AU2014101311A4 - Removable rod holder assembly for boats - Google Patents

Abstract

A removable rod holder assembly includes a bracket shaped for engagement with a gunwale of a fishing boat; and a rod holder fastened to an outside of the bracket. The bracket includes a returning lip that is of sufficient size to fit over the gunwale. The returning lip comprises a lateral lip portion that extends inwardly from the top of the boat side vertical portion and a downward lip portion that extends downwardly from an inward edge of the lateral lip portion. A return lip portion extends outwardly from a downward edge of the downward lip portion. In use the rod holder assembly can be readily fastened and removed from a fishing boat and also relocated about the sides of the boat as desired. ".. ...4 * 1)$X.

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 SPECIFICATION REMOVABLE ROD HOLDER ASSEMBLY FOR BOATS The following statement is a description of the invention: 1 REMOVABLE ROD HOLDER ASSEMBLY FOR BOATS TECHNICAL FIELD 5 The present invention relates to fishing rod holders for fishing boats such as fishing dinghies. BACKGROUND 10 Any references to methods, apparatus or documents of the prior art are not to be taken as constituting any evidence or admission that they formed, or form part of the common general knowledge. Fishing from a dinghy, such as the one shown in Figure 1 is a popular pastime 15 in many coastal parts of Australia. During a fishing expedition fishing rods can be inserted into one of a number of rod holders 2a to 2f disposed around the dinghy. These rod holders are purpose built into the structure of the dinghy. It is also possible to insert custom built rod holders into the oar bracket holes 4a, 4b, however the Inventor has found that such oar bracket rod holders are 20 somewhat unreliable and they have been the cause of the loss of fishing rods in the past. However, rod holders are not necessarily in positions that are readily accessible or comfortable for the angler to use. A further disadvantage is that 25 there may be insufficient rod holders for the number of anglers that are on the vessel and for the number of rods that each angler brings on a fishing expedition. Installing a rod holder is not a trivial exercise since it typically means making a 30 permanent fixing to the dinghy which typically involves drilling, bolting, riveting and then sealing the holder to the dinghy, which is a time consuming and labour intensive operation and which may impact on the integrity of the vessel.

2 It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to the above described problem SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 5 According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a removable rod holder assembly including: a bracket shaped for engagement with a gunwale of a fishing boat; and a rod holder fastened to an outside of the bracket. 10 It is preferred that the bracket includes a returning lip that is of sufficient size to fit over the gunwale. An inside of the bracket may bear a wear pad to prevent the bracket from 15 abrading a side of the fishing boat in use. For example, the wear pad may comprise a strip of elastomeric The rod holder assembly may include a lanyard for fastening to the fishing 20 boat. For example the lanyard may be tiled through a hole formed through the bracket at one end and to a portion of the fishing boat and another end in use. Preferably the bracket is shaped in the following manner, it includes a boat side vertical portion, a lateral lip portion that extends inwardly from the top of 25 the boat side vertical portion, a downward lip portion that extends downwardly from an inward edge of the lateral lip portion and a return lip portion that extends outwardly from a downward edge of the downward lip portion. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the boat-side vertical portion is 30 about 100mm wide and about 165mm high. The lateral lip portion extends inwardly about 65mm from the top of the boat side vertical portion. The downward lip portion extends downwardly about 20mm from an inward edge of the lateral lip portion and the return lip portion extends outwardly about 35mm from a downward edge of the downward lip portion. It will be realized 3 that these dimensions are provided as examples only of a single preferred embodiment of the invention and that other dimensions and arrangements will also be suitable. 5 The rod holder may be formed of a plastic or alternatively it could be of a metal such as aluminum. Where the bracket and the rod holder are of aluminum then the rod holder may be welded to the bracket. Alternatively the rod holder may be riveted, screwed, bolted or otherwise fastened to the bracket. 10 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient 15 information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: Figure 1 shows a fishing dinghy fitted with prior art fishing rod holders. 20 Figure 2 is a first view of a removable fishing rod holder assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a second view of the removable fishing rod holder assembly of figure 2. Figure 4 is a side view of the removable fishing rod holder assembly 25 fitted to a first gunwale. Figure 5 is a side view of the removable fishing rod holder assembly fitted to a second gunwale. Figure 6 shows the removable fishing rod holder assembly fitted to an outside of a fishing boat. 30 Figure 7 is a view from the inside of the boat of the removable fishing rod holder assembly of Figure 6. Figure 8 shows a plurality of removable fishing rod holder assemblies located along a side of a fishing boat and holding a variety of articles.

4 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to Figures 2 and 3 there is depicted a removable fishing rod 5 assembly 6 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The fishing rod assembly 6 includes a bracket 8 that is shaped for engagement with a gunwale of a fishing boat. A rod holder 10 is fastened to an outside of the bracket. In the presently described embodiment of the invention the bracket 8 is of aluminum and the rod holder 10 is of plastic with 10 the two being fastened together by means of rivets 12. Other material might also be used. For example the rod holder could be of aluminum also and welded or integrally formed with the bracket. In the presently described embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2 a 15 lanyard 14 is provided that is secured by shackle 18 to the bracket 8 by a hole 16 formed therethrough. The lanyard 14 is removed in the view of the removable fishing rod assembly 6 that is shown in Figure 3. It will be realized that the lanyard is not essential to the invention, it is provided as an optional accessory for the peace of mind of the owner of the rod holder. 20 An inside of the bracket 8 bears a wear pad 18 to prevent the bracket from abrading a side of the fishing boat in use. The wear pad comprise a strip of elastomeric material, e.g. foam as shown in Figure 3. 25 An upper end of the bracket 8 is formed with a returning lip 9 that is shaped to engage a gunwale of a fishing boat. The returning lip is comprised of a lateral lip portion In the preferred embodiment of the invention that is illustrated in Figures 2 and 30 3 the boat-side vertical portion 8a of the bracket 8 is about 100mm wide and about 165mm high. The lateral lip portion 8b extends inwardly about 65mm from the top of the boat side vertical portion 8a. The downward lip portion 8c extends downwardly about 20mm from an inward edge of the lateral lip portion 8b and the return lip portion 8d extends outwardly about 35mm from a 5 downward edge of the downward lip portion. It will be realized that these dimensions are provided as examples only of a single preferred embodiment of the invention and that other dimensions and arrangements will also be suitable depending on factors, such as the gunwale that is to be fitted. 5 Figures 4 and 5 are side views of the fishing rod holder assembly in use fastened to the side of a gunwale 20a (in Figure 4) and a narrower gunwale 20b (in Figure 5). It will be observed that the shape of the returning lip 9 accommodates engagement to both sizes of gunwales 20a and 20b and sizes 10 in between also. Referring now to Figure 6, there is shown a first view of the outside of removable fishing rod holder 6 engaging gunwale 20c and installed on the outside of fishing dingy 1. Figure 7 is a second view showing the location of 15 the returning lip 9 over the gunwale 20c Figure 8 shows a number of the removable fishing rod holder assemblies located along a side of the fishing dinghy. It will be observed that in addition to holding a fishing rod the rod holder assemblies can also support a light, a 20 knife and a cutting board. Obviously many other utensils and articles can also be handily held too. In use the fishing rod holder assembly is readily swung about the gunwale in order for the return lip of the bracket to engage with the gunwale. A reverse 25 type of operation is used to remove the bracket from the gunwale. Once mounted on the gunwale the fishing rod holder assembly can be slid along the gunwale to a desired position. Consequently, it is possible to position the holders where they are most convenient for use. It is also possible to readily increase or reduce the number of holders that are installed on the vessel to 30 accommodate more or less anglers as desired. In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. The term "comprises" and its variations, such as "comprising" and "comprised of" is 6 used throughout in an inclusive sense and not to the exclusion of any additional features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred 5 forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art. 10 Throughout the specification and claims (if present), unless the context requires otherwise, the term "substantially" or "about" will be understood to not be limited to the value for the range qualified by the terms. 15 Any embodiment of the invention is meant to be illustrative only and is not meant to be limiting to the invention. Therefore, it should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to any embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (13)

1. A removable rod holder assembly including: a bracket shaped for engagement with a gunwale of a fishing boat; and a rod holder fastened to an outside of the bracket.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bracket includes a returning lip that is of sufficient size to fit over the gunwale.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein an inside of the bracket bears a wear pad to prevent the bracket from abrading a side of the fishing boat in use.

4. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims including a lanyard for fastening to the fishing boat.

5. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bracket includes: a boat-side vertical portion; a lateral lip portion that extends inwardly from the top of the boat side vertical portion; a downward lip portion that extends downwardly from an inward edge of the lateral lip portion; and a return lip portion that extends outwardly from a downward edge of the downward lip portion.

6. An assembly according to claim 5, wherein the boat-side vertical portion is about 100mm wide and about 165mm high.

7. An assembly according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the lateral lip portion extends inwardly about 65mm from the top of the boat side vertical portion. 8

8. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the downward lip portion extends downwardly about 20mm from an inward edge of the lateral lip portion.

9. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the return lip portion extends outwardly about 35mm from a downward edge of the downward lip portion.

10. An assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rod holder is formed of a plastic.

11 An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein wherein the rod holder is formed of aluminum.

12. An assembly according to claim 11, wherein the bracket and the rod holder are welded together.

13. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the rod holder and the bracket are either riveted, screwed or bolted together.