Partitioned storage tube for tip-ups and other ice fishing accessories

A partitioned storage tube for tip-ups and other ice fishing accessories including an elongated, cylindrical body partitioned into five separate tip-up storage compartments for storing and protecting tip-ups when not in use. A structure for protecting the tip-up reels is incorporated into the body. Elastic straps provide an adjustable means of securing a cover to the body. A cylindrical interior compartment is accessible through an access opening in the cover to store ice fishing accessories that may be longer than the tube. Drain apertures in the bottom of each tip-up storage compartment facilitate the removal of excess moisture. The storage tube is made of a durable plastic material so it could be used as a stool when standing upright with the cover on.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates generally to storage containers and, more 
specifically, to a partitioned storage tube for tip-ups and other ice 
fishing accessories. 
A tip-up is an ice fishing tool which has a vertical post with a signaling 
mechanism on top and a reel and line on the bottom. Once a hole is chopped 
in the ice a fisherman places the lower portion of the tip-up in the hole 
supported by a cross-bracing method to keep the reel submerged to prevent 
freezing. When a fish pulls at the line, the signaling method pops up to 
alert the fisherman that there is activity at the hole. Using tip-ups 
allows a fisherman to set up and monitor several lines simultaneously. 
Since more than one tip-up is generally used at a given time, the present 
invention addresses the difficulty of transporting several tip-ups at a 
time without damaging reels or tangling lines among other problems. The 
partitioned storage tube provides an organized, safe, and convenient means 
to store and transport all the equipment needed for ice-fishing in one 
container. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Partitioned storage containers are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. 
No. 4,628,628 (Burin, C., Dec. 16, 1986) discloses a fishing equipment 
holder with a elongated, cylindrical body with notched circular brackets 
running around the circumference. Fishing rods can be placed in the 
notches and secured by means of a rotatable, rigid outer band that 
maintains the rods within the equipment holder and an inner elastic band 
that secures the rods against the outer band. The patent shows that rods 
and reels are contained externally and therefore not protected. By 
contrast the instant invention provides a protective shell to prevent 
damage to tip-ups and their reels. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,321 (Jones, E., Jun. 23, 1992) discloses a portable 
storage device comprising a base having an upright forward wall, an 
upright panel supported on the base and a storage surface on the base 
between the forward wall and the panel. The forward wall is shorter than 
the panel allowing access to the storage surface. An elastic band 
encircles the panel to prevent stored items from falling over forward 
wall. The patent shows that stored items are contained externally and 
therefore not protected. By contrast the instant invention provides a 
protective shell to prevent damage to stored material. 
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 382,707 (Wang, J., Aug. 26, 1997) discloses a golf bag 
with partitions for clubs. The patent does not show a cover, a reel 
retaining flange or a method of drainage. The instant invention provides 
all of the above. 
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
A primary object of the present invention is to provide an organized means 
of storing and carrying all the equipment necessary for ice fishing with 
tip-ups in one convenient container. 
Another object is to provide a partitioned storage tube for tip-ups and 
other ice fishing accessories that has compartments for a plurality of 
tip-ups and other ice fishing accessories and a housing to protect tip-up 
reels. 
An additional object is to provide a partitioned storage tube that is 
versatile enough to accommodate tip-ups of various lengths and reels of 
different sizes. 
A further object is to provide a partitioned storage tube with a safe place 
to put the hooks attached to the tip-ups to prevent the user from harm. 
A still further object is to provide a partitioned storage tube that can 
also act as a stool when stood on end. 
Yet another object is to provide a partitioned storage tube that is 
lightweight, simple and easy to use. 
A still further object is to provide a partitioned storage tube that is 
economical in cost to manufacture and use. 
Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description 
proceeds. 
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may 
be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 
attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are 
illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific 
construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended 
claims. dr 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present 
invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better 
understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, 
in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts 
throughout the several views. 
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a person ice fishing using several tip-ups 
and the instant invention. 
FIG. 2 is a perspective view, taken from FIG. 1 as indicated, of the 
instant invention. 
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the instant invention showing the 
body, the cover, the cover-securing elastic straps and a handle. 
FIG. 4 is a top view of the cover of the instant invention with parts 
broken away and in section. 
FIG. 5 is a top view of the body of the instant invention. 
FIG. 6 is a side view of the instant invention with parts broken away and 
in section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference 
characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 
illustrates a fisherman 20 ice fishing using a plurality of tip-ups 16 and 
a partitioned storage tube for tip-ups and other ice fishing accessories 
10. FIG. 2 shows the fisherman 20 with all his gear packed in the 
partitioned storage tube for tip-ups and other ice fishing accessories 10 
and easily carrying it by the handle 30. 
A shoulder strap 34 provides another convenient means of handling the 
partitioned storage tube 10. The shoulder strap 34 is fabricated from a 
strong flexible material such as canvas or nylon preferably with a padded 
section 36 where the strap would rest on a person's shoulder. The shoulder 
strap 34 has locking clasps 38 at each end that fasten to the anchor hooks 
32 affixed to body 12 allowing the user to remove or attach shoulder strap 
34 as desired. 
FIGS. 3 through 6 illustrate the details of the partitioned storage tube 
for tip-ups and other ice fishing accessories 10 comprising a body, of 
which the inside is partitioned into five tip-up storage compartments 27, 
five subcompartments 31, an interior compartment 28 for storing items such 
as an ice spoon or jig pole, and a tip-up reel retaining flange 33. 
The tip-up 16 is placed into the tip-up storage compartment 27 with the 
tip-up reel 18 resting on the tip-up reel retaining flange 33. Any hooks 
or lures that may be attached to the line on the tip-up reel 18 can be 
placed in one of the subcompartments 31 for safety and to prevent 
tangling. 
When all of the tip-ups 16 are stored, the cover 14 can be put on by 
sliding the cover flange 15 over the tip-up reel retaining flange 33 of 
the body 12. The cover 14 is then secured by means of an elastic strap 22 
that has a locking bearing 24 on one end and three locking bearings 24 
spaced linearly on the other end. The exterior side of the cover flange 15 
has a pair of two prong receiving latches 26 located 180 degrees apart and 
the body 12 has two corresponding receiving latches 26. The cover 14 is 
fastened to the body 12 by placing a locking bearing 24 above the 
receiving latch 26 of the cover 14 and running the elastic strap 22 
between the two prongs and then fastening the other end of the elastic 
strap 22 to the corresponding receiving latch 26 of the body 12 in the 
same manner. The second strap is attached similarly on the other side. The 
depth of the reel retaining flange 33 can be adjusted for different size 
tip-up reels 18 by sliding the cover 14 over the retaining flange 33 to 
whatever point the reel 18 will allow and fastening the elastic strap 22 
to the receiving latch 26 by using one of the three consecutive locking 
bearings 24. 
The cover 12 has an access opening 42 leading to the interior container 
that allows the partitioned storage tube to hold longer items such as a 
jig pole or ice spoon. 
The bottom of the body 12 has a drain aperture 40 corresponding with each 
tip-up storage compartment 27 to allow drainage of any moisture coming 
from used tip-ups 16. 
The partitioned storage tube 10 is made from a strong, durable, lightweight 
plastic 44, preferably brightly colored. The partitioned storage tube 10 
should be sturdy enough for the user to sit on when placed in an upright 
position with the cover on. The bottom of the partitioned storage tube 
could also have gripping studs or a textured bottom 40a to reduce slipping 
on the ice. 
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or 
more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods 
differing from the type described above. 
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and 
described are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be 
limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various 
omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and 
details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by 
those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of 
the present invention. 
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of 
the present invention that others can, by applying the current knowledge, 
readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, 
from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential 
characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.