Floating bait container

Abstract

A collapsible live bait container constructed of a vinyl coated fabric mesh. The mesh is sewn over one or more flexibly resilient stays. A foam flotation member or buoyant stays can be secured to the enclosure walls. Resealing access ports are defined with strips of hook and loop fasteners, zippers or a fabric sleeve and drawstring. Several storage compartments can be provided with permanent or detachable walls or pockets.

1 . A live bait container comprising: 
 fabric mesh formed to define a flexible body having a first end wall, a second end wall, a side wall disposed between the first end wall and second end wall, and an interior storage space; and    an access port communicating with the interior storage space and located on the side wall of the flexible body.    
   
   
       2 . The live bait container of  claim 1  wherein the access port is an elongate longitudinal opening in the side wall.  
   
   
       3 . The live bait container of  claim 1  wherein the access port comprises first and second upstanding flaps extending outward from the side wall.  
   
   
       4 . The live bait container of  claim 3  wherein the first and second upstanding flaps include first and second strips of fastener material located on opposing surfaces of the first and second flaps, respectively, to provide a resealable opening.  
   
   
       5 . The live bait container of  claim 1  wherein the side wall includes a float positioned alongside the access port.  
   
   
       6 . The live bait container of  claim 1  wherein the side wall is attached to the first end wall and the second end wall to form a cylindrically shaped flexible body.  
   
   
       7 . The live bait container of  claim 1  wherein the access port includes first and second pull tabs to facilitate opening and closing of the access port.  
   
   
       8 . The live bait container of  claim 1  wherein the flexible body includes a flexible resilient stay to prevent the flexible body from collapsing.  
   
   
       9 . The live bait container of  claim 8  wherein the flexible resilient stay is buoyant.  
   
   
       10 . The live bait container of  claim 1  and further comprising a mesh pocket sewn onto an exterior of the side wall.  
   
   
       11 . The live bait container of  claim 1  where the flexible body further includes an interior wall connected to the first end wall, second end wall and side wall, and dividing the interior storage space into segregated portions.  
   
   
       12 . A live bait container comprising: 
 fabric mesh formed to define an enclosure having a plurality of walls and surrounding an interior storage space; wherein the enclosure includes: 
 a cylindrically shaped side wall having a first edge and a second edge;  
 a first end panel secured to the first edge;  
 a second end panel secured to the second edge; and  
   an elongate longitudinal access port to the interior storage space formed by first and second cut edges of the cylindrically shaped side wall.    
   
   
       13 . The live bait container of  claim 12  wherein the elongate longitudinal access port includes first and second upstanding flaps attached to the first and second cut edges, respectively, and extending outward from the cylindrically shaped side wall.  
   
   
       14 . The live bait container of  claim 13  wherein the first and second upstanding flaps include first and second strips of fastener material located on opposing surfaces of the first and second flaps, respectively, to provide a resealable opening.  
   
   
       15 . The live bait container of  claim 12  wherein the side wall includes a float positioned alongside the elongate longitudinal access port.  
   
   
       16 . The live bait container of  claim 12  wherein the elongate longitudinal access port includes first and second pull tabs to facilitate opening and closing of the elongate longitudinal access port.  
   
   
       17 . The live bait container of  claim 12  wherein the cylindrically shaped side wall includes a flexible resilient stay.  
   
   
       18 . The live bait container of  claim 17  wherein the flexible resilient stay is buoyant.  
   
   
       19 . The live bait container of  claim 12  and further comprising a mesh pocket sewn onto an exterior of the side wall.  
   
   
       20 . The live bait container of  claim 12  where the enclosure further includes an interior wall connected to the plurality of walls, and dividing the interior storage space into segregated portions.  
   
   
       21 . A live bait container comprising: 
 a flexible enclosure formed from a fabric mesh body having an interior space and a side wall with a major axis and a minor axis; and    an access port for accessing the interior space located on the side wall and orientated along the major axis of the side wall.    
   
   
       22 . The live bait container of  claim 21  wherein the access port comprises first and second upstanding flaps extending outward from the side wall.  
   
   
       23 . The live bait container of  claim 22  wherein the first and second upstanding flaps include first and second strips of fastener material located on opposing surfaces of the first and second flaps, respectively, to provide a resealable opening.  
   
   
       24 . The live bait container of  claim 21  wherein the side wall includes a float positioned alongside the access port.  
   
   
       25 . The live bait container of  claim 21  wherein the side wall has a cylindrical shape.  
   
   
       26 . The live bait container of  claim 21  wherein the access port includes first and second pull tabs to facilitate opening and closing of the access port.  
   
   
       27 . The live bait container of  claim 21  wherein the flexible enclosure includes a flexible resilient stay to prevent the fabric mesh body from collapsing.  
   
   
       28 . The live bait container of  claim 27  wherein the flexible resilient stay is buoyant.  
   
   
       29 . The live bait container of  claim 21  and further comprising a mesh pocket sewn onto an exterior of the side wall.  
   
   
       30 . The live bait container of  claim 21  where the flexible enclosure further includes an interior wall for dividing the interior storage space into segregated portions.