CA2146786A1 - Ice fishing landing apparatus - Google Patents

Ice fishing landing apparatus

Info

Publication number
CA2146786A1
CA2146786A1 CA 2146786 CA2146786A CA2146786A1 CA 2146786 A1 CA2146786 A1 CA 2146786A1 CA 2146786 CA2146786 CA 2146786 CA 2146786 A CA2146786 A CA 2146786A CA 2146786 A1 CA2146786 A1 CA 2146786A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
ice
handle
hole
lift member
fish
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2146786
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Terrance L. Windle
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA 2146786 priority Critical patent/CA2146786A1/en
Publication of CA2146786A1 publication Critical patent/CA2146786A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01KANIMAL HUSBANDRY; CARE OF BIRDS, FISHES, INSECTS; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
    • A01K97/00Accessories for angling
    • A01K97/01Accessories for angling for ice-fishing ; Ice drilling, hook-setting or signalling devices

Abstract

A common problem in ice fishing is line breakage occurring when the struggling fish is reeled into the ice hole and is lifted from the water. Another problem, of environmental concern is freezing of the fish's gills after it is removed from the water before it is measured and returned to the water because it is sub-sized or otherwise unwanted. The invention discloses a low cost apparatus which entraps a fish in the ice hole after it has entered therein, thereby preventing loss thereof or the necessity of gaffing the fish before lifting it from the water before measurement. The invention features a superior method of mounting to the ice as well as providing for a hole closing disk 28 which has an underside painted to attract and allure fish to the vicinity of the hole in the ice. The invention also utilizes a flat handle/lift member which facilitates folding, transportation, and storage of the apparatus.

Description

21~6786 ICE FISHING LANDING APPARATUS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to ice fishing landing apparatuses ;~
and more particularly to such apparatuses which project down through a cylindrical hole in the ice and have a lower disk which can close off a lower portion of the hole thereby entrapping a fish after it has entered the hole.

It is common for a hooked fish to escape at the hole when the fisher attempts to land it. Just beneath the hole, the hooked fish usually widely circles the hole and makes several desperate lunges trying to break the fishing line attached to the fishing pole. It may enter the hole a few times and escape therefrom before the fishing line holding it can be reeled in.
Even after the line is shortened so that the fish is unable to swim out of the hole, unless the fish is gaffed, the line may break when the struggling fish becomes heavier as it is lifted from the water.

In many states, like Colorado, it is unlawful to keep a fish which is outside of prescribed lengths. Such laws create a fisherman's dilemma. To gaff a fish close to the limit is in reckless disregard of the law. To fail to gaff the fish means probable loss thereof. Authorities have reported that a substantial percentage of sub-sized fish landed unavoidably die 2I~6786 ~

when their gills freeze in cold weather. With increased environmental concern there is now a greater need than ever for fishers to use an ice fishing landing apparatus which enables them to unhook a fish without removing it from the water. ( hereinafter referred to as an IFLA ) U.S. Patent No. 4,866,872 issued to R. E. Guilbault provides for an ice fishing apparatus. His apparatus employs an L shaped handle formed from a rod having a lower end which carries a hole closing disk. The L shaped handle pivotably slides within a circular collar which fits within and on a hole r~
in the ice. One of the problems with this apparatus is that the fisher must use an expensive ice drill and auger in order to utilize the apparatus in the ice hole. The ice hole must be circular and of a specified diameter in order for the collar to properly seat therein. It cannot be used in a hole chopped in the ice. Another problem with this apparatus is that it is expensive to manufacture.

OBJECTS AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide an IFLA
which can be mounted in an ice hole made with an ax or any other tool. It is an object of this invention to disclose a mounting means which is also easy and fast to use. It is yet a further object of this invention to disclose an apparatus which is very cheap to manufacture, affordable to purchase and will be effectively paid for with the first fish it saves. It is yet a 2146785 ' further object of this invention to disclose an affordable apparatus which prevents gill freezing and other damage to small fish, or caught fish otherwise returned to the water. It is yet another object of this invention to disclose an apparatus which utilizes a flat handle/lift member which facilitates folding, transportation, and storage of the IFLA. It is a final object of this invention to provide an IFLA which will increase the -L
number of fish caught by attracting, and luring the fish towards the hole in the ice.

one aspect of this invention provides for an ice fishing landing apparatus for catching fish through ice having a hole therein comprising: a liftthandle member having a handle on a top portion thereof; a disk adapted to fit loosely through the hole in the ice laterally attached to the bottom portion of the handle/lift member; and, a mounting assembly, having a plate adapted for attachment on the ice adjacent to the hole therein, pivotably and slidingly carrying a central portion of the handle/lift member.

A preferred aspect of this invention provides for an ice fishing landing apparatus in which the handle/lift member has an upper portion and a lower portion which are pivotably attached to each other. Additionally, the underside of the disk is polished/painted to lure and attract fish to the hole in the ice.

.

21~67~6 Various other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following descriptio~ in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIGURES OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of the IFLA mounted in an ice hole.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the IFLA shown in figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the IFLA shown i.n figure 2.

The following is a discussion and description of the preferred specific embodiments of this invention, such being made ' with reference to the drawings, wherein the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It should be noted that such discussion and description is not meant to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to the drawings and more particularly to figure 1 we have a cross sectional view of the IFLA 20 mounted ~1~67~ ' in a hole 22 in the ice 24. The IFLA 20 comprises an L shaped handle/lift member 26. The bottom end portion of the handle/
lift member 26 has a hole 22 closing disk 28 positioned laterally in the hole 22, generally perpendicular to the handle/lift member 26, and in a plane generally parallel to the top surface of the ice 22. After a fish 30, shown in ghost, is caught on the fishing line 32 of the fishing rod 34 and is pulled into the hole 22 the handle portion 36 is rotated 180 degrees 38, thereby rotating 42 the disk 28 and causing the fish 30 to be entrapped in the hole. When the handle portion 36 is lifted 40, the disk 28 is concurrently lifted a like amount thereby lifting the fish 30 upwardly in the hole 22 into a position in which it can be measured or unhooked if it is sub-sized or otherwise unwanted.
In the event that the hooked fish 30 is longer than the thickness of the ice 24 then, the handle/lift member 26 is lowered before rotating 42 so that the disk 28 is entirely beneath the fish 30 befcre lifting 40. The elevated position of the disk 28 and the handle portion 36 is shown in ghost. The handle/lift member 26 is pivotably and slidingly held within an ice mounting assembly 44 which is secured to the ice 24.

Figure 2, a perspective view of the IFLA 20 shown in cross section in figure 1, better shows the construction thereof.
The handle/lift member 26 is made from a flat strip of galvanized metal about one half inch wide and about four feet long. one end portion thereof, being generally 5 inches in length is folded sO degrees to form the handle portion 36. The other, bottom end portion 37 is also folded 90 degrees to provide a mounting .. .. . . . . . . . ...

surface for the disk 28. The upright portion of the handle/lift member 26 passes through an ice mounting assembly 44. The ice mounting assembly 44 comprises a plate 45 having an ice end portion 46 and an opposite pivot end portion 48. The ice end portion 46 is provided with holes 50 therethrough so that it may be screwed 51 to the ice 24. Alternatively, when the ice end portion 48 is seated on the ice 24 a shallow pool of water 52 (see figure 1) may be poured thereon. The water 52 freezes almost instantaneously attaching the ice end portion 46 of the plate 45 to the ice 24. The handle/lift member 26 is slidingly positioned within a pivot tube 50 which is pivotably carried within t~e pivot end portion 48 of the plate 45. In the embodiment shown in figure 2 the pivot tube 50 is about three inches long. The tube 50 pivotably and slidably carries a central portion of the handle /lift member 26. A screw 54 releasably and lockingly engages the handle/lift member 26 in a selected position. Two opposite friction screws 52 additionally hold the handletlift member 26 in the tube 50 so that when the thumb screwing 52 is turned releasing the handle/lift member 26 in the tube, said member 26 is frictionally held rather than falling freely. Also note that in the embodiment shown in figure 2 the plate 45 is stepped so that the pivot end portion 28 is elevated with respect to the ice 24 and water 22 level.
Elevating the pivot end portion 28 reduces chances of freezing in sub-zero weather.

Disks 28 are cut in 5, 7, or 9 inch diameters from galvaniz~d sheet metal. They are cut to be 1 inch in diameter 214 ~7~ ~ ~

smaller than the ice hole's 22 diameter in which they will be used. The disk 28 is screwed to the bottom end portion 37 of the handle/lift member 26 so that it may be interchanged with another size of disk 28 if the hole 22 is varied in diameter.
Each size of disk 22 may be provided with water flow holes 46 therein to facilitate drainage of water 23 in the hole 22 when the disk 28 is lifted therein. Water flow holes 46 are not critical because the disk 28 is fitted loosely in the hole 22 with generally a 1/2 inch clearance therebetween all the way around.

The disks 28 have an under side portion which may be polished, painted, or otherwise decorated to attract and lure the fish 30 to the hole 22. It was first observed that when the handle portion 26 of the IFLA 20 was agitated that fish 30 observing the moving disk 28 were attracted thereto.
Accordingly, experimentation with different colors was undertaken. It was found that metallic colored paints, red, orange, chartruse, and other bright colors, comparable to the colors used in fish lures were effective in drawing fish 30 towards the hole 22 where they would be in close proximity to the fishing line 32.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the IFLA 20. In this embodiment the handle/lift member 26 comprises an upper portion 25 and a lower portion 27 which are pivotably hinged together with a bolt, nut and lock washer 29.

This arrangement enables the IFLA 20 to be folded for carrying ~1467~S
i and storage. In this embodiment the upper portion 45 is 24 inches long and the bottom portion 27 is 14 inches long. The tube 50 is 12 inches long. As in the embodiment in figure 2, a thumb screw 54 is provided to releasably lock the handle/lift member 26 in the tube 50. Two friction screws 52 as before are provided on the bottom portion of the tube 50. In the embodiment shown in figure 3 two friction screws 53 are additionally provided on the top portion of the tube 53. When the IFLA 20 is used on relatively thin ice the friction screws 52 on the bottom portion of the tube are turned in until they frictionally engage the handle/lift member 26 in the tube 50 and the screws 53 on the top portion of the tube 50 are backed off so they will not interfere with the hinge and bolt 29 sliding therethrough. When the IFLA is used on deep ice (ice up to 36 inches the can be accommodated) alternatively the friction screws 53 on the upper portion of the tube 50 are engaged and the friction screws 52 on the bottom of the tube are disengaged. In the embodiment of the IFLA 20 having the folding handle/lift member 26 the tube 50 is 12 inches long. Additionally note that in this embodiment the plate 45 is not stepped as in the embodiment shown in figure 2. The plate 45 shown in figure 2 is stepped to reduce the probability of the tube 50 freezing and rendering the handle/lift member 26 inoperable. The non-stepped plate 45 shown in figure 3 is satisfactory for all but the most enthusiastic fishermen who are undeterred by extremely cold temperatures.

21~67~

While the invention has been described with preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims.

I CLAIM :

Claims (15)

1) An ice fishing landing apparatus for catching fish through ice having a hole therein comprising:
a lift/handle member having a handle on a top portion thereof;
a disk adapted to fit loosely through the hole in the ice laterally attached to the bottom portion of the handle/lift member; and, a mounting assembly, having a plate adapted for attachment on the ice adjacent to the hole therein, pivotably and slidingly carrying a central portion of the handle/lift member.
2) An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the mounting assembly further comprises a tube positioned over the lift/handle member, said tube releasably and slidingly carrying the handle/lift member and pivotably held within the plate.
3) An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the tube is releasably and lockingly fastened to the handle/lift member by means of a thumb screw.
4) An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein a frictional screw is utilized to facilitate frictional sliding movement of the handle/lift member within the tube.
5) An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the plate is positioned generally perpendicular to the handle/lift member and in a plane generally parallel to the top surface of the ice.
6) An apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the plate further comprises holes therethrough to facilitate fastening to the top surface of the ice.
7) An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the plate is stepped so that a pivot end portion is elevated with respect to an ice end portion thereof to reduce the probability of freezing.
8) An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the handle/lift member has an upper portion and a lower portion which are pivotably attached to each other.
9) An apparatus as in claim 8 wherein the handle/lift member is fabricated from steel having a rectangular cross section and wherein the upper portion and a lower portion which are screwed to each other.
10) An apparatus as in claim 9 wherein the handle/lift member and the disk are fabricated from galvanized steel.
11) An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the handle portion of the handle/lift member is formed by folding an upright portion of the handle/lift member 90 degrees.
12) An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the disk is fastened to the lower end portion of the handle/lift member which is folded 90 degrees towards the upright portion thereof.
13) An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the disk is removably fastened to the handle/lift member and his sized to fit loosely within a selected hole size.
14) An apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the underside of the disk is polished/painted to lure and attract fish to the hole in the ice.
15) An ice fishing landing apparatus for catching fish through ice having a hole therein comprising a disk adapted to fit loosely through the hole in the ice wherein the underside of the disk is polished/painted to lure and attract fish to the hole in the ice.
CA 2146786 1995-04-11 1995-04-11 Ice fishing landing apparatus Abandoned CA2146786A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2146786 CA2146786A1 (en) 1995-04-11 1995-04-11 Ice fishing landing apparatus

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2146786 CA2146786A1 (en) 1995-04-11 1995-04-11 Ice fishing landing apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2146786A1 true CA2146786A1 (en) 1996-10-12

Family

ID=4155632

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2146786 Abandoned CA2146786A1 (en) 1995-04-11 1995-04-11 Ice fishing landing apparatus

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2146786A1 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6684553B1 (en) * 2002-11-04 2004-02-03 James K. Holum Fish retaining assembly for ice fishing
US9439406B1 (en) * 2015-01-20 2016-09-13 Julian Paul Kuny Ice fishing trap
US20190373878A1 (en) * 2018-06-12 2019-12-12 Mark Liebl Fish retrieval assembly

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6684553B1 (en) * 2002-11-04 2004-02-03 James K. Holum Fish retaining assembly for ice fishing
US9439406B1 (en) * 2015-01-20 2016-09-13 Julian Paul Kuny Ice fishing trap
US20190373878A1 (en) * 2018-06-12 2019-12-12 Mark Liebl Fish retrieval assembly

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