A container for animals or objects in a liquid is disclosed. The container comprises a cylinder capped by two removable lids and a floating basket. When one of the lids is removed, the liquid may be drained and refreshed without either the basket or the contained animals or objects falling out. When the other lid is removed, the basket floats above the liquid and carries the animals or objects out of the liquid where they can be easily removed by a user. The container is useful to anglers who use live minnows as bait, but may be useful in several other applications. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

A container for animals or objects in a liquid is disclosed. The container comprises a cylinder capped by two removable lids and a floating basket. When one of the lids is removed, the liquid may be drained and refreshed without either the basket or the contained animals or objects falling out. When the other lid is removed, the basket floats above the liquid and carries the animals or objects out of the liquid where they can be easily removed by a user. The container is useful to anglers who use live minnows as bait, but may be useful in several other applications. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

The present invention is a collapsible bait net comprising netting mounted to one or more straight solid rod(s) irremovably connected by an irremovably joined fastener, forming a closed ring and net assembly that maintains its shape and structural integrity. The fastener is irremovably joined in a manner that provides a 360 degree range of motion about the rod(s). The assembly includes four stabilizing cords positioned equidistant from each other along the circumference of the closed ring, which cords converge at the center of the assembly, connecting to each other by a fastening means. The four stabilizing cords are connected to a single draw cord which is used to cast the bait net into a desired depth of water then pull it back. The assembly collapses for easy storage by rotating into a figure 8 arrangement that is folded from top to bottom to create two smaller overlapping closed rings.

The present invention is a collapsible bait net comprising netting mounted to one or more straight solid rod(s) irremovably connected by an irremovably joined fastener, forming a closed ring and net assembly that maintains its shape and structural integrity. The fastener is irremovably joined in a manner that provides a 360 degree range of motion about the rod(s). The assembly includes four stabilizing cords positioned equidistant from each other along the circumference of the closed ring, which cords converge at the center of the assembly, connecting to each other by a fastening means. The four stabilizing cords are connected to a single draw cord which is used to cast the bait net into a desired depth of water then pull it back. The assembly collapses for easy storage by rotating into a figure 8 arrangement that is folded from top to bottom to create two smaller overlapping closed rings.

A live bait pen having a porous housing having top end and a bottom end and an interior defined therein, a fence framework to contain live bait therein, a central axial member fixed centrally within the porous housing; a movable container surface disposed within the housing and mounted to a central collar, the collar extending upward from the movable container surface and slidably receiving the same wherein the container surface moves with the collar and limits travel of the container surface a sufficient predetermined distance to be maintained in a predetermined retention zone, a line extending into the pen a sufficient length to permit the movable container surface to extend to the bottom end, and an openable lid operably disposed on the top end of the side framework portion to provide easy insertion and removal of bait to and from the pen.

A live bait pen having a porous housing having top end and a bottom end and an interior defined therein, a fence framework to contain live bait therein, a central axial member fixed centrally within the porous housing; a movable container surface disposed within the housing and mounted to a central collar, the collar extending upward from the movable container surface and slidably receiving the same wherein the container surface moves with the collar and limits travel of the container surface a sufficient predetermined distance to be maintained in a predetermined retention zone, a line extending into the pen a sufficient length to permit the movable container surface to extend to the bottom end, and an openable lid operably disposed on the top end of the side framework portion to provide easy insertion and removal of bait to and from the pen.

A livewell assembly includes a main housing, a cover, an aerator, and a utility rail. The main housing includes a top opening and an interior. The interior is accessible via the top opening. The interior is configured to hold a volume of water and live bait. The cover is removably coupled to the main housing and is configured to close the top opening. The aerator is coupled to the main housing and is configured to provide a flow of air to the interior while the cover is coupled to the main housing and closes the top opening. The utility rail is coupled to an exterior of the main housing and is configured to couple an accessory. The utility rail is elongated and comprises a general C-shape cross-section.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a bi-directional conduit system including a core configured to traverse a container wall and having independent, substantially parallel lumens and a fitting fluidly connected to each lumen on each side of the wall. In an illustrative example, the conduit system may include at least one valve configured to selectively restrict fluid flow in at least one lumen. The core may be flexible. A coupling assembly may be configured to releasably couple the core to the wall. Apparatus and methods further relate to a system including a base module with a control input and a fluid transport system including an impeller powered by the base module to convey fluid via a conduit in response to the control input, wherein in a stowage mode, the base module is configured to store the conduit and to mechanically support, releasably coupled, the impeller to the base module.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a bi-directional conduit system including a core configured to traverse a container wall and having independent, substantially parallel lumens and a fitting fluidly connected to each lumen on each side of the wall. In an illustrative example, the conduit system may include at least one valve configured to selectively restrict fluid flow in at least one lumen. The core may be flexible. A coupling assembly may be configured to releasably couple the core to the wall. Apparatus and methods further relate to a system including a base module with a control input and a fluid transport system including an impeller powered by the base module to convey fluid via a conduit in response to the control input, wherein in a stowage mode, the base module is configured to store the conduit and to mechanically support, releasably coupled, the impeller to the base module.

A bag to contain bait, which is to be used with a trotline, is disclosed. The bag comprises a continuous side wall which defines an interior region, a primary opening, a plurality of secondary openings, and a tertiary opening. The bag includes a slide fastener secured to the side wall and surrounding the tertiary opening. Also disclosed is a mechanism, to be used with a predetermined length of the trotline which has a plurality of such bags secured to the trotline at spaced-apart intervals.