CA2275780A1

CA2275780A1 - Floating silhouette decoys

Info

Publication number: CA2275780A1
Application number: CA 2275780
Authority: CA
Inventors: Claudio Franco Ongaro
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-06-17
Filing date: 1999-06-17
Publication date: 2000-12-17

Description

Floating Silhouette Decoys June 6, 1999 (A) Brief Description of the Invention A full color non-glare reproduction of an animal or bird printed on at least one surface of a flat substrate that has been fitted with a buoyant device, or buoyant device and keel, to keep the silhouette afloat and vertical in water. The buoyant device is fitted perpendicular to, although can be parallel to, the decoy and can be of any shape and size that permits the decoy and weighted or unweighted keel to float in a natural manner. The buoyant device should be in the approximate shape of the top view of the species being represented although any other shape providing the decoy with buoyancy will suffice. The buoyant device should be printed on the portion which faces upward when properly deployed in the full color image of the species being represented using common screen printing protocols - the buoyant device remains effective if it is not screen printed in full color and therefore need not be. The buoyant device can be removable to make the decoy effective for use as a conventional silhouette field decoy. Lead, or non buoyant material, is affixed to the keel portion of the decoy for the purpose of keeping the decoy upright in the water column and allowing it to be "self righting" when deployed. The keel is designed in such a manner in which the decoy will maintain effective "motion qualities", that is - will turn to its left and right when contacted by wind, and "track properly ", that is - to maintain an upright vertical position that does not "bob" or "rock" excessively when subjected to wind and waves. Where lead is not used in the keel or as a keel, a water filled keel may also function as a keel or steadying device. The decoy is to have a means in which to attach a conventional decoy line and anchor - a hole in or device attached to the decoy, buoyant device, or keel is required to accomplish this. The decoy is also to be fitted with a means of wrapping, storing or taking up decoy anchor line - although can be without a means of doing so and still be effective. Decoy is a term used to attract game within close range for the purpose of viewing, photographing, or hunting - this same product, process and procedure can be utilized to deter unwanted game from inhabiting an area.
The two part floating silhouette decoy may be stripped of the buoyant device and a round metal stake inserted through the center of the decoy and traveling vertically through the center of the corrugate plastic (if corrugate plastic is being used). The round metal stake (4.76 mm or 3/16") will enter the foot or keel portion of the decoy and travel upward toward the top of the back or spine of the decoy. This decoy may now be used for field hunting techniques over dry ground as would conventional silhouette decoys. The round metal stake permits the silhouette decoy to move freely providing left and right (horizontal) motion when wind contacts the decoy.
(B) Background to the Invention Decoying waterfowl over water has been accomplished by means of floating decoys for decades.
Conventional decoys are constructed of a full body form of plastic or foam in the shape of the species intended to decoy. Feather detail is molded into the plastic. The decoy is then painted, usually by hand, in an attempt to mimic the look of a real bird. The problem with such decoys is the look lacks perfect realism. Another inherent problem is glare. Although glare has been attempted to be eliminated by rough edges and flat paint, two conditions remain factors in producing glare. These are: 1 ) as decoys are used their paint becomes shiny and produces glare from the decoy being handled and transported therefore rubbing on one another and reducing the effectiveness of the no longer flat paint, and 2) because the decoys are shaped to mimic the full body of the bird attempted to decoy, there are convex surfaces on the outer edge of the decoy.
Under certain conditions such as aged decoys, wet weather, morning dew, frost, and melting frost - conventional decoys will produce glare which reduces the effectiveness of the decoy.
Developments in the screen printing industry in recent years has permitted screen printers to reproduce lifelike reproductions of digitally generated artwork. The process used is known as "full color printing" or "process printing". Realistic images can also be reproduced using the correct amounts of "spot color" inks that make up the image. Examples of this printing occur on billboards and signs throughout the world and is considered a common practice among screen printers. It is also very obvious to anyone involved in the screen printing industry that the realistic reproduction of digital or photographic images can be accomplished and has been done so for several years. Developments in the screen printing ink industry have permitted screen printers to produce higher quality, longer lasting images. Screen printed images intended for outdoor use must be printed with UV inks which inhibit the breakdown of the inks under constant exposure to direct sunlight. In order to make the images appear most realistic ink manufacturers have developed UV non-glare additives for the inks used on outdoor screen printed signage. Both, UV
inks and UV non-glare additives have been readily available to screen printers throughout the world for several years.
- z-Decoys developed by means of screen printing on flat surfaces known as silhouette decoys have been developed dating back several decades examples of these would include Dupe-a-Goose Silhouette Decoys & Johnson Silhouette Decoys dating back to the 1950's. More recent examples would include Real-Geese Silhouette Decoys & Outlaw Silhouette Decoys. None of these decoys had a means where by they could be used as individual floating decoys. New developments in printing technologies as sited earlier in this document have merely made it more efficient and visually more effective in reproducing a silhouette decoy. In the screen printing industry such a product would be termed an "image", "poster", or "sign". Cutting out the images to produce the printed silhouette has also been effectively accomplished for decades by means of a process called die cutting. Developments in the plastics industry have provided suitable substrates for the printing of such images. For example, Coroplast is a corrugated plastic commonly used for screen printing signage and is treated with a Corona treatment to permit better adhesion of inks for the purpose of screen printing. Styrene sheet is also a commonly used substrate in the screen printing industry.
Both of these substrates are readily available to screen printers in various thicknesses, sheet sizes, and colors.
(C) Complete Description of Invention while Referring to the Drawings Supplied The floating silhouette decoy described in Section (A) of this document will be described in more detail by making reference to the drawings accompanying this document.
Drawing 1 Side "A" of Part 1 of the silhouette has printed on it or laminated to it an image on one or both sides of an accepted printing substrate - in this case corrugated plastic -which represents a true to life rendition of the species being mimicked. This can be accomplished by the various means accepted by the printing industry. The most common and most practical of which would be full color or process screen printing - spot color printing which achieves the same or similar results is acceptable.
Item 1 represents the Tapered Keel which accepts the weight - usually lead -and has a slight taper being widest closest to the body and narrowest closest the foot portion of the decoy. The taper need only be such to allow the anchor line to spool from the keel when wrapped for storage and then deployed. The weight can consist of of round linear "pencil weight" as those commonly used in the fishing industry, a specially constructed weight that has on it one or more extrusions that will slide into the corrugated plastic, or any other weight designed to maintain the decoy in any upright and natural position when deployed in water.
Item 2 represents the "Receiver Notch". There is one at the front or head end and one at the back or tail end of the decoy. These notches are designed to receive the "Buoyancy Device" indicated on Drawing 2.
Item 3 represents the hole that will receive the decoy anchor line and can be referred to as an "anchor point". The hole may also be replaced by a device designed to receive the anchor line.
Placement on this "anchor point" on the decoy can occur anywhere on the decoy, keel, buoyancy device, or weight.
Item 4 represents the top edge of the decoy indicating the flat nature of the substrate to be printed upon.
Drawing 2 Drawing 2 represents the Buoyancy Device "Part 2" in its "ready" or "floating"
position. Part 2 can be made of any buoyant material or material that will remain buoyant by displacing water when constructed in such a manner. It may also be constructed in the form of a bladder containing air or materials that are buoyant.
Drawing 3 Drawing 3 represents the top view of the floating silhouette decoy. Part 2 should resemble the the shape of the species to be represented when viewed from above although will remain buoyant and therefore functional with the use of any other shape. A narrower design will prove to be more "self righting". A wider design will prove to be more stable under conditions where wind will contact the decoy. Notches may be cut into or other attachments fixed to Part

2 for the purpose of storing conventional decoy anchor line as noted in Drawing 4 Drawing 4 Drawing 4 represents the top view as does Drawing 3. It differs in that there are four notches cut - _ into the buoyant device. When the decoy is deployed over water a decoy anchor line must be fastened to the decoy at Item 3 - Drawing 1. The decoy anchor line is usually wrapped around the keel of the decoy. In this case the decoy anchor line can be "wrapped" for storage around Part 2 when it is in a folded or collapsed state (as indicated in Drawing 7) and the notches are present.
This does not affect the structure of the decoy but adds functionality to it by having a means by which to store the decoy anchor line.
Drawing 5 Drawing 5 represents the buoyant device - Part 2 - detached from the silhouette decoy - Part 1.
Item 6 represents the receiver slot for the silhouette decoy. The silhouette decoy slides through the receiver slot perpendicular to the buoyant device. The ends of Part 2 are stretched over Item 2 in Drawing 1 affixing Part 2 to Part 1. Although the slot is the most convenient means of attaching Part 2 to Part 1 any of the several fastening devices readily available in the hardware industry may be used to affix a buoyant device to the silhouette decoy.
Drawing 6 Drawing 6 is differs only slightly from Drawing 5 in that it shows the anchor line take up notches.
Drawing 7 Drawing 7 is a front view of the floating silhouette decoy with Part 2 attached to Part 1. Part 2 -(buoyancy device) is shown in the compacted or folded down position. Part 2 is constructed of a closed cell foam which provides adequate buoyancy. The closed cell foam has flexible qualities that permit it to fold down and back up into the floating position without becoming brittle and breaking. Rigid foam may be used with the addition of a hinged mechanism to permit collapsing.
If collapsibility for the sake of portability is not an issue then any material suited for Part 2 (as described in Section "A" of this document) rigid or otherwise may be affixed to Part 1 with or without a hinge mechanism. The dotted lines represent Part 2 in the floating position. Part 2 can also be folded upward, opposite the direction indicated by the drawing, for storage.
Drawing 8 The decoy is to be weighted at the keel in such a way as to maintain the decoy in an upright stable condition when in the water and to right itself when deployed by conventional means.
Item 7 represents the "fitted keel weight" which is molded by means of pouring molten lead into a _ S-_ ____..CA 02275780 1999-06-17 mold and can be fastened to the decoy. There are two protrusions from the main portion of the weight that are dedicated to securing the weight to the decoy by way of press fitting into the corrugate portion of the foot of the decoy. There is to be enough weight as to allow the decoy to right itself when conventionally deployed in water. The shape of the keel weight may vary.
Drawing 9 Item 8 represents the keel weights that can be inserted into the lower portion or foot of the decoy.
These are inserted into the corrugate. Other conventional means or securing the keel weight to the decoy is acceptable.
- (o .

Claims

Claims I claim:

1. An animal decoy, comprising of a flat body in the form of a two dimensional silhouette printed with a true to life non-glare image by means of conventional printing processes and protocols;

having on it, permanently or temporarily affixed, a buoyant device to allow it to float in water;

having on it a keel system where by, weighted or unweighted, the decoy maintains an upright natural position when afloat in water and rights itself when conventionally deployed (tossed in the water); and having a means by which to attach a decoy anchor line and a means to wrap or store said line.