GB2219716A - Support for fishing rods - Google Patents

Abstract

A means for supporting that end of fishing rod which is to be furthest removed from the water's edge when in use by an angler, comprises a support member, for example a telescopic member, attached to a portable structure on which the angler is to sit, notably a tackle box. The invention also provides a telescopic assembly for mounting the rod support on the portable structure; and a plate for mounting on a side wall of a tackle box which has a transverse arm carrying the rod supports demountably attached thereto, the plate also carrying adhesive pads upon the rear face thereof for mounting the plate upon the wall of the tackle box. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE: SUPPORT DEVICE The present invention relates to a support device, notably to a support for a fishing rod.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION: When fishing from the bank of a river or lake, anglers often wish to support their rods whilst they sit upon a fishing tackle box or the like so that the rod tip does not move excessively and thus disturb the fish who might otherwise take the bait or lure cast by the angler. This is particularly the case when fishing in fresh water streams or shallow rivers or lakes where the fish can readily see the angler and the rod or their shadows.

Typically, the angler will support his rod so that it is slightly inclined to the horizontal and this is commonly done by the use of two rod rests supporting the rod at axially separated points, the rests being pushed into the ground to the desired extent. However, problems are encountered with this arrangement, in that each angler has his own preference for the angle at which his rod rests and different locations require that the rod be set at different heights above the ground. In order to accommodate these variations, it has been proposed to use rests which are adjustable. Whilst this may be acceptable for many cases, it is not always possible to push the rest furthest from the water's edge sufficiently far into the soil to achieve the desired combination of height and inclination.This arises because the ground at this point will be firmer than the moist soil closer to the water's edge.

I have devised a means by which this problem can be reduced and which provides a simple and effective means for resting a rod at a wide range of positions.

The majority of fresh water anglers use a tackle box or seat upon which they sit during fishing. In my invention the tackle box, seat or other structure the angler sits on is used to support the rod rest. The box or other structure is already used by the angler, hence the invention makes use of an existing piece of the angler's equipment, and the fact that the angler sits on the box gives it greater stability than a convenional rest which is merely pushed into the ground, notably where the ground is very light or where the rest can be pushed only a small distance into the ground.

Moreover, the tackle box is of a height suitable to support the rod over a wide range of positions since, by definition, if an angler sits on the box and yet is sufficiently hidden from fishes within the waters he is fishing, the box must be yet further hidden, being at a level below the angler.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: Accordingly, the present invention provides a means for supporting the inshore end of a fishing rod, ie. that end furthest removed from the water's edge, which comprises a support member attached to a tackle box or other portable structure on which the angler is to sit. Preferably, the support member is adustably mounted upon the tackle box so that its vertical position above the ground can be varied.

The term tackle box is used herein to denote not only rectangular containers specifically designed to hold fishing tackle, but any other container or structure upon which an angler sits during fishing. Thus, the term tackle box is to include conventional box-like containers made from plastic, wood or other materials. The invention can also be applied to seats or other portable structures on which the angler sits. For convenience, the invention will be described hereinafter in terms of a tackle box having an upper surface or lid of suitable construction to act as a seat for the angler.

The tackle box can be of any suitable size or shape, but will usually be of generally rectangular shape and from 20 to 60 cms high with four side walls, a base and a top, which may be hinged to give access to the interior of the box. It is preferred that the box have at least two opposed planar side walls, sustantially parallel to one another. The box will typically be made from sheet wood or from a moulded plastic.

The box can have a foam plastic cushion attached to its top face and other features which enhance its use to the angler, for example adjustable feet or a hood or the like to protect the angler from the weather.

The rod support member for present use is attached to the box so as to protrude therefrom in the desired direction and at the desired height. Thus, where the angler expects to require a constant rear rod support height, the support can be affixed permanently to the wall of the box, eg. by glueing, screwing or otherwise fixing a plate carrying the support to the wall of the box. The support can be demountably attached to the plate, for example by a suitable slot and lug arrangement, so that it can be removed from the box for transport or storage. However, I prefer that the support member be adjustably mounted on the box, for example by providing a series of mounting points on the box wall.

A particlualry preferred mounting means comprises a member which is clamp-able to the box and which carries the rod support terminally thereon. In this way the position of the rod support can readily be varied to accommodate the specific requirements at each angling location without the need to affect the structure of the box in any way. Thus, the mounting means can be provided by a pair of rods, tubes or bars telescopically mounted upon one another and suitably spring or otherwise biassed towards the minimum length. The assembly carries two members adapted to grip opposed side walls of the box, for example transverse lugs or plates which may have rubber or similar high friction pads or surfaces thereon to aid gripping of the box wall.Such an assembly is extended so that the transverse lugs or plates are spaced apart by more than the width of the box on which they are to be mounted. The assembly is then positioned alongside the box and at the desired height above ground level with the lugs or plates overlying two opposed walls of the box. The assembly is then allowed to contract to bring the lugs or plates into contact with and to grip the walls of the box and thus hold the assembly upon the box.

Accordingly, from a preferred aspect, the invention provides an assembly for mounting upon a tackle box or other portable structure upon which an angler is to. be seated, which assembly comprises a telescopic member which can be extended, notably against the bias of a spring or other means, and contracted axially, which member carries members adapted frictionally to engage opposed walls of the tackle box or other structure upon contraction of the telescopic member, notably under the bias of the spring or other means, the member also carrying at or adjacent an end thereof means for supporting a fishing rod.

The means for supporting the fishing rod incorporates means for receiving and retaining the rod. This can take the form of a hook or cup-like member into which the rod is a close fit or a ring-like member which is sprung open to accept the rod in a tight grip. However, it is preferred that the rod be supported in a U, V or Y shaped member which provides vertical support and a measure of lateral support and restriant, but from which the angler can readily and rapidly lift the rod when he needs to strike at a bite on the bait or lure he has cast with the rod.

As indicated above, the rod support is mounted at or adjacent the end of the member mounted on the box. The support can be demountably mounted on the member, so as to be interchangeable with other fittings, or can be permanently secured thereto. The rod support can be mounted at a fixed axial position upon the telescopic member.

However, it may be preferred to mount the support member adjustably upon the telescopic member so that its axial position and angular orientation with respect to the telescopic member and the tackle box can be varied. Thus, the telescopic member can carry a transverse arm clap-ably affixed thereto, the rod support being located terminally upon that arm.

The device of the invention can be made from any suitable material, eg. aluminium, stainless steel or other metals which may have a plastic or other coating to improve their corrosion resistance and appearance; or from an injection or other moulded plastic.

The invention has been described above in terms of supporting the inshore end of the rod. However, it will be appreciated that both the inshore and offshore rod supports can be carried on the rod support member. For example, the transverse arm carried by the telescopic member as described above can extend across the longitudinal axis of the member and can carry a rod support at each end thereof. In this way the angler can adjust the height of the rod as well as its inclination merely by adjusting the location and orientation of a member which is carried wholly upon the tackle box, thus simplifying setting up of the rod at each fishing location or to reflect changing conditions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: A preferred form of the device of the invention will now be described with respect to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the device mounted upon a tackle box; Figures 2 and 3 are diagrammatic axial sectional views through the device of Figure 1 and an alternative form of the device; and Figure 4 is a digrammatic perspective view of another form of the device.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS: A tackle box 1 has a conventional rectangular box-like construction with a hinged top 2 and two opposed side walls to which the device of the invention is to be fitted. The box is made from a plastic moulding or from painted wooden sheets.

The device of the invention comprises two square section extruded plastic tubes 3 and 4, one of which is a slideable fit within the other to form an axially telescopic assembly. The free ends of the tubes are preferably closed by transverse walls, which can form part of the transverse mounting lugs described below. A tension spring 5 is housed within the tubes and connected to each tube so as to draw the smaller tube into the larger and thus contract the assembly axially. The tubes can carry stops, for example transverse pins passing through the assembly, which limit the axial movement in contraction or expansion of the assembly if desired.

At each end of the telescopic assembly are transverse arms or lugs 6 and 7 which are serrated or carry rubber or other high friction pads. The arms or lugs extend sufficiently from the longitudinal axes of tubes 3 and 4 to engage and grip the side walls of the box 1 firmly, as described below. Alternatively, the walls of the tackle box can be provided with slots, brackets, indentations or the like into which the arms or lugs seat or engage, and these can be arranged as a series vertically upon the box wall to enable the device to be mounted at different levels upon the box 1.

With the simple form of device shown in Figure 1, the telescopic assembly is expanded axially against tension spring 5 so that the arms or lugs 6 and 7 can pass to either side of the box. The assembly is then located at the desired height upon the box and allowed to contract axially so that the arms or lugs grip the side walls of the box and hold the assembly firmly in place upon the box. In place of the tension spring 5, the assembly can be expanded or contracted by means of an axial screw mechanism shown diagrammatically in Figure 3 comprising a screw threaded rod 8 engaging a corresponding trapped nut or internally screw threaded end 9 to tube 4.

The telescopic assembly carries a rod support hook 10 in the form of a Y or V shaped member with its plane substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axes of tubes 3 and 4.

As shown in Figure 1, the hook 10 can be mounted on arm or lug 7, or can be mounted directly on an extension to tube 4 with arm or lug 7 inset some distance from the end of the tube as shown in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 3, the hook 10 can be mounted on a transverse arm 11 which is clamp-able to arm 4 and can be axially extensible if desired. The arm 11 can carry one hook 10 which supports the inshore end of the rod 20, or can carry two hooks 10 and 12, as shown, which serve to support the rod 20 at axially separated points so that the need for another rod support is obviated. Where the arm 11 is rotatably mounted on tube 4, eg. by means of the clamp-able mounting, the inclination as well as the height of the support of the rod can be adjusted by the angler from the tackle box.

The lugs or arms 6 and 7 grip the tackle box to locate the device upon the box 1. However, it may be desired to supplement the grip of the arms or lugs. Thus, as shown in Figure 1, the telescopic assembly can carry an angle plate 30 which extends upwardly from the tube 4 and onto the top face of the box. The portion 31 extending onto the top face of the box can be formed as the seat upon which the angler sits. Alternatively, the angled plate can be replaced by a strap which is passed around the box to secure the assembly to the box.

In the form of device shown in Figure 4, the telescopic assembly of tubes 3 and 4 is dispensed with and the hook 10 is mounted directly onto the wall of the box by means of a plate 40 carrying an arm 41 to which the hook is secured.

The arm 41 can be removably mounted onto plate 40 to enable the arm and hook to be removed for transport and storage of the box 1. The plate 40 can be screwed or otherwise affixed to the wall of the box. However, it is preferred that the plate 10 be affixed to the box, notably where this is made from a plastics material, by means of adhesive, eg. by means of adhesive pads carried by the plate 10. The invention therefore also provides a plate having secured thereto, optionally by a demounteble mounting, a transverse arm carrying a hook-like member adapted to support a fishing rod with its longitudinal axis generally parallel to the plane of the plate, the plate carrying adhesive pads whereby it can be affixed to a planar surface.

Claims (19)

WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A means for supporting that end of fishing rod which is to be furthest removed from the water's edge when in use by an angler, which means comprises a support member attached to a portable structure on which the angler is to sit.

2. A means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support member is adjustably mounted upon the portable structure so that its vertical position above the ground can be varied.

3. A means as claimed in claim 2 wherein the support member is adapted to be clampable to the portable structure and carries one or more rod support members terminally thereon.

4. A means as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims wherein the portable structure is a generally box-like container having an upper face upon which the angler is to sit and having the support member attached to at least one of two opposed side faces thereof.

5. A means as claimed in claim 4 wherein the support member comprises a member secured to the side face and adapted to receive a co-operating removable support member.

6. A means as claimed in claim 4 wherein the support member comprises an axially telescopic member bearing against two opposed side faces of the portable structure.

7. A means as claimed in claim 6 wherein the support member comprises an assembly of a pair of rods, tubes or bars telescopically mounted upon one another and suitably spring or otherwise biassed towards the minimum length.

8. A means as claimed in claim 7 wherein the assembly carries two engaging members adapted demountably to engage opposed side walls of the portable structure.

9. A means as claimed in claim 8 wherein the two engaging members comprise lugs or plates transverse to the axis of the assembly and having rubber or similar high friction pads or surfaces thereon to aid gripping of the side wall of the portable structure.

10. A means as claimed in clain 6 wherein the telescopic assembly carries a transverse arm whose orientation with respect to and axial position upon the assembly can be adjusted which are carries at least one rod support member thereon.

11. A means as claimed in claim 10 wherein the transverse arm carries two axially spaced apart rod supports.

12. A means according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described.

13. A means substantially as hereinbefore with respect to and as shown in any one of the accompanying drawings.

14. An assembly for use as the support member in the means of claim 1 which comprises a telescopic member which can be axially extended and contracted, which member carries members adapted frictionally to engage the portable structure upon contraction of the telescopic member, the telescopic member carrying at or adjacent an end thereof means for supporting a fishing rod.

15. An assembly as claimed in claim 14 wherein the telescopic member incorporates spring bias means for urging the assembly into the axially contracted position.

16. An assembly as claimed in either of claims 14 or 15, wherein the means for supporting a fishing rod comprises a member carried at or adjacent an end of the telescopic member and having its axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the telescopic member and carrying one or more members adapted demountably to engage the shaft of a fishing rod.

17. An assembly as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the telescopic member carries a member adapted to enage the support structure transversely of the axis of the telescopic member to provide vertical support to the telescopic member.

18. An assembly as claimed in claim 14 substantially as hereinbefore described with respect to and as shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

19. An assembly for use as the support member in the means of claim 1 which comprises a plate having secured thereto, optionally by a demountable mounting, a transverse arm carrying a hook-like member adapted to support a fishing rod with its longitudinal axis generally parallel to the plane of the plate, the plate carrying adhesive pads whereby it can be affixed to a planar surface.