GB2214391A - Support for elongate articles e.g. fishing rods - Google Patents

Abstract

A support for elongate articles e.g. fishing rods comprises a beam 2 having legs 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b secured thereto for displacement between a ground engaging position and a storage position, latch means securing the legs in at least one position and being released by a manual force applied between the beam and leg. Each leg has a mounting block 11 having channels 18, 19 locating the beam in one of the positions. A pair of lugs on beam 2 locate in corresponding recesses 21-23 in the channels and are released therefrom by force F, acting against spring bias, to enable turning of block 11 to reposition the legs. <IMAGE>

Description

Support Assembly for Elongate Articles The Invention relates to support assemblies for elongate articles such as flushing rods. The invention is particularly concerned with knock-down assemblies which are easily transportable without too excessive wastage of storage space.

Elongate articles frequently need to be supported off ground for various reasons ranging from the need to avoid solling or damage to the need to maintain such an article In a secure disposition. Fishing rods, for example, often need to be supported off ground whilst the angler's line Is in the water whilst fishing and sometimes also whilst the rod is not In use. Resting the rod upon the ground is unsatisfactory since it Is unstable and damage can in any event be Incurred to the finish of the rod or Its accessories (eg a fishing reel). At the current time, fishing rods are expensive items which anglers desire to preserve against these risks.

Support devices for the above purposes need to be provided with legs supporting a cradle or such like which receives the elongate article. This Inevitably means a beam or similar member needs to be provided to unify the assembly and provide a mount for the cradle. Inevitably, the final constructed assembly Is somewhat cumbersome to transport and store. In the angling field, much effort has been expended to provide a serviceable support assembly which can readlly be knocked down for purposes of portability and/or storage (eg in a vehicle, upon a cycle or In a shed or store cupboard). However, ail attempts to achleve this goal have failed In one respect or another to provide a viable solution to the long standing problem.For example, the provision of knock down characteristics often leads to increased production costs, loss of support reliability, the generation of excessive numbers of separate components upon knock down, all of which require transportatlon and storage, or the presence of Jolnts which are difficult to manipulate, require the use of special tools and/or give rlse to component wear and eventual failure.

According to the Invention, a support assembly for elongate articles such as fishing rods comprises a beam, a pluralIty of legs each mounted to the beam for displacement between a first position In which the leg is oriented for ground-engagement so that the beam can be supported above ground by the legs in combination, and a second positlon which the leg is oriented to enable the assembly to be stored with less occupation of storage space, and a cradle to recelve the elongate articles, the legs belng mounted to the beam by coupling means including latching means for securing the legs at least in their first positlons against inadvertent dislodgement or collapse under load, said latching means being so constructed and arranged that displacement of each of the legs from a secured one of said positions thereof towards the other of said positions can be effected by a manual dislodging force applied between the beam and the leg to disrupt the securement of said latching means.

The beam may be a tubular elongate member, for example, one made of metallic materlal.

The legs are conveniently also made of metallic materlal.

Such metallic materlal as referred to may be stainless steel or chromium plated metal or metal alloy.

The latching means is conveniently defined by the beam together with each leg but may take the form of a separate element.

The legs are usually at least two in number (although conceivably one leg might have tripod or quadropod feet and be useful alone), and conveniently a leg is provided in Juxtapositlon to each of the opposed ends of the beam.

The legs collectively will normally provide at least three points of ground-contact In use.

Preferably the legs are mounted to the beam by means allowing pivoting of the legs In a plane which Is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the beam.

In an embodiment of the invention, a pair of legs is provided adJacent at least one of the opposed beam ends, said legs being essentlally parallel to each other in their second positlons and divergent from each other in the direction away from their mountings to the beam in their first positions. In this as well as other forms of the Invention, the legs in their first positions and that part of the beam longitudinal axis between said legs and the beam end most remote from said legs subtend an obtuse wangle.

It is preferred for obvious reasons that the latching means provides securement of the legs in each of said first and second leg positions although conveniently latching in their second or first positlons only will be provided for.

The latching means Is preferably so constructed and arranged that displacement of each of the legs from a secured one of sald positions can be effected by a manual dislodging force comprising a force applied manually to urge the leg in a direction from one position towards the other of said positions. For example, the latching means may be so constructed and arranged that displacement from a secured position to another of said first and second positlons can be effected by, secondly, a force applied manually In a first direction, tending to urge the leg from one position towards the other of said positions, but firstly a force applied manually in a second direction which disrupts securement by the latching means. The second direction is convenlently perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the beam.

In preferred assembi les, a leg is mounted to the beam for pivotal displacement In a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the beam between the first and second positions of the leg, at least the first position can be secured by said latching means and the latter ds so constructed and arranged that a displacement force applied first to urge the leg in said second direction into a plane further spaced apart and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the beam disrupts securement of the leg by said latching means so that the leg can then be displaced in the direction of the one of said first and second leg positions spaced from the position thereof secured by the latching means.

The displacement of the leg to disrupt the securement by the latching means Is normally resisted in preferred embodiments by means such as a spring biassing the leg at least when sufferlng displacement in an opposed direction.

The securement of a leg by the latching means is preferably the result of cooperation between first latch means of the beam and second latch means of the leg.

Such first latch means may comprise one or more lugs or sockets, respectively, and the second latch means may then comprise one or more sockets or lugs, respectively, the lugs and sockets being complementary such that the lugs are receivable wlthin the sockets to effect securement by the latching means. One or more sockets or one or more lugs participating in securement by the latching means at one of said first and second positions of a leg may also participate In latching means securement at the other such leg position.

A preferred support assembly according to the invent ion is one comprising an elongate member serving as a beam, at least one leg disposed proximate each of the two opposed beam ends but short thereof, mounting means for mounting each leg to the beam for pivotal displacement rotatably upon a shaft of the mounting means in a plane of rotation parallel to the longitudinal axis of the beam between said first and second leg positions, the mounting means comprising latching means defined by the beam and associated leg together and so arranged to secure the leg at both the first and second positions thereof, the latching means including one or more sockets and one or more complementary mating lugs at least some of which are locked together when the leg is In Its first and second positions, the leg being displaceable axially upon the shaft in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the beam against the resillence of spring means between a disposition proxlmate the beam and one less proximate at which latter the lug(s) and socket(s) are disengaged, the leg being pivotal rotatably upon the shaft when the lug(s) and socket(s) are disengaged to enable displacement between the first and second leg positions by application of manual force.

The following Is a specific descriptlon intended to Illustrate the inventlon, by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings tn which: Flgure 1 is a partlally exploded end view of a support assembly; Figure 2 Is a vlew of part of the assembly of Flgure 1 taken from the direction of the arrow II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a vlew on an enlarged scale of the components within the broken line ill of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a vlew on an enlarged scale taken from the direction of the arrow IV of Figure 2; and Figure 5 is a view taken from the direction of the arrow V of Figure 4.

As shown In Flgure 1 of the drawings the support assembly designated generally at 1 comprises a hollow stainless steel beam 2 of right circular cylindrical form supported adJacent each of its ends 2a and 2b (Figure 2) by means of legs 3a, 3b and 4a, 4b. Each of the legs Just mentioned is made of right circular cylindrical stainless steel rod. As shown In Figure 1, the legs diverge towards their point of contact with the ground. Each leg 3a, 3b subtends an obtuse angle alpha with the beam 2 whilst each leg 4a, 4b subtends a similar obtuse angle beta with the beam 2.

AdJacent the ends 2a, 2b of beam 2, a cylindrical bore, 5a, 5b Is provided through the beam. A cradle upright 6 having a T-configuratlon (Flgure 1 only - 1 only shown) is received for the purpose of supporting a fishing rod (not shown) upon the upwardly facing surface of the strip steel top 7 between pillars 8. Cradle supports 6 are supported wlthin bores 5a, 5b by means of threaded bolts 9 having knurled heads 10 (Figures 2 and 3).

Each leg, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b Is mounted to beam 2 by means of a mounting block 11. Each mounting block 11 is formed by machining from stainless steel and is of right circular cylindrical form. A bore 12 formed in each block 11 has an outer portion which expands into the form of a recess 13 (Figure 4). The head 14 of a bolt 15 is received within recess 13 with Its threaded shank 16 recelved through the narrower cross sectlon lower portion of bore 12. A coil spring (not shown) Is received over the threaded shank 16. A shoulder constituted by a constriction at the base of bore 12 adJacent the interface of the block 11 with beam 2 (Figure 4) retains the coil spring In place. The bolt shank 16 penetrates the wall of beam 2 and is recelved In a bore in register therewith formed In a cylindrical block (not shown) retained within the cavity of the beam 1 local to the position of block 11.In this way It will be appreciated that block 11 Is secured to beam 2.

As shown In Figure 5 of the drawings, the face of block 11 which interfaces with beam 2 is formed with two Intersecting channels 18 and 19 which together produce a recessed area in the face which has the configuration of a somewhat eccentric cruciform. The channels 18 and 19 have curved lower faces machined to correspond substantlally to the radlus of curvature of the outer wall of beam 2. Four cylindrical blind recesses 20, 21, 22 and 23 are formed in the base of channels 18 and 19.

It will be appreclated by a revlew of Figures 4 and 5 in particular that with beam 2 and each block 11 interfaced In such manner that beam 2 Is received wlthin channel 19, the legs 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b are oriented with respect to beam 2 in the manner represented in Flgures 1, 2 and 4. In this condition of the support assembly shown In the drawings, the beam 2 Is urged Into interfacial contact with the bottom surface of channel 19 by the biassing effect of the coil sprlng referred to earlier. By applying manual force to the block 11 in the direction of the arrow F shown In Figure 4, the block is displaced outwardly from interfaciai contact with beam 2 against the biassing effect of the coil spring.Not only does this remove beam 2 from channel 19 but in addition recesses 21 and 23 become separated from two lugs provided at diametrically opposed locations elther side of the opening in beam 2 intended for reception of bolt shank 16. In the condition Just descrlbed, each arm, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b can be manipulated by rotatlon of block 11 until beam 2 is In register with channel 18 In block 11.

At this point, the force applied in the direction of the arrow F shown in Figure 4 can be relaxed so that beam 11 settles into recess 18 so that the two achieve interfacial contact. In this conditlon, the arms which have been so manipulated have their axes parallel to the longitudinal axis of beam 2 and, of course, the previously mentloned lugs of the beam 2 locate in cylindrical blInd recesses 20 and 22 to ensure as before that the beam and arm cannot be displaced with respect to each other inadvertently.

It has been found that the assembly shown In the drawings can be manufactured economically, can convenlently be knocked down to provide portabillty and ease of storage, can conveniently be re-erected for use, has its arms rellably fixed In the knocked down positlon when the assembly is knocked down due to location of beam 2 In channel 18 and, with the beam 2 similarly located in channel 19, the erected assembly shown in the drawings resists inadvertent collapsing and supports the load of severai fishing rods without danger of dislodgement of beam 2 from the channel 19.

The invention as descrlbed earlier without reference to the drawings may include any one or more features of the invent ion as descrlbed with reference to the drawings.

Claims (22)

Clalms

1. A support assembly for elongate articles such as fishing rods, the support assembly comprising a beam and a plurality of legs each mounted to the beam for displacement between a first position in which the leg is oriented for ground-engagement so that the beam can be supported above ground by the legs in combination, and a second position which the leg is oriented to enable the assembly to be stored with less occupation of storage space, the legs being mounted to the beam by coupling means including latching means for securing the legs at least In their first positions against Inadvertent dislodgement or collapse under load, said latching means being so constructed and arranged that displacement of each of the legs from a secured one of said positions thereof to the other of sald positions can be effected by a manual dislodging force applied between the beam and the leg to disrupt the securement of sald latching means.

2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the beam is a tubular elongate member.

3. An assembly as clalmed In Claim 1 or Clalm 2 whereln the beam is made of metallic materlal.

4. An assembly as claimed in any one of Clalms 1 to 3 wherein the legs are made of metallic material.

5. An assembly as clalmed I n any preceding claim whereln the latching means is defined by the beam together with each leg.

6. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the legs are at least two In number.

7. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim whereln a leg is provided in Juxtaposition to each of the opposed ends of sald beam.

8. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim whereln the legs provide at least three points of groundcontact In use.

9. An assembly as claImed I n any preceding claIm wherein the legs are mounted to the beam by means allowing pivoting of the legs in a plane which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the beam.

10. An assembly as claimed In any preceding claim wherein a palr of legs is provided adJacent at least one of the opposed beam ends, sald legs being essentially parallel to each other In their second positions and divergent from each other In the direction away from their mountings to the beam In their first positlons.

11. An assembly as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the legs in their first positions and that part of the beam longitudinal axis between sald legs and the beam end most remote from said legs subtend an obtuse angle.

12. An assembly as claimed in any preceding clalm wherein the latching means provides securement of the legs In each of sald first and second leg positions.

13. An assembly as clalmed In any preceding claim wherein sald latching means is so constructed and arranged that displacement of each of the legs from a secured one of said positlons can be effected by a manual dislodging force comprising a force applied manually to urge the leg in a direction from one position towards the other of sald positlons.

14. An assembly as claimed in Clalm 13 whereln sald latching means Is so constructed and arranged that displacement from a secured positlon to another of said first and second positlons can be effected by secondly a force applled manually in a first direction, tending to urge the leg from one position towards the other of sald positions but firstly a force applied manually in a second direction which disrupts securement by the latching means.

15. An assembly as claimed In Claim 14 wnerein sala second direction is perpendlcular to the longitudinal axis of the beam.

16. An assembly as claimed In elther of Claims 14 and 15 whereln a leg is mounted to the beam for pivotal displacement In a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the beam between the first and second positions of the leg, at least the first position can be secured by sald latching means and the latter Is so constructed and arranged that a displacement force applied first to urge the leg in sald second direction Into a plane further spaced apart and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the beam disrupts securement of the leg by sald latching means so that the leg can then be displaced in the direction of the one of said first and second leg positions spaced from the position thereof secured by said latching means.

17. An assembly as claimed In any one of Claims 14 to 16 wherein the displacement of the leg to disrupt the securement by the latching means is resisted by means biassing the leg in an opposed direction.

18. An assembly as clalmed in any preceding claim whereln securement of a leg by sald latching means Is the result of cooperation between first latch means of the beam and second latch means of the leg.

1c. An assembly as clalmed In Claim 18 wherein the first latch means comprises one or more lugs or sockets, respectively, and the second latch means comprlses one or more sockets or lugs, respectively, the lugs and sockets belng complementary such that the lugs are recelvable within the sockets to effect securement by the latching means.

20. An assembly as claimed in Claim 19 wherein one or more sockets or one or more lugs participating in securement by the latching means at one of sald first and second positions of a leg also participate in latching means securement at the other such leg position.

21. An assembly as claimed In any preceding claim and comprising an elongate member serving as a beam, at least one leg disposed proximate each of the two opposed beam ends but short thereof, mounting means for mounting each leg to the beam for pivotal displacement rotatably upon a shaft of the mounting means in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the beam between said first and second leg positions, the mounting means comprising latching means defined by the beam and associated leg together and so arranged to secure the leg at both the first and second positions thereof, the latching means Including one or more sockets and one or more complementary mating lugs at least some of which are locked together when the leg is In Its first and second positions, the leg being displaceable axially upon the shaft In a direction perpendlcul2r to the tu.na axis of the beam against the resilience of sprlng means between a dispositlon proximate the beam and one less proxlmate at which latter the lug(s) and socket(s) are disengaged, the leg being pivotal rotatably upon the shaft when the lug(s) and socket(s) are disengaged to enable displacement between the first and second leg positions.

22. A support assembly for elongate articles such as fishing rods, substantlally as herelnbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated In, the accompanying drawings.