US 6,553,709 B1Granted

Dabbler

OwnerNeil Oweninventor

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Abstract

The apparatus includes three 1.5 volt D-size batteries and two electric motors with arms and/or shafts extending to the head and tail area. The apparatus is mounted inside a commercial duck decoy and provides vertical head movement and propulsion with resulting water splashing and rippling actions when the decoy is afloat. These motions enhance the attraction of the decoys to flying waterfowl.

Claims3

Dependent claims

An improved motorized duck decoy, comprising:

(a) a decoy body, said decoy body having a continuous hollow cavity, said continuous hollow cavity extending without interruption throughout said decoy body, said decoy body being devoid of a vertically extending bifurcation;
(b) an aft motor, said aft motor imparting propulsion to said decoy;
(c) a shaft, said shaft connected to said aft motor in a manner such that rotational motion is delivered to said shaft;
(d) a propeller connected to the distal end of said shaft, said propeller being oriented such that said propeller partially protrudes above the surface of the water, said decoy is propelled through the water, and a rippling and splashing effect that is attractive to live waterfowl is created;
(e) a forward motor, said forward motor being battery powered and containing a horizontal output shaft;
(f) a rotary arm, said rotary arm being connected to said horizontal output shaft at a right angle and rotating in a vertical plane;
(g) a pivot shaft, said pivot shaft being connected to the distal end of said rotary arm through a pivot hole;
(h) a driving arm pivotally connected to said pivot shaft, said driving arm being capable of movement in a substantially horizontal direction, such that the circular rotation of said rotary arm moves said driving arm alternately forward and backward;
(i) a dabbling arm connected to the distal end of said driving arm at an angle perpendicular to said driving arm, said dabbling arm being hingedly secured near its midpoint and pivotally moving in a vertical plane;
and
(j) a decoy head attached to the upper end of said dabbling arm, wherein the entire said decoy head moves forward and backward in a bobbing motion that corresponds to the pivotal movements of said dabbling arm and said driving arm, wherein at least a portion of said decoy head protrudes below the surface of the water at the extremity of its forward bobbing motion, wherein said decoy head does not twist from side to side.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

An improved motorized duck decoy, comprising:

(a) a decoy body, said decoy body having a continuous hollow cavity, said continuous hollow cavity extending without interruption throughout said decoy body, said decoy body being devoid of a vertically extending bifurcation;
(b) an aft motor, said aft motor imparting propulsion to said decoy;
(c) a shaft, said shaft connected to said aft motor in a manner such that rotational motion is delivered to said shaft;
(d) a propeller connected to the distal end of said shaft, said propeller being oriented such that said propeller partially protrudes above the surface of the water, said decoy is propelled through the water, and a rippling and splashing effect that is attractive to live waterfowl is created;
(e) a forward motor, said forward motor being battery powered and containing a horizontal output shaft;
(f) a rotary arm, said rotary arm being connected to said horizontal output shaft at a right angle and rotating in a vertical plane;
(g) a pivot shaft, said pivot shaft being connected to the distal end of said rotary arm through a pivot hole;
(h) a driving arm pivotally connected to said pivot shaft, said driving arm being capable of movement in a substantially horizontal direction, such that the circular rotation of said rotary arm moves said driving arm alternately forward and backward;
(i) a dabbling arm connected to the distal end of said driving arm at an angle perpendicular to said driving arm, said dabbling arm being hingedly secured near its midpoint and pivotally moving in a vertical plane;
and
(j) a decoy head attached to the upper end of said dabbling arm, wherein the entire said decoy head moves forward and backward in a bobbing motion that corresponds to the pivotal movements of said dabbling arm and said driving arm, wherein at least a portion of said decoy head protrudes below the surface of the water at the extremity of its forward bobbing motion, wherein said decoy head does not twist from side to side.

8 more elements