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US-12622430-B2 - Programmable waterfowl decoy and method therefor

US12622430B2US 12622430 B2US12622430 B2US 12622430B2US-12622430-B2

Abstract

A programmable waterfowl decoy includes a waterfowl-shaped body, a propulsion assembly, and a programmable control system. The waterfowl-shaped body includes buoyant material. The propulsion assembly is mounted at a bottom portion of the waterfowl-shaped body and designed to propel the waterfowl decoy through water. The programmable control system is positioned in the waterfowl-shaped body and is operatively connected to the propulsion assembly to automatically control the movement of the waterfowl decoy in water according to a user-selected program.

Inventors

  • Fletcher Flowers
  • Andrew Godowns

Assignees

  • Fletcher Flowers
  • Andrew Godowns

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20240925

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A programmable waterfowl decoy comprising: a waterfowl-shaped body comprising buoyant material; a propulsion assembly mounted at a bottom portion of said waterfowl-shaped body and configured to propel the waterfowl decoy through water; and a programmable control system disposed in said waterfowl-shaped body and operatively connected to said propulsion assembly to automatically control the movement of the waterfowl decoy in water according to a user-selected program; the propulsion assembly including a pair of motorized propellors, said waterfowl-shaped body having a base section extending below an upper section, said upper section being shaped to resemble a waterfowl, said base section extending downwardly from said upper section between said pair of motorized propellors, a bottommost edge of said base section being vertically spaced beneath said pair of motorized propellors.
  2. 2 . The programmable waterfowl decoy of claim 1 , wherein said upper section of said waterfowl-shaped body is shaped to resemble a duck.
  3. 3 . The programmable waterfowl decoy of claim 1 , wherein the propulsion assembly comprises, a battery unit and a steering assembly operatively connected to said programmable control system.
  4. 4 . The programmable waterfowl decoy of claim 3 , wherein said battery unit is rechargeable via a charging port disposed in said waterfowl-shaped body.
  5. 5 . The programmable waterfowl decoy of claim 3 , wherein said battery unit is removable to permit exchanging of a discharged battery unit with a charged battery unit.
  6. 6 . The programmable waterfowl decoy of claim 1 , wherein said control system comprises a processor configured to store operational information and programs.
  7. 7 . The programmable waterfowl decoy of claim 6 , wherein said control system comprises a sensor assembly operatively connected to said processor and configured to detect obstructions in the path of movement of the waterfowl decoy.
  8. 8 . The programmable waterfowl decoy of claim 6 , wherein said control system comprises a transceiver operatively connected to said processor and configured to receive operational information wirelessly from a computer application on an electronic device.
  9. 9 . The programmable waterfowl decoy of claim 6 , wherein said control system comprises a GPS unit operatively connected to said processor and configured to provide location information for use in controlling the movement of the waterfowl decoy in water.
  10. 10 . A method of using the programmable waterfowl decoy of claim 1 , comprising the steps of: placing the waterfowl decoy in a body of water; selecting a program of movement of the waterfowl decoy that mimics natural movement of waterfowl in water; and activating the propulsion assembly and automatically controlling the movement of the waterfowl decoy in water with said programmable control system according to the user-selected program.
  11. 11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said step of automatically controlling the movement of the waterfowl decoy comprises switching between deactivating and activating the propulsion assembly and thereby switching between free floating and movement of the waterfowl decoy.
  12. 12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said step of selecting a program of movement comprises inputting movement information wirelessly via a computer application on an electronic device.
  13. 13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein said step of inputting movement information comprises selecting a movement path from a pre-set group of movement paths.
  14. 14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein said step of inputting movement information comprises creating a movement path by inputting at least one of: movement distances, directions, and duration.
  15. 15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein said step of inputting movement information comprises selecting a restricted movement zone in which the waterfowl decoy may move freely or according to a movement program but not beyond the perimeter of the movement zone based on GPS location.
  16. 16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said step of automatically controlling the movement of the waterfowl decoy comprises detecting obstructions obstructing the movement of the waterfowl decoy and automatically adjusting the movement of the waterfowl decoy to avoid the obstructions and resume movement in accordance with the program of movement.
  17. 17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said step of automatically controlling the movement of the waterfowl decoy comprises automatically moving the waterfowl decoy to a retrieval area upon completion of the program of movement or upon a detection of a low battery charge or operational malfunction.
  18. 18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said method further comprises automatically controlling the movement of a plurality of the waterfowl decoys to mimic the natural movement of a flock of waterfowl in water.
  19. 19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein each of the waterfowl decoys comprises a wireless transmitter and said method further comprises wirelessly relaying movement information from one waterfowl decoy to another and thereby extending the wireless transmission range of movement information.
  20. 20 . A programmable waterfowl decoy comprising: a waterfowl-shaped body comprising buoyant material, wherein said waterfowl-shaped body is shaped to resemble a duck; a propulsion assembly mounted at a bottom portion of said waterfowl-shaped body and configured to propel the waterfowl decoy through water, wherein: the propulsion assembly comprises a pair of motorized propellors, a battery unit, and a steering assembly operatively connected to said programmable control system, said battery unit is rechargeable via a charging port disposed in said waterfowl-shaped body, said battery unit is removable to permit exchanging of a discharged battery unit with a charged battery unit; said waterfowl-shaped body having a base section extending below an upper section, said upper section being shaped to resemble a waterfowl, said base section extending downwardly from said upper section between said pair of motorized propellors, a bottommost edge of said base section being vertically spaced beneath said pair of motorized propellors; and a programmable control system disposed in said waterfowl-shaped body and operatively connected to said propulsion assembly to automatically control the movement of the waterfowl decoy in water according to a user-selected program, wherein: said control system comprises a processor configured to store operational information and programs, said control system comprises a sensor assembly operatively connected to said processor and configured to detect obstructions in the path of movement of the waterfowl decoy, said control system comprises a transceiver operatively connected to said processor and configured to receive operational information wirelessly from a computer application on an electronic device, said control system comprises a GPS unit operatively connected to said processor and configured to provide location information for use in controlling the movement of the waterfowl decoy in water.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Not Applicable STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT Not Applicable THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT Not Applicable INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM Not Applicable STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR Not Applicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention The disclosure relates to hunting decoys and accessories and more particularly pertains to a new programmable waterfowl decoy for providing hunters with a self-propelled waterfowl decoy that automatically moves in water according to a user-selected program designed to mimic the natural movements of waterfowl, such as ducks. (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 The prior art relates to hunting decoys and accessories. The prior art, as best understood, does not disclose a programmable waterfowl decoy includes a waterfowl-shaped body, a propulsion assembly, and a programmable control system, wherein the programmable control system automatically controls the movement of the waterfowl decoy in water according to a user-selected program. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above in a programmable waterfowl decoy generally comprising a waterfowl-shaped body, a propulsion assembly, and a programmable control system. The waterfowl-shaped body includes buoyant material. The propulsion assembly is mounted at a bottom portion of the waterfowl-shaped body and designed to propel the waterfowl decoy through water. The programmable control system is positioned in the waterfowl-shaped body and is operatively connected to the propulsion assembly to automatically control the movement of the waterfowl decoy in water according to a user-selected program. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a programmable waterfowl decoy according to an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 3 is a rear view of an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 5 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure. FIG. 6 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure in use. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 7 thereof, a new programmable waterfowl decoy embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described. As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the programmable waterfowl decoy 10 generally comprises a waterfowl-shaped body 12, a propulsion assembly 14, and a programmable control system 16. The waterfowl-shaped body 12 includes buoyant material. The propulsion assembly 14 is mounted at a bottom portion of the shaped body 12 and designed to propel the waterfowl decoy 10 through water. The programmable control system 16 is positioned in the waterfowl-shaped body 12 and is operatively connected to the propulsion assembly 14 to automatically control the movement of the waterfowl decoy 10 in water according to a user-selected program. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the waterfowl-shaped body 12 is shaped to resemble a duck, though other waterfowl such as geese could be represented. As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the propulsion assembly 14 includes at least one motorized propellor 18, a battery unit 20, and a steering assembly 22 operatively connected to the programmable control system 16. The propellor 18 includes a motor 36, which is operatively connected to the control system 16 for operation of the propellor 18. The battery unit 20 is rechargeable via a charging port 24 positioned in the waterfowl-shaped body 12. In at least one possible embodiment, the battery unit 20 is removable to permit exchanging of a d