Electronic ice fishing system

Ice fishing apparatus comprising:

• a. a frame;
• b. flag alert means connected to the frame for operating between a set condition and a tripped condition;
• c. a housing attached to the frame and having an interior and exterior;
• d. an electric circuit inside the housing interior and including a magnetic reed switch and a radio transmitter;
• and
• e. magnet means tied to the flag alert means and placed adjacent the housing exterior proximate the magnetic reed switch inside thereof when the flag alert means is in the set condition for actuating the magnetic reed switch between an open and a closed state in response to the placement of the magnet means, the electrical circuit being closed to energize the radio transmitter when the magnet means is removed from adjacent the housing by the flag alert means operating to the tripped condition.

Apparatus for catching fish comprising:

• a. a frame;
• b. first alert means connected to the frame for operating from a set condition to a tripped condition in response to a fish strike;
• and
• c. second alert means attached to the frame for signalling the fish strike comprising:
• i. an electrical circuit including a magnetic reed switch and a radio transmitter;
• ii. housing means attached to the frame for enclosing the electrical circuit;
• and
• iii. magnet means tied to the first alert means for being placed on the housing means proximate the magnetic reed switch enclosed therein to actuate the magnetic reed switch and the electrical circuit to an open state when the first alert means is in the set condition and for being pulled from the housing means by the first alert means in response to a fish strike, the electrical circuit and the magnetic reed switch being actuated to a closed state to energize the radio transmitter when the magnet means is pulled from proximate the magnetic reed switch.

A method of signalling a fish strike comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a tipup having a frame and a strike alert system operable between a set condition and a tripped condition;
• b. attaching an electrical circuit having a magnetic reed switch and a radio transmitter to the tipup frame;
• c. operating the tipup strike alert system to the set condition;
• d. tieing one end of a cord to a magnet and the other end to the strike alert system;
• e. placing the magnet proximate the magnetic reed switch thereby actuating the magnetic reed switch to an open state;
• f. operating the strike alert system to the tripped condition;
• and
• g. tightening the cord with the strike alert system and pulling the magnet from the proximity of the magnetic reed switch to thereby energize the electric circuit and energize the radio transmitter.

An electronic ice fishing system comprising:

• a. a housing having a plurality of walls that define an interior, one of the walls being fabricated with a blind recess that extends into the housing interior;
• b. a magnetic reed switch in the housing interior proximate the housing wall recess, the magnetic reed switch being actuable between opened and closed states;
• c. a radio transmitter installed in the housing interior;
• d. circuit means for electrically connecting the radio transmitter and the magnetic reed switch and for energizing the radio transmitter in response to closing of the magnetic reed switch;
• e. a magnet captured in the housing interior with the housing recess being interposed between the magnet and the magnetic reed switch;
• and
• f. plate means for being selectively inserted into the housing recess to maintain the magnetic reed switch in the open state and for being selectively removed from the housing recess to close the magnetic reed switch and thereby energize the radio transmitter.

In combination with an ice fishing tipup having a frame and a flag alert system that is operable between a set condition and a tripped condition,

• an electronic ice fishing system comprising:
• a. a housing having an interior and being mounted to the tipup frame, the housing having a wall that defines a recess therein;
• b. a magnet captured in the housing interior proximate the housing wall recess;
• c. a magnetic reed switch inside the housing with the housing recess being interposed between the magnetic reed switch and the magnet;
• d. a radio transmitter inside the housing interior;
• e. circuit means for energizing the radio transmitter in response to closing of the magnetic reed switch;
• and
• f. key means tied to the flag alert system for being inserted into the housing recess when the flag alert system is in the set condition to prevent the magnet from affecting the magnetic reed switch and for being pulled out of the housing recess in response to the flag alert system being tripped to cause the magnet to close the magnetic reed switch and thereby close the circuit means to energize the radio transmitter.

Apparatus for catching fish comprising:

• a. a frame;
• b. flag alert means connected to the frame for operating between a set condition and a tripped condition;
• c. a housing having a wall that defines an interior space, the housing being attached to the frame, the housing wall having an external recess therein;
• d. a magnet captured in the housing interior space proximate the external recess;
• e. a magnetic reed switch inside the housing interior space with the housing external recess being interposed between the magnet and the magnetic reed switch;
• f. a radio transmitter inside the housing interior space;
• g. circuit means inside the housing interior space for electrically connecting the magnetic reed switch and the radio transmitter;
• and
• h. key means for being inserted into the housing external recess when the flag alert means is in the set condition and for being pulled from the housing external recess by the flag alert means when the flag alert means operates to the tripped condition, the key means preventing actuation of the magnetic reed switch when the key means is inserted into the housing external recess and allowing the magnet to act on the magnetic reed switch when the key means is pulled from the housing external recess,
• so that the magnetic reed switch actuates to energize the radio transmitter when the key means is pulled from the housing external recess.

A method of signalling a fish strike comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a tipup having a frame and a strike alert operable between set and tripped conditions;
• b. providing a housing that defines an interior space and an external recess;
• c. installing an electrical circuit having a magnetic reed switch and a radio transmitter inside the housing interior space;
• d. capturing a magnet in the housing interior space with the housing external recesses being located between the magnetic reed switch and the magnet;
• e. inserting a metal plate into the housing external recess to thereby prevent the magnet from acting on the magnetic reed switch;
• f. placing the strike alert to the set condition;
• g. tieing the metal plate to the strike alert;
• h. operating the strike alert to the tripped condition;
• and
• i. pulling the metal plate from the housing external recess with the strike alert to thereby cause the magnet to act on the magnetic reed switch to energize the radio transmitter.