US3728812A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trolling bucket
Assignee: Woodstream Corp
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Filing: 1971-04-19
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Granted: 1973-04-24
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Expires: 1991-04-19
Abstract
Abstract A trolling bucket for holding live minnows or similar live bait and adapted to be towed behind a boat, comprising a hollow shell of resilient polyethylene or similar material and having a streamlined hull-like bottom surface portion. A pair of closed pockets or chambers disposed on either side of the interior of the hollow shell, generally at the water line, are filled with a foamed plastic material such as polyurethane, to provide flotation of the bucket while being towed. A weight is provided to orient the trolling bucket when floating and an inwardly pivotable access door is provided in the top surface of the shell, to provide access to the interior thereof. The forward end portion of the bucket includes an elongated recess into which handle means for the bucket are slidably retractable so as to be substantially flush with the exterior surface of the bucket. The lower wall portion has an elongated channel which forms a keellike rib on the exterior of the bucket.
Inventors
- 👤 H Landell
- 👤 R Woolworth
- 👤 A Souza
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 00:17
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01K; A01K97/00; A01K97/04; A01K97/05
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
257 words
A trolling bucket for carrying live bait or the like, comprising a generally closed hollow plastic shell member having a rounded forward end portion, a longitudinally spaced rear wall portion, and rounded upper and lower wall portions, said upper wall portion having a greater arc of curvature than said lower wall portion and being connected to said lower wall portion by a pair of generally inwardly extending wall portions respectively disposed at either side of the bucket, whereby said lower wall portion of said shell member has a hull-like configuration; interior wall means defining a pair of flotation compartments internally of said shell member adjacent said respective inwardly extending wall portions, said flotation compartments having foamed flotation material therein; said upper wall portion further having an opening therethrough adjacent said forward end portion to provide access to the interior of the bucket; door means pivotally secured to the interior of said upper wall portion adjacent said opening and adapted for pivotal movement between a first position in which it substantially closes said opening and a second position within the bucket away from said opening; biasing means normally urging said door means towards said first position; and handle means secured to said forward end portion of said shell member and adapted to permit the bucket to be carried by a person, or to be towed behind a boat, said forward end portion including an elongated recess therein, said handle means being slidably retractable into said elongated recess substantially flush with the exterior surface of said forward end portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
257 words
A trolling bucket for carrying live bait or the like, comprising a generally closed hollow plastic shell member having a rounded forward end portion, a longitudinally spaced rear wall portion, and rounded upper and lower wall portions, said upper wall portion having a greater arc of curvature than said lower wall portion and being connected to said lower wall portion by a pair of generally inwardly extending wall portions respectively disposed at either side of the bucket, whereby said lower wall portion of said shell member has a hull-like configuration; interior wall means defining a pair of flotation compartments internally of said shell member adjacent said respective inwardly extending wall portions, said flotation compartments having foamed flotation material therein; said upper wall portion further having an opening therethrough adjacent said forward end portion to provide access to the interior of the bucket; door means pivotally secured to the interior of said upper wall portion adjacent said opening and adapted for pivotal movement between a first position in which it substantially closes said opening and a second position within the bucket away from said opening; biasing means normally urging said door means towards said first position; and handle means secured to said forward end portion of said shell member and adapted to permit the bucket to be carried by a person, or to be towed behind a boat, said forward end portion including an elongated recess therein, said handle means being slidably retractable into said elongated recess substantially flush with the exterior surface of said forward end portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
277 words
A trolling bucket for carrying live bait or the like, comprising a generally closed hollow plastic shell member having a rounded forward end portion, a longitudinally spaced rear wall portion, and rounded upper and lower wall portions, said upper wall portion having a greater arc of curvature than said lower wall portion and being connected to said lower wall portion by a pair of generally inwardly extending wall portions respectively disposed at either side of the bucket, whereby said lower wall portion of said shell member has a hull-like configuration; interior wall means defining a pair of flotation compartments internally of said shell member adjacent said respective inwardly extending wall portions, said flotation compartments having foamed flotation material therein; said upper wall portion further having an opening therethrough adjacent said forward end portion to provide access to the interior of the bucket; door means pivotally secured to the interior of said upper wall portion adjacent said opening and adapted for pivotal movement between a first position in which it substantially closes said opening and a second position within the bucket away from said opening; biasing means normally urging said door means towards said first position; and a pocket means defined in the interior of said shell member adjacent the intersection of said rear wall portion and said lower wall portion, and a weight secured within said pocket means to stabilize and orient the trolling bucket when being towed in the water, said pocket means being partially defined by an elongated channel means extending centrally and longitudinally of at least a portion of said lower wall portion to form a keel-like rib on the exterior of said bucket.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
277 words
A trolling bucket for carrying live bait or the like, comprising a generally closed hollow plastic shell member having a rounded forward end portion, a longitudinally spaced rear wall portion, and rounded upper and lower wall portions, said upper wall portion having a greater arc of curvature than said lower wall portion and being connected to said lower wall portion by a pair of generally inwardly extending wall portions respectively disposed at either side of the bucket, whereby said lower wall portion of said shell member has a hull-like configuration; interior wall means defining a pair of flotation compartments internally of said shell member adjacent said respective inwardly extending wall portions, said flotation compartments having foamed flotation material therein; said upper wall portion further having an opening therethrough adjacent said forward end portion to provide access to the interior of the bucket; door means pivotally secured to the interior of said upper wall portion adjacent said opening and adapted for pivotal movement between a first position in which it substantially closes said opening and a second position within the bucket away from said opening; biasing means normally urging said door means towards said first position; and a pocket means defined in the interior of said shell member adjacent the intersection of said rear wall portion and said lower wall portion, and a weight secured within said pocket means to stabilize and orient the trolling bucket when being towed in the water, said pocket means being partially defined by an elongated channel means extending centrally and longitudinally of at least a portion of said lower wall portion to form a keel-like rib on the exterior of said bucket.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-23 | 1976-10-23 | 1977-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-23 | 1980-10-23 | 1981-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-23 | 1984-10-23 | 1985-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |