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: 
 a) a fabric mesh formed to define an enclosure having a plurality of walls and surrounding an open interior storage space; wherein the enclosure includes:    a cylindrically shaped fabric mesh side wall having a top portion folded over to form a rim and a bottom portion;    a fabric mesh bottom panel secured to the bottom portion;    a top panel formed by first and second panel sections, each panel section being made of fabric mesh secured to the top portion below the rim;    b) a hoop secured to said mesh adjacent the bottom portion;    c) an access port to the interior storage space positioned below the rim and formed by first and second upstanding flaps extending upward from the first and second panel sections, respectively, and first and second strips of fastener material on opposing surfaces of the first and second flaps, respectively, to provide a resealable opening; and    d) a buoyant float mounted to said enclosure.    
   
   
       2 . A container as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said float comprises at least one of said hoops.  
   
   
       3 . A container as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said hoops comprise an endless loop of a water impermeable, corrosion resistant, flexible, resilient material selected from a class of materials including nylon, polyvinyl, plastic or a polymer.  
   
   
       4 . A container as set forth in  claim 1  wherein at least one of said hoops comprises a buoyant material that further defines said float member.  
   
   
       5 . A container as set forth in  claim 1  wherein at least one of said hoops comprises a resilient, flexible core covered with a buoyant foam.  
   
   
       6 . A live bait container comprising: 
 a) a fabric mesh formed to define an enclosure having a plurality of walls and surrounding an open interior storage space; wherein the enclosure includes: 
 a cylindrically shaped fabric mesh side wall having a top edge and a bottom edge;  
 a generally circular fabric mesh bottom panel secured to the bottom edge;  
 a recessed top panel formed by first and second panel sections that are recessed with respect to the top edge of the side wall, each panel section being made of fabric mesh, wherein the first and second panel sections each include an arc edge attached to the top edge of the cylindrical wall;  
 a top hem between the top panel and the top edge of the side wall; and  
 a bottom hem;  
   b) a flexible resilient stay in the bottom hem; and    c) an access port communicating with the interior storage space comprising first and second upstanding flaps attached to the first and second panel sections, and first and second strips of hook and loop fastener material secured in overlapping relation to opposing surfaces of the flaps, whereby a resealable opening is provided.    
   
   
       7 . A container as set forth in  claim 6  including a buoyant float mounted to the enclosure.  
   
   
       8 . A container as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the stay comprises a hoop.  
   
   
       9 . A container as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said enclosure includes at least one dark colored wall and one light colored wall that substantially contrasts with said dark wall.  
   
   
       10 . A container as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the buoyant member is ring shaped.  
   
   
       11 . A container as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the first and second upstanding flaps are positioned generally below the top edge of the cylindrically shaped fabric mesh side wall.  
   
   
       12 . A container as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the top hem comprises a fold formed by folding the top edge inside the interior storage space.  
   
   
       13 . A live bait container comprising: 
 a) a fabric mesh formed to define a cylindrical enclosure having a plurality of walls and surrounding an open interior storage space, the plurality of walls including a recessed top wall having first and second sections;    b) flexible, resilient hoops secured to opposite ends of the cylindrical enclosure;    c) an access port communicating with the interior storage space, the access port comprising:    first and second upstanding flaps extending from the first and second sections of the top wall such that the upstanding flaps are positioned generally below a top edge of the live bait container; and    first and second strips of hook and loop fastener material secured in overlapping relation to adjoining cut edges of said mesh opposing surfaces of the first and second upstanding flaps, whereby a resealable opening is provided.    
   
   
       14 . A container as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said enclosure includes at least one dark colored end wall and one light colored sidewall that substantially contrasts with said dark end wall.  
   
   
       15 . A live bait container comprising: 
 a fabric mesh formed to define a flexible, cylindrically shaped body having a side wall, a top wall including a pair of top panel sections, a bottom wall and an interior storage space, the top wall being recessed with respect to a top edge of the cylindrically shaped body;    a flexible resistant stay positioned near the bottom wall;    an access port communicating with the interior, the access port comprising a pair of opposing upstanding flaps extending from the top panel sections, and fastener strips on opposing surfaces of the flaps to provide a resealable opening; and    a buoyant float secured to the body.    
   
   
       16 . The live bait container of  claim 15  wherein first and second pull tabs are attached to the access port to facilitate the opening and closing of the resealable opening.  
   
   
       17 . The live bait container of  claim 15  wherein a first hem is sewn around the top wall and a second hem is sewn around the bottom wall, and wherein the top wall is spaced from the top edge of the cylindrically shaped body by the first hem.  
   
   
       18 . The live bait container of  claim 17  wherein the top wall is spaced from the top edge such that the upstanding flaps of the access port are positioned generally below the top edge of the cylindrically shaped body.  
   
   
       19 . The live bait container of  claim 17  wherein the stay is secured to the second hem.  
   
   
       20 . The live bait container of  claim 17  wherein a handle is secured to the first hem.  
   
   
       21 . The live bait container of  claim 15  wherein the float is sewn into a mesh pocket.  
   
   
       22 . The live bait container of  claim 21  wherein the mesh pocket is positioned below the top wall.  
   
   
       23 . A live bait container comprising: 
 a cylindrical flexible housing made of fabric mesh having top, bottom and side walls, the top wall being recessed with respect to a top edge of the housing;    an interior storage compartment defined by the housing;    an access port through the top wall of the housing, the access port including first and second upstanding flaps extending from first and second sections of the top wall, and first and second fastener strips attached to opposing surfaces of the first and second flaps to provide a resealable opening;    a flexible stay at a lower end of the housing; and    a buoyant float sewn into a mesh pocket positioned below the top wall.    
   
   
       24 . The live bait container of  claim 23  wherein the top wall is attached to the side wall with a first hem and the bottom wall is attached to the side wall with a second hem.  
   
   
       25 . The live bait container of  claim 24  wherein the flexible stay is secured to the second hem.  
   
   
       26 . The live bait container of  claim 23  wherein the float is secured to the housing within the interior storage compartment.  
   
   
       27 . The live bait container of  claim 23  wherein the upstanding flaps of the access port are positioned generally below the top edge of the housing.  
   
   
       28 . A live bait container comprising: 
 a cylindrically shaped fabric mesh side wall having a top edge and a bottom edge;    a generally circular fabric mesh bottom panel secured to the bottom edge;    a recessed top panel formed by first and second semicircular panels, each panel being made of made of fabric mesh, wherein the first and second semicircular panels further comprise a first and a second arc edge and a first and a second straight edge, the first and second arc edges being attached to the cylindrical wall and the first and second straight edges being attached to a fastener that defines an access port;    a top hem;    a bottom hem;    a flexible resilient stay within the bottom hem;    a buoyant float sewn into a mesh pocket connected to the side wall; and    first and second pull tabs attached to the fastener to facilitate the opening and closing of the access port.    
   
   
       29 . The live bait container of  claim 28  wherein the fastener comprises strips of hook and loop material.  
   
   
       30 . The live bait container of  claim 28  wherein a perimeter of the top panel is folded into the top hem.  
   
   
       31 . The live bait container of  claim 28  wherein a perimeter of the bottom panel is folded into the bottom hem.  
   
   
       32 . The live bait container of  claim 28  wherein the a top hem comprises: 
 a folded over portion of the top edge;    an upstanding portion of the first and second arc edges of the semicircular panels; and    wherein the upstanding portions of the first and second arc edges are tucked under the folded over portion.    
   
   
       33 . The live bait container of  claim 32  wherein the upstanding portions of the first and second arc edges are tucked under the folded over portion such that the top panel is recessed from the top edge.  
   
   
       34 . The live bait container of  claim 28  wherein the recessed top panel is spaced from the top edge of the cylindrically shaped fabric mesh side wall.  
   
   
       35 . The live bait container of  claim 34  wherein the recessed top panel is spaced from the top edge of the cylindrically shaped fabric mesh side wall such that the fastener that defines the access port is positioned generally below the top edge of the side wall.  
   
   
       36 . A live bait container comprising: 
 a fabric mesh formed to define a flexible, cylindrically shaped body having a side wall, a recessed top wall, a bottom wall and an interior storage space;    a bottom hoop positioned near the bottom wall;    an access port through the top wall communicating with the interior; and    a buoyant float top hoop positioned near the top wall;    wherein the top wall comprises first and second fabric mesh sections and the access port includes first and second upstanding flaps extending from the first and second sections and first and second strips of fastener material attached to opposing surfaces of the first and second sections to provide a resealable opening; and    wherein each of the first and second sections of the top wall has an arcuate perimeter attached to the side wall.    
   
   
       37 . The live bait container of  claim 36  and further comprising a first and second pull tabs attached to the adjacent edges of the first and second fabric mesh sections to facilitate opening and closing of the resealable opening.  
   
   
       38 . The live bait container of  claim 36  wherein a first hem is sewn around the top wall and a second hem is sewn around the bottom wall.  
   
   
       39 . The live bait container of  claim 36  wherein the bottom hoop is secured to the second hem.  
   
   
       40 . The live bait container of  claim 36  wherein the recessed top wall is spaced a distance from a top edge of the cylindrically shaped body.  
   
   
       41 . The live bait container of  claim 40  wherein the distance is such that the upstanding flaps of the access port are positioned generally below the top edge.  
   
   
       42 . A live bait container comprising: 
 a fabric mesh formed to define an enclosure having an open interior storage space, the enclosure comprising: 
 a top wall comprising first and second fabric mesh halves;  
 a bottom wall; and  
 a cylindrical side wall comprising: 
 a top edge;  
 a bottom edge; and  
 wherein the top wall is positioned within the cylindrical side wall a distance from the top edge;  
 
   a plurality of hoops secured to said mesh; and    an access port communicating with the interior storage space, the access port comprising: 
 first and second upstanding flaps extending from the first and second halves of the top wall;  
 first and second strips of fastener material attached to the first and second upstanding flaps to provide a resealable opening; and  
 first and second pull-tabs connected to the first and second flaps to facilitate opening and closing the resealable opening.  
   
   
   
       43 . The live bait container of  claim 42  wherein the top wall is positioned a distance from the top edge such that the upstanding flaps of the access port are positioned generally below the top edge.  
   
   
       44 . A cylindrically shaped live bait container comprising: 
 a bottom panel having an outer perimeter;    a side wall comprising: 
 a bottom portion secured along the outer perimeter of the bottom panel to form a bottom hem; and  
 a top portion folded over to form a top hem having a rim;  
   a first top panel comprising: 
 a first arcuate edge sewn into the top hem; and  
 a first straight edge turned up to form a first upstanding flap;  
   a second top panel comprising; 
 a second arcuate edge sewn into the top hem; and  
 a second straight edge turned up to form a second upstanding flap; and  
   wherein the first upstanding flap and the second upstanding flap mate to form an access port to an interior of the live bait container, the upstanding flaps being generally positioned below the rim.    
   
   
       45 . The bait container of  claim 44  and further comprising a hoop secured adjacent the side wall.  
   
   
       46 . The bait container of  claim 44  and further comprising a flexible stay secured adjacent the bottom portion.  
   
   
       47 . The bait container of  claim 44  and further comprising a bouyant float secured adjacent the side wall.