Head pumping waterfowl duck decoy apparatus
View Patent ↗A waterfowl decoy apparatus provides simulated head pumping movement of a bird's head in an up and down vertical path defined by a cam support and cam follower rod. A cam follower rod with flat base is inserted into a holed frame which sits on an off center cam. The cam supports the decoy head positioned on the cam follower rod, and a small battery operated motive device moves the off center cam in circular direction. This cam mechanism causes the decoy head to move in an up and down vertical motion. In addition an alternative method for decoy head to move in a vertical path is defined by a “level wind” mechanism having a channel guide mounted for traversing a reversible groove shaft by means of a follower as the shaft is rotated. The device is mounted and enclosed inside a hollow duck decoy with a detachable back to access internal components.
1. An improved motorized waterfowl decoy apparatus for simulating and mimicking the up and down vertical head movement of bird species during courtship behaviors, comprising:
(a) a decoy body, said decoy body having a continuous hollow cavity, said continuous hollow cavity extending without interruption throughout said decoy body;
(b) a motor attached to interior of said decoy body by an interior frame, said motor imparting reciprocating head movement to said decoy;
(c) said motor being battery powered and containing horizontal output motor shaft;
(d) an output motor shaft, said output motor shaft connected to said motor in a manner such that rotational motion is delivered to said shaft and attached motor cam;
(e) said motor cam on output motor shaft connected to said primary shaft centered cam at a right angle and rotating in a horizontal plane connected by a belt;
(f) said primary shaft centered cam attached to the primary shaft, said primary shaft being connected to the distal end of said primary shaft through frame holes;
(g) an off center cam connected to said primary shaft, said primary shaft being capable of rotational movement, such that the circular rotation of said primary shaft moves said off center cam in an off center manner;
(h) a cam follower rod with flat base sits on the off center cam and moves in a vertical plane as it moves within a slider; and
(i) a decoy head attached to the upper end of said cam follower rod, wherein the entire said decoy head moves upward and downward in a head pumping and bobbing motion that corresponds to the vertical movements of said cam follower rod and said off center cam rotational force, wherein said decoy head moves up and down vertically, wherein said decoy head does not twist from side to side, move forward or backward or touch the water.
2. The waterfowl decoy as described in claim 1 , said decoy further comprising a switch, said switch allowing a user to selectively operate said motor by completing circuit to said battery power and motor.
3. The waterfowl decoy as described in claim 1 , said decoy off center cam design and shape can be manipulated, in such a manner as to realistically simulate the movement of a real bird's movements and rhythmic patterns during waterfowl mating behavior rituals comprising:
(a) shape variations;
(b) notched cam to notched cam follower; and
(c) fixed rotating arm cam mechanisms which allow for varied vertical movement distances and rhythmic patterns.