Shelter base cover and organizer

Abstract

A cover and organizer, when used with an ice shelter base, provides an interior cavity for holding and protecting stowed fishing gear. The cover provides access openings which allow the user to have full access to the cavity. The cover further provides other compartments, integrally formed into the cover, which prevents the comingling of select fishing gear during transport of the base. The openings and the compartments are covered with hinged and reinforced lids. One such compartment is preferably a rod locker which is specifically configured as a long and narrow compartment to stow and protect fishing rods and rod combos in particular. The lids are reinforced such that a seat can be mounted atop the lids without collapsing the cover into the base. The cover can also be used with a tent frame and tent to complete a fully functional structure that is well designed for ice fishing applications.

1 . A cover and organizer for use with an ice shelter base comprising:
 a cover top, the top and base forming an interior cavity; and   an opening in the top to access the cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The cover and organizer of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a compartment in the top. 
 
     
     
         3 . The cover and organizer of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a lid for the opening. 
 
     
     
         4 . The cover and organizer of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a lid for the compartment. 
 
     
     
         5 . A cover and organizer for use with an ice shelter base, the cover and organizer comprising:
 a cover top;   at least one opening defined within the cover top for accessing an interior cavity formed by the cover and organizer overlaying the base;   a lid for covering the at least one opening;   at least one compartment defined within the cover top, the at least one compartment being integrally formed with the cover top; and   a lid for covering the at least one compartment.   
     
     
         6 . The cover and organizer of  claim 5  wherein the ice shelter base is a generally rectangular tub-like or trough-like structure having an upper peripheral lip and wherein the lip of the cover and organizer is functionally adapted to overlay the peripheral lip of the base. 
     
     
         7 . The cover and organizer of  claim 6  wherein the peripheral lip and the cover top are integrally formed as a unitary structure. 
     
     
         8 . The cover and organizer of  claim 7  wherein the unitary structure is made of plastic. 
     
     
         9 . The cover and organizer of  claim 7  further comprising hinges and wherein the lids are hinged to one side of the at least one opening and to one side of the at least one compartment such that the lids are rotatably movable about the hinges between an open and a closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The cover and organizer of  claim 7  wherein the lids are reinforced by at least one support rib. 
     
     
         11 . The cover and organizer of  claim 10  wherein the lids are made of plastic. 
     
     
         12 . The cover and organizer of  claim 7  further comprising support members and wherein the lids are reinforced by such support members. 
     
     
         13 . The cover and organizer of  claim 12  wherein each support member comprises a first end and a second end and wherein each opening or compartment comprises a shoulder for supporting the first and second ends of the support member when the lid is in the closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The cover and organizer of  claim 7  further comprising a top cover support member. 
     
     
         15 . The cover and organizer of  claim 5  wherein one of the at least one openings is configured to receive a cylindrical bucket and the lid for the at least one opening is configured to be received within a top circular opening of the bucket. 
     
     
         16 . The cover and organizer of  claim 5  further comprising at least one seat attached to a lid and frame members for supporting an ice shelter base covering. 
     
     
         17 . A cover and organizer for use with an ice shelter base, the base being a sled-like structure having an upper peripheral edge, the cover and organizer comprising:
 a peripheral lip;   a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly from the lip, each sidewall comprising an upper edge, the upper edges of the sidewalls defining a cover top wherein the top, sidewalls and peripheral lip are integrally formed as a unitary structure;   at least one opening defined within the cover top for accessing an interior cavity formed by the cover and organizer overlaying the base;   a lid for covering the at least one opening;   at least one compartment defined within the cover top, the at least one compartment being integrally formed with the cover top; and   a lid for covering the at least one compartment.   
     
     
         18 . The cover and organizer of  claim 17  wherein the ice shelter base is a generally rectangular tub-like or trough-like structure having an upper peripheral lip and wherein the lip of the cover and organizer is functionally adapted to overlay the peripheral lip of the base. 
     
     
         19 . The cover and organizer of  claim 17  wherein the unitary structure is made of plastic. 
     
     
         20 . The cover and organizer of  claim 17  further comprising hinges and wherein the lids are hinged to one side of the at least one opening and to one side of the at least one compartment such that the lids are rotatably movable about the hinges between an open and a closed position. 
     
     
         21 . The cover and organizer of  claim 17  wherein the lids are reinforced by at least one support rib. 
     
     
         22 . The cover and organizer of  claim 17  wherein the at least one opening is configured to receive a cylindrical bucket and the lid for the at least one opening is configured to be received within a top circular opening of the bucket. 
     
     
         23 . The cover and organizer of  claim 17  wherein the lids are made of plastic. 
     
     
         24 . The cover and organizer of  claim 17  further comprising at least one seat attached to a lid and frame members for supporting an ice shelter base covering.