Method and apparatus for animating a floating waterfowl decoy
US5566491A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 18, 1994 |
| Grant date | Oct 22, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 18, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01M31/06
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An animating device is attached underneath a floating waterfowl decoy that creates rings, ripples, and waves on the water surface emanating from said decoy giving the appearance that said decoy is alive. In accordance with one embodiment of the device, a long, flexible plastic tube is attached or retrofit to the keel of an existing floating decoy. An apparatus, such as a motor driven pump, a pressurized air cylinder, or a hand- or foot-operated bellows air pump supplies air to the tube and a one-way check valve is provided in the end of tube attached to the decoy to prevent water from back-filling the long flexible plastic tube. Air forced through the long flexible plastic tube bubbles out underneath the decoy and the rising bubbles create rings, ripples, and waves on the water surface to give the appearance that the decoy is alive. In another embodiment, the tube is attached to flexible container mounted under the decoy. Air entering the container causes it to expand and tilt the decoy which create rings, ripples, and waves on the water surface to give the appearance that the decoy is alive.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.