Ice fishing tackle storage apparatus

Abstract

An ice fishing tackle storage apparatus that includes a pair of elongate shells, the elongate shells each having an interior surface that defines an elongate cavity, and ice fishing tackle capable of being positioned within the elongate cavity of each elongate shell, a first spacing component, the pair of elongate shells each secured by the first spacing component, and a second spacing component, the at least one of the elongate shells secured by the second spacing component, the second spacing component spaced apart from the first spacing component.

1 . An ice fishing tackle storage apparatus, the apparatus comprising: 
 a pair of extendable elongate shells, the extendable elongate shells having an interior surface that defines an elongate cavity, the pair of extendable elongate shells located adjacent to each other, and ice fishing tackle capable of being positioned within the elongate cavity of each extendable elongate shell; and    a spacing structure, the pair of extendable elongate shells each secured by the spacing structure, the spacing structure effective to maintain the pair of extendable elongate shells in predetermined relation to each other, proximate the spacing structure.    
   
   
       2 . The ice fishing tackle storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the spacing structure comprises a first template, the first template comprising a plurality of interior surfaces, the interior surfaces defining a plurality of apertures that extend through the first template, each extendable elongate shell passing through one of the apertures of the first template.  
   
   
       3 . The ice fishing tackle storage apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the spacing structure further comprises a second template, the second template comprising one or more interior surfaces, the one or more interior surfaces defining at least one aperture that extends through the second template, one of the extendable elongate shells passing through each aperture of the second template.  
   
   
       4 . The ice fishing tackle storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the ice fishing tackle storage apparatus is positioned in a container, the container having a wall, the wall comprising interior surfaces that define a plurality of recesses in the wall or a plurality of apertures through the wall, the spacing structure comprising the recesses or the apertures of the wall, each extendable elongate shells passing through the apertures of the wall or positioned in the recesses of the wall.  
   
   
       5 . The ice fishing tackle storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the ice fishing tackle storage apparatus is positioned in a container, the container having a wall, the spacing structure comprising a plurality of sockets, the sockets attached to the wall of the container, and the extendable elongate shells positioned in the socket.  
   
   
       6 . The ice fishing tackle storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the ice fishing tackle storage apparatus is positioned in a container, the container having a wall, the wall having a proximal end and a distal end and the wall having an interior surface, the spacing structure either in contact with the proximal end of the wall, in contact with the interior surface of the wall, or in contact with both the proximal end of the wall and the interior surface of the wall.  
   
   
       7 . The ice fishing tackle storage apparatus of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the extendable elongate shells has a longitudinal axis and comprises a female elongate shell and a male elongate shell that is positioned within the female elongate shell, the male elongate shell selectively movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the female elongate shell or the female elongate shell selectively movable along the longitudinal axis relative to the male elongate shell.  
   
   
       8 . The ice fishing tackle storage apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the female elongate shell and the male elongate shell are each tubes.  
   
   
       9 . The ice fishing tackle storage apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the female elongate shell and the male elongate shell each have a cross-sectional shape, the cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of cylindrical, square, rectangular, triangular, and elliptical cross-sectional shapes.  
   
   
       10 . An ice fishing tackle storage apparatus, the apparatus comprising: 
 a pair of elongate shells, the elongate shells each having an interior surface that defines an elongate cavity, and ice fishing tackle capable of being positioned within the elongate cavity of each elongate shell;    a first spacing component, the pair of elongate shells each secured by the first spacing component; and    a second spacing component, at least one of the elongate shells secured by the second spacing component, the second spacing component spaced apart from the first spacing component.    
   
   
       11 . The ice fishing tackle storage apparatus of  claim 10  wherein: 
 the ice fishing tackle storage apparatus is positioned in a container, the container having a wall, the wall having a proximal end and a distal end and the wall having an interior surface; and    the first spacing component is either in contact with the proximal end of the wall, in contact with the interior surface of the wall, or in contact with both the proximal end of the wall and the interior surface of the wall.    
   
   
       12 . The ice fishing tackle storage apparatus of  claim 11  wherein: 
 the second spacing component is in contact with the interior surface of the wall.    
   
   
       13 . The ice fishing tackle storage apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the first spacing component comprises a template, the template comprising a plurality of interior surfaces, the interior surfaces defining a plurality of apertures that extend through the template, each elongate shell passing through one of the apertures of the template.  
   
   
       14 . The ice fishing tackle storage apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the ice fishing tackle storage apparatus is positioned in a container, the container having a wall, the wall comprising a one or more interior surfaces that define a recess in the wall or an aperture through the wall, the second spacing component comprising the recess or the aperture, one of the elongate shells passing through the aperture of the wall or positioned in the recess of the wall.  
   
   
       15 . The ice fishing tackle storage apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the ice fishing tackle storage apparatus is positioned in a container, the container having a wall, the apparatus further comprising a socket, the socket attached to the wall of the container, and one of the elongate shells positioned in the socket.  
   
   
       16 . The ice fishing tackle storage apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the elongate shells each have a longitudinal axis, a length of at least one of the elongate shells selectively and reversibly adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the at least one elongate shell.  
   
   
       17 . The ice fishing tackle storage apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the elongate shells each have a cross-sectional shape, the cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of cylindrical, square, rectangular, triangular, elliptical, and any of these cross-sectional shapes in any combination.  
   
   
       18 . The ice fishing tackle storage apparatus of  claim 10  in which a pair of the elongate shells are located adjacent to each other and wherein: 
 the first spacing component is effective to keep the adjacent pair of elongate shells in predetermined relation to each other, proximate the first spacing component; or    the second spacing component is effective to keep the adjacent pair of elongate shells in predetermined relation to each other, proximate the second spacing component.    
   
   
       19 . An ice fishing tackle storage apparatus, the apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of elongate shells, the elongate shells each having an interior surface that defines an elongate cavity, and ice fishing tackle capable of being positioned within the elongate cavities of the elongate shells;    a spacing structure, the elongate shells secured by the spacing structure, the spacing structure effective to maintain two or more of the elongate shells in predetermined relation to each other, proximate the spacing structure; and    wherein at least two of the elongate shells are capable of serving as legs that will stably support the apparatus on a surface when the at least two elongate shells are positioned in contact with the surface, the spacing structure effective to prevent slippage of the at least two elongate shells with respect to the spacing structure.    
   
   
       20 . The ice fishing tackle storage apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the ice fishing tackle storage apparatus is positioned in a container, the container having a wall, the wall having a proximal end and a distal end and the wall having an interior surface, the spacing structure either in contact with the proximal end of the wall, in contact with the interior surface of the wall, or in contact with both the proximal end of the wall and the interior surface of the wall.  
   
   
       21 . The ice fishing tackle storage apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the elongate shells each have a longitudinal axis, a length of at least one of the elongate shells selectively and reversibly adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the at least one elongate shell.  
   
   
       22 . The ice fishing tackle storage apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the elongate shells each have a cross-sectional shape, the cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of cylindrical, square, rectangular, triangular, elliptical, and any of these cross-sectional shapes in any combination.  
   
   
       23 . An ice fishing tackle storage apparatus, the apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of elongate shells, the elongate shells each having an interior surface that defines an elongate cavity, and ice fishing tackle capable of being positioned within the elongate cavities of the elongate shells;    a spacing structure, the elongate shells secured by the spacing structure, the spacing structure effective to maintain at least two of the elongate shells in predetermined relation to each other, proximate the spacing structure; and    a plurality of legs that are capable of supporting the apparatus on a surface when the legs are positioned in contact with the surface, the plurality of legs attached to the spacing structure or to any of the elongate shells.