AU671221B2 - Fishing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

IA"

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 I. 4.

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT *~ee Invention Title: FISHING APPARATUS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us.

2 This invention relates to a fishing apparatus intended for use primarily, but not exclusively as a support for a fisherman which fishing apparatus may also support a fishing rod adjacent the edge of a body of water such as a lake, beach or the like.

To avoid tiredness associated with prolonged period of fishing, fishermen have devised a number of means for supporting themselves and their rods.

"Rod supports typically comprise a pointed steel 10 shaft with a rod support bracket at an upper end or a length of metal or plastics tubing with an obliquely cut end. These rod support devices are pushed into wet sand adjacent the water's edge and enable a S. fisherman to leave a rod unattended while relaxing or 9.4* attending to other duties.

rdWhile generally effective for their purpose these Srod holding devices do suffer a number of disadvantages. The main disadvantage is that in a very fluid or wet sand, line drag or even the mass of the fishing rod is often sufficient to allow the rod holder to fall over causing the fishing rod and, as is often the case, an expensive fishing reel to become coated with sand and salt water. Continued use of a fishing reel with sand particles in an associated gear mechanism substantially shortens its life.

Another disadvantage arises from the need to support the fishing rod in a generally upright position to minimise the load on the rod holder to ii u i 3 prevent collapse. While it is possible in some cases to support the rod with some degree of inclination towards the body of water, a rod so supported in a generally upright position makes rebaiting of a fishing hook quite difficult.

While some fishermen prefer to rest by sitting beside the rod holder, a conventional stool or chair is not possible for this purpose as the legs sink into j the wet sand. Generally this problem is overcome by j using a 9 litre fuel drum or the like with a solid base. Again, while generally effective as a seating arrangement, fuel drums can float away due to wave action while unattended, have only a fixed, limited seating height and generally are inconvenient to

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f*o 15 transport.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a fishing stool for fishermen which overcomes or ameliorates at least some of the prior art problems of rod support and resting facilities.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided fishing apparatus comprising:- *a .i a shaft comprising a tapered portion at a lower end thereof; a ground support member associated with said shaft intermediate opposed ends thereof and adapted for at least partial tiltable association with said shaft; a platform means mounted on an upper end of said ©Aj shaft; and -1 d a fishing rod support means associated with said a j 4 apparatus, said rod support means adapted to support a fishing rod at an upwardly inclined angle on said apparatus.

The shaft may comprise a solid member or a hollow tubular member.

Preferably the shaft comprises a hollow tubular member with a tapered lower end.

Most preferably, the shaft comprises a releasably securable tapered end portion.

If required the shaft may be adjustable in length by telescopic means or by the association with a further shaft member.

The ground support member preferably comprises a plate-like member with an aperture to slidably receive said shaft substantially perpendicular thereto.

Suitably the ground support member is securable Sto said shaft at predetermined positions on said shaft.

The platform means mounted on the upper end of 20 said shaft may be pivotally connected to said shaft.

i Alternatively said platform means may be removably connected to said shaft.

Preferably said platform means comprises a seat i i base.

The fishing rod support means may comprise a support means associated with said platform means, said shaft both of said platform means and said shaft.

Suitably said rod support means is associated with said platform means. i Preferably said rod support means comprises a i hollow tubular member attached to said shaft and tr 10 inclined upwardly thereto.

If required said rod support means may be releasably securable to said shaft. In another embodiment of the invention, an ;j extension member may be releasably connectable to said 15 shaft to provide an elevated fish cleaning platform. i[ In order that the invention may be more fully *4* understood in jrder to put the invention into practical effect, reference is now made to various preferred embodiments described in the accompanying drawings in which:- FIG 1 shows fishing apparatus according to one U embodiment of the invention.

FIG 2 shows an adaptation of the arrangement of FIG 1 in the form of a fish cleaning apparatus. i FIG 3 shows a modification of the apparatus of i FIG 1.

FIG 4 shows an exploded perspective view of fishing apparatus in accordance with another 1 1! 6 II

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embodiment of the invention; i FIG 4a shows a detailed view of part of the ground support member shown in FIG 4; FIG 5 shows a bottom plan view of a seat member for use with the fishing apparatus of FIG 4; FIG 6 shows a view of the fishing apparatus of FIG 4 showing the pivotal action of a fishing rod when attached thereto; FIG 6a is a detail of part of FIG 6; i 10 FIG 7-9 shows the pivotability of an upright shaft of the fishing apparatus relative to the ground support member; and FIGS 10-11 show the rotatability through about a vertical axis of the upright of the fishing t 15 apparatus relative to the ground support member.

In FIG 1 the fishing stool 1 comprises an upright shaft 2 in the form of a hollow tubular member with a tapered lower end 3.

A ground support member 4 in the form of an annular plate is located on shaft 2 and secured thereto by a peg 5 extending through one of spaced apertures 7 in upright 2, peg 5 being secured in resilient clips 6 attached to ground support member 4 on opposed locations of upright 2.

At the upper end of upright 2 is pivotally attached thereto a padded seat 8 with depending lugs 9 secured to a pivot pin 10 locating in upright 2.

Seat 8 is secured in a stable position L I^ 7 perpendicular to upright 2 by means of a removable wedge block 11 which secures between the upper end of upright 2 and the undersurface of seat 8 to prevent rotation thereof. If required wedge block 11 may be removably secured to seat 8 by a resilient clip (not shown) With wedge block 11 removed, seat 8 may be rotated through 900 for compact storage and transportation.

Intermediate ground support member 4 and seat 8 is a 450 tubular junction 12 into which is fitted a tubular fishing rod holder 13.

In use the apparatus in the form of a stool 1 is IT rotated into wet sand or the like 14 until ground supp-vrt member 4 engages on the upper surface thereof.

The degree of penetration and/or the height of seat 8 above ground level may be selectively adjusted by placing peg 5 in a selected aperture 7. Lower aperture 15 is provided to assist in relieving air 1 and/or water pressure in tubular upright 2 during penetration into the ground mass 14.

After penetrating the lower part of shaft 2 into supportive stability, a comfortable seat height may be further adjusted by engaging a further peg 16 into an aperture in upright 2 to engage with a complementary aperture 17 in a telescopically slidable shaft portion 2a. l r i

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r* 5*55* After suitable adjustment of the height of seat 8 relative to the ground surface, a fisherman is able .o locate the handle of a fishing rod (not shown) in fishing rod holder 13 whilst sitting on seat 8.

Ground support member 4 resists not only the downward force of a person seated on seat 8 but also the tendency of the stool 1 to tilt in wet sand due to a cantilever force applied by the mass of a fishing rod located in holder 13, particularly while the 10 fishing rod is unattended.

Even with extremely soft or unstable earth masses the apparatus is very stable. This is applicable even under tilting forces due to the mass of the fishing rod or line drag. Such tilting forces are resisted by 15 virtue of a relatively large diameter shaft comprising upright 2 operating in conjunction together with ground support member 4. In one embodiment the fishing rod may be positioned in the upper open end of shaft 2 or in inclined holder 13.

Alternatively the stool 1 may include a seat platform 8 which permits even further resistance to extreme tilting forces on the fishing rod by support through the fisherman's legs and feet in engagement with the ground surface. In such a manner a fisherman is able to obtain considerable relaxation whilst fishing and yet provide "hands free" stable support for a fishing rod located in holder 13.

When rebaiting of a fish hook is required, the i j 1 n 1 ji i li ir'-rrai;t~l:sr i: 'r: 9 fisherman is able to rotate the apparatus freely about its vertical axis to support the fishing rod at an elevated position away from the water's edge.

In yeL a further embodiment of the invention a removable ground support member in the form of a ground engaging pad, spike or flighted screw member (not shown) may be inserted in the lower end of the upright or shaft 2 to facilitate a convenient seating means at sporting venues such as cricket, football and the like.

0 In other embodiments of the invention, the .:.fishing rod support means may be associated with the seat 8 and/or the upright shaft 2, 2a shown in FIG 1.

For example the fishing rod holder may comprise an S 15 aperture, tubular shaft or bracket means associated with seat 8 alone or in cooperation with the upright support shaft, FIG 2 shows an adaptation of the stool of FIG 1 wherein the upper seat portion is removable and a height extended fish cleaning table 18 is inserted in shaft 2. The table 18 constitutes an alternative aspect of the aforementioned platforms means in lieu of seat 8. A convenient user height is obtained by means of a shaft 19 telescopically slidable in shaft 2 and secured by peg 16 locatable in spaced apertures in shaft 19.

FIG 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the 1 invention.

I f l 10 th like fi In FIG 3 the fishing stool 24 comprises an H upright shaft 25 which may be hollow or solid with a recess 26 at its lower end to releasably locate a tapered earth penetrating point or spike 27 by means of a boss 28 which is lockable in recess 26.

A ground support member 29 has a central aperture through which the lower portion of shaft 25 passes.

Diametrically opposed lugs 31 on shaft 25 are 1 locatable in a recess 32 formed in an upper surface of i i 10 support member 29 to permit limited tilting of the V. shaft 25 about a transverse axis.

A pair of spaced fingers 33, 33a are slidingly engagable with spaced fingers 34 on a rod support I member 35. Rod support member 35 is of a generally hollow tubular configuration with a cut away aperture 36 through which the butt of a fishing rod may be inserted in a generally upright fashion so that the butt emerges from a lower aperture 37. As the rod is allowed to rotate to a rest position the butt of the rod is supported by the upper wall 38 and a lower wall 39 of support member A seat member 40 is releasably engagable with the I upper end of shaft 25 by location in a socket 41 iT formed in the under side of the seat member Suitably the components of the stool of FIG 3 and FIG 4 described hereinafter are formed from injection moulded plastics and are readily demountable for ease i of storage and transportation.

top seat 42, peripheral flange 42a, reinforcing frame 43 having frame members 44 surrounding a central hub or boss 44a which has a hollow interior 45 which includes a pair of opposed recesses 46, a pair of opposed slots 47, a pair of opposed slots 48 and a pair of opposed recesses 49 each having a groove 50. i The upright member 51 includes a central web 52, end flanges 53, a pair of intermediate flanges 54 and a central flange 55. The arrangement is such that end Sflanges 53 of upright 51 are accommodated within mating recesses 46, intermediate flanges 54 are accommodated within opposed slots 47 and 48 and central flange 55 is accommodated within opposed recesses 46 as shown in phantom in FIG As also shown in FIG 4 the upright 51 includes an obliquely upwardly extending support member 57 which is I shaped in cross section including a central web 58 and opposed flanges 59. The support member 57 also includes aperture 60. i Rod supporL 61 is also shown having a pair of end b engagement flanges 62 which engage with support member 57 on either side of central web 58. Rod support 61 /7 is of generally tubular structure as shown having a top wall 63, bottom aperture 64 indicated in phantom, i bottom wall 65 and top aperture 66.

The upright 51 also includes a bottom end 67 which includes a pair of opposed end parts 68 each 5/84

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1 12 having a round engagement lug 69 with outer projection and a pair of square engagement projections 71 extending outwardly from an associated flange 53.

The ground support member 72 is round as shown having a peripheral flange 73. There is also provided a central aperture 74 having opposed sockets 75 for engagement with mating projections 71 and opposed sockets 76 for engagement with mating lugs 69. Each socket 76 includes an inner aperture or slot 77 opening into hollow interior 78 of ground support member 72 and an outer recess '79. There are also included opposed ledges 78a. This is shown more particularly in FIG 4a.

There is also shown a removable spike 80 having a 4t~~ a a 0* aaaa cruciform cross section as indicated which has a pointed end 81 for engagement with the ground or sand when required.

aIn FIG 6 there is shown a fishing rod 82 havinga handle 83 having an inner end 84, enlarged outer end supported in rod support 61. In its normal rest position the rod 82 is supported in rod support member 61 by handle 83 engaging with top wall 63 and bottom wall 65 which are shown in sectional form in FIG 6A.

However in an operational position as shown in phantom in FIG 6 the handle 83 may pivot downwardly as shownA so that the handle is no longer in engagement with j 'I _A

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13 clearance passage formed by apertures 64 and 66.

In FIGS 7, 8 and 9 there is shown the sequence of operations when the bottom end of upright 51 is inserted into ground support member 72. FIG 7 shows the bottom end 67 of shaft 51 removed from ground support member 72. As shown in FIG 8 locking projections 71 engage with corresponding sockets Each lug 69 engages in outer recess 79 of sockets 76 with bearing projection 70 engaging in apertures 77 as 10 shown in FIG 8.

As shown in FIG 9 the upright 51 may be tilted as shown by the arrow in full outline so as to facilitate withdrawal of upright 51 from ground support member i 72.

15 In FIGS 10-11 the reversibility of upright 51 relative to ground support member 72 is demonstrated.

In FIG 10 square projections 71 engage in mating sockets 75 and it will be noted that such engagement enables upright 51 to pivot as shown by the arrow in full outline by virtue of the spacing 84 between projections 71 and the confines of socket 75. Lug 69 r engages in recess 79 of socket 76 and again there is clearance 85 between lug 69 and recess 79 to enable the pivoting motion of upright 51 to be achieved.

This clearance is facilitated by the presence of ledge i 78a. i In FIG 11 the upright 51 is pivoted through as shown by the arrow in full outline so that 14 projections 71 engage securely in recesses 79 and rest on bearing ledges 78a as shown. Lugs 69 engage in sockets 75. This enables tne upright 51 to be securely retained in ground support member 72 so that it is incapable of rotation. This enable the combination of ground support member 72 and upright 51 to provide a portable stool which may be used independently of a fishing application whereby the upright 51 may be securely retained within ground 10 support member 72 without the need of a spike 80 as shown in FIGS 4 or 6 or spike 27 shown in FIG 3 or .'*shaf t 2 having a tapered lower end 3 as shown in FIGS 1-2.

Suitably the stool according to the invention is constructed of corrosion resistant plastics and/or stainless steel tubing.

e.Preferably the apparatus comprises separate elements which may be dismantled for ease of storage .444..and transportation.

Conveniently, the fishing rod support means 13, of utilities such as fishing tackle containers, bait container, refreshment containers and personal effects containers to enable convenient hands free fishing, rebaiting or relaxation for a fisherman.

In another aspect of the invention there is[I provided a portable stool which may be used for a variety of outdoor purposes which does not have aK i !777 i~eel p.p I~-Fi 15 tapered or pointed end as shown in FIGS 1-6 and instead utilises a ground support plate 72 as a sole means of ground support. This is facilitated by the provision of recesses in a peripheral edge of the aperture 74 of plate 72 which engage with lugs 71 as described above in FIG 11 to prevent rotation of shaft 57 relative to plate 72.

In this aspect of the invention it will be appreciated that the ground support plate 72 may have 10 any suitable engagement members such as recesses, sockets, lugs or projections which engage with corresponding engagement members of upright 51.

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Claims (18)

1. A fishing apparatus comprising:- a shaft comprising a tapered portion at a lower end thereof; a ground support member associated with said shaft intermediate opposed ends thereof and adapted for at least partial tiltable association with said shaft; a platform means mounted on an upper end of said shaft; and a fishing rod support means associated with said apparatus, said rod support means adapted to support a fishing rod at an upwardly inclined angle on said apparatus.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shaft comprises a solid member.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shaft comprises a hollow tubular member with a tapered lower end.

4. An apparatus as claimed an claim 1 wherein the shaft comprises a releasably securable tapered end portion. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ground support member comprises a plate-like member with an aperture to slidably receive said shaft substantially perpendicular thereto.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said )ground support member is securable to said shaft at )predetermined positions on said shaft.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ~1 '1 L a fishing rod support means associated with said ;II 171 platform means is pivotally connected to said shaft.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said platform means is removably connected to said shaft.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said platform means comprises a seat base. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fishing rod support means comprises a support means associated with said platform means.

11. An apparatus as claims in claim 1 wherein said rod support means comprises a hollow tubular member attached to said shaft and inclined upwardly thereto. S"12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said .hollow tubular member includes an upper engagement a wall, an upper aperture, a lower cn~ ement wall and a lower aperture wherein said low .'>iagement wall is :o spaced outwardly from said upper engagement wall to define a passage through which a fishing rod extends 9 Afn: awparata wherein said fishing rod may have a rest position whereby the fishing rod is in bearing engagement with I i i 20 said upper engagement wall and said lower engagement wall and an operative position wherein the fishing rod has been pivoted about a horizontal axis and is clear of engagement with said upper engagement wall and said lower engagement wall.

13. A fishing apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said plate like member includes an engagement recess for engagement with a mating lug of said shaft.

14. A fishing apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein :A T oru .i '4 18 I said plate like member includes a pair of opposed engagement recesses for engagement with a corresponding pair of lugs on said shaft. A fishing apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said plate like member includes a further pair of opposed engagement recesses which engage with a corresponding further pair of lugs on said shaft. i

16. A fishing apparatus as claimed in claim wherein one pair of engagement recesses each include i an aperture extending into a hollow interior of said plate like member.

17. A fishing apparatus as claimed in claim 15 5** wherein one pair of engagement recesses are locking recesses to prevent rotation of said shaft relative to said plate like member.

18. A fishing stool including an upright shaft; a pair of engagement members on a lower end of said shaft; a ground support plate having an aperture to 20 receive said lower end of the shaft; a pair of mating engagement members located on a peripheral edge of said aperture to which each engage with an adjacent engagement member of said lower end to retain the lower end in said aperture; wherein said ground support plate is at least partially tiltable with respect to said shaft. Z9. A fishing stool as claimed in claim 18 wherein the lower end of said shaft includes a pair of lugs extending outwardly thereof and said peripheral edge i L i-ili.--_ ~II il~j L 19 extending outwardly thereof and said peripheral edge of said aperture includes a pair of mating sockets which each engage with a respective lug. A fishing stool as claimed in claim 19 wherein said lower end of shaft includes two pairs of lugs extending outwardly therefrom and said peripheral edge of said aperture includes two pairs of mating sockets wherein a respective pair of lugs are engageable with an adjacent pair of sockets.

21. A fishing stool as claimed in claim 20 wherein one pair of sockets are locking sockets to prevent rotation of said shaft when retained in said aperture.

22. A fishing stool as claimed in claim 21 wherein the shaft is rotatable relative to the ground support plate to interchange one pair of lugs with an associated pair of sockets.

23. A fishing apparatus as hereinbefore described with refetence to the accompanying drawing figures. A

999. 9* .9 999999 9 9. 90 9 9 P 4 .9 909 9 0 9 0 9 9 A 9 9999 *0 09 9 99 99 9 99 9 DATED this Twenty-Seventh day of June 1996 PETER JOHN HEWITT and RAYMOND PETER BROWNSDON By their Patent Attorney FISHER ADAMS KELLY I I -u ~A'TO~ 7 K z~ c .I :t ABSTRACT A fishing stool comprises an upright shaft with a tapered lower end and a seat at the upper end. Intermediate the ends of the shaft is a hollow upwardly inclined fishing rod support extending laterally from the shaft. A support base in the form of an annular ring surrounds the lower part of the shaft and supports transversely extending lugs to permit limited tilting movement between the shaft and the support base. The apparatus is demountable for transportation and storage. 1 r i I 9. 9 44 r~4 ~r r rr r r u r r r r ri r Vi I I JI i L I; i