US4550518A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fish decoy
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1983-09-15
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Granted: 1985-11-05
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Expires: 2003-09-15
Abstract
Abstract A fishing decoy made up of thin sheets of transparent material with a plurality of inflatable fish images projected thereon, for the purpose of attracting fish to a particular fishing area. The transparent sheets carry a plurality of fish images in color, with a pictorial of seaweed and the like surrounding the fish images so that they appear to be swimming in their natural habitat. The transparent sheets have an air flotation chamber extending along the upper edge and a series of weights attached along the lower edge to maintain the sheet in a substantially vertical plane. Wave action and other external forces cause a rippling action in the sheets giving the fish images the appearance of swimming and a more life-like appearance.
Inventors
- 👤 Alfred M. Layson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 00:48
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K97/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A fishing decoy comprising two sheets of flexible, transparent material, means for connecting the two sheets along the edges, the sheets having means defining an integral inflatable air chamber extending along the upper edge for flotation purposes and weight means fixed to the lower edge of the sheets opposite the air chamber in order to hold the decoy in a vertical position, underwater, the weight means being sufficient to cause the sheets to submerge to a desired level and the air chamber creating sufficient buoyancy to balance against the weight and maintain the sheet in the relatively vertical position, a plurality of individual life-like fish images projected on the sheet, each of said fish images being formed by a sealed outline inflatable to provide a three-dimensional form approximating the average size of the represented fish, a plurality of seaweed images to depict the fish in their natural habitat, and a retrieving line attached to the upper edge having the air chamber for the purposes of retrieving the decoy from the water.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
A fishing decoy comprising two sheets of flexible, transparent material, means for connecting the two sheets along the edges, the sheets having means defining an integral inflatable air chamber extending along the upper edge for flotation purposes and weight means fixed to the lower edge of the sheets opposite the air chamber in order to hold the decoy in a vertical position, underwater, the weight means being sufficient to cause the sheets to submerge to a desired level and the air chamber creating sufficient buoyancy to balance against the weight and maintain the sheet in the relatively vertical position, a plurality of individual life-like fish images projected on the sheet, each of said fish images being formed by a sealed outline inflatable to provide a three-dimensional form approximating the average size of the represented fish, a plurality of seaweed images to depict the fish in their natural habitat, and a retrieving line attached to the upper edge having the air chamber for the purposes of retrieving the decoy from the water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A fishing decoy according to claim 1 wherein all of the fish images are depicted as one species.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
A fishing device according to claim 1 wherein the fish images are depicted as a combination of species of fish, with certain species of fish that feed near the top of the water appearing near the top of the sheets, while those species of fish that feed near the bottom will appear near the bottom of the sheets.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-11-04 | 1989-05-06 | 1989-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-11-04 | 1993-05-06 | 1993-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-11-04 | 1997-05-06 | 1997-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |