Abstract:
A chum delivery container, or chumpot, which includes a base and a surrounding wall surface. The base and the surrounding wall surface define an open interior chamber and an open upper surface. The surrounding wall surface includes a plurality of perforations permitting release of the chum. An anchoring fixture is disposed at the base of the open interior chamber. A rope line for lowering the chum delivery container to an underlying surface is connected to the anchoring fixture. The open upper surface of the containment member can be sealed or unsealed and the rope line penetrates through the seal. A portion of the seal can be of a curvilinear shape and the seal can include locking tabs to facilitate removal of the seal from the container. The container includes a weighting material disposed at the base, and the container can be made of a luminescent material.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/142,559 filed on May 9, 2002. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a chum delivery container, or chumpot, for delivering chum or bait in a controlled manner below the surface of the water to attract fish, and more specifically to a chum delivery container which is made of a luminescent material to multiply the attraction effects and that is of simple and inexpensive construction which permits rapid and controlled cleaning and restocking of the container under nearly all weather conditions and which includes a rigid weighting arrangement made of an environmentally compatible material.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    Chum delivery containers are well known in the art of sport fishing. Such containers typically are designed to automatically dispense the chum or bait either as the container moves in the water or by the natural water currents near the bottom of the water or when impacted by a fish or actually triggered by the fisherman. One of the more recent examples is U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,705 issued May 16, 1989 to Dorsey which discloses a pair of perforated frusto-conically shaped sections that are joined together at their larger ends and having a weight in the in the lower end to impose a vertical position. A door is provided in the upper section for access.  
           [0006]    Another recent example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,672 issued Jun. 22, 1999 to Nicholson which is a chum delivery assembly that includes a perforated container with a bottom panel. The container can be raised while on the water bottom to permit the chum that is positioned on the bottom panel to be exposed in a concentrated manner so as to attract larger types of gaming fish that would might otherwise be wary of approaching the area of the container.  
           [0007]    A third recent example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,669, issued Apr. 8, 1997 to Levey which is a perforated container comprised of a pair of longitudinally divided cylinder halves molded with a hinge running the entire length of the container. Weight-receiving pockets are molded integrally into the lower half of the cylinder.  
           [0008]    The problems with the prior art devices are that generally they do not provide for delivering chum or bait in a controlled manner below the surface of the water to attract fish, and are not made of a luminescent material to multiply the attraction effects. Furthermore, the prior art devices generally are not of simple and inexpensive construction that includes a rigid, environmentally compatible weighting arrangement and at the same time are not designed to permit rapid and controlled cleaning and restocking of the container under weather conditions suitable for sport fishing.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The present invention is directed to a chum delivery container, or perforated chum pot, which delivers chum or bait in a controlled manner below the surface of the water to attract fish, and which is made of a luminescent material to multiply the attraction effects, and that is of simple and inexpensive construction to permit rapid and controlled cleaning and restocking of the container under weather conditions suitable for sport fishing and includes a rigid weighting arrangement made of an environmentally compatible material.  
           [0010]    The chum delivery container of the present invention comprises a containment member, the containment member including a base and a surrounding wall surface, the base and the surrounding wall surface therein defining an open interior chamber and an open upper surface. The surrounding wall surface includes a plurality of perforations therein permitting release of the chum from the open interior chamber. Anchoring means are disposed at the base within the open interior chamber. Lowering means are provided for lowering the chum delivery container to an underlying surface at a location, and sealing and unsealing means are provided for sealing and unsealing the open upper surface of the containment member. At least a portion of the sealing and unsealing means can be of a curvilinear shape and can be comprised of a plurality of perforations. The sealing and unsealing means can further comprise at least one locking tab or spacer section which permits outward folding of the tab to seal and unseal the sealing means to and from the open upper surface of the containment member. The lowering means for lowering the chum delivery container is operatively connected to the anchoring means, and the lowering means penetrates through the sealing and unsealing means.  
           [0011]    The lowering means further comprises a locking means for locking in position the sealing means for sealing the open upper surface of the containment member, the locking means permitting both sealing and unsealing of the containment member. The lowering means further comprises a limiting means for limiting travel of the sealing and unsealing means along the lowering means. The locking means is capable of movement on, or travel along, the lowering means and is capable of being unlocked in a single action.  
           [0012]    Typically, the containment member further comprises a weighting material disposed at the base, typically a concrete containing Portland cement. The containment member and the sealing and unsealing means are comprised of a plastic material, typically a high-density polyethylene with a luminescent material, such as phosphorescent cadmium-zinc sulfide. Typically, the containment member is substantially cylindrical.  
           [0013]    In one embodiment, the anchoring means, except for a portion at which the lowering means for lowering the chum delivery container is operatively connected to the anchoring means disposed at the base, is contained within the weighting means. In another embodiment, the anchoring means is at least partially surrounded by the weighting material, and the anchoring means is substantially exposed to the interior region of the containment member. 
       
    
    
       [0014]    These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the drawings and the detailed description of exemplary embodiments, which follows.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the chum pot of the present invention in the closed position.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the chum pot of the present invention in the open position.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the chum pot of the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention along section  4 - 4 ′ of FIG. 3.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention along section  5 - 5 ′ of FIG. 3.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is an elevation view of another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is an elevation view of the chum pot of the embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 6 in the open position.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 is a plan view of the chum pot of the embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 6.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the present invention along section  9 - 9 ′ of FIG. 8. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]    The present invention generally comprises a chum delivery container, or chum pot, which is perforated to provide a controlled release of chum or bait below the surface of the water to attract fish. The chum pot is made of a plastic material. The plastic material includes a light-emitting luminescent material, capable of being activated under darkness by a lighting source, to multiply the attraction effects, even during night fishing. The chum pot includes a rope line connected at the base to a rigid weighting arrangement made of an environmentally compatible material. The rope line controls the movement of the lid of the chum pot to facilitate both secure closure while the chum pot is submerged and also to facilitate quick and easy restocking of the chum pot even during difficult weather conditions such as wind, rain or snow. The chum pot is made of simple and inexpensive construction that permits rapid and controlled cleaning and restocking.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 illustrates a side elevation view of the present chum dispensing container, or chum pot, which is generally designated by the reference numeral  100 . The chum pot  100  comprises a bucket  10  which has a series of perforations  15  which are provided for the release of the chum or bait while the chum pot  100  is submerged under the water. The chum is released in a controlled manner by the underwater currents. Typically the bucket  10  is nearly cylindrical in shape, although other configurations can be used within the scope of the present invention. The bucket  10  typically includes a rim  20  which provides a mating surface for a bucket lid  30 , so as to permit sealing and unsealing of the bucket  10 . The lid  30  is shown in a sealed (closed) position with respect to the bucket  10 . A lowering line  40 , typically a rope line, is provided which includes a knot or loop clasp or other fastening device  50  or other limiting means for limiting the travel of the lid  30  for sealing and unsealing the bucket  10 . The lowering line  40  is further provided with a locking device, tightener  60 , which prevents undesired release of the lid  30  from the bucket rim  20 . The tightener  60  is typically a quick release device which is commercially available as Model No. 7097 from the Lehigh Group of Allentown, Pa., USA. The quick release device typically is capable of being unlocked in a single action. The single action is typically, but not limited to, a manual action by the user. The action can be performed by power-operated means if desired. To significantly enhance the effectiveness of the chum pot  100  as a fish lure, at least one of the bucket  10 , rim  20 , and lid  30 , and preferably each, is made of a plastic material such as high-density polyethylene which further includes typically a re-chargeable, re-usable, long-term luminescent (phosphorescent) material such as cadmium-zinc sulfide. Luminescent properties are thus imparted to the bucket  10  or the rim  20  or the lid  30 , or any combination thereof, by light to which the former are exposed before the chum pot  100  is submerged under the water. The luminescent properties can be made to last for several hours, as desired based on the intended usage of the chum pot  100  and are renewable every time the chum pot  100  is again exposed to light either above or below the water. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the term luminescent as used herein includes both long-term light emitting properties as exhibited by phosphorescent materials and also short-term light emitting properties as exhibited by fluorescent materials when an external light source is removed.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2 illustrates a side elevation view of the present chum dispensing container, or chum pot,  100  with the lid  30  in the unsealed (open) position. The travel or movement of the quick release tightener  60  and the lid  30  on the line  40  is limited by the knot or loop clasp or other fastening device  50 . In the open position, the lowering line  40  facilitates user control over the lid  30  even during windy or rainy or snowy conditions suitable for sport fishing. The quick release feature of the tightener  60  permits the user to quickly raise the lid  30  and replenish the supply of chum or bait inside the chum pot  100 . Once this is accomplished, the user can simply reposition and seal the lid  30  back over the rim  20 .  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view of the chum pot  100 . Preferably at the center of the lid  30  is positioned a sleeve  65  through which the lowering line  40  passes. The sleeve  65  prevents lateral motion and reduces degradation of the lowering line  40  and also reduces the frictional resistance as the lid  30  is raised and lowered on the lowering line  40 .  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the chum pot  100  along section line  4 - 4 ′ of FIG. 3. Anchor bolts  68  are positioned through the lower surface  70  of the bucket  10  into a weighting material  75  which preferably is provided and is positioned at least partially if not entirely over eye-bolt anchor  80 . The weighting material  75  holds the eye-bolt anchor  80  in place in a rigid manner. The weighting material  75  is typically an environmentally safe concrete containing Portland cement that is sold commercially under the trade name Top&#39;n Bond® by American Stone-Mix, Inc. of Towson, Md., USA. The line  40  is fastened to the eye of the eye-bolt anchor  80  by a second knot or loop clasp or other fastening device  55  so that the eye-bolt anchor  80  acts as an anchoring point for the line  40 . When in use, the chum or bait is placed on the upper surface  78  of the weighting material  75  for dispersal through the perforations  15  in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the chum pot  100  along section line  5 - 5 ′ of FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the weighting material  75  is preferably provided and is positioned at least partially if not entirely around the U-bolt anchor  85 . The line  40  is fixed to the U-bolt of the U-bolt anchor  85  by the second knot or loop clasp or other fastening device  55  so that the U-bolt anchor  85  acts as an anchor point for the line  40 . As is the case of FIG. 4, when in use, the chum or bait is placed on the upper surface  78  of the weighting material  75  for dispersal through the perforations  15  in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The weighting material  75  surrounds the U-bolt anchor  85  in place to maintain a rigid position for the U-bolt anchor  85 . Again, the weighting material  75  is typically an environmentally compatible concrete that is sold commercially as described previously.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 6 is an elevation view of another embodiment of the present invention in the closed position. The chum pot  120  comprises the bucket  10  with perforations  15  which are again provided for the release of chum or bait while the chum pot  120  is submerged under the water. The bucket  10  with rim  20  and perforations  15  are typically the same as for the first embodiment of FIG. 1. In this embodiment, a curvilinear lid  70 , typically dome-shaped, mates with the rim  20  of the bucket  10  in the closed position. The lid  72  also contains perforations  15 . The lid  72  can be mated to the rim  20  typically in the same manner as illustrated in FIG. 1 to permit sealing and unsealing of the bucket  10 . Typically, the lid  72  is configured to provide a single interior compartment volume or chamber when joined to the bucket  10 . However, if desired, the lid  72  can be configured to provide two or more interior compartment volumes when joined to the bucket  10 . The lowering line  40 , as for the embodiment of FIG. 1, penetrates through the top of the lid  72  and permits the lid  72  to move on or travel along the lowering line  40 . Similarly, the locking device or tightener  60  is provided to minimize undesired separation of the lid  72  from the bucket  10 . The knot or loop clasp or other fastening device  50  can be provided as before on the lowering line  40  to limit travel of the lid  72 . In addition, optional locking tabs or spacer sections  82  can be provided to secure the lid  72  to the rim  20 . The locking tabs or spacer sections  82  can either be the primary means of sealing the lid  72  to the rim  20  or can supplement the mating of the lid  72  to the rim  20 . The locking tabs or spacer sections  82  can be formed by means of a break-away flange portion (not shown) so as to permit outward folding of the tabs  82  to release the lid  72  from the rim  20 , as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,735,337 issued to Von Holdt. An optional ring  90  can be coupled to the lowering line  40  to enhance the capability of moving of the chum pot  120  by a boat or other means, such as by a user manually moving the chum pot  120  up and down to stir up the chum for release through the perforations. Typically, the chum pot is only filled with chum to a level to enable circulation of the water to expel the chum from the perforations. This is typically at the rim level. The curvilinear shape of the lid  72  reduces the frictional drag of the chum pot  120  while being moved, particularly under water. Those skilled in the art recognize that, although not shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, the ring  90  can be provided to the lowering line  40  for the previously described embodiments in the same manner as shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0031]    As before, the quick release device  60  typically is capable of being unlocked in a single action. The single action is typically, but not limited to, a manual action by the user. The action can be performed by power-operated means if desired. Again to significantly enhance the effectiveness of the chum pot  120  as a fish lure, at least one of the bucket  10 , rim  20 , and lid  72 , and preferably each, is made of a plastic material such as high-density polyethylene which further includes typically a re-chargeable, re-usable, long-term luminescent (phosphorescent) material such as cadmium-zinc sulfide. Luminescent properties are thus imparted to the bucket  10  or the rim  20  or the lid  72 , or any combination thereof, by light to which the former are exposed before the chum pot  120  is submerged under the water. The luminescent properties can be made to last for several hours, as desired based on the intended usage of the chum pot  120  and are renewable every time the chum pot  120  is again exposed to light either above or below the water.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 7 illustrates an elevation view the embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 6 in the open (unsealed) position. As before, the travel or movement of the quick release tightener  60  and the lid  72  on the line  40  is limited by the knot or loop clasp or other fastening device  50 . In the open position, the lowering line  40  facilitates user control over the lid  72  even during windy or rainy or snowy conditions suitable for sport fishing. Again, the quick release feature of the tightener  60  permits the user to quickly raise the lid  72  and replenish the supply of chum or bait inside the chum pot  120 , and once this is accomplished, the user can simply reposition and seal the lid  72  back over the rim  20 .  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 8 illustrates a plan view of the chum pot  120 . Preferably at the upper center of the lid  72  is positioned the sleeve  65  through which the lowering line  40  passes. As before, the sleeve  65  prevents lateral motion and reduces degradation of the lowering line  40  and also reduces the frictional resistance as the lid  72  is raised and lowered on the lowering line  40 .  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the chum pot  120  along section line  9 - 9 ′ of FIG. 8. As before, anchor bolts  68  are positioned through the lower surface  70  of the bucket  10  into a weighting material  75  which preferably is provided and is positioned at least partially if not entirely over eye-bolt anchor  80 . The weighting material  75  holds the eye-bolt anchor  80  in place in a rigid manner. The line  40  is fastened to the eye of the eye-bolt anchor  80  by a second knot or loop clasp or other fastening device  55  so that the eye-bolt anchor  80  acts as an anchoring point for the line  40 . When in use, the chum or bait is placed on the upper surface  78  of the weighting material  75  for dispersal through the perforations  15  in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.  
         [0035]    Although not shown separately, those skilled in the art recognize that the curvilinear lid  72  and optional locking tabs  82  can be combined the bucket  10  in the alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 5 to replace the lid  30 .  
         [0036]    The invention has now been explained with reference to specific embodiments. Other embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the foregoing description. It is not intended that this invention be limited except as indicated by the appended claims and their full scope equivalents.