Collapsible Animal Decoy Using Compressible Coil Spring
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for collapsible decoys that accurately represent medium to large animals, offering realistic appearances and ease of transportation and setup due to lightweight construction, as existing decoys are often bulky and difficult to transport.
Innovation Solution
A collapsible animal decoy featuring a body with a compressible coil spring to maintain a three-dimensional shape, a magnetically connected head and neck, and adjustable support mechanisms, allowing for various positional configurations and easy assembly/disassembly, along with removable antlers and tails for versatile representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If full-bodied replicas are constructed of foams and plastics to achieve realistic appearance, then the decoy looks more realistic, but it becomes bulky and difficult to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The decoy is divided into multiple detachable segments including head, neck, body, and limbs that can be separated for compact storage and transport, then reassembled to form a complete realistic animal replica when deployed
Solution Approach 2:
The detachable segments are designed to nest within each other or collapse into a compact configuration when disassembled, allowing the large realistic decoy to be stored in a small portable case or bag
2Shape
If traditional decoys are made solid to maintain shape, then the decoy maintains its form, but it becomes heavy and difficult to set up and breakdown
Solution Approach 1:
The decoy uses a flexible outer shell or fabric covering that can be collapsed when not in use, combined with internal support structures that automatically maintain the three-dimensional animal shape when deployed, eliminating the need for heavy solid construction
Solution Approach 2:
The decoy incorporates collapsible legs and adjustable support mechanisms that can be quickly deployed from a compact state to a standing position, allowing the structure to transition dynamically between storage and operational states without heavy materials
3Ease of operation
If collapsible decoys with printed pictures are used to reduce weight, then portability improves, but realistic appearance for medium to large animals is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The decoy combines two-dimensional printed surfaces with three-dimensional structural elements such as protruding limbs, tail, ears, and antlers that create realistic animal contours and shadows, achieving lifelike appearance for medium to large animals while maintaining portability
Solution Approach 2:
The design transitions from purely two-dimensional printed decoys to a hybrid structure that adds three-dimensional elements (protruding limbs, tail, head features) to create realistic animal silhouettes and profiles that are visible from a distance
4Stability of the object's composition
If decoys are made with fixed structures to ensure stability, then the decoy remains stable, but it becomes difficult to adjust positioning and configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The decoy incorporates adjustable legs with movable joints and positioning mechanisms that allow the animal to be set in various poses (standing, grazing, running), while the overall structure remains stable when deployed through friction-fit connections and ground stakes
Solution Approach 2:
The decoy uses intermediate connection elements such as friction-fit joints, magnetic connectors, or snap-fasteners that allow easy adjustment of limb positions and angles while maintaining stable attachment during use
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The decoy provides a realistic, lightweight, and portable solution for representing animals, offering multiple positional options and easy storage, enhancing the realism and practicality of animal decoys for hunting or nature observation.
Implementation Method 1
the connection comprises a magnet
Implementation Method 2
a compressible coil spring inside the body, with the spring configured to expand to press the material into a shape of the animal torso when released
Data Source
AI summary
An animal decoy comprising a coil spring, where the coil spring is shaped to resemble at least a portion of a body of an animal, and an exterior fabric layer over at least a portion of the coil spring. The compressible coil spring inside the body is configured to expand to press the material into a shape of an animal torso when released and can be compressed to a generally flat position. The coil spring extends from a solid front end of a decoy to a solid rear end of the decoy. The decoy also comprises removable antlers and tail. The decoy also comprises positionable ears that can be manipulated by a user.