Abstract:
An ice fishing hole strainer device for capturing and removing ice particles from a newly drilled ice hole. The ice fishing hole strainer device comprises an elongated handle attached to a cylinder with a hinged circular bottom having a plurality of holes. A stop ring and slotted hinge structure cooperate to pivot, open and close the apertured circular bottom in the cylinder as the strainer device is lowered into and raised from the ice hole to remove ice particles therefrom.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/493,712, filed on Aug. 7, 2003. 

   This invention relates generally to a device for preparing the hole in the ice for ice fishing. Particularly, this invention relates to an ice fishing hole strainer device for removing ice particles from the ice hole after the hole has been drilled through the ice. 
   When ice fishing, the fisherman initially drills a hole, i.e., 8 or 10 inches in diameter, through the ice. The hole may be drilled by means of a powered auger. Subsequent drilling, the hole is typically filled with ice chips and ice particles which need to be removed from the ice hole so that the fisherman can proceed with his fishing sport. 
   In the past various cup, scoop and dipping devices have been utilized for the purpose of cleaning the ice hole, however, the use of these prior art devices has been found time consuming, difficult and cumbersome. The ice fishing hole strainer device of the present invention provides an effective device which overcomes the shortcomings and limitations of the prior art devices. The ice fishing hole strainer device of the invention provides a quick and effective way to achieve a clean ice hole for ice fishing. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to an ice fishing hole strainer device that is constructed to easily and effectively remove ice particles from a hole after drilling the hole through the ice. 
   The ice fishing hole strainer device is comprised of a cylindrical member having an open top and an open bottom. The cylindrical member or cylinder has a cooperating round trap door with a plurality of holes. The trap door is attached to the inside of the cylinder by means of a hinge structure. A circular stop member is provided at the bottom inner periphery of the cylinder and which is positioned to cooperate with the hinged trap door. The strainer device further has an elongated handle member attached to the top of the cylinder for operating the ice fishing hole strainer device. 
   When the strainer device is lowered into the opening in the ice, the trap door pivots upward on the hinge structure and opens, thereby allowing the ice particles to enter the cylinder. When lifted up and out of the opening in the ice the trap door closes, thus trapping the ice particles inside the cylinder while the water drains out of the holes in the trap door. The ice may then be removed by tipping the strainer device upside down. 
   An advantage of the ice fishing hole strainer device is that the device automatically opens the trap door as the cylinder is lowered through the ice hole and the trap door automatically closes to trap the ice particles as the strainer device is lifted upward through the ice hole. 
   The ice fishing hole strainer device provides further novel features which cooperate to yield an effective and efficient assembly to provide a clean ice hole for ice fishing with minimal effort. 
   These and other benefits of this invention will become apparent from the following description by reference to the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a top plan view of the ice fishing hole strainer device of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a lateral elevational view showing one side of the device; 
       FIG. 3  is a lateral elevational view showing the opposite side of the device; 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded view showing the various elements of the device of the invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the invention and showing the device in a closed position; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the invention and showing the device in an open position; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing the ice fishing hole strainer device in a closed position; 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing the ice fishing hole strainer device in a partially opened position; 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing the ice fishing hole strainer device in an open position; and 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing a handle grip used on the handle member of the strainer device. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   This invention relates to an ice fishing hole strainer device that is constructed and arranged to remove ice particles from an ice hole after drilling the hole through the ice. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1–3 , the ice fishing hole strainer device  10  is shown comprised of a cylinder  11  having an apertured strainer or trap door  13  with a plurality of holes  14 . The cylinder  11  is connected at one end to an elongated handle member  19  having an eye bolt  25  at the opposite end for storage purposes. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6  show the ice fishing hole strainer  10  wherein the strainer or trap door  13  with apertures  14  is in a closed position ( FIG. 5 ) and in an open position ( FIG. 6 ). A hinge structure is shown comprised of a lower hinge portion  16 , an upper hinge portion  17  and a hinge connecting or pivot member  21 . The hinge structure is shown pivotally connecting the trap door  13  to the inside of the cylinder  11 . When the device  10  is lowered into the ice hole, the trap door  13  is automatically opened ( FIG. 6 ) and when pulled upward the hinged door  13  is automatically closed ( FIG. 5 ) to thereby trap the ice particles within the cylinder  11  for removal from the ice hole. As shown in  FIG. 5 , an edge strip  29  may be positioned over the upper edge of the cylinder  11 . The edge strip  29  is a protective strip which may be formed of a plastic composition or the like. 
   Referring particularly to  FIG. 4 , the ice fishing hole strainer device  10  is shown in a separated state to thereby show the various elements comprising the device. The strainer device  10  is shown comprised of a cylindrical body  11  having a plurality of slots  12  about its lower periphery. The slots  12  may be utilized to secure a stop ring  15  at the bottom of the cylinder  11 , i.e., tabs  28  extending from the stop ring  15  periphery may be secured within matching and aligned slots  12  of the cylinder  11 , for example. 
   Importantly, a hinged trap door  13  having a plurality of apertures  14  is secured within cylinder  11 . For example, hinge portion  16  is shown positioned for securement to the trap door or strainer  13  by means of fasteners  20 , i.e., rivets, for example, and hinge portion  17  is shown positioned for securement to the interior wall of the cylinder  11  by means of fasteners  20 , i.e., rivets, for example. Connecting member  21 , i.e. a shoulder rivet, connects the hinge portion  16  and hinge portion  17 . 
   The hinge member  17  preferably has an elongated slot  18  through which connecting member  21  extends. The elongated slot  18  in the hinge member  17  allows the hinge  16  and the trap door  13  additional movement so that the beveled edge  27  of the circular trap door  13  can be positioned with respect to and onto the stop ring  15  when the trap door  13  is operated and closed. Connecting member  21  extends through the elongated slot  18  of hinge portion  17  but allows the hinge members  16  and  17  to move vertically with respect to each other. 
   An elongated handle  19  is shown positioned for connection to the top of cylinder  11  by means of slot  26  in the bottom of handle  19  and fasteners  22 , i.e., carriage bolts with washers  23  and lock nuts  24 , which connect the bottom of handle member  19  to the cylinder  11 . At the top of handle  19  an eyebolt  25  may be provided for purposes of hanging storage of the strainer device  10 . 
     FIGS. 7 ,  8  and  9  further show the ice fishing hole strainer device  10  in various positions of use;  FIG. 7  shows the strainer device  10  in a closed position,  FIG. 8  in a partially opened position and in  FIG. 9  in a fully opened position. 
     FIG. 10  shows a handle grip member  30  which may be utilized on the elongated handle member  19 . The handle grip  30  may be formed of a polymeric or rubber material and frictionally fit onto the end of the handle member  19 . The handle grip  30  has an aperture  31  at the top for hanging or storage purposes and has a plurality of formed grip portions  32  designed to facilitate the hand grip of the user. 
   The cylinder  11  may be constructed of galvanized steel or like material to form a 7 or 9 inch diameter cylindrical structure, for example for use in 8 or 10 inch diameter ice holes, which are typically utilized. The cylinder  11  may be formed of a sheet of material, metallic, plastic, or other rigid material which may be formed into a cylindrical structure. The slots  22  in the bottom of cylinder  11  may be aligned with the peripheral tabs  28  of the stop ring  15  to thereby form the cylindrical portion of the device  10 . The trap door  13  may also be formed of a metallic structure or like material. The elongated handle member  19  may be constructed of wood or other suitable composition and has any desired length so as to permit the user to plunge the cylinder into the ice hole for ice particle removal. 
   In summary, the ice fishing hole strainer device  10  is shown comprised of a cylinder which has a round trap door with holes attached to the cylinder by means of a hinge structure. When the device is lowered into the opening in the ice, the trap door opens, allowing the ice to enter the cylinder. When lifted up and out of the opening the trap door closes, thus trapping the ice particles while the water drains out of the holes in the trap door. The ice may then be removed by tipping the device upside down. 
   As many changes are possible to the ice fishing hole strainer embodiments of this invention, utilizing the teachings thereof, the description above and the accompanying drawings should be interpreted in the illustrative and not in the limited sense.