# US 2014/0360090 A1 · Floating fishing accessory with positional stabilization > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0360090 A1 - Document ID: US20140360090A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/300,863 - Filed: 2014-06-10 - Published: 2014-12-11 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-10 - Inventors: Scott Bradley NICKOLAS - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140360090A1 ## CPC - A01K 97/06: Containers or holders for hooks, lines, sinkers, flies or the like {(attached to a fishing rod A01K87/009)} - A01K 97/05: Containers for live bait kept in water, e.g. for minnows or shrimps - A01K 97/10: Supports for rods - A01K 97/20: Keepnets or other containers for keeping captured fish (A01K97/05 takes precedence) - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Herein disclosed is a unique floating fishing accessory comprised of a rigid frame having commonly available tubular closed cell foam pool toys affixed thereto for floatation and further comprising a netted or perforated fish storage enclosure that doubles as a sea anchor so as to resist movement of the accessory under windy conditions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A floating fishing accessory configured for shallow water angling, said accessory comprising: a. a frame component having an upper user-facing surface and a lower water-facing surface, wherein said lower surface is comprised of first and second relatively parallel lengths of rigid longitudinal tubing and at least a first and second relatively parallel length of rigid lateral tubing, wherein each of said rigid tubing lengths comprises a proximal end, a distal end, and an elongate axial portion that extends therebetween, further wherein the respective proximal ends of said first and second lateral tubing lengths are assembled to said first longitudinal tubing length, the first near the proximal end and the second near the distal end of said first longitudinal tubing length, and the respective distal ends of said first and second lateral tubing lengths are assembled to said second longitudinal tubing length, the first near the proximal end and the second near the distal end of said second longitudinal tubing length, whereby said assembled rigid tubing lengths define a planar perimeter; b. a plurality of elongate floatation members fabricated from an expanded polymeric foam, wherein each of said plurality of floatation members has a proximal, a distal end and an elongate axial portion and tubular central lumen that extend between said ends; and c. a cylindrical fish containment enclosure that acts as positional stability mechanism, wherein said cylindrical enclosure comprises a rigid base in the form of a circular plate or annular ring, an axially extending peripheral surface comprised of porous netting or perforated fabric, and a rigid top surface assembled to the upper surface of said frame component, wherein said rigid top surface further includes a closure mechanism; wherein each of said plurality of floatation members is assembled about each of said rigid tubing lengths such that each of said rigid tubing lengths is positioned within the central lumen of a respective floatation member assembled thereover. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The floating fishing accessory of claim 1, wherein said lower surface further comprises a third and optionally a fourth length of rigid lateral tubing, wherein the respective proximal ends of said third and an optional fourth lateral tubing lengths are assembled to said first longitudinal tubing length and the respective distal ends of said third and an optional fourth lateral tubing lengths are assembled to said second longitudinal tubing length, wherein said third and an optional fourth lateral tubing lengths are disposed in between said first and second lateral tubing lengths in a relatively parallel fashion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The floating fishing accessory of claim 2, wherein said third and optional fourth lateral tubing lengths also have a respective floatation member assembled thereabout, whereby each of said third and fourth tubing lengths is positioned within the central lumen of its respective floatation member assembled thereover. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The floating fishing accessory of claim 3, wherein said third and optional fourth lateral tubing lengths and their associated floatation members together define a rectangular recessed region configured to securely receive a storage cooler. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The floating fishing accessory of claim 1, wherein said rigid tubing lengths are fabricated from a material selected from among aluminum, stainless steel, and PVC. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The floating fishing accessory of claim 1, wherein said rigid tubing lengths are fabricated from a metal material and are joined together by means of welding. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The floating fishing accessory of claim 1, wherein said rigid tubing lengths are fabricated from a polymeric material and are joined together by means of pipe fittings or solvent bonding. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The floating fishing accessory of claim 1, wherein said planar lower surface has a rectangular or square perimeter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The floating fishing accessory of claim 1, wherein said expanded polymeric foam comprises expanded polyethylene (EPE). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The floating fishing accessory of claim 9, wherein said EPE material is flexible and resilient yet possesses a high tensile strength and a high resistance to tearing or cutting and well as a high resistance to salt water absorption. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The floating fishing accessory of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of linear tubular floatation members has an outer diameter of between 2 and 5 inches and an inner diameter of between 0.75 and 1.5 inches. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The floating fishing accessory of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of floatation members is provided with a radial axial slit that extends along the entire length of the floatation member, from its central lumen to its outer surface, wherein said radial axial slit allows each of floatation members to deform and fit over each of said rigid tubing lengths. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The floating fishing accessory of claim 12, wherein each of said radially axially slit floatation members is further secured about each of said rigid tubing lengths by means of one or more wire wraps, tie wraps, elastomeric bands or cable ties. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The floating fishing accessory of claim 12, wherein, once each floatation member is assembled about each rigid tubing lengths, each of said radial axial slits is subsequently sealed with a suitable marine adhesive suitable water-resistant adhesive. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The floating fishing accessory of claim 1 further comprising a planar horizontal deck portion assembled to the upper surface of said frame component. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The floating fishing accessory of claim 1 further comprising one or more tubular receptacles configured to receive the butt end of fishing rods, wherein said tubular receptacles are arranged to the upper surface of said frame component in a relatively vertical orientation. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The floating fishing accessory of claim 1, wherein said closure mechanism of said rigid top surface of said cylindrical fish containment enclosure comprises a drawstring. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The floating fishing accessory of claim 1, wherein the upper surface of said frame component is provided with one or more tow holes or tow loops that are configured to receive one end of a towing tether, the other end of which is configured for attachment to the stern of a watercraft, the belt of a wading fisherman, or an anchoring device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A method of assembling the floating fishing accessory configured for shallow water angling set forth in claim 1, said method comprising the steps of: a. assembling said frame component by joining said first and second relatively parallel lengths of rigid longitudinal tubing to said at least a first and second relatively parallel length of rigid lateral tubing by welding, marine adhesive, or solvent bonding or via a plurality of pipe fittings; b. assembling the rigid upper surface of said cylindrical fish containment to the upper surface of said frame component; c. providing a plurality of elongate floatation members sized to fit over the plurality of rigid tubing lengths; d. providing each of said plurality of floatation members with a radial axial slit that extends along the entire length of the floatation member, from its central lumen to its outer surface; e. fitting each of said axially radially slit floatation members about each of said plurality of rigid tubing lengths such that each of said rigid tubing lengths is positioned within the central lumen of the respective floatation member assembled thereover. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of securing each of said axially radially slit floatation members about each of said plurality of rigid tubing lengths using one or more wire wraps, tie wraps, elastomeric bands or cable ties.