Abstract:
A net assembly includes a specially shaped double curved, elongated frame, a net on the frame, and an adjustable length handle attached to the rear end of the frame that is effective in inserting through a hole in the ice for retrieving a fish hooked on the end of a line.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to fishing nets and more particularly to a fishing net assembly that is especially suited for ice fishing. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A number of attempts have been made to provide an accessory for ice fishing that prevents the loss of the fish when pulled up through a hole in the ice. The previous prior known fishing nets have round, flat frames and are not easily inserted through a hole in the ice and manipulated to retrieve a fish on a line so fish are frequently lost. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,866,872 and 5,140,767 address this problem but utilize relatively complex mechanisms to retrieve fish on a line under the ice. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,939 discloses a scoop for ice fishing with an extensible handle. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention there is provided a net assembly including a double-curved frame carrying a net. The frame has a greater length than width and further has an elongated, generally oval-shaped profile as viewed from the top with a frame width less than the diameter of the hole in the ice to permit insertion through the hole. The frame also has a dished or bowed profile as viewed from the side. The frame has a pair of spaced, opposed outwardly bowed side portions, a front end portion and converging rear portions. The side portions are also downwardly bowed. The handle preferably is length adjustable for different ice thicknesses and water depths and is shown as made of telescoping outer and inner tubular sections. A coupling releasably fastens the handle to the rear end portions of the frame. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Details of this invention are described in connection with the accompanying drawings which like parts bear similar reference numerals in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation view and cross section of the net shown below a layer of ice over water with a hole through the ice having the net shown in a fish retrieving position having the handle extending up through the hole. 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the frame shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an alternative shape of frame. 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the handle detached from the frame with portions broken away to show interior parts with the handle being shown in the fully retracted position so that it is of minimum length. 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the net assembly shown in FIG. 1 with the handle removed. 
     FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1 taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the nine inch frame associated with a ten inch hole. 
     FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a seven inch frame associated with an eight inch hole. 
     FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a five inch frame associated with a six inch hole. 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of the handle in the fully extended position so that it is of maximum length. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  4  and  5  of the drawing there is shown an ice fishing net assembly  12  having a frame  13  carrying a net  14  with a handle  15  removably connected to the rear end of the frame  13 . The net assembly  12  is shown in an operative position below a layer of ice  16  above water with the ice having a hole  17  and retrieving a fish  18  on a hook on a line  19 . 
     The frame  13  is generally double curved having an elongated, generally oval-shaped profile as viewed from the top with a pair of spaced, opposed, generally convex side portions  21  and  22 , a V-shaped front portion  23  and a pair of rear portions  24  and  25  with frame  13  preferably being made of a single piece of shaped metal tubing. The side portions  21  and  22  have curved end portions and a straight intermediate portion. The frame  13  somewhat resembles a hollow spoon and functions like a spoon in scooping a fish attached to a line. 
     A handle coupling member  26  is attached to the rear portions  24  and  25  and has an internally threaded end portion  27 . The modified form shown in FIG. 3 has arcuate or continuously curved convex side portions  21 A and  22 A and a curved front end portion  23 A. Frame  13  has a dished profile as viewed from the side. Each side portion has a concave top surface  28  and a convex bottom surface  29 . 
     The handle  15  is shown detached from the frame  13  in a retracted position in FIG. 4 and a fully extended position in FIG.  10 . The handle  15  is length adjustable having an outer tubular section  31  and an inner tubular section  32  telescoping in the outer tubing section  31 . A grip  33  is provided at the rear of the outer tubular section  31 . A coupling member  35  is attached to the front end of the inner tubular section  32  and has external threads  36  that thread into internal threads  37  on coupling member  26 . A clamp down sleeve  38  fits over the telescoping sections and turns to lock the sections at a selected length position. 
     By way of illustration and not limitation the length of the frame  13  is sixteen inches and the width nine inches as viewed from the top with the bow as viewed from the side being three inches. This provides a length to width ratio for the frame of about 16:9 and length to bow depth as viewed from the side of about 16:3. The length of the handle  15  in the retracted position in FIG. 4 is 36 inches and the length of the handle in the extended position shown in FIG. 10 is 84 inches providing a length adjusted range of 36 to 84. As shown in FIGS. 7-9 the net assemblies according to the present invention preferably will be provided as a set having frames of different widths that relate to the diameters of the different augers typically used to form holes in the ice of different sizes. FIG. 7 shows a ten inch hole and a nine inch frame, FIG. 8 shows a eight inch hole and a seven inch frame, and FIG. 9 shows a six inch hole and a five inch frame. 
     The elongated or oval shape with the double curvature allows the frame to function much like a spoon to dip under the fish as shown in FIG.  1  and has been found to be highly reliable in retrieving fish under the ice using a scooping action. The adjustable length handle facilitates use for different ice thicknesses and water depths. 
     Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes in details of structure may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.