TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of support stands for supporting objects above the ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Duck hunters often use decoys for attracting ducks during a duck hunt. The decoys are typically displayed near or in the water and many are animated, that is, many decoys are provided with movable wings and heads which may or may not be motorized. Often times, decoys are attached to a pole or stake which holds the decoy in a preferred position which is likely to attract ducks. The decoy may be held above the water so that the motion of the wings gives the appearance of a duck landing on the water. Therefore, it is a requirement that the stake which holds the duck be firmly connected to the ground. Some decoy stakes have only one spiked end. Other decoy stakes have two spikes which are shoved into the ground: a stout primary spike and a lighter secondary parallel spike, the two spikes being simultaneously shoved into the ground. The stout spike gives the stake strength and rigidity and the lighter spike prevents the stake from spinning in the ground.

Decoy stakes are available from numerous sporting goods outlets which are similar in form to the stakes described above. However, the applicant is unaware of any decoy stakes available or any patents which include all of the elements and limitations of the herein described invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A rotary auger support stand for holding objects such as decoys above the ground. The auger support stand includes at least one rod of longitudinal support member or shaft. The rotary auger anchor comprises a helical coil for screwing that end of the stake into the ground. An S-shaped handle provides a crank handle for rotatably screwing the anchor into the ground, or at least two opposing legs extend perpendicular from and between the shaft and auger forming a base. The distal end of opposing legs are bent upward perpendicular from the ground forming handles and/or bent upward and inward at an acute angle toward the elongated vertical member or shaft forming brace handles for rotating the auger into the ground. The transverse legs extending from the elongated support pole provides a base bearing against the ground for increased lateral support. The top distal end of the shaft includes means for supporting an object.

The present invention is for a rotary auger decoy stand comprising or consisting of an elongated vertical rod having a helical spiral coil extending downward therefrom a selected distance for penetration into the ground, and at least one “S” shaped loop extending from a top portion of said rod comprising at least two looped sections spaced apart from and in vertical alignment with one another for receiving a support member extending from a decoy.

A decoy stake for holding one or more in position to attract animals. The stake may comprise one shaft or two shaft portions that are fixed together by a clamping means. The shaft includes a helical coil at the bottom end for fixedly screwing that end of the stake into the ground. The top end of the stake has a central rod including an S-shaped handle providing a crank handle for screwing the shaft into the ground and at least two square receivers extending upward and outward from the central rod below the S-shaped handle for holding additional shafts with decoys mounted thereon. The shafts and shaft portions may have a round or square cross-section.

In accordance with the present invention, the decoy support stand can include multiple decoy attachment or holding means extending from a support shaft or stake comprising, consisting of, or consisting essentially of a lower stake portion having a first elongated rod with a helical coil formed at a bottom end thereof, a first receiver tube with clamping means at the top end thereof and an upper stake portion including a second elongated rod having a decoy fixed at the top end, an S-shaped crank handle formed therein within about five inches of a top end thereof. The second elongated rod has at least two decoy receiver tubes including clamping screws and extending outwards from below the S-shaped crank handle. The receiver tubes are canted upwards at an angle of fifteen to thirty degrees. Each of the at least two decoy receiver tubes removably and fixedly hold a rod/decoy combination comprising an elongated decoy rod with a decoy fixedly mounted at a first end and a second end being free. The free end of the second elongated rod of the upper stake portion is inserted into and removably and fixedly held by the first receiver tube of the lower stake portion with clamping means at the top end of the lower stake portion. The first elongated rod and the second elongated rod are one to four feet long.

When compared to a stake with one or two straight spikes, a helical coil is a superior form of attachment to the ground for a decoy stake. A stake screwed into soil provides a more stable anchor than a straight shaft of the same length engaging the ground. Moreover, the hunting area may be swampy or in a shallow lake or pond where the ground is muddy and soft. Sticking a spike into mud is not as secure as a connection made by screwing in a helical coil, even in the mud.

A preferred embodiment of the helical auger. A helix is a curve in three dimensional space having a tangent line and any point which makes a constant angle with a fixed line called the axis. The pitch of a helix is the width of one complete helix turn, measured parallel to the axis of the helix. A circular helix has a constant radius and constant band curvature and constant torsion.

The present invention comprises a helical auger formed of square or cylindrical bar stock including an inner bend diameter of a selected size such as ¼ inch bar stock, 3/16 inch bar stock, ½ inch bar stock, ⅝ inch bar stock, and ⅜ inch bar stock; a helical pitch of 2.0 for 3.5 revolutions; a variable pitch of 3.0 for 0.25 revolutions; and a pitch diameter of 1.375 inches having a helical pitch of 2.0.

Thus in order to obtain a specific 30 degree angle at the bottom of the screw, the helical pitch as to vary from a constant 2 inches per revolution to 3 inches per revolution from section 2 to section 3. Thus the auger has a helical pitch of 2.0 at section 1 for 3.5 revolutions; a helical pitch at section 2 of 2.0 which changes to a variable pitch of 3.0 at section 3 for 0.25 revolutions. The pitch diameter is 1.375 inches.

It is an object of this invention to provide a portable and reusable decoy holder stand which includes a helical coil at one end which can be screwed into the ground.

It is an object of this invention to provide a decoy support stand which includes an integral crank handle for the purpose of screwing the stand into the ground.

It is an object of this invention to provide an integral crank handle for the purpose of screwing the stand into the ground wherein the crank handle services to support the arm of a decoy substantially vertically with respect to the ground.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a decoy holder wherein the integral handle serves to support the decoy in a rested position.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an integral handle decoy rest at an upper end of a shaft extending upwardly from the spiral auger wherein the handle decoy rest can be bent at a selected angle to hold the decoy in a selected position with respect to the surface of the ground.

It is an object of this invention to provide a multiple decoy stake with a helical coil at one end and a crank handle which can be used to thread the coil into the ground, thus forming a rigid connection with the ground and providing secure support for a decoy.

It is an object of this invention to provide a multiple decoy stake with a helical coil at the bottom end and a crank handle at the top end and also including at least two receiver tubes extending upwards and outwards from the shaft for holding rods which have additional decoys attached.

It is an object of this invention to provide a multiple decoy stake with a helical coil at the bottom end and a crank handle at the top end, the stake having two portions which are assembled to one another and held together by a clamp means. The clamp means is either a clamping screw or an eccentric lobe operated by a lever.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent with the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

