Patent Publication Number: US-2004055630-A1

Title: Self-propelled ice shelter

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention is related to a shelter and more particularly to self-propelled ice shelter used for fishing and the like as well as a method for using the same.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] As we have progressed and evolved to a more affluent and mobile society, we have experienced not only an increase in outdoor recreation activities, but we have also witnessed sportsmen of all walks allocating more hours from their lives to leisure-time activities. This has brought about larger geographical travel areas and a significant increase in dollars spent on such leisure-time activities.  
       [0003] On of the growing areas of interest and enjoyment for individuals and families is that of fishing. With the growing popularity of angling has come the evolution of techniques and the advent of more sophisticated angling equipment, including high powered bass boats, depth finders and controversial underwater cameras. As normally follows any improvement in technology for a given task, efficiencies are increased, and fishing is no exception.  
       [0004] Increased efficiencies in angling, along with more people fishing more hours per year, have increased fishing pressure on many bodies of water. This increase in pressure has led to increased demand for many improvements in angling equipment. Quite frankly, there are more anglers competing for the existing fish on any given body of water than ever before.  
       [0005] One of the remedies for this situation has been better equipment technology and improved mobility for anglers to reach areas that will yield fishing action.  
       [0006] To date, most of the angling technological improvements related to increased mobility have been applied to fresh water fishing. There is one angling method that has been severely under served by improvements in mobility: the area of ice fishing. Ice fishing has enjoyed increased popularity in recent years. Large ice fishing tournaments are becoming more common in the northern climates.  
       [0007] Ice fishing today, like any other form of fishing, demands that one go to where the fish are. Unlike pulling the anchor in a boat and motoring to another area, this is not so easily accomplished in a traditional ice fishing shelter.  
       [0008] One of the problems facing ice anglers is the time, labor, and difficulty of moving a traditional stationary ice fishing shelter. The majority of stationary shelters in use today are towed across the ice to the chosen fishing area by some type of motorized vehicle, by trailer, or on skids or wheels attached to the floor of the shelter. The shelters are then set directly on the ice surface and possibly even banked with snow.  
       [0009] If the angler wishes to move to another area of the ice, or to an entirely different body of water, the shelter must by lifted onto the trailer and towed by a vehicle to the chosen locale. Many times the shelter may be frozen down, making for a labor intensive move and possibly damaging the structure.  
       [0010] Another option in moving to another area is to abandon the ice house. This option is not appealing to many fishermen, since comfort is a key component to the ice fishing experience. This option is generally uncomfortable as the fisherman generally sits on a bucket on the ice while fishing.  
       [0011] Recently, there has been a movement by some shelter manufacturers to produce shelters with wheels attached to them, allowing them to be pulled as a trailer behind an automobile or all terrain vehicle. While this simplifies the movement, the angler must still utilize a tow vehicle and pull the shelter to his or her chosen angling area. Often, depending on snow depth, ice conditions, or proximity to area resorts, the angler must adhere to traveling on specified maintained roads or other accessible areas of the ice.  
       [0012] There is also a safety issue with such an arrangement, especially at the beginning and end of the ice fishing season. Each year ice houses are lost when placed or left on ice which is too thin. Ice houses can break through the ice, severely damaging the ice shelter and placing the occupants at risk.  
       [0013] Therefore, there is a need for a totally mobile, efficient, fast, and safe solution to the aforementioned situation. There is also a need for a shelter which provides for quick, trouble free travel and set-up, but due to its integral flotation system, it provides peace of mind by being totally buoyant.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014] A self-propelled ice shelter includes a frame, a housing and a drive device attached to the frame, and a power source attached to the frame to the drive device. The power source propels the self-propelled ice shelter. A weather stripping skirt substantially seals the space between the housing and the surface on which the self-propelled ice shelter is positioned when the self-propelled ice shelter is stationary. In some embodiments, the weather stripping skirt is deployed to a seal position or to an underway position. In the underway position, the skirt is positioned to allow for clearance when the self-propelled ice shelter is moving. In other embodiments, the weather stripping skirt has a substantially fixed height. The drive device is movable with respect to the frame between a drive position and a retracted position. The drive device is moved to the retracted position when the self-propelled ice shelter is stationary until the weather stripping skirt contacts the surface, and forms a seal between the housing and the surface on which the self-propelled ice shelter is positioned. In some embodiments, the drive device is includes a hydraulic apparatus for moving the drive device between the drive position and the retracted position. In other embodiments, a lever apparatus moves the drive device between the drive position and the retracted position. The drive device includes a set of wheels. The drive device, in some embodiments, includes a track. In some embodiments, the self-propelled ice shelter includes a leveler attached to the frame. The leveler levels the self-propelled ice shelter when stationary.  
       [0015] The self-propelled ice shelter includes a floor having at least one opening therein. In some embodiments, the self-propelled ice shelter includes a template attached to the frame. The template is used to mark the position of openings with respect to the footprint of the housing so that an opening may be made in the surface on which the self-propelled ice shelter is positioned that aligns with the opening in the floor of the housing of the self-propelled ice shelter. In some embodiments, the template is a collapsible apparatus capable of a stowed position and a template position.  
       [0016] A method includes driving a self-propelled shelter to a position near a desired position on a surface, and positioning a template on the desired position on the surface. The surface of the desired position is marked using the template. The self-propelled shelter is driven substantially to the desired position on the surface based on the marks made on the surface. The method also includes making an opening in the surface based on one of the marks made on the surface. Driving the self-propelled shelter substantially to the desired position on the surface substantially aligns the opening in the surface with an opening in a floor of the self-propelled shelter. In some embodiments, the method includes sealing a space between the floor of the self-propelled shelter and the surface.  
       [0017] A method of ice fishing includes positioning a template onto an ice surface. The template has at least one marking for positioning an opening to be made in the ice surface. At least one opening in the ice surface is made which corresponds to the at the at least one position the template. The shelter is moved over the opening. The shelter has a floor having at least one opening. Moving the shelter over the at least one opening substantially aligns the at least one opening on the surface of the ice surface with the at least one opening in the floor of the shelter. The method also includes marking the ice surface where the at least one opening will be located, and marking the ice surface to enable alignment of the at least one opening in the ice surface with the at least one opening in the floor of the shelter. Marking the ice surface to enable alignment includes making at least two marks on the ice surface. In some embodiments, marking the ice surface to enable alignment includes placing markers viewable from a housing of the ice shelter on the ice surface.  
       [0018] Also disclosed is an ice shelter having an integral buoyant system so that if the ice house should break through the ice, the ice shelter will float thereby minimizing the amount of equipment lost and preventing entrapment should there be occupants within the ice shelter at the time of such a mishap.  
       [0019] Advantageously, the self-propelled ice house allows for a mobile, efficient, fast and safe solution to allow ice fisherman increased mobility without giving up comfort when ice fishing. The self-propelled ice shelter allows comfort to be maintained and also allows for quick, trouble-free travel between fishing locations. The self-propelled ice shelter can be set up in a matter of minutes. The self-propelled ice shelter also includes an integral flotation system, that allows fishing to be conducted in a safe manner and provides peace of mind to the fisherman as well as to the families of fisherman.  
       [0020] These and various other features as well as advantages which characterize the present invention will be apparent upon reading of the following detailed description and review of the associated drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0021]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a self-propelled ice shelter.  
     [0022]FIG. 2 is a side view of another embodiment of a self-propelled ice shelter.  
     [0023]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of a seal along line  3 - 3  in FIG. 2.  
     [0024]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a seal.  
     [0025]FIG. 5 is a top view of a drilling template according to this invention.  
     [0026]FIG. 6 is a top view of another embodiment of a drilling template of this invention.  
     [0027]FIG. 7 is a top view of a surface after openings have been made in the surface and markers have been placed on the surface.  
     [0028]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a self-propelled ice shelter parked on a surface after openings have been made in the surface and markers have been placed on the surface.  
     [0029]FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an integral buoyant system associated with an ice shelter.  
     [0030]FIG. 10 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a drive system. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
     [0031] In the following detailed description of the embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural, logical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present inventions. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present inventions is defined only by the appended claims.  
     [0032]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a self-propelled ice shelter  100 .  
     [0033] The self-propelled ice shelter  100  includes a frame  110 . A housing  120  is attached to the frame. The housing is of a size to accommodate one or more adult humans. The housing is also insulated to protect the housing from becoming excessively cold or excessively warm in extreme weather. Within the housing are windows  122 ,  123 . The self-propelled ice shelter  100  also includes at least one drive device  130 . As shown in FIG. 1, there are also drive devices  132  and  134 . Yet another drive device is not shown, as it is associated with the other corner of the housing  120 . Each drive device  130  is essentially the same, or is substantially the same, and includes a set of wheels  141  and a belt  142 . The drive device has a main body  143 . The wheels  141  and belt  142  are attached to the main body  143 . The main body  143  is attached to the housing  120 , or more specifically to the frame  110  of the housing  120 , using a hydraulic ram  145 . The hydraulic ram  145  is used to move the drive device  130  with respect to the frame  110  of the housing  120 . In some instances, the hydraulic rams  145  will be used to level the self-propelled ice shelter when it reaches a desired position. In other instances, the drive devices may be retracted until the bottom surface of the housing  120  engages the surface over which the self-propelled ice shelter is positioned. The self-propelled ice shelter  100  also includes a power source for propelling the drive device or drive devices  130 ,  132 ,  134  on the ice house. It should be noted that the ice shelter  100  shown in FIG. 1 and discussed in this invention is a self-propelled ice shelter, which means it includes a power source such as an engine, solar cells, or a battery bank, that can be used to drive the drive units  130 ,  132 ,  134 . In other words, in order to change position, the self-propelled ice shelter can be driven to a new spot on the ice, or can be driven off of the ice and driven into a garage for storage. This is differentiated from any other shelters, which do not have a source of power on board. Other ice shelters or ice houses are moved using an external source of power.  
     [0034]FIG. 2 is a side view of another embodiment of a self-propelled ice shelter  200 . The self-propelled ice shelter  200  includes a frame  210 , and a housing  220  attached to the frame  210 . The housing  220  includes several windows  222 ,  223 ,  224 . Attached to the housing  220 , and more specifically attached to the frame  210  of the housing  220 , are a first drive device  230  and a second drive device  232 . Only two drive devices are shown, when in fact there are two additional drive devices not shown, on the opposite side of the housing  220  of the self-propelled ice shelter  200 . Each drive unit  230 ,  232  includes at least one drive wheel  241 . The at least one drive wheel  241  engages a belt  242 . The drive units  230 ,  232  retract or can move with respect to the frame  210  and the housing  220  of the self-propelled ice shelter  200 . Attached along the lower edge of the housing  220  is a weather seal  250 . The weather seal  250  is positioned along the outer perimeter of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 2. It should be noted that a seal need not run exactly around the perimeter of the outside footprint of the housing  220 , but may also be positioned substantially in board of the outer perimeter. The weather seal  250  is for sealing the housing  220  with respect to the outside elements. In practice, the self-propelled ice shelter  200  will include one or more openings in the bottom or floor of the housing  220 . The weather seal  250  should at least encircle or substantially encircle these openings to prevent cold air, wind and snow from entering the interior portion of the housing  220 . As shown in this embodiment, the weather seal  250  extends substantially around or near the outside perimeter of the housing  220 .  
     [0035]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a seal  250 . The cross-sectional view is along line  3 - 3  in FIG. 2. The seal  250  includes a cylindrical portion  310 , which appears circular in cross-section. The cylindrical portion  310  includes a hollow center or hollow interior portion  312 . The cylindrical portion  310  is made of a flexible material, such as butyl rubber or another elastomeric material. The seal  250  also includes an elongated tab  320 , which has a series of openings  321  therein. The seal  250  is attached to the frame  210  of the housing  220  of the self-propelled ice shelter  200  using a series of fasteners, such as the one fastener  330  shown in FIG. 3. In this particular embodiment, the fastener  330  is a hex-head bolt which is received by a corresponding threaded opening in the frame  210  of the self-propelled ice shelter  200 . It should also be noted that any other type of fastener may be used, such as a sheet metal screw, or any type of clip. The fasteners, such as hex bolt  330 , must be sufficiently substantial to hold the elongated tab and cylindrical portion  310  of the seal  250 . Installing the seal  250  merely includes molding a seal  250  to the exact footprint of the housing  220  of the self-propelled ice shelter  200 , or in the alternative, the seal  250  can be made of a flexible material so that an appropriate length is merely cut off and the seal  250  is attached to the frame  210  of the housing  220 . In operation, the self-propelled ice shelter  200  is moved into position and the drive mechanisms, such as drive mechanisms  230 ,  232 , are retracted until the seal  250  contacts the surface over which the self-propelled ice shelter  200  is positioned. The seal  250  then forms a seal between the housing  220  and the surface, such as a sheet of ice on a lake or other body of water, over which the self-propelled ice shelter  200  is positioned.  
     [0036]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a seal  450 . The seal  450  includes a first expandable wall or bellows  410 , and a second expandable wall or bellows  412 . The seal  450  also includes a frame  414 , which is attached at various points along the first bellows  410  and second bellows  412 . A rod  430  is attached to the frame  414 . The rod  430  moves up and down, or moves with respect to the frame  414  of the housing  420  of the self-propelled ice shelter  400 . In this particular embodiment, the drive unit  440  is fixed with respect to the frame  414  and housing  420  of the self-propelled ice shelter  400 . The drive unit  440  also includes a belt  442 . In operation, the self-propelled ice shelter  400  is moved into position. As the self-propelled ice shelter  400  moves, the seal  450  is in a retracted position where the rod is withdrawn into the housing  420 . After the self-propelled ice shelter  400  is appropriately positioned, the rod is extended down toward the surface over which the self-propelled ice shelter  400  is positioned, until the frame  414  of the seal  450  contacts the surface over which the self-propelled ice shelter  400  is positioned. The extendable walls or bellows  410 ,  412  are attached to the frame  414 , as well as to the housing  420  of the self-propelled ice shelter  400 . In some embodiments, the frame  414  associated with the seal  450  and the shafts  430  which move the frame  414  of the seal  450  up and down with respect to the housing  420  could be made as one of several units attached to the housing  420 . The rod or shaft  430  and the frame  414  could be made substantial enough so that independent rods  430  and seal frames  414  could be used to level the housing  420 . Advantageously, the bellows-like walls  410 ,  412  of the seal  450  would adapt to the various levels in the event the surface over which the self-propelled ice shelter  400  is positioned would happen to be uneven. In some embodiments, a separate set of leveling devices could be used, such as hydraulically driven rods or jacks, which would engage the surface and automatically level the self-propelled ice shelter  400 . In one embodiment, a first level detector would be placed transverse to the center line of the self-propelled ice shelter  100 ,  200 ,  400 , and a second level detector would be placed parallel to a similar axis. A circuit containing a feedback loop to determine if a sensor produces a signal indicating level within a certain selected amount, and another circuit for determining whether the second level detector is level with a selected amount, and having a feedback loop could be used in order to produce a self-leveling self-propelled ice shelter  100 ,  200 ,  400 .  
     [0037]FIG. 5 is a top view of a drilling template  500  attached to the forward end  229  of the self-propelled ice shelter  200 . The drilling template  500  is formed of an accordion-style linkage  510 . The accordion-style linkage  510  includes cross members  520 ,  521 ,  522 ,  523 ,  524 , and  525 . Each of the cross members is pivotally attached to another cross member approximately midway along its length. The ends of each cross member are also pivotally attached to either another cross member or an end member, such as end member  526  or  527 . The end member  527  is attached to the forward portion  229  of the self-propelled ice shelter  200 . By example, cross member  520  is pivotally attached to cross member  525 , midway along its length. Cross member  520  has a first end, which is pivotally attached to the end member  527 . Cross member  520  also has another end, which is pivotally attached to another cross member  524 . Also by way of example, cross member  521  is pivotally attached to cross member  524  midway along its length. The ends of cross member  521  are attached to cross member  523  and cross member  525 . Thus the linkage formed  510 , is an accordion-style length, which can be folded up or placed in a retracted position and attached to the front edge or forward portion  229  of the self-propelled ice shelter  200 . The accordion-style linkage  510  includes a series of marks where openings or holes should be drilled within an ice surface. The holes or openings correspond in the spacing and position to openings in the floor of the self-propelled ice shelter  200 . As shown in FIG. 5, the openings are formed at selected pivot points on the accordion-style linkage. As shown in FIG. 5, the openings or markings carry the reference numerals  530 ,  531 ,  532 ,  533 ,  534 , and  535 . It should be noted that the accordion-style linkage  510  has a fully extended position to assure that the markings  530 ,  531 ,  532 ,  533 ,  534 ,  535  represent the appropriate spacing between the openings in the floor of the self-propelled ice shelter  200 . It should also be noted that the markings need not be at the pivot points, but could also be notches, or painted portions along any one of the bars or cross members  520 ,  521 ,  522 ,  523 ,  524 ,  525  or  526 . In other words, the markings could be positioned inwardly from the actual pivot points at the end of the cross members. In operation, the self-propelled ice shelter  200  is moved to a position proximate or adjacent where it is desired to fish. The linkage  510  is taken from its retracted position to its fully extended position, the ice is marked, holes are drilled at the marks, and then the drilling template  500  represented by the linkage  510  is placed again in its retracted position and the self-propelled ice shelter  200  is moved into position over the openings formed. The ice house can then be lowered to seal between the housing and the ice surface, or a seal  450  may be extended downwardly to seal between the ice surface and the housing. There also may be some portions of the seal  450  which can be used to level the self-propelled ice shelter  200 .  
     [0038]FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a drilling template  600 . The drilling template  600  is merely a sheet of appropriate material, which includes a set of openings, such as  630 ,  632 , which correspond to openings in the floor of the self-propelled ice shelter  200 . The drilling template  600  also includes markings for posts or other markers which can be placed into the surface, so that as the self-propelled ice shelter  200  is driven into position, more visible markers can be used by the driver of the self-propelled ice shelter  200  to correctly position the self-propelled ice shelter  200  over the openings formed in the ice. As shown in FIG. 6, the drilling template  600  has been placed on the ice, the openings  630  and  632  have been marked, and posts  650 ,  651 ,  652 ,  653  have been placed at a set of corresponding markers  640 ,  641 ,  642 ,  643  associated with the drilling template. The drilling template may then be removed, leaving just the posts  650 ,  651 ,  652 ,  653 , and the openings in the ice. FIG. 7 shows the posts  650 ,  651 ,  652 ,  653  and an opening  710 , and an opening  712  in the ice  700 . The self-propelled ice shelter  200  can then be driven into place over the opening  710  and the opening  712  in the ice  700  using the posts as guides viewable from the interior of the self-propelled ice shelter  200 .  
     [0039]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the self-propelled ice shelter  200  parked on the surface over the openings, after the openings have been made and the surface has been marked with markers or stakes  652 ,  653 . In operation, the self-propelled ice shelter  200  is driven into place and the markers  651 ,  652 ,  653  are used by the driver to determine the exact location, or nearly the exact location, where the openings in the ice correspond to the openings in the floor of the self-propelled ice shelter  200 .  
     [0040]FIG. 9 is a schematic view of an integral buoyant system associated with a self-propelled ice shelter. FIG. 9 shows a cut-away perspective view of the housing  920  of a self-propelled ice shelter  900 . The housing  920  of the self-propelled ice shelter  900  includes an air pocket or set of air pockets that are formed about the periphery of the housing  920 . The air pocket carries a reference numeral  960 ,  961 ,  962 ,  963 . The buoyant areas  960 ,  961 ,  962 ,  963  can be filled with air or a styrofoam material that is buoyant when placed in water. The integral buoyant device  960 ,  961 ,  962 ,  963  is an added safety feature to the self-propelled ice shelter  900 , in that if the weight of the self-propelled ice shelter  900  should cause the ice shelter to break through the surface, such as ice on a lake, the self-buoyant feature will prevent the self-propelled ice shelter  900  from sinking to the bottom of the lake.  
     [0041]FIG. 10 is an embodiment of a drive system associated with the self-propelled ice shelter described above. The drive system shown in FIG. 10 is a hydraulic system. The self-propelled ice house includes four drive units  230 ,  232 ,  1030 ,  1032 . Each of the drive units includes a drive sprocket  1010 ,  1012 ,  1014 ,  1016 . Each of the drive sprockets drives a belt  1040 ,  1042 ,  1044 ,  1046 . The drive sprockets are each fluidly coupled to a pump  1050  via fluid lines  1060 ,  1062 ,  1064 ,  1066  such as hydraulic hoses. It should be noted that although only one hydraulic line is shown to each drive sprocket  1010 ,  1012 ,  1014 ,  1016 , there generally are two lines or a set of lines for delivering the fluid to each drive sprocket  1010 ,  1012 ,  1014 ,  1016  and returning fluid to the pump  1050 . The pump  1050  for pumping hydraulic fluid is attached to an engine  1070  associated with the self-propelled ice house. As shown in FIG. 10, the pump is attached to four drive units  230 ,  232 ,  1030 ,  1032 . In other embodiments, the pump  1050  maybe attached to two of the drive units  230 ,  232 ,  1030 ,  1032 . In still other embodiments, each drive unit can have an individual pump associated therewith.  
     [0042] Advantageously, the self-propelled ice shelter disclosed provides a dependable, aesthetically pleasing, comfortable, affordable, self-propelled angling shelter for the purpose of allowing rapid movement and set-up of an ice fishing house, and to enable vehicle occupants to travel quickly and safely on a frozen body of water to a variety of angling areas.  
     [0043] Conclusion  
     [0044] A self-propelled ice shelter includes a frame, a housing and a drive device attached to the frame, and a power source attached to the frame to the drive device. The power source propels the self-propelled ice shelter. A weather stripping skirt substantially seals the space between the housing and the surface on which the self-propelled ice shelter is positioned when the self-propelled ice shelter is stationary. In some embodiments, the weather stripping skirt is deployed to a seal position or to an underway position. In the underway position, the skirt is positioned to allow for clearance when the self-propelled ice shelter is moving. In other embodiments, the weather stripping skirt has a substantially fixed height. The drive device is movable with respect to the frame between a drive position and a retracted position. The drive device is moved to the retracted position when the self-propelled ice shelter is stationary until the weather stripping skirt contacts the surface, and forms a seal between the housing and the surface on which the self-propelled ice shelter is positioned. In some embodiments, the drive device is includes a hydraulic apparatus for moving the drive device between the drive position and the retracted position. In other embodiments, a lever apparatus moves the drive device between the drive position and the retracted position. The drive device includes a set of wheels. The drive device, in some embodiments, includes a track. In some embodiments, the self-propelled ice shelter includes a leveler attached to the frame. The leveler levels the self-propelled ice shelter when stationary.  
     [0045] The self-propelled ice shelter includes a floor having at least one opening therein. In some embodiments, the self-propelled ice shelter includes a template attached to the frame. The template is used to mark the position of openings with respect to the footprint of the housing so that an opening may be made in the surface on which the self-propelled ice shelter is positioned that aligns with the opening in the floor of the housing of the self-propelled ice shelter. In some embodiments, the template is a collapsible apparatus capable of a stowed position and a template position.  
     [0046] A method of ice fishing includes positioning a template onto an ice surface. The template has at least one marking for positioning an opening to be made in the ice surface. At least one opening in the ice surface is made which corresponds to the at the at least one position the template. The shelter is moved over the opening. The shelter has a floor having at least one opening. Moving the shelter over the at least one opening substantially aligns the at least one opening on the surface of the ice surface with the at least one opening in the floor of the shelter. The method also includes marking the ice surface where the at least one opening will be located, and marking the ice surface to enable alignment of the at least one opening in the ice surface with the at least one opening in the floor of the shelter. Marking the ice surface to enable alignment includes making at least two marks on the ice surface. In some embodiments, marking the ice surface to enable alignment includes placing markers viewable from a housing of the ice shelter on the ice surface.  
     [0047] A method includes driving a self-propelled shelter to a position near a desired position on a surface, and positioning a template on the desired position on the surface. The surface of the desired position is marked using the template. The self-propelled shelter is driven substantially to the desired position on the surface based on the marks made on the surface. The method also includes making an opening in the surface based on one of the marks made on the surface. Driving the self-propelled shelter substantially to the desired position on the surface substantially aligns the opening in the surface with an opening in a floor of the self-propelled shelter. In some embodiments, the method includes sealing a space between the floor of the self-propelled shelter and the surface.  
     [0048] Also disclosed is an ice shelter that includes an integral flotation device, which increases the safety associated with ice fishing.  
     [0049] It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.