Lightweight Bird Replica Using Flexible Cord and Foam

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bird replicas are often bulky, heavy, expensive to manufacture, and require complex assembly and disassembly, making them impractical for use as decoys or deterrents, and they fail to realistically depict the natural movements of birds in flight, leading to desensitization by wildfowl.

Innovation Solution

A lightweight, sturdy flying bird replica constructed from flexible materials like Expanded Polypropylene Particle (EPP) foam, featuring a body and wing design that mimics a bird in flight, with a support apparatus allowing for easy assembly and realistic motion, including a hollow channel for aerodynamic tilt and a flexible cord system for wing attachment, enabling quick setup and natural movement simulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If traditional bird replica materials and structures are used, then durability and structural integrity are improved, but weight and bulk increase making them heavy and awkward to handle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite construction combining lightweight foam core material with thin fabric or plastic skin covering. This composite approach provides sufficient structural integrity and durability while maintaining low weight, resolving the contradiction between strength and weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The bird replica uses thin fabric or plastic skin covering the foam structure, creating a lightweight shell that provides structural integrity without adding significant weight. This thin-film approach maintains durability while keeping the replica lightweight and easy to handle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If detailed and realistic bird replica designs are used, then effectiveness as decoy or deterrent is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveeffectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The bird replica is divided into modular segments including removable wings, tail sections, and body parts that can be separately manufactured and assembled. This segmentation allows for realistic detailing in critical areas while simplifying manufacturing of less critical portions, reducing overall complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs inexpensive materials such as foam, fabric, and plastic that can be easily manufactured and replaced. These materials provide sufficient realism for effectiveness while keeping manufacturing costs low, allowing for economical production of detailed replicas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of manufacture

If fixed and rigid bird replica structures are used, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but ability to simulate natural flight motion is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidmotion simulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates movable joints and flexible connections at the wings and tail that allow natural motion while maintaining simple manufacturing. These dynamic elements enable the replica to simulate flight movements without requiring complex mechanical systems, preserving manufacturing simplicity while adding adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The thin fabric or plastic skin covering allows the structure to flex and move naturally in response to wind and environmental conditions, providing realistic flight motion simulation without requiring complex mechanical mechanisms. This maintains manufacturing simplicity while enhancing motion adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Strength

If complex assembly procedures are used, then structural integrity and realism are improved, but ease of assembly and disassembly in field conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidease of assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bird replica uses segmented modular components with simple connection mechanisms such as snap-fits, clips, or Velcro attachments. These segmented parts can be quickly assembled and disassembled in field conditions while maintaining structural integrity when assembled, resolving the contradiction between strength and ease of assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8151512B2Flying bird replica

Publication Date: 2012.04.10 HIGDON OUTDOORS LLC

AI summary

A flying bird replica comprising a body and a pair of wing members. The body is elongated having a configuration resembling that of a bird body. The body has a top surface, two sides, and a transverse slot extending between the sides. The wing members are interconnected by a flexible cord disposed in the slot below the top surface of the body. The cord is tensioned for urging the wing members together such that the wing members are held in a fixed position relative to the body. A horizontal support rod holds the body and wing members in a realistic orientation and permits tilting of the body and wings about the support rod to resemble a bird in flight.