Van Houten II, Richard D. (1067 Westward La., Costa Mesa, CA, US)
Van Houten, Gary J. (457 Autumn Dr., Nampa, ID, US)

Plaque It!

11/651215

10/28/2008

01/10/2007

Images are available in PDF form when logged in. To view PDFs, Login  or  Create Account (Free!)

Click for automatic bibliography generation

43/3

43/2, D22/125, D9/604, 206/315.11, D9/602

A01M31/06

D22/136, D22/148, D9/601, 43/2, 206/315.11, D9/604, D22/134, 43/3, 224/920, 43/1, D9/603, 43/54.1, D22/125, D9/602

D004773		April, 1871	Atterbury	D9/602
D006159		October, 1872	Dawes	D9/609
D012404		August, 1881	Lackner	D9/604
D012887		April, 1882	Barker	D9/604
0395189		December, 1888	Stanton	43/2
0403595		May, 1889	Jencks	43/3
D019697		March, 1890	Mann	D9/604
1290056		January, 1919	Bintliff	43/1
1447402	Berry carrier	March, 1923	Anderson	43/54.1
D072622		May, 1927	Grunberg	D9/604
D075953		August, 1928	Charpentier	D9/604
D080843		April, 1930	Krumm	D9/604
D089337		February, 1933	Gorton, Jr.	D9/604
2159233	Portable display rack	May, 1939	Stannard	43/54.1
D122715		September, 1940	Stavenhagen	D7/539
D151115		September, 1948	Zipser	D7/556
2460128	Animated decoy duck	January, 1949	Greenleaf	43/3
2480390	Animated decoy and actuating mechanism therefor	August, 1949	Thompson	43/3
2501517	Wild-goose blind	March, 1950	Honald	43/2
D159643		August, 1950	Kelly et al.	D7/506
2555073	Fishing apparatus	May, 1951	Zdankoski	43/54.1
2820547	Decoy carrying case	January, 1958	Nelson	43/3
2855712	Ornamental attachment for vent stacks	October, 1958	Diletto	220/376
2899103		August, 1959	Ebert	43/54.1
D194714		February, 1963	Paganelli, Sr. et al.	D9/604
D204211		March, 1966	Fahlgren	D9/604
D205480		August, 1966	Thomte	D9/604
D206496		December, 1966	Giessinger	D9/604
D210866		April, 1968	Wickham	D9/604
3408763	Twin decoys	November, 1968	Rudolph	43/3
3628843	CONTAINER FOR FISHING TACKLE OR THE LIKE	December, 1971	Wynne et al.	206/315.11
3678611	FISHING TACKLE CARRIER	July, 1972	Files	43/54.1
4023304	Portable compartmented lure-holding tackle box	May, 1977	Singer	43/54.1
4073397	Fowl-shaped container	February, 1978	Snodgrass	43/3
D253573	Combined ladle and covered gravy boat	December, 1979	Edwards	D7/303
4356928	Decorative article containing fowl	November, 1982	Stafford	43/3
4366641	Fishing lure container and transporter	January, 1983	Price et al.	43/54.1
4372073	Fishing tackle storage apparatus	February, 1983	Goldman	224/920
D270518	Bottle	September, 1983	Duering	D9/604
D272579	Telephone	February, 1984	Snyder	D9/604
4539772	Adapters for converting certain plastic bottles into decoys for duck hunters	September, 1985	Forbes et al.	43/3
4581837	Hunter's blind	April, 1986	Powlus	43/2
4651458	Dual position bird decoy	March, 1987	Lanius	43/3
4658530	Decoy with plug-in leg assembly	April, 1987	Ladehoff	43/3
4691463	Buoyant water fowl decoy and method for making same	September, 1987	DeKezel et al.	43/3
D292875	Container for holding a spray can	November, 1987	Ladson	D9/604
4819805	Decorative wooden water-bird	April, 1989	Sen	D9/604
4829694	Portable bird-shaped blind	May, 1989	Oasheim	43/2
D306966	Container for confectionary products	April, 1990	Ferrero	D9/604
5003718	Game bird decoys	April, 1991	Lenert et al.	43/3
5011013	Portable storage container	April, 1991	Meisner et al.	206/373
D319016	Storage container	August, 1991	Kahl	D9/424
5075999	Hunting decoy apparatus	December, 1991	Fredericks	43/2
D332202	Food cover	January, 1993	Mosa	D7/392.1
5231780	Animated game bird decoy	August, 1993	Gazalski	43/3
5246020	Swan-shaped cosmetic case	September, 1993	Wu	D9/604
D339914	Decoy carrying basket	October, 1993	Fredericks	D3/260
D355849	Portable storage container	February, 1995	Trower et al.	D9/424
5608983	Waterfowl decoy system	March, 1997	Adams	43/3
5678346	Multi-use decoy	October, 1997	Kellett	43/2
5787632	Portable decoy blind	August, 1998	Kraut	43/2
5903997	Hunting decoy blind and cart	May, 1999	Jacob	43/2
D425176	Animal shaped container and watering can	May, 2000	Besecke	D23/212
6170188	Apparatus for attracting waterfowl	January, 2001	Mathews	43/3
6296005	Collapsible blind and decoy apparatus	October, 2001	Williams et al.	43/2
6321480	Self-propelled waterfowl decoy	November, 2001	Solomon	43/3
6339894	Waterfowl decoy with interchangeable movable appendages	January, 2002	Solomon	43/3
6343432	Animal decoy	February, 2002	Brown et al.	43/3
6408559	Animated waterfowl decoy apparatus	June, 2002	Mathews	43/3
D460217	Top cap of cosmetic container	July, 2002	Shih	D9/451
6415807	Decoy hunting/observing blind	July, 2002	Maher	43/2
6493980	Duck decoy with quick release, foldable wings	December, 2002	Richardson et al.	43/3
6553708	Combination dog blind decoy	April, 2003	Wolfe	43/3
6560912	Hunting decoy	May, 2003	Achepohl	43/3
6601333	Remote controlled game decoy and game retriever	August, 2003	Cicoff et al.	43/3
6675522	Cable-driven animated bird replica apparatus	January, 2004	Mathews	43/3
6907688	Flying and simulated wounded mechanical bird decoys and method	June, 2005	Brint	43/2
6920977	Bow case	July, 2005	VanSkiver et al.	206/315.11

Cabela's Camo Marine Dry Boxes, pp. 1-2.
Avery Decoy Bags & Accessories, pp. 1-4.
Avery Hunting Bags, Packs and Cases, pp. 1-7.
Mad Dog Gear—Packs, Bags, Gun Cases, Coolers—Part 1, pp. 1-2.
Mad Dog Gear—Packs, Bags, Gun Cases, Coolers—Part 2, pp. 1-2.
Mad Dog Gear—Packs, Bags, Gun Cases, Coolers—Part 3, p. 1.

Ark, Darren W.

We claim:

1. A container decoy, comprising: an upper portion and a lower portion with concave inner surfaces which together represent a bird shape having a head simulating a head of a bird and tail simulating a tail of the bird opposed to each other, a longitudinal axis of said container decoy being defined between said head and tail; handle means for more easily transporting and retrieving the container decoy, said handle means being positioned on a top of said upper portion between said head and tail; a front eyelet positioned on said top of said upper portion between said head and said handle means along said longitudinal axis, a rear eyelet positioned on said top of said upper portion between said tail and said handle means along said longitudinal axis, said front and rear eyelets for attaching a strap to more easily transport and retrieve said container decoy; a tray for providing an additional storage area, said tray having a base, opposed end walls, and opposed sides which conform to asymmetrical inner sides of an upper part of said lower portion, said end walls and said sides extending upwardly from a periphery of said base and defining a tray compartment therebetween, said end walls having upper ends opposite said base, said upper ends of said end walls having tray ends extending transverse to said end walls away from said tray compartment, said tray ends resting on dividers located within said concave inner surface of said bottom portion when said tray is placed within said container decoy, said tray also having a handle extending upwardly from said base within said tray compartment; hinge means for hingeably connecting said upper and lower portions so as to allow said upper and lower portions to assume open and closed positions and thus allow opening and closing of said container decoy, said hinge means located on one side of the container decoy, said upper and lower portions usable for placing and storing items within said concave inner surfaces when in the open position and usable as a decoy when in the closed position; and means for coupling said upper and lower portions together located on an other side of the container decoy opposite from said hinge means, whereby said container decoy can be secured in the closed position.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to storage containers and more particularly to waterfowl storage containers for storing of waterfowl gear.

2. Description of Prior Art

Waterfowl containers have been designed to hold various items that a person would need on a waterfowl hunting trip. Most waterfowl containers are cube or cylinder shaped. Examples of such designs are described in the 2006 Cabela's Waterfowl Catalog page 78 “Camo Marine Dry Boxes”, page 92 and page 93. Respectively, they describe means for storing items. A major drawback for all of the proposed designs is when you have limited space or cover and have to hide the waterfowl container outside your blind. Normally you conceal the waterfowl container with a camouflage material or natural foliage. The reason for the concealment is so the targeted waterfowl does not see the container and is scared away.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

In general, the object of this invention is to provide a container in the shape of a waterfowl for storing items; and to be used as a decoy for attracting the targeted waterfowl.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevated front ¾ view of the container decoy.

FIG. 2 is an elevated rear ¾ view of the container decoy.

FIG. 3 is an elevated front ¾ view of the open container decoy and interior tray.

FIG. 4 is an elevated front ¾ view of a modified container decoy.

FIG. 5 is an elevated front ¾ view of another modified container decoy.

FIG. 6 is an elevated front ¾ view of yet another modified container decoy.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS

	10 container decoy apparatus	11 upper portion
	12 lower portion	13 coupling device
	14 hinge means	15 handle
	16 rear eyelet	17 additional container shape
	18 asymmetrical edge	19 safety eyelet
	20 rear storage section	21 center storage section
	22 front storage section	23 storage tray
	24 contoured side of tray	25 recess area for handle
	26 extended upper tray ends	27 head
	28 receiver for moveable head	29 rear storage divider
	30 front storage divider	31 storage tray handle
	32 front eyelet

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the many objectives of this invention is the provision of a storage container.

A further objective of this invention is the provision of a hunting decoy.

Yet a further objective of this invention is the provision of a container that is used to attract waterfowl.

A still further objective of this invention is the provision of a hunting decoy and its contents is easily transported.

Another objective of this invention is the provision of a hunting decoy that is easily retrieved.

These and other objectives of the invention (which other objectives become clear by consideration of the specifications, claims and drawings as a whole) are met by providing a container, that is a hunting decoy.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With a container decoy of this invention, a three-dimensional animal shape can support a stationary head or moveable head assembly. Within a body portion, a top or an exterior part there of may contain a stationary head or a receiver for a moveable head assembly. More particularly, the container decoy has at least two concave body portions. Thus the interior of the concave body portions is to be used for storing items. The exterior of the body portions contain an appropriate decoration to mimic the targeted animal, such as a duck or goose.

The body portions are adapted to work together by a hinge means, to open and close the container decoy. One preferred form of the hinge means is to have extruding sections on the body portions that interlock to form the hinge.

Another preferred form of the hinge means is to have extruding sections on the body portions that are connected using a rod to form the hinge.

The portions are controllably coupled using a molded coupling device.

Another preferred form of controllably coupling the body portions is to use a molded piece in conjunction with a shaped rod for coupling.

Clearly the head portion and the body portions are colored appropriately to resemble any waterfowl being sought or hunted. Furthermore, the appropriate size and shape of body portions and head can be made to resemble any fowl. It is clear that the concave structure of the body portions and the movability of the head combine to provide great flexibility in the container decoy use or permit a variety of applications.

These container decoys may be formed from any suitable material. The main requirement for material is that it is semi-rigid, receives appropriate decoy colors, and provides an appropriate decoy shape. Thus, the container decoys can be made from wood, synthetic type resins or plastic type materials, or combinations thereof. The resins or plastics may be solid or foamed.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a container decoy 10 may be used alone or in combination with other decoys. The container decoy 10 has at least two portions 11 and 12 to form the three-dimensional animal shape. On the end of one portion 11 can be a stationary or movable head 27. In the center of portion 11 is a handle means 15 for ease of transportation. Adjacent to the handle means 15 are a rear eyelet 16 and a front eyelet 32 for attaching a strap for ease of transportation. In portion 11 there is a recessed area 25 for concealment of the handle means 15 in the down position. The lower circumference of portion 11 has an asymmetrical edge 18 slightly larger than the top circumference of portion 12 so the portions join together to form the three-dimensional animal shape 10. Portion 12 has an additional container shape 17 which is colored to match suited natural foliage.

Portion 12 has a molded and colored coupling mechanism 13 to secure portion 11 to portion 12. Portion 11 and portion 12 have a safety eyelet 19 to be used in conjunction with a locking device to discourage someone from gaining access to the contents of the container decoy 10.

Adding FIG. 2, to the discussion, portion 11 and portion 12 have a hinge means 14 for opening and closing the container decoy 10.

Adding FIG. 3, to the consideration, it becomes clear that the top circumference of portion 12 fits into the bottom asymmetrical circumference 18 of portion 11. Portion 11 shows a receiver 28 for a moveable head 27. Portion 12 shows a rear storage section 20, a center storage section 21 and a front storage section 22. A storage tray 23 fits into the center storage section 21. The storage tray 23 is lifted by using a handle means 31. The storage tray 23 has contoured sides 24 to fit the inner shape of the center storage section 21. The storage tray 23 shows extended upper tray ends 26 that rest on a rear storage divider 29 and front storage divider 30.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that modifications and variations are possible without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.