Bird attraction assembly

Abstract

Bird attraction assembly including a decoy (100) imitating live birds to attract flying birds to the ground for hunting, gaming, or tagging purposes Decoy (100) is deployed on the ground, supported movable upon a stake (200), powered by a drive unit (300), wherein the drive unit (300) are configured to be controlled to emulate scouting, wagging or grazing movement of the decoy (100).

Description

[0001] Bird attraction assembly

[0002] The present invention is related to an improved bird attraction assembly to attract live birds, in accordance with the preamble of claim 1 and 2, use of the same in accordance with claim 11, and a method of operating the bird attraction assembly in accordance with claim 12.

[0003] Background

[0004] Artificial decoys are often used to attract live birds or other game in hunting situations. These decoys are made to be visually like live game. To increase the likeness, the decoys are often equipped with motion stakes that allow the decoys to exhibit motion patterns like those observed in live game on the ground. Decoy motion is usually generated by wind, so when there is little or no wind, there will be little or no decoy motion.

[0005] In some kinds of game hunting, in particular waterfowl hunting (e.g. ducks and geese), many decoys are used to emulate flocks on the ground. "Frozen" decoy flocks with no motion are often either ignored, or even avoided, by live waterfowl. Experienced birds will often recognize them as representing danger.

[0006] Different brands of motorized motion decoys have been around for years. These solve the problem of no decoy motion without wind, but they have generally tended to be so expensive that most hunters will only buy a few and place them in a larger flock of other, less expensive decoys.

[0007] US 2019 / 335744 Al (Rodriguez) describes a mounting method, system and apparatus enabling water-based decoys to be deployed on land. The decoy stand described consists of a decoy platform, a mount, and a pole, and may include a motion creating assembly. The optional motion creating assemblies are not described in any detail in the text, but the figures refer to them as «propeller assembly» (Fig. 12), «wobbler assembly)) (Fig. 13), and Fig. 14 addresses «water-based decoys with keel».

[0008] US 2008 / 0029659 (Weber) discloses a decoy stand enabling wind-driven walking or feeding decoy motion patterns. The summary section states that the decoy motion may also be activated by a motor, but it is not disclosed how such a motor driven motion mechanism could be constituted or operated.

[0009] US 4,893,428 (Gagnon) discloses a passive device allowing a decoy to self-align due to the external force of wind, i.e. passively. Object

[0010] An object of the present invention is to improve bird attraction assemblies of this type, to improve degree of attraction of flying live birds, during tagging, hunting, or gaming on the ground.

[0011] The invention

[0012] The object above is achieved by an improved bird attraction assembly in accordance with the characterizing part of independent claims 1 and 2, a use of the same in accordance with independent claim 11, and a method of operating the bird attraction assembly in accordance with independent claim 12. Additional advantageous features appear from the dependent claims.

[0013] General description

[0014] The invention presented herein modifies only the bird attraction assembly and not the decoy itself. It aims to be affordable to hunters to a far larger extent than existing motorized motion decoys. The present invention seeks to enable the motion behavior of the entire flock of birds to appear more realistic than if only a small number of the decoys in the flock exhibit any motion.

[0015] The present invention primarily addresses bird hunting situations with little or no wind. Using one simple unified motion principle, it enables the emulation of several common motion patterns in decoys that are often observed in flocks of real birds on the ground:

[0016] • Grazing: The decoy regularly dips its head towards the ground, emulating the motion where a bird is grazing on edible material in front of it.

[0017] • Wagging: The decoy wags from side to side, emulating the motion of a bird walking forward.

[0018] • Scouting: The decoy rotates slowly back and forth in a horizontal rotation plane within a limited sector, emulating a "watchdog" behavior where the bird turns around to watch out for potential dangers.

[0019] • Combinations of scouting and grazing, and combinations of scouting and wagging.

[0020] Waterfowl decoys will, referring to their shape, often made to be of three general kinds: Grazing birds ("grazers"), wagging birds ("waggers"), and scouting birds ("scouters"). Grazing waterfowl decoys such as geese will typically be made with horizontal necks and head positions. Scouting and wagging decoys will be made with more upright necks. A scouter decoy will typically be made with a longer neck than a wagging decoy. The most natural motion pattern of grazing decoys will usually be combinations of grazing and scouting movements, and the most natural motion of wagging decoys will usually be combinations of wagging and scouting movements. Scouter decoys will usually only use scouting movements.

[0021] In further details, the present invention is related to an improved decoy imitating live birds to attract flying live birds to the ground for hunting, gaming or tagging purposes, said decoy being arranged to be deployed on the ground. The decoy is supported in a movable manner upon a stake, and exhibits a neck with a head and beak, a tail, and a body having a belly, wherein the drive unit is arranged to bring the decoy into a motion, The stake is, at its lowermost end, arranged to be supported upon the ground or inserted partly into the ground, and at its uppermost end arranged to be inserted into the decoy, mutually pivotal, at a stake support point.

[0022] In particular, the decoy is powered by a drive unit connected to the stake and is releasably connected to the decoy at its belly side by at least one decoy connection located either: as a longitudinal decoy connection, located at the decoy front or the decoy rear viewed in the head-tail direction, to imitate a walking bird or a scouting bird, or as a lateral decoy connection, located at one of the decoy's sides nearby its wing, to imitate a grazing bird or a scouting bird.

[0023] The stake can be split into an upper stake section and a lower stake section, interconnected by said drive unit, arranged to bring the decoy into motion with respect to the stake.

[0024] In one embodiment, the drive unit comprises a drive motor powered by a battery providing current at a desired voltage and connected by a drive plate, in one embodiment via a pin, to a slider that exhibits a slit, a stake connection and a decoy connection. The pin is fixedly connected eccentrically to the drive plate, e.g. a circular plate or a wheel plate, and accommodated within the slit. The drive unit is arranged to force the slider to move in a desired pattern in a horizontal plane by the pin, driven by the drive motor.

[0025] Alternatively, instead of a drive plate with an eccentric pin, the drive plate itself may be mounted eccentrically on the motor shaft, within a wider slider slit, eliminating the need for an eccentric pin on top of the drive plate.

[0026] In another embodiment, the drive unit comprises a drive motor powered by a battery providing current at a desired voltage and connected by a drive plate via a pin to a slider exhibiting a slit, a stake connection and a decoy connection. The pin is fixedly connected eccentrically to the drive plate, e.g. a circular plate or a wheel plate, and accommodated within the stake connection. The stake is accommodated within the slit, and the drive unit is arranged to force the slider to move in a desired pattern in a horizontal plane by the pin accommodated within the stake connection and driven by the drive motor.

[0027] The shape of slit can for example be rectangular, square, trapezoidal, triangular, oval, bananashaped, or S-shaped.

[0028] Moreover, the battery voltage can be controllable by a timer, or a programmable logic circuit (PLS), to effect the desired motion pattern of the decoy. The battery voltage is alternatively controllable by a remote control, to effect the desired motion pattern of the decoy. The drive motor can be provided in the form of a simple DC gear motor, or stepper motor or a servo motor.

[0029] The decoy connection is advantageously a releasable connection between slider to an underside (belly) of the decoy, selected from the group consisting of, a screw, a Velcro, a magnet, and a pinrecess connection.

[0030] With respect to the effect of the various embodiments of an improved decoy in real use in a field, several decoys, particularly in a real hunting situation, can for example be realized by placing one or more leading groups of decoys moving in a pattern that appears to be grazing and scouting, and placing one of more trailing groups of decoys a few meters behind said one or more leading groups of grazing and scouting decoys, that appears to be walking and scouting in the directions of the leading groups of grazers.

[0031] In this way, we have observed that flying live birds are incited to land on a free area between leading groups of grazing and scouting decoys, and trailing groups of wagging and scouting decoys, for thereby contributing to steering the flying live birds to land on the free area where the user wants. For example, a hunter will to an increased degree be able to guide live birds to a limited area on the ground. This will for example simplify catching and tagging or hunting where the risk of wound is avoided.

[0032] Drawings

[0033] The invention is hereinafter described in further details with reference to illustrations, where

[0034] Fig. 1 is a side view of a prior art bird decoy balancing on top of motion stake, Fig. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of a drive unit,

[0035] Fig. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the drive unit,

[0036] Fig. 4 illustrates a third embodiment of the drive unit,

[0037] Fig. 5 illustrates a fourth embodiment of the drive unit,

[0038] Fig. 6a is a schematic illustration like Fig. 1, showing a first embodiment of the present invention implemented at a prior art decoy with a split stake,

[0039] Fig 6b is an illustration like Fig. 6a but of a second embodiment with a stake in one piece,

[0040] Fig. 7a is a schematic illustration of a decoy from below with the second embodiment of the invention,

[0041] Fig. 7b is a drawing like Fig. 7a operating at low motor speed (rotation in horizontal plane) with a slider / decoy connector attached to the front of the decoy,

[0042] Fig. 7c is a drawing like Figs. 7a and 7b operating at higher motor speed (pendulum motion) with the slider / decoy connector attached to the front of the decoy,

[0043] Fig. 7d is a drawing like Figs. 7a-7c with the slider / decoy connector attached to a side of the decoy, illustrating an operation mode at low motor speed where the decoy is rotating in a horizontal plane,

[0044] Fig. 7e is a drawing like the previous Figs. 7a-7d with the slider / decoy connector attached to a side of the decoy, illustrating an operation mode at higher motor speed resulting in a pendulum motion of the decoy around decoy stake balance point,

[0045] Fig. 7f is a drawing like the previous Fig. 7a-7e of yet another embodiment of the drive unit with a drive motor connected directly to the slider, and

[0046] Fig. 8 shows a simplified drive unit for reciprocating stepper motor, or servo motor, or DC motor with repeating polarity switch and timer.

[0047] Detailed description

[0048] In the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a decoy, here a goose, indicated generally with reference numeral 100. This is provided with a so-called basic Scotch yoke or stake 200 extending substantially vertically upwards from a support point in the ground (not shown) into a conically shaped cup 101 inserted upwards into the body of the decoy 100 extending from an opening in the abdomen of the decoy and narrowing up to an underside of the back of the decoy, thus defining a support point 102 for an upper end 203 of the stake 200. Accordingly, the decoy 100 rests upon the stake 200 in a manner known per se, free to rotate about a substantially vertical axis of the stake 200 and / or move in and out of an imaginary horizontal plane. In other words, this arrangement enables conversion between rotational and reciprocating motion of the decoy with respect to the stake 200 and hence the ground to which it is fixed.

[0049] Now with reference to Fig. 6a, which is a drawing like Fig. 1, but where the stake 200 is provided with a drive unit 300, representing a first embodiment of the invention. Here, the stake or yoke 200 is split into an upper stake section 200a and a lower stake section 200b, interconnected by a yoke connector 202 which enables the upper and lower stake sections 200a, 200b to move independently. The lower part pf the upper stake section 200a is fixed to the drive unit 300 via a slider 320 (se for example Figs. 3-5), to make the upper stake section 200 to rotate. The upper end 203 of the upper stake section 200a is connected in a stationary manner to stake support point 102 at the end (top) of the conically shape cup 101 within the decoy 100. With the term "stationary" is meant that rotation of the upper stake section 200a will force the decoy 100 to rotate therewith. Accordingly, in this embodiment there is no need for any additional connection between drive unit 300 and decoy 100 to make the decoy 100 to move in some way or another. The yoke connector 202 may be a sleeve with an upper open part arranged to accommodate the lower end of upper stake section 200a and support the latter therein. On the other hand, the yoke connector 202 can be formed in a similar manner to be supported by an upper end of the lower stake section 200b. The yoke connector 202 may be an independent item or may constitute a part of either the upper stake section 200a or the lower stake section 200b. In general, the drive unit 300 is attached to or is constituted by the lower stake section 200b in a fixed manner. The drive unit is described in further details below.

[0050] Now referring to Fig. 2, a first embodiment of the drive unit 300 is illustrated, in a plane view from above. In general, the drive unit comprises a drive motor 310 (not evident in Fig. 2, but shown in Figs. 6a and 6b), and a slider 320. The slider 320 is here illustrated as an elongate structure having a first slider fixture 321 and a second slider fixture 322. First and second slider fixtures 321, 322 are arranged to be connected, indirectly, to the decoy 100 and to the stake 200, respectively. The different embodiments are illustrated in the following drawings and described below.

[0051] Said first and second slider fixtures 321, 322 are advantageously formed as a lug or ring to accommodate another part of the structure as described below. Slider 320 is arranged to move in a reciprocating manner as indicated by the double-headed arrows, in a substantially horizontal direction, driven by a drive plate, here illustrated in form of a rotary wheel 301, which in turn is connected to the drive motor 310 in a rotary manner in the horizontal plane.

[0052] A substantially vertically extending connector pin 302 is affixed atop the rotary drive wheel 301 in an eccentric manner. Connector pin 302 is at its opposite end connected to a slider-drive wheel interconnecting means 323, allowing connector pin 302 to force slider 320 to move along its horizontal plane, but not in a fixed manner. Here, slider-drive wheel interconnecting means 323 is formed as an elongate recess 323 defining a confined open slit 323, arranged to accommodate connector pin 302 attached eccentrically to drive wheel 301, wherein the connector pin 302 is arranged to move within slit 323 transforming movement to slider 320, and further to stake 200 and in the end to the decoy 100 to make the latter to move in a desired pattern (from side to side at low motor speeds).

[0053] Fig. 3 shows a modified Scotch yoke, with one end connected to the stake. In further detail, the first slider fixture 321 (stake connection) is connected to the stake, here the upper stake section 200a. At the opposite end of slider 320, the second slider fixture 322 (decoy connection) is connected releasably to a second part (underside) of the decoy 100 (not illustrated), e.g., by a screw, Velcro, pin-recess connection, allowing movements imposed by a reciprocating slider 320 at its end exhibiting second slider fixture 322, to be transferred to decoy 100 and make the same to move in the desired manner. The two arrows at the right-hand side of Fig. 3 illustrates a reciprocal movement in a substantially horizontal plane as outlined above. In this embodiment, connector pin 302 is arranged to move inside the space defined by the confined open slit 323.

[0054] Fig. 4 shows a modified Scotch yoke, with slit 323, including interconnected drive wheel 301 and attached drive motor 310, arranged at one end of slider 320. First slider fixture 321 (stake connection) is arranged further along slider 320, mutually displaced from second slider fixture 322 (decoy connection) arranged at the opposite end of slider 320. Like the embodiment of Fig. 3, connector pin 302 is arranged to move inside the space defined by the confined open slit 323.

[0055] Fig. 5 is an illustration like Figs. 3 and 4 but showing a different embodiment of a modified Scotch yoke, generating more complex motion. Here, the slit 323 of slider 320 is located between first slider fixture 321 (stake connection) arranged at one end of slider 320, and second slider fixture 322 (decoy connection) arranged at the opposite end of slider 320. Contrary to the embodiments of Figs. 3 and 4, confined open slit 323 accommodates stake or yoke 200, wherein connector pin 302 is accommodated within first slider fixture 321.

[0056] Fig. 6b illustrates a second embodiment of the invention where the upper stake end 203 is arranged in a rotary manner with respect to the decoy 100 at stake support point 102. In order to make the decoy 100 to move by the drive unit 300 arranged in a drive unit holder 312 connected in a fixed manner to the stake 200 and powered by power supply 311. The drive unit is connected to the decoy 100 by means of an interconnecting slider / decoy connector 324, extending from the second slider fixture (decoy connection) at slider 320 to the underside of the decoy 100. The connection between slider / decoy connector 324 and decoy 100 is fixed in the manner that a substantially horizontal movement of slider / decoy connector 324 will force decoy 100 to move therewith. However, the decoy 100 can be detached from slider / decoy connector 324 for example by simply lifting the decoy 100 away therefrom.

[0057] Attachment points for the slider / decoy connector 324 at the underside of the decoy are described in further details below, in combination with the resulting movement pattern of the decoy 100.

[0058] Fig. 7a illustrates schematically the underside or bellow side of a decoy 100 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 6b with a stake 200 in one single piece. The slider 320 with its slit 323 accommodating the connector pin 302 fixed to the drive plate 301. Drive unit holder is illustrated at reference numeral 312 accommodating the drive motor 310 (not shown) located below drive plate 301. Outer extremities of the decoy body are illustrated at decoy wing side 104, decoy head 105 and decoy tail 106. The conically shaped cup 101 inserted into the body of the decoy 100 is illustrated in a (cross-) section. The first slider fixture (stake connection) is illustrated at reference numeral 321 at the lefthand side of the drawing. The second slider fixture 322 of Figs. 3-5 is here illustrated at two alternative positions: longitudinal decoy connection here illustrated by slider / decoy connector 324' located at the decoy head 105, and a lateral decoy connection here illustrated by said slider / decoy connector 324 located at decoy wing side 104. It is emphasized that second slider fixture (longitudinal decoy connection) 322' with its slider / decoy connector 324 alternatively can be located at the decoy tail 106. Similarly, the second slider fixture (lateral decoy connection) 322" with its slider / decoy connector 324 illustrated at the top of the drawing alternatively can be located at the opposite wing side of decoy, in the drawing at the bottom of decoy 100. Switching between these modes can be done simply by lifting the decoy from the stake 200 and slider / decoy connector 324 and re-arrange the decoy at a desired lateral or longitudinal position. Fig. 7b, a drawing like Fig. 7a, illustrating the embodiment of Fig. 6b with slider / decoy connector 324 located at the front (or rear) of the decoy 100. This is a movement pattern provided at low motor speed resulting in a rotation of the decoy in a horizontal plane. The direction of movement of the decoy 100 is indicated by the arrows M. The movement pattern represents the «scouting» movement.

[0059] Fig. 7c illustrates the embodiment of Figs. 6b and 7b with slider / decoy connector 324 located at the front (or rear) of the decoy 100. This is a movement pattern provided at higher motor speeds resulting in a transition to a pendulum decoy motion around the decoy stake balance point, i.e. a decoy motion orthogonal to the horizontal plane. Also here the direction of movement of the decoy 100 is indicated by the arrow M. The movement pattern represents the «wagging» movement.

[0060] Fig. 7d, a drawing like Fig. 7b, illustrating the embodiment of Fig. 6b but with slider / decoy connector 324 located at one of the sides of the decoy 100. This is a movement pattern provided at low motor speed resulting in a rotation of the decoy in a horizontal plane. The direction of movement of the decoy 100 is indicated by the arrows M. The movement pattern represents the «scouting» movement.

[0061] Fig. 7e, a drawing like Fig. 7d, illustrating the embodiment of Fig. 6b but with slider / decoy connector 324 located at one of the sides of the decoy 100. This is a movement pattern provided at higher motor speeds resulting in a transition to a reciprocating decoy motion around the decoy stake balance point. The direction of movement of the decoy 100 is indicated by the arrow M. The movement pattern represents the «grazing» movement.

[0062] Fig. 7f is a drawing like the previous Fig. 7a-7e of yet another embodiment of the drive unit. Here the drive plate 301 connected to the drive motor (not shown) is arranged eccentrically within the slit 323 of the slider 320. The shaft of the motor is represented at reference numeral 313. This embodiment eliminates need for any eccentric pin mounted on drive plate. The movement pattern with respect to varying motor speed is like the previously described embodiments. Fig. 8 is an illustration like the preceding ones in Figs. 7a-f with a simplified drive unit for reciprocating stepper motor, or servo motor, or DC motor with repeating polarity switch and timer. The drive unit holder 312, connected to the stake via stake connection 321 in a fixed manner, accommodating the drive motor (not shown) and its connector pin 312 represented by its motor shaft fixed to slider 320. The position of the slider / decoy connector 324 is shown at to alternative positions at the underside of the decoy at a side 104 or at the front 105 of the decoy. In Fig. 8 the slider / decoy connector 324 is shown at the decoy head / bill (front) side of the decoy. This embodiment is arranged to force the drive motor via its motor shaft 302, slider 320 and slider / decoy connector 324, to move the decoy in the desired manner.

[0063] To summarize motion behavior can be described as follows:

[0064] When the decoy end of the slider 320 is connected to the front 105 or back 106 of the decoy belly at decoy connection 322' (and slider / decoy connector 324), the generated motion will be «wagging or scouting», depending on motor rotation speed. Low voltage supply to drive motor 310 will effect a rotational movement of the decoy 100 in the horizontal plane («scouting»), whereas increasing voltage supply to drive motor 310, decoy movement will change into «wagging».

[0065] To change this into «grazing + scouting» motion, release the slider attachment 322' to the decoy, turn the decoy 90 degrees in the horizontal plane, and attach the slider to the alternative attachment point 322" (and slider / decoy connector 324) at one of the decoy belly's sides 104. Similar to the voltage control described immediately above, low voltage supply to drive motor 310 will effect a rotational movement of the decoy 100 in the horizontal plane «scouting», whereas increasing voltage supply to drive motor 310, decoy movement will change into «grazing».

[0066] The movement pattern outlined above explicitly refers to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6b with a stake 200 in one piece. However, it is emphasized that the same movement pattern with respect to motor rotation speed is obtained with the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6b with a split stake without any additional connection between the drive unit and decoy, i.e. no slider / decoy connector.

[0067] Discussion of varying embodiments and decoy movement

[0068] Motion decoys will typically balance on top of motion stakes. The lower end of the stake is vertically fixed in or upon the ground. The decoy is placed on top of the stake through an opening in the decoy belly in a cone-shaped cup as illustrated above. The top of the stake is fixed either directly onto a balance point at the inside of the decoy back, or onto a similar balance point in the cup.

[0069] The motion stake may be equipped with motion restriction mechanisms to disable certain kinds of unnatural motions, e.g. full 360° horizontal rotation around the stake, which may otherwise occur in strong winds.

[0070] The basic motion generating mechanism, the Scotch yoke:

[0071] The present invention is inspired by a classical mechanical principle for conversion of rotational motion to reciprocating motion. The rotational motion of, e.g. a wheel connected to the shaft of a small DC motor, is connected to the slider described above, via an eccentric pin. This is illustrated in Fig. 2.

[0072] The eccentric pin moves back and forth (vertically in the picture) inside the opening of the slider when the wheel rotates, without causing any motion of the slider - the vertical component of the eccentric pin motion is passivated, but when the position of the eccentric pin moves to the left or right (horizontally in the drawing) as the result of the wheel rotation, the slider will be pushed to the left or to the right. The two slider fixtures ensure that only right or left motion is possible for this slider.

[0073] A modified Scotch yoke mechanism for motion stake decoys:

[0074] A variation of this configuration, known as the "Quick return mechanism", is also used to generate linear reciprocating motion. A modification of this mechanism may also be used to generate reciprocating rotation within a circle sector: If the motor with its attached wheel is fixed on the motion stake, and one end of the slider is connected to the motion stake, and the opening of the slider is along the line between its two ends instead of orthogonal to it, then rotation of the wheel will cause a reciprocating sectorial rotating motion of the other end of the slider, as illustrated in Fig. 3. If this other end of the slider is connected to the belly of the decoy, then rotation of the wheel will cause the decoy to rotate back and forth within the same sector. This is the typical rotational motion described earlier as "Scouting". The rate of motion of the decoy will be proportional to the rotational motion of the DC motor shaft and the wheel. Several different realizations of such a modified Scotch yoke are conceivable. One of these is illustrated in Fig. 4. This configuration will generate the same kind of sectorial reciprocating rotation motion as the one in Fig. 3.

[0075] Getting "Grazing" or "Wagging" or more complex motion from the modified Scotch yoke mechanism:

[0076] The proposed modified Scotch yoke mechanism has been extensively experimented with, using several different motors with a large range of rotational speeds, from less than 10 rpm to more than 100 rpm.

[0077] A surprising observation was made during these experiments: Beyond a certain motor speed, the decoy motion pattern changes completely, from strictly back-and-forth rotation ("scouting" behavior) to pendulum motions orthogonal to the rotation plane, with the decoy balance point (where the top of the stake meets the decoy back or the top of its cone) being the fixed point of the pendulum:

[0078] • If the decoy-side fixture of the slider is attached below the head or the tail of the decoy, then the pendulum motion will be side-to-side, emulating the wagging motion of walking birds beyond a critical motor rpm.

[0079] • If the decoy-side fixture of the slider is attached to the sides of the decoy (below one of the wings), then the pendulum motion will be front-to-back, emulating the characteristic headdipping motion of grazing birds beyond a critical motor rpm.

[0080] With respect to the above, reference is made to Figs. 7a-f.

[0081] The value of the critical motor rpm where the motion changes from rotational (low-rpm) to pendulum (high-rpm) depends on both the decoy shape and the decoy weight, and it may thus vary among different decoy brands and models. There will also be a range of intermediate motor rpms (mid-rpm) where the motion is a more complex combination of rotational and pendulum motion.

[0082] Combinations of rotation and pendulum motions may also be generated by use of alternative configurations of the modified Scotch yoke. One such example is illustrated in Fig. 5. This configuration will generate a combination of rotation and pendulum motion, even at low motor rpms. Additional motion variations, not illustrated here, may be generated using slider openings with shapes departing from the linear / rectangular form, e.g. trapezoidal, triangular, oval, bananashaped, S-shaped, etc. Variety in individual decoy motions in a flock of decoys may be exploited to emulate the natural variation of motion of individual birds in a real bird flock. In addition to slider opening shape variations, such variety may be achieved by variations of the two fundamental parameters of this invention:

[0083] • The drive motor rpm of individual decoys

[0084] • Attachment position of the decoy-end of the slider to the individual decoy belly

[0085] The attachment position will be determined upon decoy flock setup, but may be changed manually during hunting breaks, if so desired.

[0086] The motor rpm of individual decoys may be fixed upon decoy flock setup: The motor rpm of any given motor will be a function of the voltage supplied to the motor, so a 3V battery supply (e.g. 2 AA batteries in series) will generate a different motion than a 6V battery supply (e.g. 4 AA batteries in series). It may however also be modified in real time remotely, if desired, e.g. if one or more PWM (pulse width modulated) remote controls are used to control the rpms of the respective drive motors in the decoy flock.

[0087] The motion pattern of individual decoys in the flock may also be made to change with time, using drive motor controllers that change the voltage of the supplied voltage to the drive motor with time, according to some algorithm embedded in the drive motor controller.

[0088] The alternative embodiment with split stakes

[0089] It may for practical setup or take-down reasons be inconvenient to have a slider connected to both the motion stake and the decoy. An alternative embodiment of the principles outlined above may then be to use a two-part motion stake, where the motor (with attached wheel and eccentric pin) is fixed on the lower part, and a modified slider is fixed on the upper part, without any direct connection between the decoy body and the slider. This configuration is illustrated in Fig. 6a.

[0090] In this embodiment, the upper part of the motion stake will rotate back and forth, while the lower part remains fixed in, or upon the ground. To have the decoy following the rotational motion of the upper stake, the attachment of the upper rotating part of the motion stake to the balance point on the decoy body must restrict relative rotation between the upper stake and the decoy, while allowing the desired wagging or grazing pendulum motion patterns. A simple, tested solution here has been to use Velcro to connect the top of the upper motion stake to the decoy balance point. Alternative solutions could instead of Velcro use e.g. star screw bits. If the decoy is placed on top of the motion stake with its head and tail in the same direction as the opening in the slider, the generated high-rpm motion pattern will also in this embodiment be side- to-side (wagging). If it is mounted with head and tail perpendicular to the opening of the slider, the generated high-rpm motion pattern will also here be front-to-back (grazing). Intermediate placement will likewise give motion pattern variations.

[0091] Preferred embodiments and technical effect

[0092] In a real flock of birds, some will be grazing, some will be walking around looking for food, and a few will be watching (scouting). The wagging + scouting behavior emulates birds walking around looking for food. A flock of decoys where there is a mixture of decoys appearing to feed and appearing to walk around will therefore appear natural to live birds and may thus appear more interesting for them as a landing spot.

[0093] It has also been observed in real hunting situations that placing groups of wagging decoys a few meters behind groups of grazing decoys, «walking» in the directions of the groups of feeders, will incite the live birds to land between the waggers and the feeders, thereby contributing to steering the live birds to land where the hunter wants them to. Making it more predictable where the birds will land, will increase the likelihood for an increased hunting outcome. It may also be expected that this increased predictability in live bird landing behavior decreases the risk of wounding birds, which may happen when shot distances are misjudged, or when the birds land in unexpected places.

[0094] Alternative embodiments

[0095] Programmable motor controllers combined with more advanced motors, such as stepper motors or servo motors, may be used instead of the proposed modified Scotch yoke mechanism to emulate the basic reciprocating sectorial rotation in the horizontal plane. In a similar manner, may also for example electronic components be able to shift current supply polarity, thereby reversing the rotation direction of a simple DC motor.

[0096] Such embodiments will need to include means of speed control (e.g. PWM or switching of power supplies with different voltages) to achieve the described transition from rotation in the horizontal plane at low speeds (scouting) to orthogonal pendulum motions (wagging or grazing) at higher speeds.

[0097] In the modified Scotch yoke embodiment of the invention, the slider will constitute the decoy motion driver, and in this embodiment the motion driver needs to be connected to the motor, but it cannot be fixed onto it. In embodiments using more advanced motors that are directly able to generate reciprocating motion, the motion driver must be fixed onto the motor shaft, so it can follow its reciprocating motion.

[0098] The present invention does not restrict itself to depend on any given device for achieving the basic back-and-forth rotation motion pattern ("scouting behavior"). Nor does it restrict itself to rely on any given device for achieving variable speed control. It merely prescribes how several life-like motion patterns may be generated for decoys balancing on motorized motion stakes, by combining variable motor speed control with a basic horizontal plane reciprocating rotational motion pattern obtained at low motor speed.

[0099] Reference numerals

[0100] M direction of movement

[0101] 100 decoy

[0102] 101 conically shaped cup

[0103] 102 stake support point

[0104] 103 decoy underside

[0105] 104 decoy side / decoy wing side

[0106] 105 decoy head / bill

[0107] 106 decoy tail

[0108] 200 stake

[0109] 201 upper stake end

[0110] 200a upper stake section

[0111] 200b lower stake section

[0112] 202 yoke connector

[0113] 203 stake upper end

[0114] 300 drive unit

[0115] 301 drive plate / drive wheel

[0116] 302 connector pin

[0117] 310 drive motor

[0118] 311 power supply

[0119] 312 drive unit holder

[0120] 313 motor shaft

[0121] 320 slider

[0122] 321 first slider fixture (stake connection)

[0123] 322 second slider fixture (decoy connection)

[0124] 322' fore / rear second slider fixture (longitudinal decoy connection)

[0125] 322" lateral second slider fixture (lateral decoy connection)

[0126] 323 slider-drive wheel interconnecting means / slit

[0127] 324 slider / decoy connector

Claims

Claims1. Bird attraction assembly configured to / suitable for imitating live birds to attract flying live birds to the ground for hunting, gaming or tagging purposes, said bird attraction assembly (100) comprising a decoy (100), an elongated stake (200), and a drive unit (300), wherein the decoy (100) exhibits a neck with a head and beak, a tail, and a body having a belly, wherein the elongated stake (200) having first and second distal ends, wherein the first distal end is configured to be supported upon the ground or inserted partly into the ground, to position the elongated stake (200) in an upright position with the second distal end upwards, and wherein the second distal end is configured for engagement with the decoy (100), wherein the decoy (100) is configured for engagement with the second distal end and pivotable connection thereto by means of a stake support point, wherein the drive unit (300) is attached to the stake (200) and connected to the belly side of the decoy (100) via a connection interface, and wherein the drive unit (300) is configured to bring the decoy (100) into a motion, characterized in that the drive unit (300) comprises a variable speed drive motor (310) powered by one or more batteries providing alternate motor speed, the drive unit (300) comprising a drive plate (301) connected to a drive shaft of the variable speed motor (310), the connection interface is formed by an elongated body provided with a stake connection (321) at a first distal end and decoy connection (322) at a second distal end or intermediate position, and wherein the connection interface further comprises an elongated recess extending in longitudinal or transversal direction of the elongated body configured for engagement with the drive plate (301) via a pin (302), wherein the connection interface, with the elongated recess extending in longitudinal direction and connected to the decoy (100) at front (105) or rear (106) side, viewed in the head-tail direction, is configured to effect a rotational movement of the decoy (100) in the horizontal plane to effect "scouting" at low rotation speed of said drive motor (310) and at higher rotation speed, compared to the lower rotation speed, effect a "wagging" movement of the decoy (100), or wherein the connection interface, with the elongated recess extending in transversal direction and connected to the decoy (100) at one of the sides (104) thereof nearby its wing, is configured toeffect a rotational movement of the decoy (100) in the horizontal plane to effect "scouting" at low rotation speed of said drive motor (310), or at higher rotation speed, compared to the lower rotation speed, effect a "grazing" movement of the decoy (100).

2. An improved bird attraction assembly imitating live birds to attract flying live birds to the ground for hunting, gaming or tagging purposes, said decoy (100) being arranged to be deployed on the ground, supported in a movable manner upon a stake (200), and decoy (100) exhibiting a neck with a head and beak, a tail, and a body having a belly, wherein the stake (200), at its lowermost end, is arranged to be supported upon the ground or inserted partly into the ground, and at its uppermost end (201) being arranged to be inserted into the decoy (100), mutually pivotal, at a stake support point (102), wherein said decoy (100) is powered by a drive unit (300) connected to the stake (200), arranged to bring the decoy (100) into a motion, characterized in that the drive unit (300) comprises a variable speed drive motor (310) powered by one or more batteries providing alternate motor speed and connected by a drive plate (301) a pin connection interface (302), to a stake connection (321), the stake (200) is split into an upper stake section (200a) and a lower stake section (200b) interconnected by a yoke connector (202), said drive unit (300) is fixedly connected to the upper stake section (200a), and a stake upper end (203) is fixed to an inner part of the decoy (100) at a stake support point (102), wherein the drive unit (300) is arranged to at a low motor speed of said drive motor (310), effect a rotational movement of the decoy (100) in the horizontal plane to effect "scouting", or at an increasing motor speed of said drive motor (310), effect a "grazing" movement of the decoy (100).

3. The improved bird attraction assembly of claim 1, wherein said connection interface is a pin (302) connected to said stake connection (321) and said decoy connection (322) via a slider (320) exhibiting a slit (323), said pin (302) being fixedly connected eccentrically to the drive plate (301) and accommodated within the slit (323), said drive unit (300) being arranged to force the slider (320) to move in a desired pattern in a horizontal plane by the pin (302) driven by the drive motor (310).

4. The improved bird attraction assembly of claim 1, wherein said connection interface is a pin (302) connected to said stake connection (321) and said decoy connection (322) via a slider(320) exhibiting a slit (323), said pin (302) being fixedly connected eccentrically to the drive plate (301) and accommodated within the stake connection (321) and the stake (200) is accommodated within the slit (323), said drive unit (300) being arranged to force the slider (320) to move in a desired pattern in a horizontal plane by the pin (302) driven by the drive motor (310).

5. The improved bird attraction assembly of claim 1, wherein the drive motor (310) is connected to said stake connection (321) and said decoy connection (322) via a slider (320) exhibiting a slit (323), wherein said plate (301) is arranged movable within the slit (323) in an eccentric manner.

6. The improved bird attraction assembly of claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the shape of slit (323) is rectangular, square, trapezoidal, triangular, oval, banana-shaped, or S-shaped.

7. The improved bird attraction assembly one of the preceding claims, wherein the variable motor speed is controllable by a timer, or a programmable logic circuit (PLS), to effect the desired motion pattern of the decoy (100).

8. The improved bird attraction assembly of one of the preceding claims, wherein the variable motor speed is controllable by a remote control, to effect the desired motion pattern of the decoy (100).

9. The improved bird attraction assembly of one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive motor (310) is provided in the form of a simple DC gear motor, or stepper motor or a servo motor.

10. The improved bird attraction assembly of claim 1, 3 or 4, wherein the decoy connection (322) is a releasable connection between a slider (320) to an underside of decoy (100), selected from the group consisting of, a screw, a Velcro, a magnet, and a pin-recess connection.

11. Use of several bird attraction assemblies, particularly in a real hunting situation, in accordance with one of the claims above, by placing one or mo re leading groups of decoys moving in a pattern that appears to be grazing and scouting, and placing one of more trailing groups of decoys a few meters behind said one or more leading groups of grazing and scouting decoys, that appears to be walking and scouting in the directions of the leading groups of grazers,thus, inciting flying live birds to land on a free area between said one or more leading groups of grazing and scouting decoys, and said one or more trailing groups of wagging and scouting decoys, for thereby contributing to steering the flying live birds to land on the free area.

12. Method of operating a bird attraction assembly according to claim 1, when the decoy connection (322) is located either: as a longitudinal decoy connection (322'), located at the decoy front (105) or the decoy rear (106) viewed in the head-tail direction, arranged to, operating the drive motor (310) at a low motor speed to effect a rotational movement of the decoy (100) in the horizontal plane to effect "scouting", or operating the drive motor (319) at an increased motor speed to effect a"wagging" movement of the decoy (100), or as a lateral decoy connection (322"), located at one of the decoy's (100) sides (104) nearby its wing, arranged to, operating the drive motor (310) at a low motor speed to, effect a rotational movement of the decoy (100) in the horizontal plane to effect "scouting", or operating the drive motor (310) at an increased motor speed to effect a "grazing" movement of the decoy (100).

Images