Manual Decoy Stand With Rotating Arm And Spring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing waterfowl decoy systems require batteries and motors for horizontal movement, limiting their use in remote locations due to weight, cost, and finite runtime, and often require land-based setups, restricting their versatility and range of motion.
Innovation Solution
A manually actuated decoy stand with a crossbeam and hinge system that simulates vertical movement, using a string, spring, and pulley mechanism to create a teeter-totter motion, allowing decoys to raise and lower on both sides of a hinge, with an adjustable telescoping support beam for varying heights and depths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If battery-operated motors are used to create horizontal spinning movement, then waterfowl hovering can be effectively simulated, but weight increases and portability becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the battery and motor components from the decoy system entirely, extracting the heavy power source that caused portability issues. Instead, it uses a manual crank mechanism with a string and pulley system to achieve the desired decoy movement without electrical components, directly resolving the contradiction between simulation effectiveness and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electrical motor system with a manual mechanical crank system. The crank converts rotational hand motion into linear string movement, which then operates the pulley system to move decoys. This mechanical substitution eliminates batteries and motors while maintaining decoy movement capability, resolving the weight and portability contradiction.
2Extent of automation
If battery-operated motors are used for decoy movement, then automated horizontal spinning is achieved, but runtime is limited by battery life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic manual cranking to simulate natural decoy behavior patterns. The user periodically cranks the handle to move decoys into position, then releases them to float naturally. This periodic manual intervention replaces continuous automated motor operation, eliminating battery runtime limitations while maintaining realistic decoy movement patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The decoy system is designed to be self-sustaining through manual operation. Once decoys are positioned by cranking, they autonomously float and move with water currents without requiring continuous power input. The system serves itself during operation, eliminating the need for battery power and thus unlimited runtime is achieved through intermittent manual activation.
3Reliability
If fixed base decoy systems are used on land, then vertical motion can be simulated, but adaptability to various water bodies is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static fixed-base system into a dynamic portable system. The decoy stand can be easily assembled and disassembled, and the entire structure can be moved to different locations. The crossbar and decoy hangers provide dynamic adjustment capabilities, allowing the system to adapt to various water body types and hunting locations while maintaining vertical motion simulation functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs a universal decoy system that can be used across multiple hunting scenarios and locations. The portable stand structure, combined with adjustable crossbars and multiple decoy hangers, creates a multi-functional system that works on different water bodies (ponds, lakes, rivers) and can be set up in various terrains, greatly enhancing adaptability while preserving vertical motion capabilities.
4Reliability
If complex motorized systems are used for decoy movement, then realistic movement patterns are achieved, but setup time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the decoy system into modular segments: a portable stand structure, an adjustable crossbar, multiple independent decoy hangers, and a manual crank mechanism. Each component can be quickly assembled and disassembled independently. This segmentation allows rapid setup and takedown while maintaining the capability for realistic decoy movement patterns through the manual crank and pulley system.
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
Enables realistic simulation of waterfowl taking off and landing without batteries or motors, providing unlimited use time, increased visibility, and adaptability to various water bodies and hunting locations, while being lightweight and easy to set up and transport.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator that moves the crossbeam between various orientations. The actuator includes a spring that stores and releases mechanical energy
Implementation Method 2
The actuator includes a pulley connected to the support beam and a string that moves the crossbeam between various orientations
Implementation Method 3
A decoy stand has a crossbeam connected to a support beam by a hinge that allows the crossbeam to rotate on the support beam
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a decoy system that simulates waterfowl taking off and landing byway of a string, pulley and spring which collectively cause a crossbeam holding waterfowl decoys to raise and lower relative to the surface of the water in which the system sits. When the string is pulled one end of the crossbeam holding one decoy lowers and the opposite end of the beam holding either a counterweight or another decoy raises. When the string is released a spring attached to the opposite side of the beam from the string moves the beam towards its original position and thereby the string and spring actuate a teetering motion that provides a visual que on both sides of the hinge at the midpoint of the crossbeam.