GB2363309A - Fishing rod support - Google Patents

Abstract

A fishing rod support comprises two "A" shaped support members 1, the lower sections of each serving as legs 12, the two supports 1 being held together by a stretchable member 2 such that when pressed onto a rod 15, the rod 15 locates into rounded notches 3, 4 between the upper sections of the support members 1, the supports 1 being releasably interlocked together and the rod 15 being cradled by the stretchable member 2. The support members 1 may be formed with shaped slots (7 of fig 6) in their top ends by which one may be interleaved with the other when fitted to the rod 15. The support members 1 may be made from either a rigid plastics material or lightweight metal such as aluminium. The stretchable member 2 may be either an elastic band made of natural rubber, neoprene, butyl or nitrile rubber; or a coiled metal spring similar to curtain wire.

Description

FISHING ROD SUPPORT This invention relates to a Fishing Rod Support.

Fishing rods, when not held by hand are often supported on a river bank or beach by means of a round metal bar which is pressed f irmly into the ground surface, the other end of which has usually a V shaped cradle in which the fishing rod can be rested. Alternatively a self-supporting tripod device with a like cradle for the fishing rod can be used. Both devices are designed to protect the rod against being dislodged and suf f ering damage in the event of a large f ish taking the baited hook or the force of wind, tide, wash from passing boats, ships or the like. There is however a need for an easily transportable and attachable support device for fishing rods when they need to be rested against a sea wall, safety railings on a sea front, jetty or pier, against rocks or even the side of a f ishing boat. Without such a device the person f ishing may need to improvise a cushioning rest with pieces of cloth, foam plastic or the like in order to prevent against movement causing damage to the fishing rod and also to the line itself. Damage to the fishing rod or line way also happen if the rod has to be laid f lat on a rough surface whilst adjustments are made to the line, tackle or bait.

According to the present invention there is provided a releasably attachable fishing rod support assembly which comprises of two support members preferably but not essentially identical manufactured from a rigid plastics material or lightweight metal each being formed with two spread legs formed as an arch on the lower part thereof. The assembly is held together by means of a stretchable band of rubber, neoprene, butyl, nitrile or the like as may be used for example on flexible belt drives which locates into either one of two rounded notches formed in the upper edges of each of the support members. Alternatively the stretchable band may comprise a band of coiled metal spring similar in form to the type used to support lightweight curtains known as 'curtain wire' being preferably but not essentially circular in cross section. When assembled the two support members interleaf one with another above the rod which is then supported and cushioned by means of the stretchable band beneath the rod. A cut-out section between the legs and the stretchable band both reduce the overall weight of the assembly and its wind resistance when casting with the support device attached to the rod. Typically the assembly will be 8-20ems overall length with the spread of the legs 512cms.

The fishing rod support assembly is designed for use with either rods of small or large diameter, small rods usually being used for river and lake fishing whilst larger more robust rods are needed for sea fishing. Most rods also taper from the bottom to the top.

To secure the assembly to the fishing rod when the fishing line is already fitted, this must firstly be pulled away to one side and then the top end of the support assembly brought into contact with the upper section of the fishing rod and pressed f irmly so that the top end of each of the support members pass one on each side of the rod which will then locate into one of two shallow transverse grooves in the support members and be secured in position by the tension of the stretchable band. The lower legs of the support members are then pulled apart and the support members rotated one against the other such that slots on the upper part of each support member line up one with another. The two slots are then guided into the other fully until the two support members are held together when hand pressure is released by the increased tension of the stretchable band. Other means of securing the two support members together may be used as an alternative to slots such as hooked pieces, spring clips, snap fasteners or the like. Slots however provide an interleaving means whereby both support members are identical in shape and form.

Once the two support members are interleaved together the legs of the support members will be spread, all four legs forming means by which the rod can be supported, or by means of the arched section between the legs when rested for example on railings or the top edge of a wall.

The rod is now gripped securely by the support assembly by means of the stretchable band which both supports the rod and provides a resilient cradle against shock to the rod. If fitted, the fishing line must then be pulled into place between the legs of the two support members and then the rod may be rested in the desired position. Furthermore the support assembly does not need to be removed from the fishing rod when casting the line. When no longer required the assembly is removed in reverse manner to its attachment to the rod whereupon it folds flat for easy storage in the users coat or trouser pocket.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig.1 illustrates a view of one of the two support members which shows the two lower legs, the two outer rounded notches at the top half of the member into which the stretchable band will locate and the slot which is used to link the two support members together. Two additional inner transverse grooves are incorporated and illustrated into which the fishing rod will locate when the device is fitted to the rod. Incorporated into the legs of each support member are an alignment projection one side and a matching re-entrant on the opposite side used to locate the two members together when the device is not attached to a fishing rod.

Fig. 2 shows a view of two support members held together by means of the stretchable band prior to it being fitted to the fishing rod.

Fig. 3 shows the rod support assembly in position ready to be pressed against the rod with the stretchable band in the top outer side rounded notch suitable for fixing the assembly to a small diameter section of the rod. Also illustrated is the top one of the two inner transverse grcx:)ves into which the rod will locate. Angled faces at the top of each support section assist in guiding the assembly onto the rod.

Fig. 4 shows the assembly having been pushed onto a small diameter section of rod with the rod located in the top groove of the two inner transverse grooves.

Fig. 5 shows the assembly secured to a large diameter section of rod where the stretchable band will be fitted to the lower of the two outer rounded notches in the support nrs whilst the rod will locate in the lower of the two inner transverse grooves in the support members.

Fig 6 shows the two support menbers pulled outwards by the legs at the lower end of each member and rotated as shown to a point where the slots in the upper part of each support member start to line up and can be pressed together and thereby interleaved.

Fig. 7 shows the support assembly f ixed to the rod with the two slots in the upper part of each support member slotted together and the rod supported and cushioned against shock by the stretchable band which also holds the two support members together.

Fig 8 shows a like view to Fig. 2 where the stretchable band comprises of a band of coiled metal spring.

Referring to the drawings the rod support assembly comprises of two support members 1 held together by a stretchable band 2 or stretchable spring band 17 which locate into outer side rounded notches 3 when used with small diameter sections of rod 14 and outer side rounded notches 4 when used with large diameter sections of rod 15. When the device is fitted to a small diameter rod 14 it will locate in the upper inner transverse groove 5 whilst a large diameter rod 15 will locate into the lower inner transverse groove 6. Slots 7 in the support members 1 will have angled faces 8 so that when the slots 7 of the support plates 1 are pressed one into the other the angled faces 8 will determine and keep the support members 1 suitably spread to ensure the stability of the device. The upper inner surfaces 9 of each support member 1 will be angled so as to provide for ease of separation of the support members 1 when pressed onto small diameter rods 14 and large diameter rods 15. Suitable alignment projections 10 and matching re-entrants 11 are provided in the lower legs 12 of the support members 1 so that the two support members 1 will locate together when not f ixed to a rod 14 or 15. A cut out section 13 in both support members 1 will lighten the support assembly whilst also reducing wind resistance of the support assembly when casting lines with the assembly attached to the rods 14 or 15. The area between the legs 12 is arched 16 so as to provide means whereby the support assembly my be rested securely on railings, the top edges of walls etc.

Claims (12)

1. A fishing rod support comprising of two W shaped support members the lower section of each serving as spread legs the upper section incorporating means of attachment one with the other, held together by means of an elastic band such that when pressed onto the rod it locates between the upper sections of the support members these then being releaseably interlocked together with the rod then being held and cradled by the elastic band.

2. A fishing rod support as claimed in claim 1 wherein the two support members are preferably but not essentially identical in form ad have shaped slots in their top ends which provide means by which one may be interleaved with the other when fitted to the rod.

3. A fishing rod support as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means by which the top ends of the support members attach one to another by means of hooks, clips, snap fasteners or the like.

4. A fishing rod support as claimed in claim 2 wherein the support members are fabricated or moulded from a dgid plastics material or lightweight metal such as aluminium.

5. A fishing rod support as claimed in claim 2 wherein the support members incorporate two transverse grooves in their top ends to accommodate both large and small diameter fishing rods or sections thereof

6. A fishing rod support as claimed in claim 2 wherein two preferably rounded slots are provided on the support members to locate the elastic band, the position being chosen to suit the diameter of the rod being used.

7. A fishing rod support as claimed in claims 1 and 2 wherein the means by which the support members are held together is an elastic band which may be natural rubber, neoprene, butyl or nitrile rubber.

8. A fishing rod support as claimed in claim 7 wherein the support members are held together by means of an endless ban of coiled metal spring similar to curtain wire.

9. A fishing rod support as claimed in claim 2 wherein the top inside surfaces of the support members have angled faces to assist attachment when fitting the device to the rod.

10. A fishing rod support as claimed in claims 1 and 2 wherein the support members have a cut away area between the legs and the upper sections in order to lighten the assembly and reduce its wind resistance when casting the line.

i i. A fishing rod support as claimed in claim 2 which incorporates in the lower leg section of each support member projections and re-entrants to locate one support member with the other as an aid to holding the support members neatly together when not fitted to a fishing rod.

12. A fishing rod support substantially as described herein with reference to Figures I8 of the accompanying drawings.