GB2471107A

GB2471107A - Fishing rod support

Info

Publication number: GB2471107A
Application number: GB0910421A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clive Parker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-06-17
Filing date: 2009-06-17
Publication date: 2010-12-22
Also published as: GB0910421D0

Abstract

A fishing rod support means comprising a substantially flat panel 100 having a front and a rear, at least one attachment means 106 for removably attaching the panel to a tackle box and at least one fishing rod support channel 108 disposed on the top edge of the panel. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus further comprises at least one and preferably two internal tubes 102 for supporting a rod rest and at least one screw knob (110, fig 2) for securing said rest in said tube. The apparatus preferably further comprises feet or rests 104 for supporting the apparatus against the ground or a tackle box.

Description

Fishing rod support which removably attaches to tackle box

Background of the Invention

[1] The present invention relates to devices for supporting fishing rods.

[2] Means for supporting a fishing rod in a fishing position are known in the art.

[3] uS 2009071058 to Chavez discloses a multi-functional fishing box having a fold down drink holder, a tape measure, two hook and loop fastener patches, two pole carriers, a pair of hook and loop fastener straps, at least one pull out drawer for carrying tackle and a keeper for keeping the drawer within the box. Each side of the box includes a screw-in ring for holding one end of a shoulder strap, a hinge for mounting a rod holder and a support for the rod holder when placed in a position for carrying the box. Specifically, the hinge on each side is for mounting a PVC rod holder that pivots on the hinge from 0-60 degrees. Notches are provided in the pipe for holding and stabilizing poles while fishing. The bottom notch is for receiving the neck of a reel, and the top notch enables the rod to be removed when setting a hook. An aluminum support is provided on each side for supporting the rod holder in a resting position.

[4) US 5752340 to Fleener discloses a combination rod anchor and fishing tackle box formed of a bottom and molded top in which one or more recesses are formed in the top and a portion of each recess is threaded to receive an essentially hollow tube member which has a threaded external portion to mate with the threaded internal recesses of the top member and in which the hollow tube members are adapted to hold fishing rods firmly in place.

[51 US 6370810 to Widerman discloses a fishing rod holding device adhesively connectable to support surfaces such as a wall or tackle box. The device comprises a flat base having an adhesive layer to adhere to the support surface, and a resilient split annular-shaped flexible band extending from the base. A first end of the band is releasably engagable with a second end of the band to form a substantially closed ring by resilient closure movement of the first and second portions together. A resiliently compressible foam layer is conformingly attached inside the band such that the first and second portions of the band can be separated to allow entry of a fishing rod and such that the rod can be held in place by the foam within the closed band. Two spaced apart aligned devices are preferred to securely hold a fishing rod.

Brief Swmuary of the Invention [6] It can be seen from the forgoing that it would be advantageous to have a fishing rod support means which is self-supporting and does not require pushing into the ground.

[71 It would be further advantageous to have such a means which was utilized a tackle box for support rather than relying on a separate support. It would be further advantageous for the device to be removable from such a tackle box.

[8] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fishing rod support means which has the aforementioned advantages.

[9] To this end, disclosed is a fishing rod support means comprising: a substantially flat panel having a front and a rear; at least one attachment means for removably attaching to a tackle box; and at least one fishing rod support channel disposed to the top of the panel. Preferably, the apparatus further comprises two internal tubes for supporting a rod rest; at least one screw knob for securing said rest in said tube, and feet or rests for supporting the apparatus against the ground or a tackle box.

[10] An advantage of the present invention is that a fishing rod can be supported without a need to push anything into the ground. A yet further advantage is that the support means clips onto the side of a tackle box and therefore the extra weight and encumbrance of a separate support is avoided. A yet further advantage is that the apparatus is designed to clip onto an existing tackle box and therefore there is no need to purchase an entire new tackle box to use the apparatus. A yet further advantage is that the rod can be supported in several positions, with and without a rod rest.

Brief Description of the Several Views of the Drawing [Ii] The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings, in which: [12] Figure 1 shows the rear of the apparatus, which clips onto the tackle box.

[13] Figure 2 shows the front of the apparatus, which faces away from the tackle box.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[14] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in Figures 1 and 2 in which like numerals correspond to like components, a fishing rod support means is disclosed comprising: [15] a substantially flat panel 100 having a front and a rear; at least one attachment means 106 for removably attaching to a tackle box; and at least one fishing rod support channel 108 disposed to the top of the panel. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus further comprises at least one and preferably two internal tubes 102 for supporting a rod rest; and at least one screw knob 110 for securing said rest in said tube. The apparatus preferably further comprises feet or rests 104 for supporting the apparatus against the ground or a tackle box.

[16] The substantially flat panel is preferably shaped as shown in the figure, where the front is facing away from the figure has the screw knob disposed thereon, and the rear side has attachment means 106 disposed thereon.

[17] An advantage of this shape is that it is substantially the same as the side of an average tackle box and therefore can clip on to the side of most tackle boxes without protruding substantially, thus not changing the overall dimensions of the box substantially. Furthermore, by using the same dimensions as the average tackle box and not smaller, the apparatus has the maximum strength possible without altering the dimensions of the box by attachment of the apparatus.

[18] However, in alternative arrangements, the panel may be larger or smaller than the side of an average tackle box, or may be any shape. It may be shaped to match the side of a particular tackle box or range of boxes having a particular shape. It may be shaped to minimize material, having only the support channel, rod rest tubes, attachment means, feet and minimal connecting members, to save weight and materials.

[191 Preferably the panel comprises polypropylene, PVC or other plastic strong enough for the purpose. An advantage of this is that it is lightweight for carrying from car to fishing location, and inexpensive. Alternatively other materials such as metals etc may be used.

[20] The at least one attachment means for removably attaching to a tackle box is preferably two clips disposed close to or at the top of the panel, as shown in the figure. The clips are disposed low enough not to interfere with the rod support channel. Preferably, the clips clip onto the top of the side of a tackle box. The clips are hinged such that pushing the top towards the panel moves the bottom away from the panel. The clips can then be slid over the top of a side of a tackle box and the user's grip on the top of the clip released such that the bottom of the clip grips the side of the tackle box. The clips may comprise springs for this purpose similar to a clothes peg mechanism or may comprise flexible plastic. Alternatively, the attachment means may be rigid and may simply slide or hook over a top of a side of a tackle box and sit thereon. Alternatively any clipping means may be used as known in the art. Furthermore, the attachment means may be small panels with screw knobs to tighten the panel against the box, or any other removable attachment means known in the art.

[21] The attachment means may furthermore be disposed anywhere on the panel and may attach to any part of a tackle box, for example, gripping the sides, hooking onto a handle, etc. [22] The at least one fishing rod support channel disposed to the top of the panel is preferably a channel having a semi-circular cross section of the diameter of the thickest type of fishing rod commonly available. This will therefore accommodate smaller rods also. An advantage of this is that the rod can be placed directly onto the channel without a need to feed it through as in the case of a closed channel. The channel is preferably horizontal to allow the rod to rest without slipping, and to facilitate simple construction, although it may be at any angle. The channel may have any cross section that will enable a fishing rod to rest therein, and in particular may have a stepped cross section to snugly fit several different diameters of rods.

Furthermore, the channel may have a circular or other closed cross section able to accommodate a rod being fed through the channel. An advantage of this is that the rod is less prone to being knocked off. Multiple channels may be disposed across the top or down the length of the panel, for accommodating multiple rods. These may be the same or different cross sections and may be horizontal or at any angle or angles. Preferably the channel is open at each end to enable the rod to be placed thereon in either direction.

[23] The at least one internal tube for supporting a rod rest is an optional but preferred feature of the invention. A rod rest is a tool known in the art for supporting a fishing rod and generally comprises a stick with a flat surface at one end on -: ,-.i -.-.-..i. -..-__-___1,,-,.- c,,,-+-h - 1 4 +* 1 than where it is generally held by a fisherman. This reduces the weight that a fisherman or rod support has to support at the end of the rod, as well as the torsion on the rod when in use. The at least one internal tube for supporting a rod rest, therefore, preferably comprises a circular cross section disposed within the panel. It may also have any cross section capable of permitting a rod rest to be fed into it. Preferably two such internal tubes are disposed in the panel as shown in the figure, which may or may not cross in the middle to enable the same screw knob to tighten both. Preferably the tubes are angled such that a rod rest in the tube meets a rod in the channel at the same location along the rod as if it were being held by a fisherman. The tubes may be at any angle and may or may not be adjustable. The tubes are preferably disposed within the panel to minimize volume but may alternatively be disposed outside the panel. This may be advantageous if the panel is thinner than a rod rest.

[24] The at least one screw knob for securing the rod rests in the tubes is an optional but preferred feature. The knob is disposed on the front of the panel and screws into the panel such that the screw thread protrudes into the tube or tubes, narrowing the effective cross section of the tube as it is screwed in. Thus the screw thread holds the rod rest in place in the tube, and can be unscrewed to release the rod rest. Such a mechanism is well known in the art and any such mechanism may be used.

[25] Preferably there are two intersecting tubes and the knob is disposed at the intersection of the two tubes therefore one knob can be used to tighten a rod rest in either tube.

Alternatively there may be one knob in each tube.

[26] The feet or rests for supporting the apparatus against the ground or a tackle box are an optional but preferred feature of the invention. There may be one or more feet or rests and in the preferred embodiment, there are two rests as shown in the figure. The feet or rests may hold the panel in place by contact with the ground, the tackle box, or both. The feet or rests may comprise part of the rear side of the panel or may be a separately formed and attached component. The feet or rests may be any shape and are preferably as shown in the figure. The feet or rests may be any material and may be rubber for added friction and to avoid damaging a tackle box. Alternatively there may be no feet or rests and the apparatus may rest directly against the ground and/or tackle box.

S

Claims

Claims 1. A fishing rod support means comprising: a substantially flat panel; at least one attachment means for removably attaching to a tackle box; and at least one fishing rod support channel disposed to the top of the panel.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one internal tube for supporting a rod rest.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising at least one screw knob for securing said rest in said tube.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one selected from the list comprising: foot, rest.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a cross section of said channel is semicircular.