Elastic Polymer Hunting Decoy with Weighted Keels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing waterfowl decoys made of thermoplastic resin are brittle, prone to damage from shots, and fail to mimic the natural behavior and appearance of live waterfowl, leading to reduced effectiveness in attracting game.
Innovation Solution
A decoy made from a soft elastic polymer like ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) with multiple weighted keels that allow for vertical stability, natural movement in water, and adjustable weight distribution, combined with a hollow body and ventilation port to prevent vacuum formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If thermoplastic resin is used for decoy construction, then the decoy has structural integrity and durability, but the decoy becomes brittle and prone to damage from shots and rough handling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from rigid thermoplastic resin to soft elastic polymer (such as rubber or thermoplastic elastomer), fundamentally altering the mechanical properties. This allows the decoy to deform elastically under impact and return to its original shape, eliminating the brittleness problem while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction with an outer shell made of soft elastic polymer and an inner filling material (such as foam, air, or water) that provides additional cushioning and buoyancy. This composite structure combines the advantages of both materials to achieve both strength and damage resistance.
2Ease of operation
If multiple decoys are rigged together for transport, then the decoys can be carried conveniently, but the weight increases and the solid hollow bodies create obtrusive noise when they collide
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the decoy from solid hollow to soft and compressible by using elastic polymer material. This allows the decoys to be compressed during transport, reducing the space they occupy and the noise they generate when handled, while maintaining full functionality when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of decoy collision (noise and damage) into a benefit by using soft elastic material that absorbs impact energy. The same material that makes the decoy quiet when handled also protects it from damage during transport and handling.
3Reliability
If a center keel with fixed weight is used, then the decoy can right itself in water, but the weight distribution creates unnatural behavior and limits flexibility for transport and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the weight system into separate, removable components rather than a fixed integrated weight. The decoy body is separated from the weighting mechanism, allowing the weight to be adjusted or removed based on transport or storage needs while maintaining self-righting capability when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a static fixed weight system to a dynamic adjustable weight system. The weighting mechanism can be reconfigured or removed, allowing the decoy to adapt between deployment mode (with weight for self-righting) and transport mode (without weight for flexibility).
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 is highly resilient, able to withstand impacts and rough handling without damage, and effectively mimics the behavior and appearance of live waterfowl, enhancing its attractiveness to game birds.
Implementation Method 1
a decoy made from a soft elastic polymer like ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)
Implementation Method 2
a hollow body and ventilation port to prevent vacuum formation
Data Source
AI summary
A waterfowl decoy comprising a molded body with an interior cavity, a first and second keel, and an opening through the upper side of the molded body and oriented to allow air to pass from the interior cavity through the molded body.