Abstract:
A ice fishing fish containment device for securing a caught fish within a hole for ice fishing. The device including a tubular sidewall extending the depth of the hole. The sidewall having a bracket on its lower end. A flapper having a top side with a grasping member higedly attached to the bracket, wherein the upward movement of a fish into the hole with displace flapper temporarily until the fish enters the hole clearing the height of the flapper. The flapper will then close securing the fish with the hole.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH  
     Not Applicable 
     SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM  
     Not Applicable 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device to secure a caught fish into an ice fishing hole. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Ice fishing is popular activity in many cold climates. To ice fish an individual will bore a hole through a sheet of ice of a frozen body of water to access the unfrozen water below. After boring the hole, the individual will bait a line and fish through the hole created in the ice. A typical hole diameter for ice fishing will be between eight (8) and twelve (12) inches. 
     The individual will either fish over the hole using a small rod or set up a tip up. When using a rod an individual will lower the bait fishing line through the hole and into the water below. To attract fish the individual will typically jig the bait by moving the line up and down to attract fish. When using a tip up the individual baits a line and lowers it through the hole, sets the tip up and leaves the line until a fish eats the bait setting off the tip up and altering the individual they have a fish on the line. 
     The most frustrating thing during ice fishing is losing a caught fish within the hole. Often the most difficult part about catching the fish is maneuvering a hooked fish into and through the hole. In extremely cold climates, ice can reach thicknesses up to twenty-four (24) inches. Often times a fish will be released from the line within the hole as it thrashes and fights to be freed due to length and depth of the hole. In traditional fishing this problem is alleviated through the use of a net. As a net is not practical in ice fishing a device and method for securing a caught fish into the hole is desired. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,568,120 to Smolinski provides an ice fishing trap having a collar with a plurality of hinged gate members suspended within the ice fishing hole by a support arm including a handle that supports the device on the surface. The gates, although defining a bottom, have several gaps and openings for items to enter the water. The support arm extends upward and creates a dangerous projection when the device is adjusted to shallow depths. Further, the support arm creates an obstruction within the hole and is at risk for freezing in place within the hole. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to the present invention an ice fishing containment device is provided that secures a fish within the ice fishing hole as it is brought to the surface of the ice. Additionally, the device includes a plurality of flappers to create a substantially flat and rigid surface movable surface with only a small central aperture to secure items that may potentially be dropped into the hole. 
     The device includes tubular sidewall integral with the hole in the ice and defining a cavity with an open top and bottom. The sidewall has an upper end and a lower end. The upper end contains a flange with a diameter larger than the diameter of the sidewall to support the sidewall upon insertion into the hole in the ice. The flange includes a raised portion to allow a user to grasp the flange and remove the device from the hole. The lower end includes a plurality of brackets on the interior of the sidewall. 
     A plurality of flappers with a top side, a bottom side, a fixed end, and a free end are in communication with the lower end of the sidewall. The top side of the fixed end includes a grasping member. The grasping member attaches to the bracket and creates a hinge, wherein the flapper articulates upward with the free end moving in an arc to the fixed end. The flappers together define a bottom portion with a central lower aperture. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the device includes a first tubular sidewall integral with the hole in the ice and defining a cavity. The sidewall has a first upper end and a first lower end. The first upper end contains a flange with a circumference larger than the diameter of the first sidewall to support the first sidewall upon insertion into the hole in the ice. The flange includes a raised portion to allow a user to grasp the flange and remove the device from the hole. A second tubular sidewall is nested within the first sidewall. The second sidewall has a second upper end and a second lower end. The second upper end is secured to the first lower end. 
     The second lower end includes a plurality of brackets on the interior of the second sidewall. A plurality of flappers with a top side, a bottom side, a fixed end, and a free end are in communication with the lower end of the second sidewall. The top side of the fixed end includes a grasping member. The grasping member attaches to the bracket and creates a hinge, wherein the flapper articulates upward with the free end moving in an arc to the fixed end. The flappers together define a bottom portion with a central lower aperture. 
     In use, a user will place the device into a pre drilled ice fishing hole. If the alternate embodiment is used, a user will first select length of the device by moving the second sidewall to the desired depth. The user will lower their fishing line and lure through the central lower aperture to attract a fish. Upon catching the fish the user will pull the fish into the hole. Upon entering the hole, the fish will cause the flappers to articulate upward. Upon clearing the flappers, the flappers will lower and secure the hole opening, thereby preventing the fish from reentering the water and retaining the fish within the device. To retrieve the fish the user may reach in and grab the fish or easily remove the device from the hole. Additionally, the flappers will prevent the loss of items dropped into the hole as the flappers create a solid bottom with minimal gaps and only a central aperture for the lure. 
     Preferably the entire device is constructed out of a molded plastic due to its durability and temperature resistance. Additionally, the tubular nature of the device and the use of plastic acts as an insulator within the ice hole. This prevents the hole from freezing up during use. The flappers are easily snapped into the brackets using the grasping members. This allows for the easy replacement of flappers should one become damaged. Preferably, three flappers of equal dimensions are used as this configuration easily distributes the weight of the fish and is easily manipulated up. Additionally, the equal dimension of the flappers allows them to be universal across the device and provides for the sale of replacement flappers should they become damaged. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and together with the description serve to further explain the principles of the invention. Other aspects of the invention and the advantages of the invention will be better appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the Detailed Description when considered in conjunction with accompanying drawings, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of device, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the device with a fish retained, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the device, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of an additional embodiment of the device, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4A  is cross sectional view of the additional embodiment of the device along the plane  4 A- 4 A of  FIG. 4 , according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the retaining member of the device, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the engagement of the retaining member and the sidewall of the device along the plane  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 , according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the engagement of the retaining member and the sidewall of the device, according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3  and  FIGS. 5-7  there is shown an embodiment of the of a fish containment device for ice fishing, generally designated by the reference numeral  10 . The fish containment device  10  includes a tubular sidewall  100  with a first diameter corresponding to the diameter of the the ice fishing hole and defining a cavity with an open top and an open bottom for slidable insertion into a hole for ice fishing. The tubular sidewall  100  has an upper end  101 , a lower end  102 , a flange  103 , and a bracket  105 . The flange  103  is fixed perpendicular to the upper end  101  and has a second diameter greater than the first diameter of the sidewall  100  to support the sidewall  100  upon insertion into the hole in the ice. The flange  103  includes a raised portion  107  to allow a user to easily grasp the flange and remove the device from the ice fishing hole. 
     The lower end  102  includes a plurality of brackets  105  equally spaced along the interior of the first diameter of the sidewall  100 . The brackets  105  extend into the interior of the device and create a fixed point for the attachment of a plurality of flappers  200 . 
     The plurality of flappers  200  have a top side  201 , a bottom side  202 , a fixed end  204 , and a free end  203 , the flappers  200  are in communication with the lower end  102  of the sidewall  100 . The flappers  200  are identical in size and shape and in combination define a bottom portion with the free end  203  containing a notch to form a central lower aperture  210 . The central lower aperture  210  is sized to a standard lure  50  and allows the lure  50  access through the device  10  and into the water. The top side  201  of the fixed end  204  includes a grasping member  205 . The grasping member  205  attaches to the bracket  105  creating a hinge whereby the flapper  200  articulates upward with the free end  203  moving in an arc to the fixed end  204 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device  10  includes three flappers  200 . According to this configuration, the flappers  200  equally distribute the weight of a trapped fish and are easily manipulated upward during the retrieval of a caught fish. It is preferred that the flappers  200  be of an identical, size, shape, and configuration to allow for easy replacement should a flapper  200  become damaged. Additionally, it is preferred that the flappers  200  are closely aligned with only a minimal gap between them so as to allow free movement upwards but restrict items from falling between them, wherein the only substantial opening in the bottom of the device will be the central lower aperture  210 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device  10  is constructed out of a molded plastic due to its resilience, durability, and cold temperature resistance. It is preferred that the bracket  105  be the only protrusion on the device  10  interior to prevent harm to the fish upon retrieval and to prevent the snagging of any fishing line  41  or fishing lures  50 . Further, the tubular and material properties of the device act as an insulator for the ice hole preventing the hole from freezing during use. 
     In use, a user will place the device  10  into a pre drilled ice fishing hole. The user will then using their fishing pole  40  or a tip-up to lower their fishing line  41  and lure  50  through the central lower aperture  210  to attract a fish  20 . Upon catching the fish  20  the user will pull the fish  20  up and into the hole. Upon entering the hole, the fish  20  will cause the flappers  200  to articulate upward. Upon clearing the flappers  200 , the flappers  200  will lower and secure the holes opening, thereby preventing the fish  20  from reentering the water and retaining the fish  20  within the device  10 . To retrieve the fish  20  the user may reach in and grab the fish  20  or easily remove the device  10  from the hole using the raised portion  207  of the flange  203 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4-FIG .  4 A, an alternate embodiment of the device  10  includes a first tubular sidewall  100  with a diameter corresponding to the hole in the ice the device  10  is to be inserted. The first tubular sidewall  100  defines a cavity and has a first upper end  101  and a first lower end  102 . The first upper end  101  contains a flange  103  with a diameter larger than the diameter of the first sidewall  100  to support the first sidewall  100  upon insertion into the hole in the ice. The flange  103  includes a raised portion to allow a user to grasp the flange  103  and remove the device  10  from the hole. A second tubular sidewall  300  is nestedly received within the first sidewall  100  and its depth relative to the flange  103  is adjustable. The second sidewall  300  has a second upper end  301  and a second lower end  302 . The second upper end  301  is secured to the first lower end  102  at a desired depth using a securing means. The securing means may be a raised detent, friction tensioner, tab, or other similar securing means. 
     The second lower end  302  includes a plurality of brackets  105  on the interior of the second sidewall  300 . A plurality of flappers  200  with a top side, a bottom side, a fixed end, and a free end are in communication with the lower end  302  of the second sidewall  300 . The top side of the fixed end includes a grasping member  205 . The grasping member  205  attaches to the bracket  105  and creates a hinge, wherein the flapper  200  articulates upward with the free end moving in an arc to the fixed end. The flappers  200  together define a bottom portion with a central lower aperture  210 . 
     Usage of this embodiment is similar to the other embodiments with the exception of adjusting the depth of the device  10 . When using this second embodiment, a user will first select length of the device  10  by moving the second sidewall  300  to the desired depth and then inserting the device  10  into the hole for ice fishing.