Ice shelter with expandable fishing area

Abstract

A portable ice shelter with a base, a bottom wall and side walls that form an upper perimeter. At least one frame bracket is mounted to the base. A chair is located in the base with a user orientation directed at a fishing area. A plurality of folding frame members is pivotally attached to the frame bracket. The folding frame members are moveable between a transport configuration and a deployed configuration configured to support a canopy covering. A bottom frame member is moveable between the transport configuration and a deployed configuration. The bottom frame member extends beyond the upper perimeter of the base in the deployed configuration to surround a first fishing area with a first width generally perpendicular to the user orientation. At least one joint on the bottom frame member is configured to modify the bottom frame member to a second fishing area with a second width at least 40% greater than the first width. The second fishing area is greater than the first fishing area. A canopy covering extends over the folding frame members and the bottom frame member to substantially surround the base and the first and second fishing areas.

1 . A portable ice shelter comprising:
 a base comprising a bottom wall and side walls that from an upper perimeter;   a chair located in the base comprising a user orientation;   at least one frame bracket mounted to the base;   a plurality of folding frame members pivotally attached to the frame bracket, the folding frame members moveable between a transport configuration and a deployed configuration configured to support a canopy covering;   a bottom frame member moveable between the transport configuration and a deployed configuration, the bottom frame member extends beyond the upper perimeter of the base in the deployed configuration to surround a first fishing area having a first width generally perpendicular to the user orientation; and   at least one joint on the bottom frame member configured to modify the bottom frame member to a second fishing area having a second width at least 40% greater than the first width, the second fishing area being greater than the first fishing area, wherein the canopy covering extends over the folding frame members and the bottom frame member to substantially surround the base and the first and second fishing areas.   
     
     
         2 . The portable ice shelter of  claim 1  wherein the bottom frame member is pivotally attached to the frame brackets. 
     
     
         3 . The portable ice shelter of  claim 1  comprising articulating hinges attaching the bottom frame member to the frame brackets. 
     
     
         4 . The portable ice shelter of  claim 1  wherein the bottom frame member is detached from the base in the deployed configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The portable ice shelter of  claim 1  wherein the folding frame members are generally located along the upper perimeter of the base when in the transport configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The portable ice shelter of  claim 1  wherein the at least one joint comprises one or more of a hinge, a telescopic joint, an overlapping joint, or a separable joint. 
     
     
         7 . The portable ice shelter of  claim 1  wherein the bottom frame member comprises:
 a pair of frame members pivotally attached to a pair of frame brackets; 
 hinges attached to distal ends of the tubes; and 
 a pair of L-shaped frame members with proximal ends attached to the hinges and a joint connecting distal ends. 
 
     
     
         8 . The portable ice shelter of  claim 7  wherein the hinges restrict motion of the frame members relative to the L-shaped frame members to a single plane. 
     
     
         9 . The portable ice shelter of  claim 1  comprising at least one locking mechanism configured to secure the bottom frame member relative to the frame brackets. 
     
     
         10 . The portable ice shelter of  claim 1  wherein the second fishing area is at least 20 percent greater than the first fishing area. 
     
     
         11 . The portable ice shelter of  claim 1  wherein the second fishing area is at least 30 percent greater than the first fishing area. 
     
     
         12 . The portable ice shelter of  claim 1  comprising a chair collapsible between a collapsed configuration and an upright configuration attached within the base, wherein the chair is located completely below the upper perimeter when in the collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The portable ice shelter of  claim 12  wherein the chair comprises attachment clips oriented at an upward angle relative to horizontal, the attachment clips are configured to engage and disengage with the base only when the chair is oriented at the same angle. 
     
     
         14 . A method of deploying a portable ice shelter, the method comprising the steps of:
 pivotally moving a plurality of folding frame members attached to a base by frame brackets between a transport configuration generally located along an upper perimeter of the base and a deployed configuration configured to support a canopy covering;   locating a bottom frame member beyond the upper perimeter of the base in the deployed configuration to surround a first fishing area having a first width generally perpendicular to a user orientation;   modifying the bottom frame member to an expanded configuration that surrounds a second fishing area with a second width at least 40% greater than the first width; and   positioning a canopy covering over the folding frame members and the bottom frame member in the deployed configuration to substantially surround the base and the first and second fishing areas.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  comprising pivotally attaching the bottom frame member to the frame brackets. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  comprising detaching the bottom frame member from the base in the deployed configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  comprising attaching the bottom frame members to the frame brackets with articulating hinges. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the step of modifying the bottom frame member comprises:
 separating a pair of L-shaped frame members along a joint; and 
 pivoting a pair of tubes connecting the L-shaped frame members to the frame bracket. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14  comprising locking the bottom frame member in a generally vertical position during the step of modifying the bottom frame member between the first fishing area to the second fishing area. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14  comprising modifying the bottom frame member so that second fishing area is at least 20 percent greater than the first fishing area. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14  comprising modifying the bottom frame members to the second fishing area is at least 30 percent greater than the first fishing area. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14  comprising moving a chair attached to the base between an upright configuration and a collapsed configuration where the chair is located completely below the upper perimeter of the base.