Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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LIVE BAIT TRAP AND BUCKET
FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a live bait trap and bucket.
Specifically, it relates
to an apparatus for trapping various aquatic creatures, which are commonly
used as live fishing
bait. Furthermore, the live bait trap and bucket can also be used for storing
the captured bait
before use.
BACKGROUND
[0002] There are a number of existing devices for storing live bait, for the
purpose of
fishing. One such device is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,529,204 to Sykes,
which describes a
minnow bucket that has holes to allow the bucket to sink underwater when
filled with live bait.
This minnow bucket has a spring loaded access door and is selectively
floatable by having
compartments capable of receiving different materials to affect the overall
density of the bucket.
However, this invention serves the singular purpose of storing live bait.
[0003] U.S. Patent No. 7,017,297 to Ward describes another bait bucket, which
has
holes situated in the top half of the bucket to allow it to sink when placed
in water and drain
while keeping a reservoir for live bait when removed from the water. However,
as noted above
in the patent to Sykes, this only serves the purpose of storing the live bait
once it has been
acquired.
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[0004] There are also a number of devices for capturing live bait, such as
those
described in U.S. Design Patent No. D459,781 to Rowley and U.S. Patent No.
3,906,654 to
Leslie. These references describe minnow traps consisting of mesh enclosures
accessed by a
small hole, which is large enough to allow only typical live bait to enter.
Once trapped inside, the
singular small opening makes exit rather difficult for the captured live bait.
However, when
removed from the water, all water drains through the mesh of the trap and does
not leave a
reservoir in which the captured fish may survive. Therefore, these references
only provide an
apparatus for trapping live bait and not storing it alive once captured and
removed from the
water.
[0005] An angler who wishes to both trap and fish with live bait is,
therefore, forced to
use two separate devices. Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus
capable of effectively
trapping aquatic bait creatures, with the capability of storing and
transporting the captured bait
alive until needed for fishing.
SUMMARY
[0006] The present live bait trap and bucket addresses the above problems by
combining two commonly used pieces of fishing equipment. During use, the live
bait trap and
bucket is submersed sideways in a water source, where it slowly fills with
water by means of
drain holes located in the upper half and a funnel-shaped mouth which may be
located on the
bottom of the apparatus, and which culminates in a small opening. Typically
some food material,
such as dog food or pieces of bread, is placed within the trap before
submersion in water. The
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apparatus can be secured to a shore structure by means of a long string and
string handle,
which is tied to the carrying handle. When not in use the string may be wound
upon a spool
section on the string handle for storage.
[0007] As the apparatus fills with water, the food material placed inside
becomes
saturated and slowly dissolves into small food particles, which gradually
disperse around the
flooded interior of the apparatus. Eventually, small aquatic bait creatures
such as minnows,
tadpoles, small frogs, or other bait fish will be attracted to the suspended
food particles and
enter through the small opening at the end of the funnel-shaped mouth on the
bottom of the
apparatus. The small opening is sized such that only small creatures useful as
fishing bait can
enter the apparatus to feed.
[0008] Once the small bait creatures have entered the interior of the
apparatus, exit will
be difficult as the small opening prevents easy egress to the surrounding
water source. After an
adequate amount of bait has been trapped, the apparatus can be removed from
the water for
use as a bucket to store the captured live bait. Water drains out of the
aforementioned drain
holes and small opening in the funnel-shaped mouth at the bottom, until the
water has receded
to a level nominally below the level of the drain holes and the funnel-shaped
mouth. The water
is contained within the bottom half of the apparatus, allowing the bait to
remain alive during
storage and transport for use in live bait fishing. The live bait trap and
bucket is then transported
by means of a carrying handle, which further serves the purpose of securing
the top lid to the
bottom section by means of interlocking cylindrical tabs oriented through
holes in the bottom
section and forcibly snap-fitted into holes on the top lid.
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[0009] When live bait is required, the angler opens the access door located in
the lid of
the apparatus and reaches inside to retrieve the bait of choice. After
retrieval, the access door is
secured again by means of sliding interlocking tabs.
[0010] According to one aspect then, there is provided a bait trap submergible
in water
for catching and storing small aquatic bait creatures, the bait trap
comprising: a bottom section
with an open top end and a bottom end; and a top section secured to and
closing the top end of
the bottom section forming a generally cylindrical enclosure, the bottom
section including at
least one entrance hole opening into the interior of the enclosure, the
entrance hole being large
enough to allow the small aquatic bait creatures to enter into the cylindrical
enclosure when the
bait trap is submerged in water, yet small enough to hinder exit of the bait
creatures from the
cylindrical enclosure, the entrance hole being positioned within the bottom
section at a level
between the top end and the bottom end such that when the bait trap is removed
from the water
and held in an upright position, a sufficient amount of water is retained in
the bait trap to ensure
survival of the small aquatic bait creatures.
[0011] In other aspects, the entrance hole may be funnel-shaped, tapering
inwardly
toward the interior of the enclosure. The top section of the bait trap may
include an access door
for accessing the interior of the enclosure to remove the bait creatures or
add food, the access
door interlocking with the top section by means of mating tabs. The access
door may have a
tether for attaching it to the top section, and the bait trap may also include
a carrying handle, the
carrying handle having locking tabs which pass through mating holes in the top
section and the
bottom section thereby securing the top section to the bottom section and to
the handle. The
bottom section includes a plurality of drain holes adjacent the top end of the
bottom section, t[le
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drain holes being positioned above the level of the entrance hole. The drain
holes being of a
size suitable for letting water flow into and out of the enclosure, but small
enough to keep the
bait creatures from exiting the enclosure. The bait trap may include a tether
for attachment to a
secure structure, and a handle, including a spool section for storing the
tether when not in use.
Advantageously, the top section may contain a plurality of drain holes and the
access door may
include a hand grip to assist in opening and closing the access door. The
funnel-shaped
entrance hole may be in the range of one inch in diameter and located in the
bottom end of the
bottom section, tapering upward from the bottom end towards the top end.
[0012] According to a further aspect, there is provided a bait trap
submergible in water
for catching and storing small aquatic bait creatures, the bait trap
comprising: a bottom section
with an open top end and a bottom end; and a top section secured to and
closing the top end of
the bottom section forming a generally cylindrical enclosure, the bottom
section including at
least one funnel-shaped mouth which tapers to an entrance hole opening into
the interior of the
enclosure, the entrance hole being large enough to allow the small aquatic
bait creatures to
enter into the cylindrical enclosure when the bait trap is submerged in water,
yet small enough
to hinder exit of the bait creatures from the cylindrical enclosure, the
entrance hole being
positioned within the bottom section at a level between the top end and the
bottom end such
that when the bait trap is removed from the water and held in an upright
position, a sufficient
amount of water is retained in the bait trap to ensure survival of the small
aquatic bait creatures.
Advantageously, the funnel-shaped mouth may be located in the bottom end of
the bottom
section and tapers upward from the bottom end towards the top end.
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[0013] It is to be understood that other aspects of the present live bait trap
and bucket
will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following
detailed description,
wherein various embodiments are shown and described by way of illustration. As
will be
realized, the live bait trap and bucket is capable of other and different
embodiments and its
several details are capable of modification in various other respects, all
without departing from
the spirit and scope of the live bait trap and bucket described. Accordingly
the drawings and
detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as
restrictive.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate
similar parts
throughout the several views, several aspects of the live bait trap and bucket
are illustrated by
way of example, and not by way of limitation, in detail in the figures,
wherein:
[0015] Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the live bait trap
and bucket.
[0016] Figure 1 a is a side perspective, semi-transparent view of another
embodiment of
the live bait trap and bucket, showing the string handle and rubber tether
attached, and showing
the funnel shaped mouth.
[0017] Figure 2 is a plan view of the string handle for the live bait trap and
bucket.
[0018] Figure 3 is a plan view of the rubber tether for the live bait trap and
bucket.
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[0019] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the carrying handle for the live bait
trap and
bucket.
[0020] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the bottom section of the live
bait trap and
bucket.
[0021] Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the bottom section of the live bait
trap and
bucket.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] The live bait trap and bucket shall be described with reference to
specific
embodiments. Similar numerals are used in all figures to refer to similar
components.
[0023] With reference to Figures 1 and 1a, the live bait trap and bucket is
generally
indicated by the numeral 10. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical lid 20, a
bottom section 12,
and a carrying handle 30.
[0024] The live bait trap and bucket 10 is formed when the cylindrical lid 20,
is fitted
together with the bottom section 12, forming a generally cylindrical
enclosure.
[0025] The bottom section 12, includes an open top end 15 and a bottom end 17
(see
Figure 6) and may contain a plurality of drain holes 14 adjacent the top end
15. At least one
funnel shaped mouth 18 (see Figures 1 a, 5 and 6) tapers inward to culminate
in a small entrance
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hole 16 opening into the interior of the bottom section 12. The entrance hole
16 needs to be large
enough to allow the small aquatic bait creatures to enter into the bottom
section 12 yet small
enough to hinder their exit from the enclosure. A suitable diameter is in the
range of about one
inch (2.5 cm). The entrance hole 16 also needs to be positioned within the
bottom section 12 at a
point between the top end 15 and the bottom end 17 such that when the bait
trap is removed from
the water and held in an upright position, a sufficient amount of water will
be retained in the bait
trap to ensure survival of the small aquatic bait creatures.
[0026] In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 1a, the funnel shaped mouth
tapers
upward from the bottom end 17 towards the top end 15 and the entrance hole 16
is located at a
level A (see Figure 5) between about four to five inches above the bottom end
17. The plurality of
drain holes 14 in the bottom section 12 extend from a position adjacent the
top end 15 down to
approximately the level A of the small opening 16. The drain holes 14 are not
essential, but will
assist in allowing water to more rapidly move into and out of the bait trap
when it is placed into
and removed from the water.
[0027] The cylindrical lid 20, contains an access door 22. The access door 22
may
contain a further plurality of drain holes 23, a formed hand grip 26, and
slidably interlocking
tabs 25, which serve to secure the access door 22 to the cylindrical lid 20
when in the closed
position. Additional drain holes or slots 27 may be included in the lid 20.
[0028] The access door 22 may be tethered to the cylindrical lid 20, which may
be
accomplished using a door tether 24 (see Figures 1a and 3), fitted into
adjacent holes in the
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cylindrical lid 20 and access door 22. Door tether 24 may advantageously be
made of rubber or
some other flexible material.
[0029] In one embodiment, the carrying handle 30 mounts to the cylindrical lid
20 and
bottom section 12 by means of cylindrical locking tabs 31 (best seen in Figure
4), which orient
through holes 33 in the cylindrical lid 20 and corresponding holes 37 in
bottom section 12 to
secure the carrying handle to the lid and bottom section.
[0030] The live bait trap and bucket 10 may also include a tether 34, such as
a rope or
string, for attachment to a secure object such as a tree or dock to prevent it
from floating or
being dragged away by the current. One end of the tether 34 may be tied to the
carrying
handle 30 while the other end may be secured to a string handle 32, which may
contain a spool
section 35 (best seen in Figure 2) for winding the tether 34 for storage when
not in use. The
string handle 32 may be used to drag the bait trap and bucket 10 through the
water to assist in
filling it with water, or to retrieve the bait trap and bucket once filled
with bait.
[0031] In operation, food particles are placed in the bottom section 12 of
live bait trap
and bucket 10, which is then placed on its side in a body of water suspected
of harboring
aquatic creatures typically used for live bait fishing. Water enters the live
bait trap and bucket 10
by way of the plurality of drain holes 14, 23, 27 and the small opening 16.
When the live bait
trap and bucket 10 is filled with water, the food particles slowly dissolve
and disperse around the
interior. Eventually, small aquatic bait creatures enter the live bait trap
and bucket 10 by way of
the small opening 16 in the funnel shaped mouth 18 in the bottom section 12.
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[0032] Once placed in the body of water the live bait trap and bucket 10 can
be secured
to a stationary structure using the string 34 and string handle 32 for easy
retrieval. When not in
use the string 34 can be stored on the spool section 35.
[0033] Once trapped inside, the small aquatic creatures cannot easily escape
and
furthermore, remain attracted to the food particles remaining within the
apparatus. The small
opening 16 is shaped such that larger predatory fish cannot enter the live
bait trap and
bucket 10 to prey on the captured bait. After a suitable amount of time, the
live bait trap and
bucket 10 can be retrieved from the water by means of the string handle 32 or
carrying
handle 30. Once removed from the water and positioned upright, water will
drain out of the drain
holes 14 and the small opening 16 until the water recedes just below the level
of the drain
holes 14 and small opening 16, allowing a reservoir of water to be retained
within the bottom
section 12. This allows the captured bait to remain alive within the live bait
trap and bucket 10
for transport and storage before use.
[0034] When fishing, the user can open the live bait trap and bucket by
gripping the
formed hand grip 26 and slightly rotating the access door 22 until the
slidably interlocking
tabs 25 disengage. When opened, the access door 22 remains tethered to the
cylindrical lid 20
by means of the rubber tether 24. The bait can then be removed and the access
door 22 closed.
[0035] The previous detailed description is provided to enable any person
skilled in the art
to make or use the present live bait trap and bucket. Various modifications to
those embodiments
will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic
principles defined herein may be
applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the
live bait trap and
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bucket described herein. Thus, the present live bait trap and bucket is not
intended to be limited
to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the full scope
consistent with the claims,
wherein reference to an element in the singular, such as by use of the article
"a" or "an" is not
intended to mean "one and only one" unless specifically so stated, but rather
"one or more". All
structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various
embodiments described
throughout the disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of
ordinary skill in the
art are intended to be encompassed by the elements of the claims. Moreover,
nothing disclosed
herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such
disclosure is explicitly
recited in the claims.
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