Abstract:
Handles, apparatus devices, and methods for clamping and using an extra handle onto fishing rods that provides enhanced leverage while holding the existing elongated handle on the rod between clamps on the extra handle, as well as being used for carrying the rod before and after it is being used. The extra handle has bent member between two clamp ends with an inner generally wide flat smooth face, and lower and upper smooth perimeter edge surfaces, that provide a comfortable surface against the back of the hand of the fisherman and helps provide leverage to the fisherman while fishing with the rod and carrying the rod before and after use.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation In Part of U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/530,233 filed Jun. 15, 2015, which is incorporated by reference in its&#39; entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to fishing, and in particular to handles, apparatus devices, and methods for clamping and using an extra handle onto fishing rods that provides enhanced leverage while holding the existing elongated handle on the rod, as well as being used for carrying the rod before and after it is being used. 
     BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
     Fishing rods have generally remained unchanged over the years. For example, conventional fishing rods include an elongated body having at the proximal end, a handle. Typically the reel is attached towards the distal region of the handle. The problem with the conventional fishing rods is that they are difficult to maintain leverage while holding the rod in an upright fishing position over time. Additionally, the elongated handles are difficult to be used to carry the fishing rods before and after the rods are being used. 
     Fishing usually occurs over long periods of time, where the fisherman must continuously hold the fishing rod outward while waiting for a fish to strike. Since conventional fishing rods are essentially elongated poles, the forces transferred to the handle increases as the fishing rod length increases. This is due to the force of gravity and the physics of torque. Further, since the conventional fishing rod is linear, the fisherman typically holds the fishing rod with a severely bent or rotated wrist, which can lead to discomfort that can include wrist strain and possible injury and damage to one&#39;s hands and wrists and arms over time. The problems are even more acute when the fishermen is going after larger fish such as bluefish, and the like as compared to smaller fresh water fish, and the like. 
     Over the years a variety of rod configurations have been proposed to address these problems. However, there needs to be better solutions to these problems. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,041 to Hays describe fishing rods with removable handles. However, the double clamped handle shown in FIGS. 1-5 is intended to be attached on both sides of a bent handle and not along a straight elongated handle that exists in most fishing rods. Also, the raised handle portion 11, has finger indentations that are used for the fisherman to carry the fishing rod by the handle so that the fisherman is not able to continue to grip the actual elongated rear butt end handle portion of the rod. Additionally, if the fisherman does try to grip the existing elongated end of the rod, the downwardly protruding finger indentations on the extra handle will uncomfortably press into the back of the hand of the fisherman. As such, this extra handle cannot be used if the fisherman wishes to continuously grip the rod itself. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,854,086 to Huynh describe a fishing rod with ergonomic handle that requires the handle be separately attached to the end of an existing fishing rod handle. This handle also will not allow the fisherman to use the existing elongated handle on the fishing rod. 
     Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary objective of the present invention is to provide handles, apparatus devices, and methods for clamping and using an extra handle onto existing elongated handle ends on fishing rods that enhances leverage while holding the existing elongated rod handle between the clamps on the extra handle. 
     A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide handles, apparatus devices, and methods for clamping a handle onto existing elongated handle ends on fishing rods that is also useful for carrying the rod before and after it is being used. 
     A third objective of the present invention is to provide handles, apparatus devices, and methods for clamping and using an extra handle onto existing elongated handle ends on fishing rods, wherein the handle includes an inner bent member with generally flat smooth inner surface and smooth lower edges that are comfortable against the back of the hand of the fisherman gripping the existing handle end of the rod. 
     A preferred embodiment of an attachable handle for fishing rods, can include a first clamp, a second clamp, a first stem portion extending upward from the first clamp, a second stem portion extending upward from the second clamp, and a bent member between an upper end of the first stem portion and an upper end of the second stem portion, the bent member having a lower smooth edge and upper smooth edge, wherein the first clamp and the second clamp are attachable about an existing elongated handle on a fishing rod. 
     The first clamp and the second clamp can each include an upper member and a lower member that clamp to one another with fasteners, the fasteners being selected from screws and bolts. 
     The first stem and the second stem can each have a generally flat front face surface and a generally flat rear face surface portion being parallel to longitudinal axis running through each of the first clamp and the second clamp. The second stem can have a length longer than the first stem. 
     The bent member can have a first inner concave surface and a second inner concave surface with the lower smooth edge on the bent member attached therebetween. The bent member can have a generally smooth front side surface and a generally smooth rear side surface. 
     The attachable handle can have a first convex outer curved perimeter surface between the upper end of the first stem portion and the bent member, and a second convex curved perimeter surface between the upper end of the second stem portion and the bent member. 
     The second convex curved perimeter surface can have a larger angle than the first convex curved perimeter surface. 
     The attachable handle can have a length of approximately 6.75 inches between the first clamp and the second clamp. 
     The upper member of the first clamp, the upper member of the second clamp, the first stem portion, the second stem portion, and the bent flat member can be formed from a single piece of plastic. 
     A method using a handle with a fishing rod, can include the steps of providing an fishing rod with a reel attached to the rod, and a rearwardly extending handle end, providing a first clamp with a first stem portion extending upward from the first clamp, providing a second clamp with a second stem portion extending upward from the second clamp, providing a bent member between an upper end of the first stem portion and an upper end of the second stem portion, the bent member having a lower smooth perimeter edge and upper smooth perimeter edge, clamping the first clamp and the second clamp about the rearwardly extending handle end of the fishing rod, and gripping a portion of the handle end of the fishing rod between the first clamp and the second clamp to increase leverage while fishing with the fishing rod. 
     The clamping step can include the steps of providing the first clamp and the second clamp each with an upper member and a lower member that clamp to one another with fasteners, and selecting the fasteners from screws and bolts. 
     The method can include the step of providing the second stem with a longer length than the first stem. 
     The method can include the step of providing the bent member with a first inner concave surface and a second inner concave surface with the lower smooth edge on the bent member attached therebetween. 
     The method can include the step of providing the bent member with a generally smooth front side surface and a generally smooth rear side surface. 
     The method can include the steps of providing a first convex outer curved perimeter surface between the upper end of the first stem portion and the flat bent member, and providing a second convex curved perimeter surface between the upper end of the second stem portion and the bent member. 
     The method can include the step of providing the second convex curved perimeter surface with a larger angle than the first convex curved perimeter surface. 
     Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a front right perspective view of an assembled fishing rod handle. 
         FIG. 2  is an upper front right perspective view of the fishing rod handle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a lower front right perspective view of the fishing rod handle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a rear right perspective view of the fishing rod handle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the fishing rod handle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a rear view of the fishing rod handle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the fishing rod handle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the fishing rod handle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is a left side view of the fishing rod handle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is a right side view of the fishing rod handle of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 11  is another rear side view of the fishing rod handle of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the fishing rod handle of  FIG. 11  along arrows A-A. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the fishing rod handle of  FIG. 11  along arrows B-B. 
         FIG. 14  is cross-sectional view of the fishing rod handle of  FIG. 11  along arrows C-C. 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of the fishing rod handle of  FIG. 11  along arrows D-D. 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the fishing rod handle of  FIG. 11  along arrows E-E. 
         FIG. 17  is an exploded view of the fishing rod handle of  FIG. 1  about to be assembled to an existing elongated handle of a fishing rod. 
         FIG. 18  is an assembled view of the fishing rod handle of  FIG. 17  on the elongated handle of a fishing rod. 
         FIG. 19  shows a left hand of a fisherman holding the existing elongated handle of the fishing rod within the clamp ends of the fishing rod handle of  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 20  shows a right hand of a fisherman holding the existing elongated handle of the fishing rod within the clamp ends of the fishing rod handle of  FIG. 18 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     In the Summary above and in the Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification does not include all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally. 
     In this section, some embodiments of the invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate similar elements in alternative embodiments. 
     A list of components will now be described.
           1  clampable fishing rod handle     10  first clamp     12  upper member of first clamp     13  fasteners (screws, bolts)     15  nuts     16  lower member of first clamp     17  counter-sunk opening(s)     20  second clamp     22  upper member of second clamp     23  fasteners (screws, bolts)     25  nuts     26  lower member of first clamp     27  counter-sunk opening(s)     30  first stem portion     32  inner concave surface     34  outer convex surface     40  second stem portion     42  inner concave surface     43  outer concave surface     44  outer convex surface     50  elongated bent member     51  generally smooth wide front face     52  first end of bent member     53  lower smooth edge perimeter surface     55  upper smooth edge perimeter surface     58  second end of bent member     59  generally smooth wide rear face     100  fishing rod     110  elongated handle end of rod     120  left hand     130  right hand       

       FIG. 1  is a front right perspective view of an assembled fishing rod handle  1 .  FIG. 2  is an upper front right perspective view of the fishing rod handle  1  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a lower front right perspective view of the fishing rod handle  1  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  is a rear right perspective view of the fishing rod handle of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 5  is a front view of the fishing rod handle  1  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 6  is a rear view of the fishing rod handle  1  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 7  is a top view of the fishing rod handle  1  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the fishing rod handle  1  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 9  is a left side view of the fishing rod handle  1  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 10  is a right side view of the fishing rod handle  1  of  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-10 , the clampable fishing rod handle  1  can include a first clamp  10  at one end with a first upwardly extending stem portion  30 , and a second clamp  20  at an opposite end with a second upwardly extending stem portion  40 . An elongated bent member  50  can be located between the first stem portion  30  and the second stem portion  40 . 
     Both the first clamp  10  and the second clamp  20  can include respective upper end portions  12 ,  22  that are attached to first end  52  and second end  58 , respectively of the bent member  50 . The first clamp  10  and the second clamp  20  can each include lower member(s)  16 ,  26  that can attach to respective upper end portions  12 ,  22  by fasteners  13 ,  23 , such as but not limited to screws and bolts, with nuts  15 ,  25  (shown in  FIG. 17 . The heads of the respective fasteners  13 ,  23  can be counter-sunk in lower side openings  17 ,  27  of respective lower members  16  and  26 . 
     First stem portion  30  and second stem portion  40  can have generally flat front and flat rear faces that are parallel to longitudinal axes through respective clamps  10  and  20 . 
     Both first stem portion  30  and second stem portion  40  can each have upper inner concave smooth surfaces  32 ,  42  facing one another, and outer convex smooth surfaces  34  and  44 . Second stem  40  can also include a concave outer curved surface edge  43  between the bottom of second stem portion  40  and convex curved outer perimeter surface  44 . 
     The elongated bent member  50  can include a generally smooth wide front face  51  and a generally smooth wide rear face  59 . Elongated bent member  50  can have a lower smooth edge perimeter surface  53  and an upper smooth edge perimeter surface  55 . 
       FIG. 11  is another rear side view of the fishing rod handle  1  of  FIG. 6  with cross sectional markings and dimensions.  FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the fishing rod handle  1  of  FIG. 11  along arrows A-A.  FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the fishing rod handle  1  of  FIG. 11  along arrows B-B.  FIG. 14  is cross-sectional view of the fishing rod handle  1  of  FIG. 11  along arrows C-C.  FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of the fishing rod handle  1  of  FIG. 11  along arrows D-D.  FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the fishing rod handle  1  of  FIG. 11  along arrows E-E. 
     Fishing rod handle  1  can have an overall length of approximately 6.75 inches, and a height along first stem portion  30  of H 1 , being approximately 2.06 inches, and a height along second stem portion  40  of H 2 , being approximately 2.55 inches. 
     Elongated bent member  50  can have various width dimensions of WA being approximately 0.81 inches, WB being approximately 1.03 inches, WC being approximately 1.21 inches, WD being approximately 1.31 inches, and WE being approximately 1.15 inches. 
       FIG. 17  is an exploded view of the fishing rod handle  1  of  FIG. 1  about to be assembled to an existing elongated handle  110  of a fishing rod  100 . Upper and lower members  12 ,  16 ,  22 ,  26  of first and second clamps  10 ,  20  can be clamped together about rod end  110  with fasteners  13 ,  23  and internal nuts  25 ,  25 , where the fasteners can be counter-sunk into openings  17 ,  27  of the lower clamp members  16 ,  26 . 
       FIG. 18  is an assembled view of the fishing rod handle  1  of  FIG. 17  clamped onto the existing elongated handle end  110  of a fishing rod  100 . 
       FIG. 19  shows a left hand  120  of a fisherman holding the existing elongated handle end  110  of the fishing rod  100  within the clamp ends  10 ,  20  of the fishing rod handle  1  of  FIG. 18 . 
       FIG. 20  shows a right hand  130  of a fisherman holding the existing elongated handle end  110  of the fishing rod  100  within the clamp ends  10 ,  20  of the fishing rod handle  1  of  FIG. 18 . 
     The shape and smooth surfaces of the fishing rod handle  1  allow for the fisherman to have greater leverage and a more comfortable fit while the fisherman is using the fishing rod. Additionally, the rod handle also allows for a better grip on the existing rod handle  110  to allow for the rod  100  to be easily carried and transported from place to place. 
     The novel fishing rod handle  1  can be formed from molded plastic, injection molded plastic, and the like, as well as other materials, such as but not limited to fiberglass, metal, combinations thereof, and the like. 
     The term “approximately” can be +/−10% of the amount referenced. Additionally, preferred amounts and ranges can include the amounts and ranges referenced without the prefix of being approximately. 
     Although the invention is described in a preferred embodiment being clamped about the elongated handle end of fishing rod for increasing leverage for the fisherman, the novel clampable handle can be clamped about other devices, such as fishing poles, and/or handles on other sports equipment such as but not limited to tennis rackets, racquetball rackets, and the like. 
     While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.