GB2301007A

GB2301007A - Support unit for fishing rod or pole

Info

Publication number: GB2301007A
Application number: GB9502026A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barrie Watts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-02-02
Filing date: 1995-02-02
Publication date: 1996-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 2015-02-02
Also published as: GB2301007B; GB9502026D0

Abstract

A support unit comprises: a chassis defining a working axis W to support a longitudinal member X such as a fishing rod or pole; a support means comprising at least one roller 16, 17 mounted on the chassis for rotation about a rolling axis substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the working axis; a pair of limiting members, 18, 19 one member disposed at either end of the support means to provide a boundary to lateral movement of a longitudinal member supported on the support means; and ground engaging means 21, 22, 23, 24. Whereby the chassis can be supported above the ground in a stable manner. Typically the support means comprises a pair of rollers having their rolling axis parallel to one another and serving to define an intermediate axis parallel to, and lying between the rolling axis of the pair of rollers. The chassis is preferably mounted on the ground engaging means by way of a rocking pivot (45) (Fig. 4) coaxial with the intermediate axis so that, to at least a limited extent, the chassis tends to pivot about the intermediate axis to equalise loading applied to the support means by a longitudinal member passing over the two rollers.

Description

SUPPORT UNIT This invention relates to a support unit and in particular it is concerned with a support unit for use with a fishing rod.

The use of a rod or rod type article for fishing is long established and a wide range of rod types are available for use in different locations and fishing conditions. In particular a pole is often used for canal fishing. Typically a pole for such use can be 15 meters long and provide at its outer end for a line to extend into the water while the user holds the rod at a handling region some distance from the outer end. This handling region can be at or near the inner end of the rod that is to say the opposite end to the outer end. The line does not extend to the handling region. Consequently when using such a pole, particularly for competitive fishing, it is necessary to provide for ready displacement of the pole so that it can be drawn in, the fish recovered, the line re-bated and the pole run out again to its fishing position quickly.

To achieve this, and also to avoid having the pole scraping over the ground, there arises a need to provide support for the length of pole between the support region and the inner end (which length can amount to many meters). Such a support unit is conveniently referred to as a pole roller.

According to the present invention there is provided a support unit comprising: 1 a chassis defining a working axis to support a longitudinal member such as a fishing rod or pole; 2 a support means comprising at least one roller mounted on the chassis for rotation about a rolling axis substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the working axis; 3 a pair of limiting members, one member disposed at either end of the support means to provide a boundary to lateral movement of a longitudinal member supported on the support means; and 4 ground engaging means whereby the chassis can be supported above the ground in a stable manner.

According to a first preferred version of the present invention the support means comprises a pair of rollers having their rolling axis parallel to one another and serving to define an intermediate axis parallel to, and lying between the rolling axis of the pair of rollers.

According to a particular embodiment of the first preferred version of the present invention the chassis is mounted on the ground engaging means by way of a rocking pivot coaxial with the intermediate axis so that, to at least a limited extent, the chassis tends to pivot about the intermediate axis to equalise loading applied to the support means by a longitudinal member passing over the two rollers.

According to a second preferred version of the present invention or the first preferred version thereof the pair of limiting members are attached to the chassis by pivot means so that each limit member can be pivoted between: a working position where the member extends upwardly from a plane in which the rolling axis lies; and a stowed position where the member lies in or substantially parallel to the plane.

According to a third preferred version of the present invention or any preceding preferred version thereof the ground engaging means is composed of a plurality of legs and attached to the chassis by pivot means so that each leg can be pivoted between: a working position where the leg extends downwardly from a plane in which the rolling axis lies; and a stowed position where the member lies in or substantially parallel to the plane.

According to a fourth preferred version of the present invention or any preceding preferred version thereof the limiting members or extensions thereof are provided with visually distinctive areas, such as regions of fluorescent material, to enable the alignment of the limiting members relative to the support means to be established by a user located at a distance from the support unit, at least when the limiting members are in their working position. Typically other regions of the support unit can be provided with visually distinctive areas to contrast the unit with its immediate surroundings.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of a pole roller for a fishing rod of which: Figure 1 is a plan view from above; Figure 2 is a front view as seen in the direction of arrow II in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view as seen in direction of arrow III in Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a side view of an alternative embodiment.

Figures 1-3 variously show a support unit 11 made up of: a chassis 12, comprising end pieces 13, 14 linked by a cross member 15; a pair of rollers 16, 17 mounted on shafts, respectively shafts 16A, 17A; a pair of side rollers 18, 19 mounted, respectively, on end pieces 13, 14; and legs 20, 21, 22, 23 to support the unit 11 at a height H above the ground.

The rollers 16, 17 rotate, respectively about axis 25, 26 to provide support for a rod X passing over the rollers 16, 17 in the general direction of working axis W over region R bounded by the side rollers 18, 19.

The side roller 18 is mounted on side member 13 by way of a lateral pivot 27 to allow the side roller 18 to move between its vertical, working, position shown in full outline and a retracted position shown in broken outline as roller 18'. Similarly side roller 19 is mounted on side member 14 by way of pivot 28 to allow the side roller 19 to be moved between its vertical, working, position shown in full outline and a retracted position shown in broken outline as roller 19'. Side rollers 18, 19 are retained on their shafts by caps 18', 19'. The caps 18', 19' are coated with a fluorescent material so that they can are readily identified at a distance from the unit 11.As the unit 11 will normally be located behind the angler the provision of the fluorescent caps enables the angler to glance backwards and identify the position of the unit, the lateral working limits of the rollers 16, 17 and their height H above the ground. In addition fluorescent material can be provided elsewhere on the unit 11, such as on part or all of the legs 20-23 to ensure that the unit is readily visible to people moving towards the unit from a direction other than one approximating to axis W.

Legs 20-23 are connected by, respectively, lockable pivots 30-33 to chassis 12 to enable the legs to be moved between their extended positions shown in full outline and retracted positions, shown by broken outlines 20'-23'.

Side rollers 18', 19' and legs 20'-23' lie within a volume shown in outline M (Figure 2) and N (Figure 3). In this retracted configuration the unit 11 is compact and readily stowed and handled before being opened up into the working configuration shown in the figures.

To use the unit 11 the legs 20-23 and side rollers 18, 19 are positioned as shown in full outlines in the Figures. The unit 11 is then located behind, with the axis W directed towards, the user.

The rod X is of substantial length (of the order of 10 meters) and is laid on rollers 16, 17 so that it can be readily moved along axis W either towards or away from the angler. The rod X when supported over a relatively short length (such as that corresponding to the separation between axes 25, 26) tends to sag and if, in addition it is rocked in a vertical plane as can readily happen in sliding the rod over the unit 11 in the direction of the working axis W the degree of support provided by each of the rollers 16, 17 can vary. However the effective support provided by the two rollers 16, 17 of the unit 11 is substantially greater than would be provided by a single roller on its own. Side rollers 18, 19 serve to prevent the rod X from sliding laterally off the rollers 16, 17 while allowing ready movement of the rod in the direction of axis W.

In the embodiment the side rollers 18, 19 are enabled to be pivoted down to housed positions 18', 19'. This provides for a compact configuration when desired. However this folding arrangement is not essential and the side rollers can be fixed upright in their usual working position.

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment where chassis 41 corresponding in most respects to chassis 12 of Figures 1 to 3 is not connected directly to legs 4293 corresponding to legs 22-23 of Figures 1 to 3 but to a sub-chassis 44 to which legs 42, 43 are connected by way of lockable pivots 50, 53. The chassis 41 and sub-chassis 44 are coupled by a pivot 45 so that the chassis 41, and so rollers 46, 47 corresponding to rollers 16, 17 of Figures 1 to 3, can rock about axis 48 (vertical to the plane of the paper as shown in Figure 4). In this way loading initially applied to one or both of the rollers 46, 47 by way of rod Y causes the chassis 41 to position itself to a greater or lesser extent to distribute the loading over both rollers 46, 47. If required the chassis 41 can be resiliently loaded relative to chassis 44 so that the chassis tends to e restored to a horizontal position when not loaded, or not loaded to a significant extent, by the rod Y. Stops can also be provided to limit amount of pivoting that chassis 41 can pivot about axis 48. End roller 49 serves an identical function to that of end roller 19 described in connection with Figure 1 to 3.

In another embodiment of the invention the two rollers can be replaced by a single roller, typically of substantial diameter, to provide compact support device when combined with a pair of side rollers which can be folded between working and retracted positions as required.

Claims

CLAIMS 1A support unit comprising:

1 a chassis defining a working axis to support a longitudinal member such as a fishing rod or pole;

2 a support means comprising at least one roller mounted on the chassis for rotation about a rolling axis substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the working axis;

3 a pair of limiting members, one member disposed at either end of the support means to provide a boundary to lateral movement of a longitudinal member supported on the support means; and

4 ground engaging means whereby the chassis can be supported above the ground in a stable manner.

2 A support unit as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the support means comprises a pair of rollers having their rolling axis parallel to one another and serving to define an intermediate axis parallel to, and lying between the rolling axis of the pair of rollers.

3 A support unit as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the chassis is mounted on the ground engaging means by way of a rocking pivot coaxial with the intermediate axis so that, to at least a limited extent, the chassis tends to pivot about the intermediate axis to equalise loading applied to the support means by a longitudinal member passing over the two rollers.

4 A support unit as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the pair of limiting members are attached to the chassis by pivot means so that each limit member can be pivoted between: a working position where the member extends upwardly from a plane in which the rolling axis lies; and a stowed position where the member lies in or substantially parallel to the plane.

5 A support unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the ground engaging means is composed of a plurality of legs and attached to the chassis by pivot means so that each leg can be pivoted between: a working position where the leg extends downwardly from a plane in which the rolling axis lies; and a stowed position where the member lies in or substantially parallel to the plane.

6 A support unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the limiting members or extensions thereof are provided with visually distinctive areas to enable the alignment of the limiting members relative to the support means to be established by a user located at a distance from the support unit, at least when the limiting members are in their working position.

7 A support unit as claimed in Claim 6 wherein other regions of the support unit are provided with visually distinctive areas to contrast the unit with its immediate surroundings.

8 A support unit as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein the visually distinctive areas are provided by means of fluorescent material.

9 A support unit as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.