ground may be either of equal or unequal length to a portion of the stake 4 that is also below ground. The stake 4 and the stake stabilizer leg 32 may have an optional stake cross bar 14 that not only further assists with strength and stability of the stake 4 when it is mounted in the ground, but also further serves as a stop means to prevent the stake 4 from inadvertently being driven completely below the ground.

[0058] With reference to FIG. 1, an animal decoy apparatus 2 of the present invention is shown. The decoy 24 is placed upon the decoy wire assembly 8 which is engaged with the stake 4.

[0059] As assembled and in use, the decoy 24 of the animal decoy apparatus 2 of the present invention will be set in motion by a minimal wind force. Optionally, the decoy 24 could be set in motion with a movement initiation means (not shown), by applying a manual force to the decoy 24, such as by a push with a hand or with an object; or, alternatively, by a pull with an optional device, such as a string, stick or wire, attached to the decoy 24 and which device could be operated from afar by a user without alerting an animal to the user's presence. Once the decoy 24 is in motion, the decoy 24 will pivot about and bob upon and down in relation to the decoy wire assembly 8 and the stake 4 to mimic the natural motion of an animal, such as a turkey.

[0060] The decoy 24 in a preferred embodiment may be made of foam, such as XPE foam, rubber or plastic, and patterned to resemble a male or female of a desired species of animal, such as a male or female turkey. Collapsible foam allows for the decoy 24 to be packed in minimal space, easily transported and quickly set up with the animal decoy apparatus 2 of the present invention.

[0061] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred or specific embodiments, it is understood that modifications and variations of the present invention are possible without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims set forth below.