GB2470598A

GB2470598A - Dynamic rod grip

Info

Publication number: GB2470598A
Application number: GB0909231A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Bird
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-05-29
Filing date: 2009-05-29
Publication date: 2010-12-01
Also published as: GB0909231D0

Abstract

An anchor device for locating a fishing rod is provided. The device comprises a body portion 15 together with first and second cooperating arm members 25a and b. Each arm member is mounted on the body portion, and comprises a respective jaw 45a and b. Each jaw is configured, in combination with the other jaw, to receive a shaft of a fishing rod (80, figure 5).The device is configured such that, during operation, when a shaft of a fishing rod retained by the device is moved in a first (forward) direction, a space between the jaws diminishes and the rod is progressively secured by the device. Furthermore, when the shaft is moved in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, the space increases and the rod is released from the device. The device may further comprise attachment means 20. The jaws may comprise resilient portions 50a and b with ridges or protrusions or made of an elastomeric material. The device may comprise gears 40a and b and biasing means such as a spring.

Description

DYNAMIC ROD GRIP

The present invention relates to the field of angling accessories, in particu'ar to a device for securing a fishing rod.

Conventionally, anglers use known rod rests as exemplified by the devices illustrated in Figure 1. In use, the rod is placed into a receiving portion of the rod rest so that it is not necessary for the angler to maintain a continuous hold on the rod itself. Whilst each of these devices vary in their particular configuration, they each re'y on friction properties of a coating or of the base material to inhibit movement of the rod.

If a fish is caught on the end of a line attached to the rod, the angler must be quick to regain a direct hold of the rod before the rod is drawn away from the rod rest. Accessories such as alarms may be implemented to alert an inattentive angler of such an apparent catch, giving him more time to reach and secure his rod.

Some rod rests are designed to grip the rod, see Figure Ia in particular.

However, such a configuration additionally relies on the resilience of the material of prongs to inhibit movement. The prongs must be designed to be a tight fit if they are to resist movement of the rod after a fish is caught and this tight fit can be difficu't to overcome when the angler wishes to separate the rod from the device and thus regain control of the rod.

It is desirable to inhibit motion of the rod upon catching a fish to allow the angler more time to reach and secure his rod whilst retaining ready separation of the rod and the device to rapidly regain full control of the rod.

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides an anchor device for locating a fishing rod, the device comprising: a body portion; and first and second cooperating arm members, each mounted on the body portion, each member comprising a respective jaw configured, in combination with the other jaw, to receive a shaft of a fishing rod, the device being configured such that, during operation, when a shaft of a fishing rod retained by the device is moved in a first direction, a space between the jaws diminishes and the rod is progressively secured by the device and when the shaft is moved in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, the space increases and the rod is released from the device.

By providng first and second cooperating arm members that act in combination as described above, the device effectiv&y comprises dual functionaty for retaining the shaft of a fishing rod therewithin. As in the conventional device friction between the shaft and the device is present but, in addition to the friction, the articulation of the, or each, arm member and the relative movement between the members provides for progressive tightening of the jaws as the rod i tends to move in a first direction (e.g. when catching a fish) whilst retaining an easy release mechanism when the rod is actively driven in the second, opposite, direction by the user/angler when he/she wishes to regain control of the fishing rod. Thus, a device having enhanced grip and inhibition of movement is provided without resulting in a cumbersome unwieldy device that will not readily release the fishing rod.

The body portion may be configured to be removably connected to support means. A device comprising support means connected to the body portion may also be provided. The support means may be one of the group of a bank stick, a fishing rod pod or a clamping mechanism.

Each jaw may comprise a resilient portion, the resilient portion comprising a material having an increased friction coefficient. The resilient portion may comprise ridges or protrusions and may comprise an elastomeric material.

One of the first and second cooperating arm members may be rotatably mounted on the body portion, preferably both the first and the second cooperating arm members are each rotatably mounted on the body portion.

The device may comprise synchronising means (e.g. gears) to cause each arm member to rotate substantially simultaneously with the other arm member. An axis of rotation of a first arm member may be splayed with respect to an axis of rotation of the second arm member. The synchronising means may, therefore, comprise first and second cooperating bevelled gears each attached to a respective shaft, passing through the body portion, to which each respective arm member is connected.

The device may comprise biasng means, assodated with at least one rotatable arm member, to urge the, or each, arm member to return to an inactive position.

The biasing means may be a return spring, e.g. a torsion spring, fitted around one of the bevel gears 40a, 40b. The body portion may comprise a respective detent located adjacent to the, or each, rotatable arm member to inhibit rotation thereof in one direction.

The present invention will now be descrthed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 represents conventional rod rests; Figure 2 represents a device for securing a fishing rod; Figure 3 represents a lateral view of the device of Figure 2; Figure 4 represents an isometric view of the device of Figure 2; and Figure 5 represents a schematic view of the device of Figure 2 in operation.

In a first embodiment, as illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, a rod securing device 10, for anchoring a fishing rod in position during operation, comprises a body portion 15, to which is connected attachment means 20. In this particular example, the attachment means is provided by a threaded shaft 20 having a standard diameter and thread size (e.g. 5/16 BSF) used on conventional bank sticks or fishing rod pods. The body portion 15 acts a supporting member for two rotatable arms 25a, 25b. The rotatable arms are each mounted on a respective shaft 30a, 30b, which each extend through an outer surface of the body portion 15 to an interior cavity 35 formed within the body portion 15.

Beveed gears 40a, 40b are provided on respective shafts 30a, 3Db inside the interior cavity 35 of the body portion 15. The beveed gears 40a, 40b are configured and assemb'ed such that they intermesh with one another within the interior cavity 35. Consequent'y, rotation of one arm, say 25a, causes a corresponding rotation of the second arm 25b. n other words, the motion of the arms 25a, 25b is synchronised.

Each arm 25a, 25b is provided with a recessed portion or jaw 45a, 45b for receiving a shaft of a fishing rod, in use. Each jaw 45a, 45b is provided with a resi'ient portion 50a, SOb for enhancing grip on a shaft bcated therebetween, by virtue of an increased level of friction. n this examp'e, the resi'ient portion 50a, 50b is provided by a substantiay cyindrica piece of rubber materia' hereinafter referred to as the insert. The insert may be formed by an eastomeric materia' or another materia' configured to achieve a friction interface with a received fishing rod. Additionay, or aRernatively, the surface of the insert 50 may be ridged or comprise protrusions to thereby increase the surface area thereof and enhance the friction interface. n this examp'e, the insert 50 is retained within the arm member 25 by forming a concave recess 55 therein, extending beyond a semicircu'ar cross-section. This causes the insert 50 to be retained within the recess whi'st leaving a protruding portion 50 which stands proud of the harder materia' of the arm member 25.

Rotation of the arms 25a, 25b is restricted, in that detents 60a, 60b are provided on an upper portion of body portion 15 adjacent to each arm member 25 to act as a stop and thus prevent rotation of the arms 25a, 25b in one direction.

Furthermore, a return spring (not shown) is provided to bias the arms 25a, 25b to be ocated in a p'ane substantiay parael to the body portion. This plane �is ifiustrated in Figure 3 and is hereinafter referred to as the inactive p'ane.

Movement in a first direction, away from the detents 60, is denoted direction A and movement in a second direction, towards the detents 60, is denoted direction B. The return spring is preferabiy provided by a torsion spring fitted around one of the beve' gears 40a, 40b.

n operation (as iustrated in Figure 5), a user of the device secures the device 10 to a bank stick 75 or a fishing rod pod and positions the device such that it can receive a shaft 80 of a fishing rod whst the fishing rod is being used in norma' fishing actMty. The user of the device then rotates the arms 25a, 25b (in the direction A) such that a gap 65, bounded by the jaws 45a, 45b, is opened up to a dimension bigger than a diameter of the fishing rod to be secured by the device 10. The fishing rod is then introduced into gap 65 and the arms 25a, 25b are re'eased. The return spring urges the arms 25a, 25b to return to the inactive p'ane (in the direction B) thus reducing the size of gap 65 by bringing jaws 45a, 45b of arms 25a, 25b doser together. A surface of each insert 50a, 50b is thus brought into direct contact with the shaft of the rod and is thereby deformed. The surface area of interaction between the insert 50a, 50gb and the shaft of the fishing rod is therefore increased and the friction and grip therebetween is corresponding'y enhanced/increased. f a diameter of the shaft of the rod is quite sma, say substantiay simar to gap 65, the detents 60a, 60b serve to prevent arms 25a, 25b traveng too far in direction B such that they separate and thereby re'ease the rod.

f a fish is caught, the fishing rod wi tend to be urged further in the direction B. By virtue of the friction interaction between surface 50a, 50'b of the inserts 50a, SOb and the shaft of the fishing rod, the arm members 25a, 25b are a'so urged in the direction B. However, as arm members 25a, 25b are urged in the direction B the jaws 45a, 45b are brought doser together so as to reduce the magnitude of gap 65. Thus, the pressure exerted by the arms 25a, 25b on the shaft of the rod is increased and, consequently, so is the grip between the rod and the inserts 50a, 50b. Motion of the fishing rod in direction B is, therefore, severely restricted/inhibited and the user gains time to reach his fishing rod.

When it is desirab'e to release the fishing rod from the device 10, the user simply moves the fishing rod in direction A, which causes the arms 25a, 25b to also move in direction A, thus separating recesses 45a, 45b and, therefore increasing the magnitude of gap 65. The fishing rod is thereby released from s the device 10 and the user readily regains fuH contro' of the fishing rod.

Release of the fishing rod from the device can, therefore, be effected with a single handed motion as necessary.

The device 10 can readily be adjusted to accommodate fishing rod shafts having different diameters. The arm members 25s, 25b are each mounted on a respective shaft 30a, 30b using a pinch-bolt 70a, 70b. If it is desirable to adjust the device 10 to accommodate a fishing rod having a larger shaft, the user simply needs to undo each pinch-bolt 70a, 70b and translate the respective arm members 25a, 25b along the respective shafts 30a, 30b. The jaws 45a, 45b formed in each respective arm member 25a, 25b are therefore separated from one another such that gap 65 is increased when the arms 25a, 25b are lying in the inactive plane. The pinch-bolt 70a, 70b are tightened once the arm members 25a, 25b have been trans'ated along the shafts 30a, 30b.

In this embodiment, the shafts 30a, 30b are located at right angles to one another such that bevel gears 40a, 40b can be used to achieve synchronicity between the arm members 25a, 25b. In other embodiments, different configurations are envisaged whereby the angle between shafts 30a, 30b is reduced from the approx 450 i'lustrated and may even be substantially parallel to one another. Appropriate gearing (non bevelled) is used to achieve synchronicity between the arm members.

The device 10 is likely to be used in a damp/wet environment and so all components are manufactured from materials which are not damaged by water ingress e.g. the body and arm members may be made from a nylon based polymer whilst the shafts, bolts and bevels may be made from stainless steel.

The connecting means 20 may be made from brass.

A staness steei back p'ate s iocated over the body portion 15 and riveted thereto, to dose the nteror cavity 35 and, thereby nhibt ingress of water.

AIternatve attachment means 20 may be used with the device 10. n partcuar, the device 10 may be provided with an ntegra bank stick or with a damp arrangement which can be used to secure the device 10 to a hand ra of a boat.

In an aIternatve embodiment, the arms 25a, 25b, may not be rotatably mounted but, rather, mounted n non-paraUel channels and configured to move cooperatveIy along the channels. In so doing, when the arms are moved n a first drecton the arms converge such that a gap 65 formed between recesses 45J dmnshes and gdp of a fishing rod received thereby s enhanced.

When the arms are moved on a second drecton, opposite to the first, the arms diverge such that the gap 65' s increased and the rod s r&eased.

The nventon has been described with reference to specffic examples and embodiments. However, t should be understood that the nventon s not limited to the particular examples disclosed herein but may be designed and altered wthn the scope of the invention n accordance with the dams.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An anchor device for locating a fishing rod, the device comprising: a body portion; and first and second cooperating arm members, each mounted on the body portion, each member comprising a respective jaw configured, in combination with the other jaw, to receive a shaft of a fishing rod, the device being configured such that, during operation, when a shaft of a fishing rod retained by the device is moved in a first direction, a space between the jaws diminishes and the rod is progressively secured by the device and when the shaft is moved in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, the space increases and the rod is released from the device.
2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the body portion is configured to be removably connected to support means.
3. A device according to Claim I or Claim 2, comprising support means connected to the body portion.
4. A device according to Claim 3, wherein the support means is one of the group of a bank stick, a clamping mechanism and a fishing rod pod.
5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein each jaw comprises a resilient portion having an increased friction coefficient.
6. A device according to Claim 5, wherein the resilient portion comprises ridges or protrusions.
7. A device according to C'aim 5 or Claim 6, wherein the resilient portion comprises an elastomeric material.
8. A device according to any preceding daim, wherein one of the first and second cooperating arm members is rotatably mounted on the body portion.
9. A device according to any preceding claim, wher&n both of the first and second cooperating arm members are rotatably mounted on the body portion.
10. A device according to Claim 9, wherein the device comprises synchronising means to cause each arm member to rotate substantiaUy simultaneously with the other arm member.
11. A device according to Claim 10, wherein an axis of rotation of a first arm member s splayed with respect to an axis of rotation of the second arm member.
12. A device according to Claim 11, wherein the synchronising means comprises first and second cooperating beveUed gears.
13. A device according to any of Claims 8 to 12, comprising biasing means associated with at least one rotatable arm member to urge the arm member to return to an inactive position.
14. A device according to C'aim 13, wherein the biasing means is a return spring.
15. A device according to Claim 14, wherein the return spring is a torsion spring.
16. A device according to any of Claims 13 to 15, wherein the body portion comprises a respective detent adjacent to the, or each rotatable arm member to inhibit rotation thereof in one direction.
17. A device substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.