EP2111102A1

EP2111102A1 - Fishing rod holder

Info

Publication number: EP2111102A1
Application number: EP07700360A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Julian Milnes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-10
Filing date: 2007-01-10
Publication date: 2009-10-28
Also published as: WO2007080403A1; GB0814210D0; GB0600471D0; GB2448639A

Abstract

A holder (1) for a fishing rod comprising front and rear bobbins (4a, 4b) mounted on a plate (11) adapted for donning by a fisherman so that a line joining said front and rear bobbins is approximately parallel the ground when the fisherman is standing upright on flat ground, the bobbins each comprising both top and bottom sides each side being substantially U-, C- or V-shaped in section perpendicular to said line whereby a fishing rod (2) hooked under the rear bobbin (4a) and supported on the front bobbin (4a) is retained in position. The bobbins (4a, 4b) are rotationally symmetrical about an axis perpendicular to said line .

Description

Fishing Rod Holder

This invention relates to a holder for a fishing rod during fishing activity.

BACKGROUND

It is known to provide a holder for fishing rods where the rods are placed in position. For example, JP-A-2001190201 discloses such a holder comprising a plate having an adhesive for connection of the holder to a cooler box or the like, such as fishermen are likely to have with them when they go fishing. The front of the plate has two oppositely disposed hooks so that the rear end of the rod may be hooked under the back hook and the front hook supports the weight of the rod a little further forward of its rear end.

However, while such holder is suitable in many situations, it is frequently the case that fishermen need a place to locate their rods while they are handling a fish, baiting the line or changing a fly, but without losing control of the rod. Indeed, they may have moved away from where they have a fixed rod holder, or they may simply be in a location where they cannot put the rod down, for example, they may be in the water where they are fishing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a holder for a fishing rod comprising front and rear bobbins mounted on a plate adapted for donning by a fisherman so that a line joining said front and rear bobbins is approximately parallel the ground when the fisherman is standing upright on flat ground, the bobbins each comprising both top and bottom sides each side being substantially U-, C- or V-shaped in section perpendicular to said line whereby a fishing rod hooked under the rear.bqbbin and supported on the front bobbin is retained in position.

Preferably, said plate includes a belt by means of which the holder may be donned by a fisherman by tying the holder around the fisherman's waist. With the bobbins having said U-, C- or V-shaped (hereinafter for simplicity simply being referred to as V-shaped) sections on both top and bottom sides of each bobbin, either bobbin can be the front bobbin and either can be the rear bobbin, so that the holder may be placed on either side of the fisherman as he or she may desire, in either case, the rear end of the rod being hooked under the rear bobbin (rear with respect to the fisherman) and the rest of weight of the rod supported on the front bobbin.

Preferably the bobbins are rotationally symmetrical about an axis perpendicular to said line and horizontal when the holder is being worn by a fisherman standing upright. This ensures that there are no points of the bobbins that may catch clothing and become a nuisance for the fisherman.

Said belt may be separate from the plate and threaded through slots in the plate.

Preferably said bobbins are arranged on the plate so that a rod, supported on the front and under the rear bobbins, when the holder is donned by a fisherman standing upright, adopts an angle with the ground of between zero and forty-five degrees, with the rear end of the rod being lowest. This provides a convenient attitude for the rod so that, if fishing is in progress, the line may be at its maximum cast but without any risk that the rod may slip between the bobbins. On the other hand, it may be desired to handle the line and this position is convenient for that, also. Preferably, said angle is between 20° and 40° to horizontal, more preferably between 20° and 30°. Preferably, said angle is achieved by the separation of the bobbins and their diameter. As mentioned above, the bobbins are approximately horizontal, at least when the holder is worn by a fisherman standing upright, and this means that they will be horizontal which ever side of the fisherman the holder is being worn. Thus the rod will be at the same angle, regardless of the side on which it is worn.

Preferably, a hook store is provided on the holder. Said hook store may comprise a peg mounting a sleeve of foam in which to prick fish hooks and store them.

An alternative arrangement has the plate as part of a pair of waders. Indeed,, the plate may be an integral part of the waders, that is to say, the bobbins being supported on the waders themselves. Alternatively, the plate may be adhered or otherwise connected to the waders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is further described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1a and b are respectively a side view and a section on the line B-B in Figurela of a rod holder in accordance with the present invention;

Figures 2a and b are respectively a section on the line A-A in Figure 2b and a side view of an alternative embodiment of a rod holder in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 is a side view of a third embodiment of a rod holder;

Figure 4 is a side view of waders incorporating a rod holder; and

Figure 5 is a side view of a further embodiment of rod holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In Figures 1a and b, a rod holder 1 comprises a plate 11 on which bobbins 4a, b are mounted, one behind the other. The plate 11 is adapted to be donned by a fisherman with the bobbins 4a,b horizontal. Each bobbin has an axis 4c of symmetry so that, in section, the bobbin has a top half 4d and a bottom half 4e. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1a and b, the sections of the top and bottom halves 4d,e are the same and are substantially V-shaped. Indeed, the bobbins 4a, b are rotationally symmetrical about the axis 4c, although this is not essential. The purpose of the symmetry is two-fold. The first is so that there is no obvious hook which can catch on clothing etc and constitute a nuisance for the fisherman. The second is that, at whatever angle a fishing rod 2 adopts when supported by the holder 1 , its contact with the bobbin is radial with respect thereto so that it wedges securely into the V-shaped section of each bobbin.

Rods 2 generally have a handle 2a and a tapering shaft 2b. These are generally of different diameters, as can be seen in Figure 1b where both sections of the handle and shaft are shown on the respective bobbins 4a,b.

Although the handle 2a is much larger than the rod shaft 2b, the shaft 2b is, of course, very much longer, and also generally made of a denser, stronger material. Indeed, the handle 2a is frequently made of a light material such as cork, such that it has a soft-feel grip. Consequently, in the position shown in Figure 1a the vast majority of the weight of the rod 2 is to the right of the front bobbin 4b and therefore presses down on the bobbin 4b at point 6 causing a clockwise moment of the rod 2 about the bobbin 4b. However, motion of the rod 2 in response to the moment is resisted by the rear bobbin 4a and the reaction force 5 provided thereby. Both forces 5,6 are radial with respect to the respective bobbin 4a,b, and perpendicular with respect to the rod 2.

Turning to Figures 2a and b, a modified holder V is provided with slots 15a,b through which a belt 9 is threaded and by means of which the holder 1 ' may be donned by a fisherman (not shown). The ends of the belts 9 are not shown, but may simply be provided with a normal buckle. In addition, holder V is provided with a peg 7 on which a sleeve 8 of foam is disposed. This provides a convenient storage point for hooks and flies that the fisherman may wish to use.

Turning to Figure 3, a further embodiment of rod holder 1" is shown where the plate 11" is provided with an integral belt 9'.

Turning to Figure 4, a pair of waders 10 is shown with bobbins 4a,b connected directly to the waders 10 so that plate 11 '" of the holder 1 '" is merely an integral part of the material of the waders 10. In Figure 4 the rod is shown with reel 2c connected thereto, wedging against bobbin 4b and ensuring there is no slip of the rod in a forward direction. While slip is unlikely in any event, a sudden tug by a fish on the line may pull the rod forward and downward. In that event, the reel 2c may provide useful insurance that the rod is not lost.

In Figure 5, a fourth embodiment of rod holder 1 "" is shown where plate 11 "" is a separate component but shown adhered to the material of the waders 10.

Returning to Figure 1a,b, the bobbins 3a, b are arranged so that, for a typical rod 2, the rod adopts an angle α when disposed on the holder where α is about 25 degrees. This is the typical angle at which a fisherman holds a rod. Moreover, while shown as V- shaped, as mentioned above the bobbins 4a,b could have a C- or U-shaped section. In- any event, however, the diameter D of the mouth of the bobbin should be larger than the diameter of the handle 2a of the rod, so that there is no danger of the rod slipping sideways out of engagement with the bobbin.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of the words, for example "comprising" and "comprises", means "including but not limited to", and is not intended to (and does not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A holder for a fishing rod comprising front and rear bobbins mounted on a plate adapted for donning by a fisherman so that a line joining said front and rear bobbins is approximately parallel the ground when the fisherman is standing upright on flat ground, the bobbins each comprising both top and bottom sides each side being substantially U-, C- or V-shaped in section perpendicular to said line whereby a fishing rod hooked under the rear bobbin and supported on the front bobbin is retained in position.

2. A holder as claimed in claim 1 , in which the bobbins are rotationally symmetrical about an axis perpendicular to said line and horizontal when the holder is being worn by a fisherman standing upright.

3. A holder as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which said bobbins are arranged on the plate so that a rod, supported on the front and under the rear bobbins, when the holder is donned by a fisherman standing upright, adopts an angle with the ground of between zero and forty-five degrees, with the rear end of the rod being lowest.

4. A holder as claimed in claim 3, in which said angle is between 20° and 40° to horizontal, preferably between 20° and 30°.

5. A holder as claimed in claim 4, in which said angle is achieved by the separation of the bobbins and their diameter.

6. A holder as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a hook store is provided on the holder.

7. A holder as claimed in claim 6, in which said hook store comprises a peg mounting a sleeve of foam in which to prick fish hooks and store them.

8. A holder as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said plate includes a belt by means of which the holder may be donned by a fisherman by tying the holder around the fisherman's waist.

9. A holder as claimed in claim 8, in which said belt is separate from the plate and is threaded through slots in the plate.

10. A holder as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, in which said plate is part of a pair of waders.

11. A holder as claimed in claim 10, in which the plate is an integral part of the waders, the bobbins are supported on the material of the waders.

12. A holder as claimed in claim 10, in which the plate is adhered or otherwise connected to the waders.

13. A fishing rod holder, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings.

14. A combination of a fishing rod and holder therefor as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the rod has a handle of one diameter and a rod shaft of a lesser diameter, the substantially U-, C- or V-shaped sections of the bobbins at their widest parts being greater than said diameters.