Ice fish casting submarine having bait/lure carrying compartment

An ice fishing submarine for carrying an end portion of a fishing line radially away from an ice fishing hole comprising: i) a hull enclosing a propulsion system which includes a battery which powers an electric motor which turns a propeller; ii) a power switch to begin propulsion away from the ice hole; and, iii) a tether having an unfixed end secured to the submarine and configured to interrupt power to the propulsion system when the tether becomes taut. When the submarine travels the distance of the length of the tether radially away from the ice hole the tether then becomes taut thereby automatically switching power off to the propulsion system of the submarine, and thereby eliminating the necessity of running control wires extending down through the ice hole to the submarine and monitoring the travel of the submarine to turn off power at an appropriate time.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to apparatuses used to carry bait and lures underwater radially away from the hole in the ice. More particularly this invention relates to a submarine which has a bait/lure carrying compartment, a deployment stick which activates propulsion within the submarine when detached, and a tether which deactivates propulsion and releases the bait/lure when it becomes taunt. The need for external power and control systems or wires is negated. Launching the sub is unencumbered, convenient, and simple when only a tether extends from the submarine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The idea of carrying a lure or bait under the ice away from a fishing hole in the ice is not new. U.S. Pat. No. 6,822,927 issued to C. E. Holm is for a submersible ice fishing troller system. The submersible unit tows a cable which comprises a power line as well as other multiple control lines. It additionally tows a fishing line terminating with a bait/lure. The weight of the power and control lines necessitate controls for sensing and controlling depth of the submersible unit. The problem with the unit is that its complication and towed power and control lines make it expensive to produce and cumbersome to use. U.S. Pat. No. 6,122,852 issued to R. Mechlin IV is for an ice fishing lure transport. This unit also tows a power and control line. The power and control line utilizes spaced floats to carry its weight. The submersible unit employs traction wheels which contact the surface ice above the apparatus. Use of this unit also suffers from the inconvenience of towing power and control lines which are intermittently are surrounded by floats which may catch on the ice. However, the worst problem with this apparatus relates to the traction wheel drive. When one of the wheels slips, the unit spins. For convenience and simplicity of use what is needed is a submersible unit which operates without the need to tow relatively heavy power and control lines. Elimination of the end portion of the fishing line having hooks and weights extending down beneath the submersible unit would also simplify the insertion and launching of the unit.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to disclose an ice casting submarine having a bait/lure compartment to carry an end portion of a fishing line. It is contemplated that the end portion of the fishing line would comprise a lead, a sinker and a baited hook or lure. It is an object of this invention to disclose an ice fishing submarine which does not need to tow control wires through the ice to the submarine for power or to switch off power. It is yet a further object of this invention to disclose an ice fishing submarine utilizing a deployment member so that it can be positioned and activated under the water without having to contact the water.

One aspect of this invention provides for an ice fishing submarine for carrying an end portion of a fishing line radially away from an ice fishing hole comprising: i) a hull enclosing a propulsion system which includes a battery which powers an electric motor which turns a propeller; ii) a power switch to begin propulsion away from the ice hole; and, iii) a tether having an unfixed end secured to the submarine and configured to interrupt power to the propulsion system when the tether becomes taut. When the submarine travels the distance of the length of the tether radially away from the ice hole the tether then becomes taut thereby automatically switching power off to the propulsion system of the submarine, and thereby eliminating the necessity of running control wires extending down through the ice hole to the submarine and monitoring the travel of the submarine to turn off power at an appropriate time.

In an other aspect of this invention the ice fishing submarine for carrying an end portion of a fishing line radially away from an ice fishing hole comprises: i) a hull enclosing a propulsion system which includes an electric motor which turns a propeller; ii) a tether having an unfixed end attached to the submarine; and, iii) an internal bait lure compartment within the submarine having an external door which automatically opens when the tether line becomes taught. Then an end portion of the fishing line can be enclosed within the bait/lure compartment for convenient and unentangled placement within and transport away from the ice fishing hole.

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

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 toFIG. 1we have a cross sectional view of an ice fishing submarine20in a launch position beneath an ice hole14. Most generally an ice fishing submarine20for carrying an end portion of a fishing line12radially away from an ice fishing hole14comprises: i) a hull22enclosing a propulsion system24which includes a battery26which powers an electric motor28which turns a propeller30; ii) a power switch32to begin propulsion away from the ice hole14; and, iii) a tether34having an unfixed end secured to the submarine20, which is configured to interrupt power to the propulsion system24when the tether34becomes taut. When the submarine20travels the distance of the length of the tether34radially away from the ice hole14the tether34then becomes taut thereby automatically switching power off to the propulsion system24of the submarine20. The necessity of running control wires (not shown) extending down through the ice hole14to the submarine20and also task of monitoring the travel of the submarine20to turn off power at an appropriate time is thereby eliminated.

In the most preferred embodiment of the invention the submarine20further comprises a bait/lure compartment36for enclosing and carrying the end portion of the fishing line12, said bait/lure compartment36having an external door38which automatically opens dumping the end portion of the fishing line12into the water when a pin40, attached to the unfixed end portion of the tether34, is pulled when the tether34becomes taut, and wherein a power switch42within the submarine20moves to a normally open position when the external door38is opened thereby turning off the submarine propulsion system24. In one aspect of the invention the deployment member44comprises a deployment stick45and the radially extending member46comprises a cross stick47spaced upwardly from the bottom side portion of the deployment stick45.

In the most preferred embodiment of the invention the ice fishing submarine20further comprises an elongate deployment member44to hold and push the submarine20down into the water16and thereafter point the submarine20in the desired direction of travel. The deployment member44and submarine20are configured so that propulsion power is automatically switched on in the submarine20when the deployment member44is disengaged from the submarine20. The deployment member44thereby facilitates directed placement of the submarine20in the cold water without splashing from the propulsion system24, and thereafter engages the propulsion system24without requiring one to reach in the cold water16. Most preferably said lower end portion of the deployment member44is engaged within a top opening46in the submarine20. The deployment member44most preferably further comprises a radially extending member46to better hold the submarine20. The submarine20is configured so that power is switched on to the propulsion system24therein when the deployment member44is disengaged therefrom.

In the most preferred embodiment of the invention the ice fishing submarine20further comprises a longitudinal tunnel25extending through the hull22. The propeller30is rotated within a central portion of a longitudinal tunnel46thereby preventing entanglements with the propeller30. The ice fishing submarine20ice further comprises two laterally spaced longitudinal blades48each extending above and along a substantial portion of the length of the submarine20to facilitate sliding immediately below and in contact with the ice18with minimal resistance. Most preferably a bottom portion of the submarine hull22is detachable to allow access for maintenance and battery26regeneration. Regeneration is intended to include either recharging or interchanging batteries26.

FIG. 2is a plan view showing a subdivided bait/lure compartment36as viewed along line2-2shown onFIG. 1. The bait/lure compartment36comprises three chambers37, one chamber37to carry a lead line48having one end portion attached to the end portion of the fishing line12, a second chamber37to carry a sinking weight50attached to the lead line48, and a third chamber37to carry a lure/baited hook52also attached to the lead line48. The sinking weight chamber37in the bait/lure compartment36has a sloped floor54so that when the external door38is opened the sinking weight50will slide therefrom pulling after it the lead line48and the lure/baited hook52with it.FIG. 2also shows the use of downwardly extending whiskers51in the bait/lure chamber37of the bait/lure compartment36to retain the baited hook/lure52therein. The wiskers51are sufficiently flexible so that the lure/baited hook can be pushed through the wiskers51to be retained therein, and then when the door38opens and the sinking weight50pulls thereon, the baited hook/lure52will bend the whiskers51, sliding from the compartment36. The whiskers51are sufficiently inflexible to prevent the baited hook/lure from sliding out of the chamber37without being pulled on.

Another general aspect of this invention includes an ice fishing submarine20for carrying an end portion of a fishing line12radially away from an ice fishing hole14which comprises: i) a hull enclosing a propulsion system24which includes an electric motor28which turns a propeller30; ii) a tether34having an unfixed end attached to the submarine20; and, iii) an internal bait/lure compartment36within the submarine20having an external door38which automatically opens when the tether34becomes taught. Then an end portion of the fishing line12can be enclosed within the bait/lure compartment36for convenient and unentangled placement within and transport away from the ice fishing hole14.

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.