Abstract:
An adjustably mounted side rigger for use on a fishing boat that tends fishing line from a fishing rod outward from the boat during trolling. The side rigger extends a fishing line to the side of the boat during trolling in order to prevent the line from entangling with other trolling lines originating from the boat. The side rigger contains a rod holder base adapted to fit inside an existing rod holder on a fishing boat for portability, flexibility of use, and lower cost than a traditional outrigger. The rod holder base and a telescoping pole mounted to the side rigger that extends the fishing line outward from the boat, are both adapted to be rotated or swiveled by a user to allow the side rigger to be used on either side of the boat and used in a variety of different angled and positioned fishing boat rod holders for maximum flexibility.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     A adjustably mounted side rigger that contains a rod holder base adapted to fit inside an existing rod holder on a fishing boat, wherein the rod holder base and a telescoping pole mounted to the side rigger are both adapted to be rotated or swiveled by a user to allow the side rigger to be used on either side of the boat and used in a variety of different angled and positioned fish boat rod holders for maximum flexibility. The side rigger extends a fishing line to the side of the boat during trolling in order to prevent the fishing line from entangling with other fishing lines originating from the boat.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Many people engage in sport fishing. Depending on the species of fish being sought, different methods are employed to catch such fish. For example, certain types of game fish are predators and are more attracted to moving fish or bait in the water rather than stationary bait. For these type of game fish, trolling is often employed as the preferred method to attract and catch these game fish.  
         [0003]     Trolling consists of placing fishing lines from one or more fishing rods on the boat in the water and the boat moving slowly forward to drag the bait in the water to attract fish. The bait that is placed on the fishing line can be either live, dead, or artificial bait depending on the species fish being sought and conditions. The trolling speed also depends on the species of game fish being sought and whether or not live bait is used. If live bait is used, then trolling speeds may be slower so as to keep the bait alive.  
         [0004]     Because of the different characteristics and habits of fish and weather and water conditions, multiple fishing lines are usually let out of the boat to increase the chances of catching fish. Some of the fishing lines may contain live bait and some may contain dead bait. Use of different kinds of bait is a well-known technique to improve the chances of catching the desired fish since fish sometimes are attracted to one kind of bait more than another depending on various factors. It may also be desirable to use a downrigger on some fishing lines to take the bait down to a certain depth in the water since some fish may be more attracted to bait at a lower depth than on or near the surface of the water. In any event, the more fishing lines that are placed from the boat in the water, the greater chance of success.  
         [0005]     Because a sport fishing boat is usually of limited size, if too many fishing lines are placed in the water, the lines can become tangled. The tangling can occur from either the boat turning, currents, or if live bait on lines moves too close to other lines thereby causing the lines to entangle with each other. Live bait tends to be attracted to other live bait to travel together thus increasing the chances of entangled lines. Thus, an outrigger can be employed to place fishing lines out from the side of the boat to spread the lines farther from each other and from the lines that are cast out directly from the back of the boat. In this manner, more lines can be placed in the water and thus the chance of success in catching the desired fish usually increases without as much risk of entanglement.  
         [0006]     One problem with outriggers is that they are expensive and bulky, and require permanent mounting to the boat. Smaller boats in particular do not use outriggers because of their size and/or expense. However, smaller boats still compete in sport fishing and related tournaments, and most tournaments even have separate competitions in which only smaller boats compete because of a variety of disadvantages from larger boats. However, if outriggers are not employed, this limits the number of lines that can be placed in the water for fishing, and thus reduces the chance of success of a smaller boat catching a fish as opposed to larger boats that employ outriggers.  
         [0007]     Thus, a needs exists to provide a simple, portable, and inexpensive rigger to allow boats to extend fishing lines to the side of the boat to reduce entanglement of lines, and so that a traditional expensive and bulky outrigger does not need to be employed. Smaller boats that typically cannot or do not want to employ outriggers due to their size and cost, would benefit from the present invention.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention is a side rigger for extending a fishing line to the side of a boat during trolling. The side rigger contains a rod holder base adapted to mount in an existing fishing rod holder on a boat. In this manner, the side rigger is portable, small, and inexpensive. The side rigger contains two additional rod holders so that up to two more fishing rods may be placed onto the side rigger when in use, since the side rigger has eliminated use of a fishing rod holder on the boat when installed.  
         [0009]     The side rigger consists of an adjustable telescoping pole so that the fishing line can be extended away from the boat when trolling. The telescoping pole is mounted to a variably adjustable mount so that the telescoping pole can be rotated outward up to ±approximately 90 degrees to extend the pole outward from the boat at different and desired angles, and so that the side rigger can be used on either side of the boat to extend the fishing line.  
         [0010]     The side rigger also contains a swivel mount for the rod holder base so that the orientation of side rigger can be adjusted depending on the fish rod holder orientation on the boat to keep the platform of the side rigger level, since rod holder designs and orientation angles differ from boat to boat. In this manner, the user of the side rigger can keep the platform of the side rigger in the desired position regardless of the varying designs and orientation angles of fishing rod holders on fishing boats.  
         [0011]     Those skilled in the art will appreciate the scope of the present invention and realize additional aspects thereof after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments in association with the accompanying drawing figures. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     The accompanying drawing figures incorporated in and forming a part of this specification illustrate several aspects of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an illustration of the side rigger in accordance with the present invention mounted in the rod holder on a boat;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of a typical fishing boat employing the side rigger mounted in a fishing rod holder on the boat in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a break-out illustration illustrating the components of the side rigger and how they connect together;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of the side rigger illustrated in  FIG. 3 , but completely assembled;  
         [0017]      FIGS. 5A-5B  are front view illustrations of the side rigger showing the rod holder base rotated to the left ( FIG. 5A ) or to the right ( FIG. 5B ) with respect to the side rigger platform to alter the mounting angle of the side rigger to the fishing rod holder so that the side rigger can be used with different angled rod holders mounted on the boat and attempt to keep the platform level;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is an illustration of the side rigger with the telescoping pole extended and in use; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a rear view illustration of the side rigger illustrating the adjustable clamp for extending the telescoping pole outward from an upward position to any position ±90 degrees. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]     The embodiments set forth below represent the necessary information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and illustrate the best mode of practicing the invention. Upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawing figures, those skilled in the art will understand the concepts of the invention and will recognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying claims.  
         [0021]     The present invention is a side rigger for extending a fishing line to the side of a boat during trolling. The side rigger contains a rod holder base adapted to mount in an existing fishing rod holder on a boat. In this manner, the side rigger is portable, small, and inexpensive. The side rigger contains two additional rod holders so that up to two more fishing rods may be placed onto the side rigger when in use, since the side rigger has eliminated use of a fishing rod holder on the boat when installed. The side rigger consists of an adjustable telescoping pole so that the fishing line can be extended away from the boat when trolling. The telescoping pole is mounted to a variably adjustable mount so that the telescoping pole can be rotated outward up to ±approximately 90 degrees to extend the pole outward from the boat at different and desired angles, and so that the side rigger can be used on either side of the boat to extend the fishing line. The side rigger also contains a swivel mount for the rod holder base so that the orientation of side rigger can be adjusted depending on the fish rod holder orientation on the boat to keep the platform of the side rigger level, since rod holder designs and orientation angles differ from boat to boat.  
         [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side rigger  10  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In general, the side rigger  10  consists of a rod holder base  12  that is adapted to mount into the inside of a fishing rod holder  14 , typically built into the top of the hull of a boat  15  on most sport fishing boats. The rod holder base  12  supports the side rigger  10  when in use. The rod holder base  12  is attached to a platform  16  that supports other components of the side rigger  10 . Two additional rod holders  18 A,  18 B, are mounted to the platform  16  to support the addition of two additional fishing rods. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , one fishing rod  20  is installed in the rod holder  18 A. The fishing rod&#39;s line  22  is extended from the side of the boat  15  using the side rigger  10 .  
         [0023]     A telescoping pole  24  is mounted to the platform  16  via a variably adjustable pole mount  26 . The adjustable pole mount  26  is typically attached to the platform  16  on its end at approximately perpendicular or 90 degrees, so that the telescoping pole  24  can be rotated in a plane substantially perpendicular to the surface of the platform  16  about a pole mount grooved orifice  28  built into the adjustable pole mount  26  to move the telescoping pole  24  from an upright position approximately ±90 degrees to the left or right to extend the pole  24  out from the boat  15 . The grooved orifice  28  may be of any circumference as long as it allows some degree of movement or rotation. In this manner, when the fishing rod line  22  is attached to the pole  24 , the fishing rod line  22  is extended outward from the side of the boat  15  to prevent entanglements, as previously discussed in the “Background of the Invention” section. A fastener (not illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) is used to connect the pole  24  to the adjustable pole mount  26  to rotate the pole  24  to the desired position and to then tightly fasten the pole  24  to the pole mount  26  in the desired position for use. This is important so that the pole  24  can be rotated in both right and left of center of the pole mount grooved orifice  28  in the pole mount  26  so that the side rigger  10  can be used on either side of the boat  15 . The pole  24  needs to be rotated to the right of center when used on the right side of the boat  15 , and left of center when used on the left side of the boat.  
         [0024]     In order to attach to the fishing rod line  22  to the telescoping pole  24  to extend the fishing rod line  22  out from the boat  15  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the line  22  is attached to a close-pin type loop line  30  via a breakaway type clamp or fastener  32 . The pole loop  30  runs between two eye-loops  34 ,  36  mounted permanent on each end of the telescoping pole  24 . When it is desired to extend the fishing line  22  outward, the fishing line  22  is attached to the loop line  30 , via the clamp  32 , and the line  30  is pulled, thereby moving the loop line  30  between the eye holes  34 ,  36  and extending the clamp  32  and line  22  outward towards the end of the pole  24  towards the outside eye hole  34 . In this manner, the line  22  is attached to the loop line  30  when in reach of persons on the boat  15 , but then extended outward from the boat  15  during trolling to extend the line  22  from the boat  15 . The clamp  32  is releasable when a force is placed on the line  22 , such as when a fish attacks the bait on the end of the line  22 , or when the person holding the fishing rod  20  jerks upward on the line  22 , so that the line  22  is detached from the loop line  30  and the fish can be reeled in as normal when a fish strike occurs.  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  illustrates a typical sport fishing boat  15  employing the side rigger  10  in accordance with the present invention. As seen from  FIG. 2 , the entire telescoping pole  24  is shown in extended form, and the line  22  is seen extending outward from the boat  15  as desired. The telescoping pole  24  consists of an outer conduit  38  containing an inner conduit  40 . The inner conduit  40  contains the outward eye loop  34 , and the outer conduit  38  contains the inner eye loop  36 . The inner conduit  40  extends outward at the far end of the outer conduit  42 . More detail on the telescoping design of the pole  24  will be described below.  
         [0026]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate in more detail the individual components that comprise the side rigger  10 .  FIG. 3  illustrates a break-out view of the individual components of the side rigger  10  in an unattached form.  FIG. 4  illustrates the side rigger  10  completely assembled with all components attached.  
         [0027]     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the side rigger  10  comprises a rod holder base  12  as previously described. The rod holder base  12  contains a notch  44  that is adapted to fit around a support member (not illustrated) in the bottom of a standard fishing rod holder  14  to keep the side rigger  10  from turning while installed in the fishing rod holder  14  and to keep the side rigger  10  stable when in use. Actually, two notches  44  are provided on opposites sides of each other on the rod holder base  12  (only one is shown in  FIG. 3 ), since a standard fishing rod holder support member runs across the bottom of fishing rod holder  14 , and the two notches  44  create a horizontal space for the support member to fit within to prevent rotation, as is well known.  
         [0028]     The rod holder base  12  is angled and contains a neck portion  46 . This is because most fishing rod holders  14  on boats  15  are angled. By providing the neck portion  46 , it typically allows the platform  16  to rest in a level position with respect to the boat  15  and the water even through the rod holder base  12  is inserted into an angled fishing rod holder  14 . The rod holder base  12  contains a mounting member  48  at its top comprised of a disc-shaped member with three threaded orifices  50  and a threaded screw or bolt  52  extending out of the top of the mounting member  48 . The threaded screw  52  inserts into a fixed or stationary receiving orifice  54  in the platform  16 , and a locking nut  56  attaches to the end of the threaded screw  52  to tighten the mounting member  48 , and thus the rod holder base  12 , securely to the platform  16 .  
         [0029]     In accordance with the present invention, it is desirable for the rod holder base  12  to be rotated about the platform  16  so that the orientation of the platform  16 , with respect to the boat&#39;s rod holder  14  is adjustable since rod holder  14  designs vary from boat to boat. However, it is also desired to limit the amount of rotation so that the platform  16  does not have the ability to rotate 360 degrees around the rod holder base  12  uncontrollably. In order to accomplish this design feature, three threaded orifices  50  are provided on the mounting member  48 , wherein one of the three threaded orifices  50  are adapted to receive a threaded screw  58  in order to allow the rod holder base  12  to be rotated about the platform  16 . The threaded screw  58  extends through a semi-circle shaped platform grooved orifice  60  and attaches securely to one of the three threaded orifices  50 . The platform grooved orifice  60  may allow rotation ±30 degrees from a center position, for example. The grooved orifice  60  may be of any circumference as long as it allows some degree of movement or rotation. The threaded screw  58  contains a head  62  with a cylindrical orifice  64  for receiving a horizontal lever  66  that is used to allow a person to twist or rotate the head  62 , thus rotating the threaded screw  58  to loosen the mounting member  48  from the platform  16  to allow the rod holder base  12  to be rotated about the semi-circle shaped platform grooved orifice  60  in order to rotate the position of the rod holder base  12  with respect to the platform  16 . For example, the platform grooved orifice  60  may allow rotation ±30 degrees. The amount of rotation is limited by the circumference of the semi-circle platform grooved orifice  60  provided in the platform  16 .  
         [0030]     In the illustration in  FIG. 4 , the threaded screw  58  is attached to the center threaded orifice  50 , which allows rotation of the platform  16  about the rod holder base  12  left or right with a starting position of 0 degrees, and ±30 degrees for example, if this maximum angle of rotation is provided by the semi-circle shaped platform grooved orifice  60 . If more rotation is desired than the maximum allowed by the platform grooved orifice  60  (i.e. the threaded screw  58  is loosened and the platform  16  is rotated so that the threaded screw  58  is adjacent on end of the semi-circled shaped platform grooved orifice  60 ), the threaded screw  58  can be completely unscrewed from the center threaded orifice  50  and screwed into one of the outside threaded orifices  50 . This allows the starting position of the platform  16  rotation with respect to the rod holder base  12  to be offset from 0 degrees, so that rotation of the platform  16  about the rod holder base  12 , as limited by semi-circle shaped platform grooved orifice  60 , can be rotated further.  
         [0031]     For example, if the platform grooved orifice  60  allows rotation by ±30 degrees, and the outside threaded orifice  50  allows fifteen (15) more degrees in offset, then the total rotation can be 45 degrees (30 degrees+15 degree offset). This is particularly important if the rod holder  14  design of a boat requires that the side rigger  10  be rotated to a greater degree of rotation that allowed by the semi-circle shaped platform grooved orifice  60 , to keep the platform  16  substantially level.  
         [0032]     The additional rod holders  18 A,  18 B are attached to the platform via an L-shaped member  68 , wherein the bottom portion of the L-shaped member  68  is welded to the top of the platform  16 , and the side portion of the L-shaped member  68  is welded to the rod holders  18 A,  18 B.  
         [0033]     Lastly, the telescoping pole  24  is mounted to the side rigger  10 . The telescoping pole  24  contains two threaded members or screws  70 ,  72  that extend outward from the pole  24 . Threaded screw  72  is adapted to fit in an orifice  73  provided in the adjustable pole mount  26 . A locking nut and washer  74  attaches to the threaded screw  72  and securely fits the telescoping pole  24  to the pole mount  26  and thus the side rigger  10 .  
         [0034]     Just as it is desirable to rotate the rod holder base  12  about the platform  16 , it is also desirable to provide for the ability to rotate the telescoping pole  24  outwardly from the platform  16  of the side rigger  10  at varying angles as desired to extend the pole  24  outwardly from the boat  15  up to substantially parallel to the platform  16 . This allows the telescoping pole  24  to be extended upward at 0 degrees, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , when the side rigger  10  is not in use for easier storage, and extended outward from the boat  15  at the angle desired when the side rigger  10  is in use. Rotation ability is provided by the mounting screw  70  being inserted through the semi-circle shaped pole mount grooved orifice  28  provided in the pole mount  26 , and securely fastened via a threaded orifice head  76  (like head  62 ) that is adapted to tighten to the threaded screw  70  with a spring  78  provided therebetween. To rotate the telescoping pole  24 , a horizontal member  80 , provided through an orifice  82  in the head  76 , is rotated to rotate the head  76  to loosen it from the threaded screw  70  to allow the telescoping pole  24  to rotate in either direction about the semi-circle shaped pole mount grooved orifice  28 . In this manner, if it is desired to extend the fishing line  22  the maximum distance from the boat  15 , and so that the fishing line  22  is closest to the water, the pole  24  is rotated fully to a parallel position to the platform  16 . If not, then pole  24  can be rotated to a lesser extent, which brings the line  22  closer to the boat  15  and pulls the line  22  upward off of the water where the pole  24  extends. In this manner, the line  22  will reach the water behind the telescoping pole  24  depending on the angle of rotation.  
         [0035]      FIGS. 3 and 4  also show the outer conduit  38  and inner conduit  40  in more detail to show the telescoping feature of the telescoping pole  24 . To telescope the pole  24 , the inner conduit  40  is simply pulled outward and away from the outer conduit  38 . So that the inner conduit  40  is not pulled completely out of the outer conduit  38  thereby detaching itself from the side rigger  10 . The outer conduit  38  contains an orifice  84  that is adapted to receive a retractable pin  88  (illustrated in  FIG. 5 ) attached on the inner conduit  40 , when the pole  24  is fully extended. When the retractable pin  88  reaches the orifice  84 , it retracts outward from a retracted position into the orifice  84  to keep the inner conduit  40  from extending farther outward. In order to retract the inner conduit  40  back inside the outer conduit  38 , a person presses down on the retractable pin  88  to remove it from the orifice  84 , which allows the inner conduit  40  to again move freely inside the outer conduit  38  and the outer conduit  40  to be placed back inside the outer conduit  38 .  
         [0036]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate the rod holder base  12  rotated about the platform  16 , as discussed above for  FIGS. 3 and 4 , to allow for maximum flexibility to place the platform  16  in the desired position with respect to the rod holder  14 . In  FIG. 5A , the rod holder base  12  is rotated to the left, by rotating head  62 , using horizontal member  66 , to loosen the threaded screw  52  from the mounting member  48 , and then rotating the rod holder base  12  to the left. The head  62  and threaded screw  52 , as attached together, rotate along the semi-circle shaped platform grooved orifice  60  (illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) to allow the rod holder base  12  to rotate to the left with respect to the platform  16 . After rotation, the horizontal lever  66  is rotated clockwise to tighten the head  62  against the threaded screw  52  thereby securely tightening the mounting member  48  against the platform  16  so it cannot move. As discussed above, this allows the angle of the rod holder base  12  to be changed with respect to the platform  16  so that the platform  16  can be adjusted and kept level, as desired, depending on the angled variability of fishing rod holders  14  on boats  15 .  
         [0037]     Similarly in  FIG. 5B , the rod holder base  12  is rotated to the right with respect to the platform  16  in the same manner, except the head  62  is rotated in the platform grooved orifice  60  on the right hand side as illustrated. As discussed above, this allows the angle of the rod holder base  12  to be changed with respect to the platform  16  so that the platform  16  can be adjusted and kept level, as desired, depending on the angled variability of fishing rod holders  14  on boats  15 .  
         [0038]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  also illustrate the horizontal lever  66  which contains limiters  86  that have a larger diameter than cylindrical orifice  64  extending through the head  62  so that the horizontal lever  66  does not fall out. The limiter  86  rests against the orifice  64  to keep the horizontal member  66  from escaping from the orifice  64 . The horizontal lever  66  can be slid up and down the head  62  to allow for rotation on either side of the head  62  depending on what is most convenient for the person rotating the head  62  and the angle and position of the person doing the rotating. Additionally, a lanyard loop  87  is attached to the platform  15  (shown from a front view) in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , so that a lanyard may be attached the loop  87  to prevent loss of the side rigger  10  if the fishing rod holder base  12  becomes unsecured from the fishing rod holder  14 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 6  illustrates the side rigger  10  in use with the telescoping pole  24  fully extended. Note that the retractable pin  88  is extended through the orifice  84  to lock the inner conduit  40  in place with respect to the outer conduit  38 . The pole  24  is rotated in the semi-circle shaped pole mount grooved orifice  28  by having loosened the head  76 , rotating the pole  24 , and tightening the head  76 , to firmly secure the pole  24  against the pole mount  26 , to almost a parallel position to the platform  16 . The fishing rod line  22  extends downward from the top of the fishing rod  20  (not shown), and is attached to the clamp  32 , which is attached to the loop line  30 . The line  22  then extends back from the pole  24  at the clamp  30  into the water. Thus, the line  22  reaches the water in a position that is extended outward from the boat  15 .  
         [0040]      FIG. 7  illustrates the rear view of the side rigger  10  and the rear of the pole mount  26  used to attach the telescoping pole  24  to the side rigger  10 . In one embodiment of the present invention, the pole mount  26  contains semi-circle shaped ridges  90  all along the edge of the pole mount grooved orifice  28  to provide for easier positioning of the pole  24  when rotated. The ridges  90  allow one to position the pole  24  in the same location of rotation if desired in a repeatable fashion. The user simply rotates the pole  24  in the pole mount grooved orifice  28  to the desired ridge  90  and then tightens the head  76  to secure the pole  24  firmly against the pole mount  26 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 7  also illustrates the head  76  and its horizontal member  80  that is used to rotate the head  76  to loosen the head  76  to allow rotation of the pole  24  and securing of same in the desired position about pole mount grooved orifice  28 . Similar to horizontal member  66  for rotating the rod holder base  12 , the horizontal lever  80  contains limiters  92  that have a larger diameter than orifice  82  extending through the head  76  so that the horizontal member  80  does not escape the orifice  82 . The horizontal member  80  can be slid up and down the head  76  to allow for the rotation on either side of the head  76  depending on what is most convenient for the person rotating the head  76  and the angle and position of the person doing the rotating.  
         [0042]     It should be noted that the fastener types, angles of rotating, circumferences of grooves, number of additional rod holders provided on the side rigger, and other measurements and sizes shown and illustrated are not limited to the description of one embodiment of the present invention above. Any type of these functions and features may be provided and be within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0043]     Those skilled in the art will recognize improvements and modifications to the preferred embodiments of the present invention. All such improvements and modifications are considered within the scope of the concepts disclosed herein and the claims that follow.