Abstract:
The fishing rod holder has a first rod support portion to support a bottom surface of an upper section of a fishing rod handle. The fishing rod holder has a second rod support portion to support a lower section of the fishing rod handle. The first rod support section has an upwardly facing base plate. The second rod support portion has a downwardly facing top plate. The rod holder has an opening defined therein to permit a handle of a fishing rod to pass through. The second rod support portion has a base wall against which an end of the fishing rod handle may rest.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a fishing rod holder. In particular the present invention provides apparatus to hold a fishing rod where the fishing rod can be quickly and easily removed from the rod holder in the event of a fish taking the bait. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   While fishing is a popular pastime a substantial amount of time is spent by the fisherman holding the fishing rod in a motionless upright position, watching the end of the fishing rod and line for a telltale sign of a fish taking the bait. Holding a fishing rod in this manor for long periods of time can be tiresome. To ease the fatigue, fishermen fishing from a riverbank or a shoreline have used various methods of supporting a fishing rod. These methods include a twig, with a top “V” branch, stuck in the bank over which the rod is inclined or even inclining the rod over a log, tackle box or rock. 
   Numerous attempts have been developed using tripods to replace the branch or stick such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,089,307; 2,438,388; 3,431,670; 3,636,649; 4,086,716 and 6,128,848. 
   Other efforts have been directed to fishing rod holders formed of bent rods. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,341,157; 3,956,846; D315,012; D448,446; D448,447; D471,952 and 6,568,122. 
   More complicated devices have also been proposed. Published Canadian Patent Application No. 2,118,888 is directed to a tube for holding a fishing rod. The tube pivots from an at rest position to an at ready position. Published Canadian Patent Application. No. 2,317,937 describes a fishing rod holder that allows for a gentle rod removal, so presentation of the bait allows the fish taking the bait not be disturbed. This rod holder works on a retention release mechanism, which uses springs while pivoting on a rod receptacle, which holds a rod retainer. Published Canadian Patent Application No. 2,227,702 describes a multipurpose fishing rod holder that can be used in ice fishing, from shore or a boat. The cylindrical body has a fastener to secure the rod at an angle. A protective cap is used to protect the cylindrical body, while the spike at the base of the cylinder is driven into the ice or ground. To secure this fishing rod holder to a boat a slider member is provided. Published Canadian Patent Application No. 2,187,632 describes a fishing rod holder that is worn on a belt on the hip or side of the user. A cylindrical tube opens at its top and bottom that slopes forwardly and outwardly from the hip plate supporting the fishing rod. This Hip Plate is made of thin flexible plastic. U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,087 describes a fishing rod holder pivotally mounted on a weighted container surface. 
   While these prior art fishing rod holders fulfill their respective objectives and requirements, most have moveable and adjustable parts, with screws, nuts and bolts, which can come loose and get lost at a great inconvenience to the fisherman. These devices also may or may not require assembly that further adds to the inconvenience to the fisherman, who just wants to fish. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the invention to provide a fishing rod holder that is simple and easy and ready to use. 
   Thus in accordance with the present invention there is provided a fishing rod holder comprising a rod support section and a second section including means for attachment to the ground, dock, pier or seat of a boat wherein, said rod support section has a first support portion, a second support portion, means to connect said first and second support portions and a base portion. In a preferred embodiment the rod support section and second section of fishing rod holder are formed as one piece so that it is simple and easy and ready to use and said fishing rod holder has no adjustable parts and no screws, nuts or bolts, which can come loose and get lost. 
   Further features of the invention will be described or will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, the preferred embodiment thereof will now be described in detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a fishing rod holder according to the present invention having a rod support section and a second section including means for attachment to the ground, dock, pier, seat etc; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the fishing rod holder of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a top view of the fishing rod holder of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the fishing rod holder of  FIG. 1-3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the rod support section of the fishing rod holder of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of the rod support section of the fishing rod holder of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is an end view of the rod support section of the fishing rod holder of  FIGS. 5 and 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a side view of the rod support section of the fishing rod holder of  FIG. 5-7 . 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a fishing rod holder according to the present invention having a rod support section and a second section including modified means for attachment to the ground, dock, pier, seat etc 
       FIG. 10  is a top view of the fishing rod holder of  FIG. 9  not including the modified means for attachment to the ground, dock, pier, seat etc. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 8 , one embodiment of a fishing rod holder according to the present invention is generally indicated at  1 . The fishing rod holder  1  comprises a rod support section  2  and a second section  3  including means for attachment to the ground, dock, pier, seat etc. 
   As best seen in  FIGS. 5-8 , the rod support section  2  has a first support portion  4 , a second support portion  5 , means  6  to connect said first and second support portions  4 , 5  and a base portion  7 . In the embodiment shown, the first support section  4  has a concave curved base plate  8  to support the bottom surface of an upper section of the fishing rod handle (not shown) and a lateral extending peripheral flange  9 . The concave curved base plate  8  has a first end  10 , second end  11  and opposing sides  12 , 13 . The lateral extending peripheral flange  9  extends along the opposing sides  12 , 13 , inclines downwardly and is tapered from the second end  11  to the first end  10  of concave curved base plate  8 . 
   The second support portion  5  has a convex curved top plate  14  to support the top surface of a lower section of the fishing rod handle (not shown). The convex curved top plate  14  has a first end  15 , second end  16  and opposing sides  17 , 18 . Base portion  7  depends from the second end  16  of the convex curved top plate  14 . The end of the fishing rod handle rests up against base portion  7  to position the handle within the rod support section. In the embodiment shown, base portion  7  has a pair of upstanding sidewalls  19 , 20  extending from the sides  21 ,  22  of base portion  7  along the opposing sides  17 ,  18  of the curved top plate  14  to keep the fishing rod handle from moving from side to side. 
   In the embodiment shown, the means  6  to connect said first and second support portions  4 , 5  comprise a pair of parallel connectors  23 . One of said connectors  24  extends from one end  25  of the lateral extending peripheral flange  9  of the first support section  4  and along one side  17  of the convex curved top plate  14  of the second support portion  5 . The other of said connectors  26  extends from another end  27  of the lateral extending peripheral flange  9  of the first support section  4  and along one side  18  of the convex curved top plate  14  of the second support portion  5 . The connectors  24 ,  26 , the second end  11  of the concave curved base plate  8  of the first support section  4  and the first end  15  of the convex top plate  14  of the second support section  5  define an opening  28 . 
   In the embodiment illustrated (see  FIG. 6  or  8 ), the bottom surface  29 ,  30  of connectors  24 ,  26  is reinforced with a longitudinal rib  31 ,  32 . 
   The second section  3  of rod holder  1  is has a generally flat rectangular base  33  and means  34  for attachment to the ground, dock, pier, seat etc. In the embodiment illustrated (see  FIGS. 1 to 4 ), the fishing rod holder  1  is intended to be attached to the ground such as a bank or beach. The means  34  for attachment to the ground comprises a pair of rods  35 ,  36  inserted into slots  37 , 38  formed on the bottom surface  41  of base  33 . The rods  35 ,  36  can be molded into the slots  37 ,  38  on base  33  or detachable to facilitate transport. It is preferred that the rod support section  3  and second section  4  of fishing rod holder  1  be formed as one piece, from plastic or the like, so that it is simple and easy and ready to use by just sticking rods  35 ,  36  in the ground at the desired angle. By rods  35 ,  36  being molded into or otherwise fixed in slots  37 ,  38  the fishing rod holder of the present invention has no adjustable parts and no screws, nuts or bolts, which can come loose and get lost. 
   To use the fishing rod holder  1  of the embodiment illustrated, stick the rods  35 ,  36  in the ground at the desired angle. The handle of the fishing rod is inserted through the top of the opening  28  with the end of the fishing rod handle against base portion  7 . A top surface of a lower section of the fishing rod handle (not shown) is rests against the bottom surface  39  of the convex curved top plate  14 . A bottom surface of an upper section of the fishing rod handle (not shown) is supported by the top surface  40  of concave curved base plate  8 . The “open-face” of fishing rod holder  1  permits the fishing rod to be quickly and easily removed from the rod holder in the event of a fish taking the bait. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , another embodiment of a fishing rod holder according to the present invention is generally indicated at  51 . The fishing rod holder  51  comprises a rod support section  52  and a second section  53  including means for attachment to the ground, dock, pier, seat etc. 
   The rod support section  52  is similar to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-8 . It has a first support portion  54 , a second support portion  55 , means  56  to connect said first and second support portions  54 , 55  and a base portion  57 . In the embodiment shown, the first support section  54  has a concave curved base plate  58  to support the bottom surface of an upper section of the fishing rod handle (not shown) and a lateral extending peripheral flange  59 . The concave curved base plate  58  has a first end  60 , second end  61  and opposing sides  62 , 63 . The lateral extending peripheral flange  59  extends along the opposing sides  62 , 63 , inclines downwardly and is tapered from the second end  61  to the first end  60  of concave curved base plate  58 . 
   The second support portion  55  has a convex curved top plate  64  to support the top surface of a lower section of the fishing rod handle (not shown). The convex curved top plate  64  has a first end  65 , second end  66  and opposing sides  67 , 68 . Base portion  57  depends from the second end  66  of the convex curved top plate  64 . The end of the fishing rod handle rests up against base portion  57  to position the handle within the rod support section. In the embodiment shown, base portion  57  has a pair of upstanding sidewalls  69 , 70  extending from the sides  71 ,  72  of base portion  57  along the opposing sides  67 ,  68  of the curved top plate  64  to keep the fishing rod handle from moving from side to side. 
   In the embodiment shown, the means  56  to connect said first and second support portions  54 , 55  comprise a pair of parallel connectors  73 . One of said connectors  74  extends from one end  75  of the lateral extending peripheral flange  59  of the first support section  54  and along one side  67  of the convex curved top plate  64  of the second support portion  55 . The other of said connectors  76  extends from another end  77  of the lateral extending peripheral flange  59  of the first support section  54  and along one side  68  of the convex curved top plate  64  of the second support portion  55 . The connectors  74 ,  76 , the second end  61  of the concave curved base plate  58  of the first support section  54  and the first end  65  of the convex top plate  64  of the second support section  55  define an opening  78 . 
   The second section  53  of rod holder  51  is has a generally flat rectangular base  83  and means  84  for attachment to the ground, dock, pier, seat etc. In the embodiment illustrated, the fishing rod holder  51  is intended to be attached to the ground such as a bank or beach. The means  84  for attachment to the ground comprises a pair of rods  85 ,  86  inserted into bracket snaps  87 , 88  formed on the bottom surface  91  of base  83 . The top  92 , 93  of rods  85 ,  86  fit under brace  94  which extends across and above the bottom surface  91  of base  83 . The top  92 , 93  of rods  85 ,  86  abut against the end  66  of the convex top plate  64  of the second support section  55  for support. Rods  85 , 86  can be formed from a single piece of material and bent in a U-shape as shown. 
   Having illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention and certain possible modifications thereto, it should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention permits of further modification in arrangement and detail. All such modifications are covered by the scope of the invention.