1. A decoy for luring waterfowl within a hunter’s range, said decoy comprising:
a) a body portion at least a portion of which is covered with faux feathers enhancing its similarity of physical appearance to an actual water fowl;
b) a head portion interconnected to said body portion by a flexible neck which can be bent to place said head portion in a particular desired orientation emulating an actual waterfowl’s head positioning when performing one action selected from the group consisting of i) feeding, ii) sleeping, iii) standing, iv) swimming and v) preening;
c) a base portion interconnected to said body portion by a plurality of spring steel members allowing gusts of wind to rock said decoy in a life-like manner.
2. The decoy of claim 1 wherein said flexible neck is connected to said body portion by a modified ball-and-socket positioned in a chest portion of said decoy.
3. The decoy of claim 1 wherein said base portion can be removed and replaced by a keel configuring said decoy for use on a body of water.
4. The decoy of claim 1 wherein said base portion includes a plurality of flexible legs which may be configured in a plurality of positions consistent to said desired orientations of said head portion.
5. The decoy of claim 4 wherein said flexible section further comprises latching means to selectively inhibit said rocking motion.
6. A decoy assembly for luring waterfowl within a hunter’s range said decoy assembly being adaptable for use on land and water, said decoy assembly comprising:
a) a body portion having an appearance of a waterfowl, said body portion having at least one socket for receiving and retaining at least one removable protrusion;
b) a head portion repositionable upon said body portion to simulate a variety of activities normally engaged in by the waterfowl;
c) a base portion simulating legs of a waterfowl, said base portion having a first said at least one protrusion for engagement in said socket;
d) a keel portion for stabilizing said body portion on a body of water, said keel portion having a second said at least one protrusion for alternative engagement in said socket;
whereby said decoy may be adapted for use on land and on water.
7. The decoy assembly of claim 6 further comprising a flexible neck interconnecting said head portion to said body portion, said flexible neck facilitating repositioning of said head portion into a variety of positions.
8. The decoy assembly of claim 7 further comprising faux feathers attached to at least a some of said body portion, said head portion and said neck portion to enhance the similarity of physical appearance of said decoy to an actual water fowl.
9. The decoy of claim 7 wherein said flexible neck is connected to said body portion by a modified ball-and-socket positioned in a chest portion of said decoy.
10. The decoy of claim 6 wherein said base portion includes a flexible section permitting wind-induced rocking motion.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An apparatus for energy generation comprising:
a body, referred to as the core, of a material capable of phonon propagation;
a mechanism for introducing reactants into said core;
a mechanism for inducing phonons in said core so that reactants, when introduced into said core, undergo nuclear reactions; and
a control system, coupled to said mechanism for introducing reactants and to said mechanism for inducing phonons, for controlling the number of nuclear reactions and the depth of the nuclear reactions in said core so as to provide a desired level of energy generation while allowing energy released due to the nuclear reactions to dissipate in a manner that substantially avoids destruction of said core.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mechanism for introducing reactants into said core comprises a controlled electrolysis source, electrically coupled to said core.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein reactants are provided from a liquid medium, which liquid medium also acts as a heat transfer medium to remove heat from said core.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
reactants are provided from a gaseous medium; and
the apparatus further comprises a thermally conductive mass of material thermally coupled to said core for transferring heat away from said core.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the apparatus further comprises a thermally conductive mass of material;
said core comprises core material disposed on a first surface of a thermally conductive mass of solid material; and
said thermally conductive mass of material provides a mechanism for transferring heat away from said core.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said thermally conductive mass of material has a surface portion in contact with a working fluid.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mechanism for inducing phonons in the core comprises a sonic or ultrasonic actuator.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mechanism for inducing phonons in the core comprises a heater.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mechanism for inducing phonons in the core comprises a source of current pulses.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said core is formed as a wire or a sheet.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said core is formed as a fluidized or powder bed.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mechanism for controlling the introduction of reactants into the core comprises an electric field generator.
13. A method for energy generation comprising:
providing a body, referred to as the core, of a material capable of phonon propagation;
introducing reactants into the core;
generating phonons in the core to provide energy for said reactants to undergo nuclear reaction; and
controlling the rate of reactant introduction and the rate of phonon generation so as to control the number of nuclear reactions and the depth of the nuclear reactions in the core so as to provide a desired level of energy generation while allowing energy released due to the nuclear reactions to dissipate in a manner that substantially avoids destruction of the core.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein introducing reactants into the core uses a controlled electrolysis source, electrically coupled to said core.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein reactants are provided from a liquid medium, which liquid medium also acts as a heat transfer medium to remove heat from the core.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein generating phonons in the core comprises applying sonic or ultrasonic energy to the core.
17. The method of claim 13 wherein generating phonons in the core comprises heating the core.
18. The method of claim 13 wherein generating phonons in the core comprises passing current pulses through the core.
19. An apparatus for energy generation comprising:
a body, referred to as the core, of a material capable of phonon propagation;
a vessel for maintaining a liquid in contact with said core;
a controlled electrolysis source, electrically coupled to said core, for introducing reactants from said liquid into said core;
a pulse generator for establishing current pulses through said core, said current pulses generating phonons in said core so as to cause reactants in said core to undergo nuclear reactions; and
a control system, coupled to said electrolysis source and to said pulse generator, for controlling the number of nuclear reactions and the depth of the nuclear reactions in said core so as to provide a desired level of energy generation while allowing energy released due to the nuclear reactions to dissipate in a manner that substantially avoids destruction of said core.
20. An apparatus for energy generation comprising:
a body, referred to as the core, of a material capable of phonon propagation;
a vessel for maintaining a liquid in contact with said core;
a controlled electrolysis source, electrically coupled to said core, for introducing reactants from said liquid into said core;
an ultrasonic actuator, acoustically coupled to said core, for generating phonons in said core so as to cause reactants in said core to undergo nuclear reactions; and
a control system, coupled to said electrolysis source and to said ultrasonic actuator, for controlling the number of nuclear reactions and the depth of the nuclear reactions in said core so as to provide a desired level of energy generation while allowing energy released due to the nuclear reactions to dissipate in a manner that substantially avoids destruction of said core.