Abstract:
A device for transportation of live baitfish is disclosed. The device comprises a container having an interior portion and a plurality of strain holes such that the container holds water when sitting in an upright position but which allows water exchange with the interior portion when placed in a body of water. A strainer is disposed in the interior portion of the container and connected to at least one elevator rail. A releasable handle is attached to the at least one elevator rail and disposed substantially outside the container. The handle provides a grip for lifting and carrying the container when the handle is in a first unreleased state, and serves to elevate the strainer by lifting the at least one elevator rail when in a second released state.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to fishing equipment in general and, more specifically, to a device for transporting live bait. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    When fishing, live baits may be preferred over artificial lures for various reasons. Live baits present a number of problems, particularly in handling, transporting, and storing the baits prior to and during their use. The baits must be kept alive or viable in less than ideal environments. The baits must be moved from their purchase or capture location to the fishing location. Once on location, the baits need to be easily accessible while being kept alive or viable. 
         [0003]    What is needed is a system, method, and device for addressing the above and related issues. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof comprises a device for transportation of live baitfish. The device comprises a container having an interior portion and a plurality of strain holes such that the container holds water when sitting in an upright position but which allows water exchange with the interior portion when placed in a body of water. A strainer is disposed in the interior portion of the container and is connected to at least one elevator rail. A releasable handle is attached to the at least one elevator rail and disposed substantially outside the container. The handle provides a grip for lifting and carrying the container when the handle is in a first unreleased state, and serves to elevate the strainer by lifting the at least one elevator rail when in a second released state. 
         [0005]    The present invention disclosed and claimed herein, in another aspect thereof comprises a minnow submarine. The minnow submarine comprises a container with a substantially flat base and a plurality of water ports on an upper portion thereof such that the container may sit upright on a solid surface and contain an interior volume of water and may be placed in a body of water thereby allowing fluid communication between the body of water and the interior volume of water. A minnow strainer is within the container and may be moved between a first lower position and a second upper position for straining minnows from the interior body of water. A spring hinged door is provided on the container. The spring hinge is configured to hold the door closed and allow selective access to an interior of the container for accessing minnows. A handle is provided on the upper portion of the container. The handle extends by a series of rails into the interior of the container attaching to the strainer. The handle has a selective latch, and when the handle is unlatched it may be extended from the container thereby elevating the minnow strainer. A cam lever is provided on the door that interacts with a rail step on one of the series of rails to automatically open the door against the force of the spring hinge when the handle is extended from the container. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments, when not extended, the handle of the minnow submarine also acts as a carry handle for the minnow submarine. The handle may be held in a closed position by the selective latch when being used as a carry handle. The latched handle may also be used as a tie-off point for securing the minnow submarine. When unlatched and extended, the handle both elevates the strainer and opens the normally closed spring hinged door. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The present invention is illustrated by way of example and is not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate similar parts: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a frontal view of a live bait container according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a side cutaway along line  2  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the live bait container of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a top down cutaway view taken along line  4  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is another side cutaway view of a live bait container according to aspects of the present disclosure showing a partially extended handle and an open door. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is another side cutaway view of a live bait container according to aspects of the present disclosure showing a fully extended handle and an open door. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a front cutaway of the upper portion of the live bait container of  FIG. 3 , taken along line  7  of  FIG. 3   
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a frontal view of a live bait container according to aspects of the present disclosure is shown. In the present embodiment, the bait container takes the form of the minnow submarine  100  as shown in  FIG. 1 . Although the present disclosure describes a live bait container as a minnow submarine, it is understood that other kinds of live bait may be used with the methods and devices described herein. Examples of live bait with which devices of the present disclosure may be useful include, but are not limited to, minnows, goldfish, crawfish, shrimp, and/or other aquatic live bait. The minnow submarine  100  comprises a container  102  which may be the starting point to which the other features and devices as described herein are added. 
         [0016]    The container  102  may be plastic or may be another material suitably resilient against submersion in water and/or storage in damp or wet environments. In the present embodiment, the container  102  provides a relatively flat base such that the container may be placed on the ground or another suitably hard surface and remain stable. As more fully described below, a portion of the container  102  may be provided with openings to allow the interexchange of water between the inside and the outside of the container. Thus, the minnow submarine  100  may be useful for both preserving and maintaining live bait fish in a dry environment while allowing the internal water reservoir to be refreshed when the minnow submarine is placed within a body of water. Such bodies of water may include, but are not limited to, lakes, ponds, streams, or live wells on board a fishing vessel. 
         [0017]    The container  102  may be equipped with a bait door  104 . The bait door  104  may be made of a similar or different material than the container  102 . The bait door  104  may provide a series of openings to allow interexchange of water between the inside and the outside of the container  102  or to allow ventilation of the container  102 . As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , a portion of the bait door  104 , such as the lower portion, may be solid in order to minimize spillage or splashing of water out of the container  102 . As will be explained in greater detail below, the bait door  104  may also be spring hinged. The bait door  104  may be spring hinged such as to allow selective access to the interior of the container  102  but normally returns to a closed position. As will be described in greater detail below, the bait door  104  may be configured such that the bait door  104  automatically opens in response to activation of other features of the minnow submarine  100 , such as extension of a handle  106 . 
         [0018]    The handle  106  may be made from a similar or different material than the container  102 . The handle  106  serves multiple functions in the embodiment shown. In a first, closed position, the handle  106  (as shown in  FIG. 1  in solid line) serves as a lift handle such that the minnow submarine  100  may be transported from one location to another. The handle  106  also provides a location for tying a rope, cord, or other security line onto the minnow submarine  100 . This may be useful for such purposes as placing the minnow submarine  100  into water while keeping it anchored to a boat or the shore. The handle may have ridges, indentations, or other features for aiding in tying a line thereto. The handle  106  may be textured or may be smooth or may comprise a different material altogether than the container  102 . The handle  106  may be equipped with a release button  108  which allows the handle  106  to be extended away from the container  102  (as shown in dotted line in  FIG. 1 ). In some embodiments, the release button  108  will be flush with, or recessed into, the handle  106  to prevent accidental release of the handle  106 . When the handle  106  is extended, a handle catch  110  can be seen. The catch  110  serves, in the present embodiment, to secure the handle  106  to the container  102  when the handle  106  is in the closed position. In some embodiments, the release  108  must be depressed to disengage the catch  110  prior to extending the handle  106 . 
         [0019]    Inside the container  102 , as shown in dotted and dashed line, a bait strainer  112  is shown in two positions. The lower dotted line drawing of the bait strainer  112  illustrates the bait strainer  112  in a first, lower position while the dashed line drawing of the bait strainer  112  shows the bait strainer  112  in an upper or extended position. It can be seen that a set of rails  114  extend from the handle  106  down to the bait strainer  112 . Thus, when the handle  106  is extended away from the container  102 , the bait strainer  112  moves from the first, lower position to the second, upper position. As stated previously, in the present embodiment the bait door  104  also opens in response to the handle  106  being extended away from the container  102 . It can therefore be seen that by depressing the release  108  and extending the handle  106 , a user of the minnow submarine  100  will simultaneously open the bait door  104  while moving the strainer  112  from a lower position to an upper position inside the container  102 . This will result in any bait fish stored within the container  102  being strained out of the water and elevated up near the now open door  104 . Thus, a user may quickly and easily gain access to bait fish contained within the minnow submarine  100  by simply extending the handle  106 . After obtaining the desired bait fish from the minnow submarine  100 , the user may return the handle  106  to its non-extended position, which will result in the bait door  104  closing as the strainer  112  moves back into a lower position. The bait fish stored within the container  102  may once again be stored in water contained in the container  102 . 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a side cutaway along the line  2  in  FIG. 1  is illustrated. Here the minnow submarine  100  can be seen with the bait door  104  in a closed position. A door hinge  202  is used to located and move the bait door  104 . The door hinge  202  may be a metal hinge or another suitable type of hinge. As stated, the door  104  may be spring loaded by the door spring  204 , for example. The door spring  204  is shown in the present embodiment as a coil spring, but other spring types are contemplated. Attaching the bait door  104  to the door hinge  202  is a door slide lever  206 . The slide lever  206  serves as a cam lever acting against the rail step  208  (integrated with the strainer rail  114 ) to open the bait door  104  in response to the handle  106  being extended. The slide lever  206  rests against the rail step  208  but is not necessarily attached thereto. This allows the bait door  104  to be opened with pressure from the outside whether the handle  106  is in a closed or extended position. In the view of  FIG. 2 , only a single slide lever  206  and a single rail step  208  are shown, but it is understood, as can be seen in the other drawings, that a slide lever and a rail step may be provided on both sides of the minnow submarine  100 . 
         [0021]    As described, the bait door  104  may be pressed open by the user whether or not the handle  106  is in an extended or closed position. In some instances, the user may wish for the bait door  104  to be retained in an open position to allow easier access to the contents of the minnow submarine  100 . A door latch or catch  210  may therefore be provided in a position to catch and retain the bait door  104  in an open position. A hinge  212  may be provided as well as a spring  214 . Thus, the bait door  104  may be engaged with the door catch  210  and held securely thereby. A catch-release tab  216  may be provided on the door catch  210 , which may be used to overcome the force of the spring  214 , thereby releasing the bait door  104 . In other embodiments, the door catch  210  may simply be made from a flexible material, eliminating the need for the hinge  212  and the spring  214 . It can be appreciated from  FIG. 2  that the bait door  104  may be pushed open and retained by the door catch  210  and the door may be released by the release tab  216  without the need for the user to reach into the interior of the minnow submarine  100 . It can also be seen from  FIG. 2  that the container  102  is adapted to contain a volume of water  220  even when stored outside the separate body of water. 
         [0022]    Additional features of the container  102  which may be seen from the view of  FIG. 2  include the holes or water portals  222 . The water portals  222  serve to allow the interexchange of water between the outside of the container  102  and the volume of water  220  contained within the container  102 . Therefore, the minnow submarine  100  may be submerged or otherwise placed in a body of water for refreshing or exchanging the volume of water  220  contained therein. A translucent panel  225  may also be provided on the container  102 . The translucent panel  225  may be a plastic or other resilient and suitably clear material that allows the user to view the contents of the minnow submarine  100 . In other embodiments, all of part of the container  102  itself may be translucent. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a side view of the live bait container of  FIG. 1  is shown. In the view of  FIG. 3 , the handle  106  is shown in the closed or non-extended position. The internal position of the rails  114  and the strainer  112  are shown in dotted line. From this view, it can also be seen that the release tab  216  is accessible from the outside of the container  102 . The translucent window  225  allowing a view of the interior of the container  102  is also shown. It can be appreciated from this view point that the water portals  222  may simply be a series of holes defined by the container  102 . These holes may be formed by being integrated into the casting or molding process of the container  102 , or may be added by drilling or other machining methods. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a top down cutaway view taken along line  4  of  FIG. 1  is shown. Here, the container  102  is shown in a horizontal cross-section. Here, it can be seen that two or more rails  114  extend through the container  102  to the strainer  112 . The strainer  112  may be formed with a number of holes therein that allow water to pass through while retaining any bait fish on the strainer  112 . In some embodiments, the strainer  112  may be removable to allow cleaning of the strainer  112  or for other reasons. The strainer  112  may also have a removable panel (not shown) to allow access under the strainer. Access under the strainer may be achieved by allowing the strainer  112  to elevate above at least a portion of the opening in the body  102  for the bait door  104  when the handle is extended. A number of empty compartments  402  may be defined by the body of the container  102 . The compartments  402  may be configured to act as ballast tanks or as float tanks for the minnow submarine  100 . The strainer  112  may be configured to conform generally to the shape of the interior of the container  102  that is not occupied by the compartments  402 . In other embodiments, the shape of the strainer  112  may be different than shown to allow for easier removal of the strainer  112  from the container  102 . In some embodiments, the size of the holes of the strainer  112  as well as the tolerance between the edges of the strainer  112  and the container  102  must be chosen to correspond to the size of the bait fish being used. 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , another side cutaway view of a live bait container according to aspects of the present disclosure is shown.  FIG. 5  illustrates the handle  106  in a partially extended position. The handle  106  has been extended to such a degree as to open the bait door  104 . It can be seen that the rail step  208  has displaced the slide lever  206 , forcing the bait door  104  open against the resistance of the spring  204 . It can also be seen that the extension of the handle  106  has begun to cause an elevation of the strainer  112 . In the embodiment shown, the opening of the bait door  104  may be complete before the strainer  112  is fully raised to an elevated position. In this embodiment, the user is allowed to partially extend the handle  106  opening the bait door  104  while choosing the degree of extension of the handle  106  that corresponds to the desired elevation of the strainer  112 . 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , another side cutaway view of a live bait container according to aspects of the present disclosure is shown.  FIG. 6  illustrates the handle  106  having been fully extended, thereby fully elevating the strainer  112 . From this view, it can be seen that the elevation of the strainer  112  may be limited by interference with the contours of the container  102  or with the bait door  104 . In other embodiments, other means to limit the elevation of the strainer  112  may or may not be provided. Also, as shown in dashed line, the bait door  104  may be further opened by hand to engage the door catch  210 . It can be seen that when the bait door  104  is engaged by the door catch  210 , the strainer  112  moves independently of the bait door  104  in response to movement of the handle  106 . Thus, the bait door  104  may be opened completely with or without elevation of the strainer  112 . 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a front cutaway of the upper portion of the live bait container of  FIG. 3  taken along line  7  of  FIG. 3  is shown. The view of  FIG. 7  illustrates one possible implementation of the upper mechanism of the minnow submarine  100 . The release  108  is shown in solid line in its normal position and shown in dashed line in its depressed or activated position. Similarly, the handle catch  110  is shown in normal and displaced positions. A spring  702  may be used to bias the release  108  and/or the handle catch  110 . This spring may be used to bias the handle catch  110  and the release  108 . The handle catch  110  displaces and then engages the body of the container  102  when the handle  106  is moved to the closed position. The spring  702  is shown as a coil spring, but other springs may be used in other embodiments. The open compartments (ballast or flotation tanks)  402  can also be seen in this cutaway view. The door slide levers  206  may be seen against the rail steps  208  on the strainer rails  114 . The door hinges  202  can also be seen with the door springs  204  biasing the bait door  104  in a closed position. It will be appreciated that  FIG. 7  illustrates only one possible mechanical implementation of the functionality described herein and that other embodiments are possible. 
         [0028]    Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes and modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such changes and modifications are encompassed within the spirit of this invention as defined by the claims.