Abstract:
A holder to secure a fishing rod and reel combination. The holder secures the rod and reel combination such that the reel, even if disassociated from the rod, cannot be disassociated from the holder.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to fishing equipment and more specifically to a holder for a fishing rod having a reel mounted thereon (i.e., fishing rod and reel combination.)  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     Fishing equipment, particularly rods and reels, have become extremely expensive. As such, rods and, particularly, reels have become the targets of thieves.  
         [0003]     One particularly tempting setting for a thief is when the rod and reel combination is unattended during transport or storage. While it is possible to disassemble a rod and reel combination for more secure transport or storage, many anglers find this undesirable, as it can lead to excessive wear and tear on the mechanical components that secure the reel to the rod or can result in increased setup time. Therefore, many anglers desire to transport or store their rods and reels in combination.  
         [0004]     Rod and reel combinations, however, are long with awkwardly protruding reels. As a result, without a storage system they are generally laid on large flat surfaces, such as benches or decks on boats or in the beds of a pickup trucks, or across supports, such as seats in boats or cars. While some of these storages may be secure, many are not. Additionally, when stored in this manner, the rods, and the reels attached thereto, are subject to damage from, for example, being stepped on, sat on, grabbed for support, or inappropriately moved.  
         [0005]     Rod holders have been developed to hold a rod and reel combination for transport or storage. One type of rod holder is a tube into which a portion of a rod, generally the handle, is placed. This type of rod holder is typically attached to a structure, such as a truck bumper or boat bimini, such that a rod placed therein extends upward out of the holder, being held in the holder by gravity. It is not uncommon to see multiple such holders attached to a truck&#39;s bumper or a boat&#39;s bimini with each holder having a rod, with a reel attached thereto, extending generally vertically therefrom.  
         [0006]     Unfortunately, when stored in this manner, the rods, or more particularly the reels attached thereto, are subject to theft by the rod and reel combination being merely plucked from the holder when the truck or boat is left unattended. What is needed in the art is a more secure holder that deters such theft.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     This invention is a holder for a fishing rod and reel combination. The holder secures the rod and reel combination such that the reel, even if disassociated from the rod, cannot be disassociated from the holder.  
         [0008]     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for the purposes of illustration and not as definitions of the limits of the invention.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a top view of the holder in the open position ready to receive a fishing rod and reel combination.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the holder shown in  FIG. 1  taken along line  2 - 2 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the holder in the closed position.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the holder shown in  FIG. 3  taken along line  4 - 4 , which is the same line as line  2 - 2  depicted in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the holder depicting the longitudinal insertion of a rod and reel combination.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the holder with a rod and reel combination in a stored position within the holder.  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a top view of the holder with a rod and reel combination positioned within the holder. The main housing portion of the reel has been removed for clarity.  
         [0016]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the components of the holder.  
         [0017]      FIG. 9  is a side view of a second embodiment of the holder depicting the rotational insertion of a rod and reel combination.  
         [0018]      FIG. 10  is a top view in the area of the slot shown in  FIG. 9  taken along line  10 - 10  in the open position.  
         [0019]      FIG. 11  is a top view of the holder with a flared top.  
         [0020]      FIG. 12  is a top view of a plurality of holders mounted on a structure. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the holder, generally referred to by reference number  20 , includes a body  22  that defines a passage  24  with a passage opening  26 . The body  22  also defines a body slot  28  having a body slot opening  30  with a bottom  32 . The passage opening  26  and the body slot opening  30  are coincident.  
         [0022]     The holder  20  further includes a sleeve  34  associated with the body  22 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the sleeve  34  is positioned in a rabbet  36  along the body slot  28  between the bottom  32  of the body slot  28  and the passage opening  26 .  
         [0023]     The sleeve  34  moves in the rabbet  36  from an open position ( FIG. 1 ) to a closed position (see  FIG. 3 ). The body  22  is in the shape of a tube and the sleeve  34  has a complementary shape (a common axis).  
         [0024]     More specifically as shown in  FIG. 2 , the sleeve  34  has a sleeve slot  38 . When the sleeve  34  is in the open position, the sleeve slot  38  is aligned with the body slot  28  (see dotted lines). Optimally, the sleeve slot  38  has at least the width as the body slot  28 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the sleeve  34  is in the closed position, the sleeve slot  38  and the body slot  28  are no longer aligned. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the sleeve  34  in the closed position defines a hole  39 .  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2  and  4 , the movement of the sleeve  34  from the opened to the closed position is controlled by a stop  40 , comprising a slit  42  and a pin  42 . When the sleeve  34  is in the open position ( FIG. 2 ), the pin  44  abuts one end of the slit  42 , which aligns the sleeve slot  38  and the body slot  28 . When the sleeve  34  is in the closed position ( FIG. 4 ), the pin  44  may abut the other end of the slit  42  to assist in positioning the sleeve  34  to define the hole  39  and may also register a latch  46  ( FIG. 3 .)  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the sleeve  34  can be fixed in the closed position by the latch  46 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the latch  46  is comprised on a pair of blocks  48 ,  50 , each having a through bore  52 ,  54 , respectively. As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the sleeve  34  is in the open position, the bores  52 ,  54  are not registered. As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the sleeve is in the closed position the bores  52 ,  54  are registered. As shown in  FIG. 3 , when the bores  52 ,  54  are registered, a pin  56 , which may be attached to the holder  20  by a cable  58 , can be inserted through the bores. The pin  56  may also have a bore  60  through the protruding end that may accept a lock  62 , such as a padlock.  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the holder  20  can also include one or more butt supports  66 . Each butt support  66  is comprised of a pair of aligned holes  68  (only one hole of a pair shown) through which a pin  70  may be inserted. The holes  68  are positioned on the body  22  on the opposite side of the bottom  32  from the sleeve  34 . To make the butt support  66  adjustable, a sequence of paired aligned holes  68  is provided. In one aspect, the pairs of aligned holes  68  form a spiral pattern. This type of non-linear alignment of the aligned holes  68  relative to the length of the holder  20  allows for finer distance adjustment gradations between the butt support  66  and the bottom  32 , as pairs of aligned holes do not interfere one with the other (e.g., overlap or be so close as to present a structural problem).  
         [0028]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a fishing rod and reel combination  72  can be longitudinally inserted into the holder  20 . A fishing rod and reel combination  72  includes a rod  74  and a reel  76 . The rod  74  includes a handle  78  having a fore grip  80  and a butt  82  connected by a reel seat  84 . The rod  74 , as shown, has a butt  82  that is quite long. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the length of the butt  82  is dependent upon the type of rod  74  and can be quite long to almost nonexistent (in some cases the bitter end of the butt is at the reel seat, such as in a fly fishing handle.) Extending outwardly from the fore grip  80  is a blank  86 .  
         [0029]     The reel  76  includes a stand  88  and a main housing  90  connected by a shank  92 . The depicted reel  76  is a spinning reel, but other reels, such as casting, are of a similar design.  
         [0030]     In a fishing rod and reel combination  72 , the stand  88  of the reel  76  is coupled to the handle  78  in the reel seat  84 . Most reel seats  84  are designed to removably accept the stand  88 . As depicted, the reel seat  84  is comprised of a fixed tab  94  proximate the fore grip  80  and a movable tab  96  proximate the butt  82 . The moveable tab  96  in a spinning rod and reel rig, which is secured about the stand  88  by a ring  98  rotating on threads.  
         [0031]     Referring to the orientations provided in  FIG. 5 , typically the handle  78  has a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the blank  86 . The diameter of the handle  78  is greater than the width of the stand  88 . The stand  88  has a width greater than the width of the shank  92 . Also, the stand  88  has a length greater than the length of the shank  92 .  
         [0032]     Continuing with  FIG. 5 , with the sleeve  34  in the open position, the fishing rod and reel combination  72  is inserted longitudinally butt  82  first into the passage  24  of the holder  20  through the passage opening  26 . Continuing with  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the butt  82  end travels down the passage  24  and the shank  92  is aligned with the body slot opening  30 , The shank  92  is of sufficient height and the body and sleeve slots  28 ,  38  of sufficient width to permit the shank  92  to traverse the body slot  28  towards the bottom  32  positioning the stand  88  of the reel  76  within the passage  24  and the main housing  90  of the reel outside the holder  20 . Additionally, the body slot  28  need not be sufficiently wide to allow the handle  78  to enter the passage  24  through the body slot.  
         [0033]     As the shank  92  traverses the body slot  28  towards the bottom  32 , the shank  92  passes the sleeve  34  placing the rod and reel combination  72  is a stored position. Referring to  FIG. 7 , with the rod and reel combination  72  in the stored position, the sleeve  34  is rotated from the open position to the closed position, thereby defining the hole  39  through which the shank  92  passes. The sleeve  34  in the closed position is associated with the body slot  28  such that the cross section of the hole  39  is smaller than the cross section of the stand  88 . As a result, the stand  88  cannot pass through the hole  39 .  
         [0034]     While the sleeve  34  in  FIG. 7  is depicted as completely across the width of the body slot  28  thereby defining the hole  39  that appears to have a continuous perimeter, this is not a requirement of the invention. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the sleeve  34  need not fully cross the width of the body slot  28  to define a hole  39  through which the stand  88  cannot be passed.  
         [0035]     When the fishing rod and reel combination  72  is within the holder  20  in the stored position ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ), the portion of the handle  78  within the passage  24  of the holder  20  is considered to be within a handle portion of the passage. The butt  82  may have its bitter end rest on the pin  70  of the butt support  66 . If this is the case, ideally the pin  70  of the butt support  66  is positioned within the holder  20  such that the shank  92  is proximate the bottom  32 , with at least a majority of the weight of the rod and reel combination  72  being transferred to the holder  20  through the butt and not the shank. This will also reduce damage to the shank  92  from riding on the bottom  32  of the holder  20 .  
         [0036]     It is, however, a matter of design choice as to how much of the handle  78  is within the holder  20 , which may be at least a portion up to the entire handle. For example as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , some of the fore grip  80  of the handle  78  can extend out of the passage opening  26 . Also, some of the butt portion  82  may extend out of the other end of the holder  20  (not shown). Generally, the reel seat  84 , including any mechanism that allows for the release of the stand  88  from the reel seat, should be within the holder  20 . Generally, none of the blank  86  will be within the holder  20 .  
         [0037]     Where the fore grip  80  projects out of the holder  20  through the passage opening  26  when the rod and reel combination  72  is in the stored position within the holder  20 , the handle portion begins at the passage opening  26  coincident with the body slot opening  30 . As the body slot  28  is shorter than the handle portion, the body slot is coincident with only a portion of the handle portion. Additionally, the body slot  28  can have a width, which may be variable, that does not permit the handle  78  to pass through.  
         [0038]     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the holder  20  includes the body  22  which defines the passage  24  and the body slot  28 . The rabbet  36  (see  FIGS. 1 and 3 ) is made by fixing (friction fitting with an adhesive) on the body  22  a collar  100 , then positioning on the body  22  the sleeve  34  that rides on the collar  100 . A keeper  102  is then fixed on the body  22  (friction fitting with an adhesive) to define the balance of the rabbet  36 . The keeper  102  prevents the removal of the sleeve  34 , thus it should be secured to the body  22  anticipating the attempted forced removal of a fishing rod and reel combination  72  from its stored position in the holder  20 . Also, similar design considerations should be considered when designing the sleeve  34 . The abutting structure of a rabbet  36  assists in deterring the removal of a rod and reel combination  72  from the holder  20  by tampering with the sleeve  34 . A trim piece  104  can then be slid over the body  22 , if desired.  
         [0039]     It should be appreciated, that this is but one method of construction. It should also be appreciated that the appearance of the holder  20  can be changed by selecting, for example various thicknesses for the collar  100 , sleeve  34 , keeper  102 , and trim piece  104 . It is possible by selecting appropriate thicknesses to achieve a holder  20  with generally parallel sides, and not the step configuration depicted in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0040]     A good material for the body  22  is PVC tubing. Use of this material provides a liner which does minimal, to no, damage to the handle or reel shank of the rod and reel combination. The collar  100 , sleeve  34 , keeper  102  and trim piece  104  may be made from a metal, such as aluminum. All the materials should be suitable for the environment in which the holder  20  will be used. This is particularly important if use in a salt water environment is anticipated.  
         [0041]     Additionally, while a tubular body  22  has been shown, the invention should not be considered limited to a holder  20  of a circular cross-section.  
         [0042]     A second embodiment of the holder  220  (like elements with the first embodiment given the same reference number preceded by a “2”) is depicted in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . In this embodiment, the fishing rod and reel combination  272  is rotated butt  282  first into the holder  220  through the body slot  228 . The sleeve slot  238  may have a width that will permit the handle  280  to pass through. Unlike the prior embodiment, the body slot  228  and the handle portion do not necessarily coincidently begin at their coincident passage opening  226  and body slot opening  230 . In fact, if the fore grip  280  of the handle  278  will not project out of the passage opening  226 , the passage opening need not be sized to accept the handle  278 , as depicted in the previous embodiment. Similarly to the first embodiment, the hole  239  created with the sleeve  234  in the closed position prevents the removal of the stand  288  of the reel  276 , which is positioned in the handle portion of the passage  224  of the holder  220 .  
         [0043]     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the body slot  228  may be stepped (i.e., may not have generally parallel sides). As shown, the body slot  228  has a segment having a width to permit the handle  278  to enter the passage  224 , but toward the bottom  232  has a segment having a different width, which is narrowed, that may permit only the shank  292  to traverse the body slot and reach, or be positioned proximate to, the bottom.  
         [0044]     It should be understood that generally the sleeve slot  238  when associated with a segment of the body slot  228  should cooperate to maximize the use of the body slot.  
         [0045]     Continuing with  FIG. 11 , the passage openings  26 ,  226  and/or body slot openings  30 ,  230  can be flared to better accept the fishing rod and reel combination  72 ,  272 . Flaring of the openings  26 ,  30 ,  226 ,  230  decreases the precision of the alignment required to insert the handle  78 ,  278  and shank  92 ,  292 , particularly in the first embodiment. Additionally, the sleeve slots may also be flared.  
         [0046]      FIG. 12 , depicts a plurality of holders  20 ,  220  mounted to a structure  106  such as a bracket, truck bumper, boat bimini, or boat structure. Ideally, the holders  20 ,  220  are mounted such that a fishing rod and reel combination  72 ,  272  positioned in the holder  20 ,  220  extends generally upward. As discussed above, the majority of the blank  86 ,  286  will not be in the holder  20 ,  220 . As a result when the holder  20 ,  220  is positioned on, for example, a truck bumper, the blank may be in a driver&#39;s line of view, but not the holder  20 ,  220 .  
         [0047]     A common lock  108  may be provided. A common lock  108  is one that allows for a single lock to be removed, allowing one or more holders  20 ,  220  to be opened. A common lock  108  may be accomplished by putting a cable  110 , with a stop  112  on one end and a loop  114  on the other, through the bore  60  of each pin  56  (see  FIG. 3 ) and then putting a single lock  116 , such as a padlock, in the loop.  
         [0048]     While there has been illustrated and described what is at present considered to be preferred and alternative embodiments of the claimed invention, it will be appreciated that numerous changes and modifications are likely to occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended in the appended claims to cover all those changes and modifications that fall within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.