Device for melting ice at a fish hole in the ice

Abstract

The device for melting ice at a fish hole in the ice includes an enclosure having first and second sidewalls hingedly connected to first and second end walls together with a cover formed in two portions, each cover portion hingedly connected to a sidewall. A partial bottom is hingedly connected to an end wall. One of the cover portions is formed with an opening through which a fish line extends into the enclosure with the cover portions closed and carries a window for visual inspection of an ice hole over which the device is placed. One of said cover portions has a baffle connected thereto which extends into the enclosure with a heat shield mounted on the underside of the cover and over the partial bottom, creating a heated chamber, with an opening in one outside wall through which heat is provided by an external propane heat source.

1 . A device for melting ice at a fish hole comprising: 
 an enclosure having first and second sidewalls connected to first and second end walls;    a cover for the enclosure including a first partial cover covering a first space and a second partial cover covering a second space, said partial covers each having a front edge, a rear edge, an inside edge and an outside edge;    said first partial cover being hingedly connected by said rear edge to a portion of said first sidewall and said second partial cover being connected by said rear edge to a portion of said second sidewall, with said inside edge of said second partial cover abutting said inside edge of said first partial cover;    said second partial cover having a baffle plate connected thereto at a right angle along said inside edge thereof and extended into the enclosure when the cover is closed upon the enclosure, thereby partially dividing said second space from said first space;    said second partial cover having a heat shield carried by said cover and spaced therefrom;    means hingedly connecting said end walls at each edge to each end of said side walls;    said first partial cover having an opening adjacent to and extending through the edge thereof and adapted to receive a fish line for extension therethrough into said first space and to a hole in ice on which the device is positioned;    a partial bottom hingedly connected at one edge to said second end wall and beneath and substantially in alignment with said second partial cover and said heat shield attached thereto and bounding said second space from below;    an opening into said second space through said second end wall or through a portion of said first or second sidewall adjacent to said partial bottom, through which heat will be provided from an external heat source;    said second space being bounded from above by said second partial cover, from the sides by said second end wall, a portion of said first and second sidewalls and said baffle, and from below by said partial bottom, and creating a heated chamber for the retention of heat from an external heat source and for the transmission of such heat from said second space through said baffle to said first space thereby preventing said hole in the ice in said first space from freezing over; and,    said first partial cover having an opening formed therein for viewing said ice hole in said first space and in line therewith and adjacent said partial bottom and said second space.    
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1  in which the external heat source is a propane torch.  
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 1  in which said baffle has a multiplicity of holes formed therethrough to allow transfer of heat from said heat shield into the area of the enclosure beneath said first partial cover.  
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 3  in which the external heat source is a propane torch.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 3  in which said second partial cover includes flanges formed on edges thereof for positioning alongside said second end wall and said first sidewall.  
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5  in which the external heat source is a propane torch.  
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 5  in which said partial bottom has a flange formed on each side edge thereof for positioning alongside said first and second sidewalls when said partial bottom is moved into contact with said first and second sidewalls.  
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7  in which the external heat source is a propane torch.  
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 7  in which a reinforcing plate is attached to said wall where said opening into said second space passes, and through which said opening also passes and through which heat will be provided from an external heat source.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9  in which the external heat source is a propane torch.