U.S. patent application number 10/068574 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-10 for animal decoy.
Invention is credited to Brown, Christopher James, Grams, Darrell Michael.
Application Number | 20020144449 10/068574 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22445983 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020144449 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brown, Christopher James ;
et al. |
October 10, 2002 |
Animal decoy
Abstract
The present invention includes a method for making a realistic
three-dimensional animal decoy. The method includes steps of
photographing an array of views of an animal that is to be the
subject of the decoy. The photographic views are arranged to make a
flattened, aerial view of the animal. A screen is prepared that
receives the view. The screen is positioned over a
three-dimensional vacuum mold, and, with application of heat and
pressure, is permanently formed into a three-dimensional animal
shell decoy that has photographically realistic features.
Inventors: |
Brown, Christopher James;
(Edina, MN) ; Grams, Darrell Michael; (Cambria,
WI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
J. Jason Link, Esq.
Kilpatrick Stockton LLP
1001 West Fourth St.
Winston-Salem
NC
27101
US
|
Family ID: |
22445983 |
Appl. No.: |
10/068574 |
Filed: |
February 5, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10068574 |
Feb 5, 2002 |
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09130710 |
Aug 6, 1998 |
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6343432 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
43/3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01M 31/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
43/3 |
International
Class: |
A01M 031/06 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for making a three-dimensional decoy, comprising:
photographing an animal to obtain an array of photographic views of
the animal; arranging the array of photographic views to create a
single, flattened photograph-based view of the animal; transferring
the single, flattened photograph-based view to a screen; printing
the view from the screen onto a polymeric sheet; providing a
three-dimensional decoy mold; positioning the plastic sheet over
the three-dimensional decoy mold; and heating and pressing the
sheet with energy effective to soften the sheet so that the sheet
takes the shape of the decoy mold.
2. The method of claim 1 and further including digitizing the array
of photographic views.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the polymeric sheet is a
polyethylene sheet.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the sheet is heated to a
temperature of about 200.degree. F.
5. The method of claim 1 and further including cooling the decoy
formed sheet.
6. The method of claim 5 and further including removing the decoy
formed sheet from the decoy mold.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the flattened view is formed with
computer aided design.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the sheet is bonded to a mold
comprised of a material such as Styrofoam.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the sheet is formed about the mold
with a vacuum.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the flattened view is corrected
to accommodate changes in sheet material such as stretching.
11. The method of claim 1 and further including embossing a surface
of the polymeric sheet.
12. A decoy body formed by the method of claim 1.
13. A decoy comprising a flexible, three-dimensional main body, the
main body illustrated with animal features having photographic
detail.
14. The decoy of claim 13 wherein the animal features are printed
features.
15. The decoy of claim 13 wherein a surface of the main body is
embossed with animal features.
16. The decoy of claim 13 wherein the animal features are selected
from a group consisting of ducks, geese, pheasants, deer, moose,
antelope, squirrels and elk and similar animals.
17. The decoy of claim 13 wherein the animal features include the
animal in a swimming position or the animal in a resting
position.
18. A kit comprising a three-dimensional decoy main body that
defines an orifice, the main body illustrated with animal features
having photographic detail and a decoy head wherein the head
terminates in a flange that is insertable in the orifice.
19. The kit of claim 18 and further including a plurality of heads
with flanges insertable in the main body orifice.
20. The kit of claim 18 wherein the decoy is a duck or a goose
decoy.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an animal decoy and to a
method for making an animal decoy.
[0002] Many hunters, such as duck and goose hunters, have, over
time, come to believe that the more realistic the appearance of a
duck or goose decoy, the greater the probability that a living duck
or goose will be attracted to the decoy. This belief has driven
decoy developments that have included movable decoy components to
simulate duck or goose positions that are feeding or resting;
multiple light-weight decoys that simulate a flock of ducks or
geese; and floatable decoys to simulate animals' swimming
action.
[0003] The Cripe patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,293,709, issuing Mar. 15,
1994, describes a duck decoy that includes a flat decoy body and a
photographic duck image on a surface of the flat decoy body. The
surface of the flat decoy body is treated with a corona discharge.
Ultraviolet inks transfer the photographic image to the treated
decoy body. An outer coat of transparent ultraviolet ink with
silica particles is applied. The silica particles impart a low
reflectivity to the image.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] One embodiment of the present invention includes a method
for making a three-dimensional animal decoy with realistic
photographic detail. The method includes photographing an array of
views of an animal that is to be the subject of the decoy. The
photographic views are arranged to make a flattened,
three-dimensional aerial body view of the animal. A screen template
is prepared that receives the aerial body view by transferring an
image of the aerial view onto the screen template. The aerial body
view on the screen template is transferred to one or more polymeric
sheets by screen printing. A mold is prepared having the
three-dimensional shape of the body of the animal which is the
subject of the decoy. The polymeric sheet, with the flattened,
two-dimensional aerial view, is positioned over the
three-dimensional mold and, with application of heat and pressure,
is permanently formed into a body of a three-dimensional animal
decoy that has photographically realistic features. The present
invention also includes a decoy made by this method.
[0005] One other embodiment of the present invention comprises a
three-dimensional animal decoy body having photographic, realistic
details. The animal decoy is comprised of an outer polymeric shell
enclosing a volume of space, shaped like a body of the animal. The
polymeric shell is printed with features of the animal that has
been photographed.
[0006] An additional embodiment of the present invention includes a
kit that comprises a decoy main body, the main body illustrated
with animal features having photographic detail. The kit also
comprises a decoy head that is attachable to the main body.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates a top plan representational view of a
single aerial photographic image used to make the decoy of the
present invention, the view comprising individual photographic
views of a living animal, such as a Blue Goose.
[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a
three dimensional vacuum mold to which the aerial image is applied
to make the decoy of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 3a illustrates a perspective view of a plastic sheet
partially molded by the form to make a decoy body.
[0010] FIG. 3b illustrates a perspective view of a plastic sheet
which has been molded by the form to make the decoy body.
[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of
the animal decoy of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] A method of the present invention, for making a realistic
three-dimensional animal decoy, comprises photographing an array of
two-dimensional views of an animal that is to be the subject of the
decoy; arranging and adjusting the photographic views of the array
to make a three-dimensional, flattened aerial view of the animal
such as is illustrated at 10 in FIG. 1, for a Canada goose;
printing a screen template with at least one image of the aerial
view 10; providing a three-dimensional vacuum mold 24 having a
shape of the body of the animal which is the subject of the decoy
as is illustrated at 20 in FIG. 2; printing the aerial view image
10 imparted to the screen template onto a polymeric sheet 22;
applying the polymeric sheet 22 to the vacuum mold 24 so that the
three dimensional feature representations of the aerial view image
10 on the sheet 22 will correspond to their positions on a live
animal body once the fabrication is complete; heating the polymeric
sheet 22 to soften the polymeric material of the sheet such as is
shown at 30 in FIG. 3a; and applying pressure to the heated sheet
in order to make a three-dimensional animal shell decoy body that
has multiple, photographic, realistic details of a living animal,
such as is shown at 32 in FIG. 3b.
[0013] The present invention also includes the three dimensional
animal decoy body 32 that has photographically realistic features.
The decoy body 32 is comprised of a polymeric shell that is
resistant to damage from elements of the out-of-doors, such as
ultraviolet light. The decoy body 32 may be one of a variety of
animals of any age. The decoy body 32 displayed in FIG. 4, is
attached to a head 34 to form an adult goose decoy 40 and is one
embodiment of the decoy of the present invention.
[0014] The present invention further includes a kit comprising the
three dimensional decoy body 32 that has photographically realistic
features and an animal head such as is illustrated at 34 for
attachment to the body 32. In one embodiment, the body defines a
hole 36. The head 34 terminates in a flange which is not shown,
that is insertable into the hole 36.
[0015] Unlike previous efforts to construct animal decoys, the
method of the present invention actually makes a three dimensional
decoy that appears to be a living animal, in a stationary position.
Previous efforts directed toward decoy fabrication have produced
flat, two-dimensional decoys with a two-dimensional photographic
detail or three dimensional decoys lacking the photographic detail.
The method of the present invention, which produces
three-dimensional decoys with realistic, photographic detail, is
readily adaptable to mass production of the realistic three
dimensional decoys.
[0016] The decoy of the present invention may have a shape of
virtually any animal, including ducks of all species, geese of all
species, such as Canada geese and Blue geese, turkeys, squirrels,
deer or other animals. The animal decoy may be fabricated to have a
position such as a resting or swimming position. The decoy may
represent an animal at one of an assortment of ages. The method of
making the decoy of the present invention and the resulting decoys
made by the method permit hunters to create scenes in the field
using several decoys realistically presented as, in one instance, a
flock of birds such as geese or ducks.
[0017] The individual fowl which is photographed for the decoy at
40 in FIG. 4 is photographed to obtain views that include a left
side and a right side. Additional photos are taken of a top view, a
front view and a rear view of the actual animal. The photos are
preferably taken from a common distance so that all views have the
same perspective. The views may be taken using a living animal or
an animal that has undergone taxidermal treatment.
[0018] The photographs may be black and white or may be color
photographs. Photographs are preferably taken under similar
lighting conditions. The photos are preferably taken with a digital
camera. Once taken, the photo images are digitized and scanned into
a computer. The computer is programmed with preselected
computer-aided design software, such as ADOBE Photo Shop software.
Adjustments in lighting and perspective are made by the
computer-aided design software to impart consistency to all
photographs taken.
[0019] The array of photographic views, which are not shown, are
arranged with the assistance of the computer-aided design program
to make a single view such as is shown at 10 in FIG. 1. The single
view 10 is an "aerial, flattened view." By "aerial, flattened view"
is meant that the image shown at 10 may be placed on a
three-dimensional form, such as a mold as is illustrated at 24 in
FIG. 2, and assume the three-dimensional appearance of the body of
the animal. Thus, the flattened, two-dimensional image 10 is placed
on a three dimensional mold 24 to make the three dimensional image.
The "aerial, flattened view" 10 includes corrections incorporated
by correcting algorithms, to account for stretching of the aerial
view and contraction of the aerial view during molding. These
corrections include corrections for shrinking decoy features such
as feathers at 16 in order to produce a life-like three dimensional
image once the view is printed and molded to form the decoy body
32. The "aerial, flattened view" 10 is also corrected in order to
remove any discrepancy among the images used to make the "aerial,
flattened view."
[0020] The single "aerial, flattened view" of 10 in FIG. 1 is
preferably transferred to a screen by a process such as screen
printing. The screen printing may be performed by methods that
include but are not limited to conventional screen printing
techniques, photolithography, and offset printing. The screen, in
one embodiment, imparts the aerial flattened view 10 by screen
printing to a polymeric sheet that has dimensions of 4 feet.times.3
feet.times.1/8 inches thick. The term "polymeric sheet" as used
herein refers to a sheet that is made of a material such as
polyethylene or polypropylene or other carbon-based material that
is capable of being shaped into a decoy body and that can retain
the shape and the aerial flattened view. The polymeric sheet is
flexible enough to position about the decoy mold 24 but rigid
enough to be utilized in a printing process. The plastic polymer
used in the sheet is resilient in outdoor conditions and is
stretchable when heated. While specific sheet dimensions have been
described, it is contemplated that other sheet dimensions are
suitable for use, depending upon the size of the decoy. It is also
contemplated that more than one image may be printed on each
polymeric sheet.
[0021] In one embodiment, the screen printing is performed with up
to four colors. In another embodiment, a DuoTone color process is
employed. For the four color embodiment, the four colors are
applied in a conventional four-color printing process. The colors
may also be custom blended in order to capture unique plumage
coloration or other coloration of a decoy body. Either ultraviolet
inks or conventional inks are suitable for use. One type of
conventional ink acceptable for use in the method of the present
invention is Sericol Screen Ink. These inks are available in a
variety of colors and half-tones. Pigments in half tone colors are
selected to match Standard Web Offset Printing specifications.
[0022] In another embodiment, the screen printing is performed with
carbon black to create an image that is black-white and many shades
of gray. Carbon black may also be used in the four color array
embodiment. In one other embodiment, the screen printing is
performed with brown-white shades of colors and shades of gray.
[0023] Once the "aerial, flattened view" is transferred onto the
screen, the screen is used to screen print the polymeric sheet 22.
The polymeric sheet 22 is resilient in a variety of weather and
softens in a molding process.
[0024] In one embodiment, the screen-printed polymeric sheet 22 is
positioned over and around the vacuum decoy mold, illustrated at 24
in FIG. 3a. The vacuum mold 24 encloses a plurality of pinholes
positioned about the mold 24. In one embodiment, the mold surface
additionally includes raised and recessed topography that
corresponds to textural features of the decoy body such as
feathers.
[0025] Once a vacuum is applied, the screen 22 is held in place
about the decoy mold 24 by suction from the holes. The polymer
screen 22 is applied to the decoy mold 24 so that two dimensional
features printed on the polymer sheet 22 match their position on an
actual animal.
[0026] While on the decoy body mold 24, the polymeric sheet 22 is
heated to a temperature of about 200 degrees Fahrenheit for a time
period of about one minute. The heating is effective for softening
the sheet 22 without producing any phase change in the sheet. The
softened sheet 22 is stretched over the vacuum mold 24 as required,
which is in accordance with the computer aided design compensation
of the aerial view 10. The softened sheet 22 is subjected to
pressure from the decoy body mold 24 and second mold component
which is not shown. The second mold component imparts to the decoy
body surface, the elevated and recessed detail that simulates
features such as feathers.
[0027] Once the sheet 22 is softened and shaped over the decoy mold
24, heat and pressure or compression are removed and the sheet
cools and hardens. In the hardened shape, the sheet 22 permanently
maintains the shape of the three-dimensional decoy mold 24 and
becomes the three-dimensional decoy body 32. In one embodiment, the
surface of the decoy body is embossed to simulate features such as
feathers.
[0028] Forming processes other than vacuum molding are suitable for
use in the method of the present invention. These molding processes
include but are not limited to injection molding. In one other
embodiment, a mold is made from a material such as Styrofoam. The
printed polymeric sheet is molded around the Styrofoam to make a
decoy that has an interior fill, Styrofoam. In particular, the
Styrofoam and polymeric sheet are heated so as to anneal and bond
together. The Styrofoam-filled decoy may be placed in water and
functions as a swimming decoy.
[0029] The vacuum molded decoy body 32 is removable from the decoy
body mold 24 by pulling off of the mold. The decoy body 32, though
hardened, has sufficient elasticity to be removed from the
mold.
[0030] For animals such as ducks or geese, the decoy body 32 is
prepared as described herein. The decoy head 34 is separately
fabricated using conventional methods of manufacture. Typically,
the decoy head 34 is fabricated by molding a polymeric material.
Features such as eyes may be painted onto the decoy head. The decoy
head may terminate in a flange that is not shown. The flange is
insertable into an orifice 36 defined by the decoy body 32. In one
embodiment, the decoy head 34 is reversibly insertable into the
decoy body 32. With this embodiment, a hunter may use an array of
decoy heads with one decoy body 32. In another embodiment, the
decoy head 34 is permanently attached to the decoy body 32.
[0031] It is to be appreciated that the decoy of the present
invention has been described in particular detail with respect to
preferred processes and structures. The preferred method is ideally
suited for the described decoy. The present invention, however, is
not intended to be limited to these preferred embodiments. One
skilled in the art will readily recognize that the actual method
may be adjusted to accommodate particular method conditions. The
scope of the method and decoy is intended to be defined by the
claims which follow.
* * * * *