Abstract:
A harness-like fishing gear holder vest upon which various pouches are mounted for storing fishing supplies and caught fish. The harness includes two shoulder straps on which are attached six pockets, three on the front of each straps. The two straps are attached to a waist belt, which has two additional pouches attached to the sides. A chest strap is provided between the two shoulder straps. Two adjustable rod-holding rings for holding a fishing rod are attached to the straps. This enables the user&#39;s hands to be free for performing various other activities. A detachable line cutter and a snap hook are placed on the waist belt by looped snap bands. Pouches are attached to the shoulder straps by clamp-like clips. The device is fully adjustable, fastened with VELCRO belt and shoulder adjustment. The vest is worn by an angler while wading in water up to his chest.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/363,536, filed Mar. 13, 2002. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to fishing apparel. More particularly, the present invention relates to a harness worn by a fisherman upon which is mounted pouches for supplies, a line cutter, a snap hook for a net or fish stringers, and rings for holding a fishing rod. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   The use by fishermen of vests or waders with pockets for holding fishing gear, quarry, or bait are well known. Waders are limited to practical use in water up to near the waist. Present vests are not designed for submersion during fishing. It is also impractical to wade into water far from shore due to the need to return for rigging changes. It is difficult to hold the fishing rod while standing in the water when rigging or landing and netting fish require two hands. It would be desirable to provide a fishing vest which may be substantially submerged while retaining various tackle, bait, and caught fish in pouches, and providing for high mounted pouches for holding items that must remain dry, and providing a device for holding the fishing rod while the fisherman uses both hands to rig tackle, allowing the fisherman to wade into and remain in water up to his chest. It would also be desirable to provide such a vest that is easily adjusted to the size of the wearer and is flexible in the number and position of pockets provided. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 1,198,202, issued Sep. 12, 1916, to Drinkard, describes a harness-like fishing device having two shoulder straps, a body strap that wraps around the chest, and a belt. The belt has receptacles for carrying lunch, tackle, etc. A holder is provided for holding a fishing rod. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,393, issued Nov. 2, 1999, to Bellamy, describes a fishing rod carrying backpack having a rod-holding member in the bottom of the backpack. Bellamy employs snap-together buckles for fastening the backpack around the wearer. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,535, issued Jun. 18, 1996, to Dobrzenski, describes a fishing vest with hinged pockets, three pockets attached to each of the two front panels. A pocket is also placed on the back of the vest. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,619,819, issued Apr. 15, 1997, to Hauschild, describes a carrying case that may be wrapped around a fisherman&#39;s waist for carrying tackle, etc. It is adjustably held around the waist by hook and loop material such as VELCRO. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,232, issued Aug. 25, 1998, to Kistner et al., describes a fishing gear and rod holder that is attachable to the chest strap of a wader or the bib of bib overhauls. 
   None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a harness-like vest upon which individual pockets and pouches are mounted for storing fishing supplies and caught fish. There is also provided a line cutter and rings for holding a fishing rod. The harness includes two shoulder straps on which are attached six pockets, three on the front of each strap. The two straps are attached to a waist belt, which has two additional pouches attached to the sides. The side pouches and four lower strap pouches (below the chest) have drain holes to allow trapped water to drain. The two upper strap pockets remain dry. 
   The belt is fastened around the user&#39;s body by means of a fast snapping buckle. A chest strap is provided between the two shoulder straps to help secure the shoulder straps to the user, avoiding one of them from slipping off a shoulder. Two adjustable rings are attached to the straps on the back of the vest-like device, one attached to each strap. The two rings are used to hold a fishing rod. In this way, the user&#39;s hands are free for performing various other activities. A detachable line cutter is placed on the waist belt. The device is fully adjustable and easy to fasten with VELCRO belt and shoulder adjustment and for pocket, pouch, and line cutter attachment. The inventive harness-like vest makes it practical for the fisherman to wade farther out into the water up to his chest and provides for holding the rod to prepare tackle, avoiding a trip to shore for this task. 
   Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a harness-like fishing gear holder vest having shoulder straps attached to a waist belt and useable having by a fisherman wading in deep water. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide a holder as above which is submergible up to the angler&#39;s chest. 
   It is a further object of the invention to provide a holder as above having a variety of pouches and pockets for gear and bait mounted on the shoulder straps and waist belt. 
   Still another object of the invention is to provide a holder as above having supporting rings on shoulder straps for holding a fishing rod, freeing the user to use both hands for rigging tackle, etc. 
   Yet another object of the invention is to provide a holder as above having a line cutter mounted on the belt. 
   Still another object of the invention is to provide a holder as above having the shoulder straps and waist belt easily adjustable to the angler&#39;s size and to have an adjustable chest belt extending between the shoulder belts. 
   Yet another object of the invention is to provide a holder as above employing VELCRO hook and loop material where useful to allow easy attachment and removal of the pouches, pockets, line cutter, chest belt, and other accessories. 
   It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
   These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a harness-like fishing gear holder vest according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the vest of FIG.  1 . 
       FIG. 3A  is an exploded view of the vest of  FIG. 1  showing a fishing rod is held in the holding ring. 
       FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of the side pouch of FIG.  2 . 
       FIG. 3C  is a back elevation view of the side pouch of FIG.  2 . 
       FIG. 3D  is a bottom view of the side pouch of FIG.  2 . 
       FIG. 4A  is a diagrammatic front elevation view of the fishing vest of FIG.  2 . 
       FIG. 4B  is a detail view of the line cutter feature of FIG.  2 . 
       FIG. 4C  is a detail view of the adjustable shoulder strap to belt connection of FIG.  2 . 
       FIG. 5A  is a diagrammatic rear elevation view of the fishing vest of FIG.  2 . 
       FIG. 5B  is a detail view of the ring fishing rod holder and triple bar ring strap mounting of FIG.  5 A. 
       FIG. 6A  is a plan view of the pouch clip of FIG.  3 A. 
       FIG. 6B  is an inner side elevation view of the pouch clip of  FIG. 6A  in the open position. 
       FIG. 6C  is a rear elevation view of a flapped pouch having the pouch clip of  FIG. 3A  mounted thereon in a closed position. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the snap hook attachment of FIG.  2 . 
   

   Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The present invention is a harness-like vest upon which individual pockets and pouches are mounted for storing fishing supplies and caught fish. There is also provided a line cutter and rings for holding a fishing rod. 
   Referring to the Figures, there are shown various views of the harness-like fishing gear holder vest of the present invention. Harness-like vest  10  comprises harness  12  having waist belt  14  secured by buckle  16  on angler A. Harness  12  further comprises left shoulder strap  18  and right shoulder strap  20  adjustably attached to waist belt  14  and secured together by chest strap  17 . Chest strap  17  is adjustably mounted along left shoulder strap  18  by left chest strap buckle  19 , and chest strap  17  is mounted along right shoulder strap  20  by right chest strap buckle  21  by means of opposing chest strap adjustment rings  22 . This allows chest strap  17  to be adjusted upward or downward to fit the angler A. Chest strap adjustment rings  22  are mounted on inner facing rotatable portions of buckles  19  and  21  for adjustable attachment of chest strap  17  therebetween. Chest strap  17  is fixed to left chest strap buckle  19  by wrapping around its respective adjustment ring  22  and securing fixed end  23  by to itself by sewing or other means. Chest strap  17  is threaded through right chest strap buckle adjustment ring  22  and extends over itself for adjustable attachment, thus allowing the securing of chest strap  17  at a desired space between buckles  19  and  21  for easy donning, fitting, and removal of the harness  12  by a particular angler A. Adjustable belt fitting is preferably accomplished by means of mating hook and loop material  24  and  25 , respectively, each so disposed that the free end of strap  17  may be adjusted to the left or right and hook material  24  may be secured to loop material  24  to form a temporary bond sufficient in strength to maintain chest strap secure at the desired buckle separation length while worn by the angler A. (Throughout this document hook and loop materials refer to commercial VELCRO material.) 
   Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 2 and 3A , there are shown a perspective view and an exploded view, of the inventive fishing harness and gear holder  10 , shoulder straps  18  and  20  are adjustably attached to waist belt  14  by means of strap adjustment rings  26  attached to the respective left and right front portions of waist belt  14  by strap adjustment ring belt anchors  28  sewn (not shown) to the inner side of belt  14 . Straps  18  and  20  have strap adjustment folds  30  at their respective free ends and have a mating hook material  80  and loop material  82  (see detail  FIG. 4C ) on an mating inner sides for strap length adjustment relative to belt  14  in a similar manner to the length adjustment of chest strap  17  (described above). Hook material  80  removably attaches to loop material  82 , allowing straps  18  and  20  to be adjusted in relative length by detaching hook material patch  80  from loop material  82 , adjusting to the desired length, and reattaching hook material  80  to loop material  82  at a desired point. Each strap is preferably adjusted to the same length to allow waist belt  14  to be horizontally suspended relative to the angler A. 
   Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 2 ,  5 A, and  5 B, there are shown a perspective view and a diagrammatic rear elevation view of the fishing harness and gear holder  10  and a plan view of the triple bar ring strap mounting  34  and attached rod holding ring  32 , respectively. Rod-holding rings  32  are mounted behind the shoulders of the wearer on shoulder straps  18  and  20 , respectively, and adjustably held in place by triple bar strap mountings  34  having three vertically aligned cross bars  33  through which the straps are threaded. A fishing rod handle RH of rod R may be fitted through ring  32  up to the reel RL when the angler A needs to use both hands to accomplish a task such as changing rigging. As seen in  FIG. 5B , rod holding ring  32  comprises ring portion  90  leading to shank portion  92 , which, in turn, leads to clip portions  94  which are fixedly mounted in the upper rear portion opposing end plates of triple bar ring strap mounting  34 . Three vertically aligned crossbars  33  are attached between the front portions of the opposing end plates of mounting  34 . Holding ring  33  extends outwardly and perpendicular to its respective shoulder strap  18  or  20  when worn by angler A so as to easily receive rod handle RH. 
   Flapped pouches  36  have clips  38  attached to their back face  37  (see  FIG. 6C ) that allow removable attachment to straps  18  and  20  by snapping over the strap. Flapped pockets  38  may be mounted above the chest strap  17  and are thus kept above the water level, being intended to hold articles and food that should be kept dry. Flapped pockets  38  are similarly mounted on straps  18  and  20  at points below chest strap  17  and may be subject to submersion in water and, if so, may have drain holes (not shown) at their respective lower ends to allow drainage of water upon emerging from the water. These lower mounted flapped pockets  38  carry tackle and items not subject to water damage and may vary in number, four being illustrated in the present embodiment. Side pouches  40  are similar in construction to pockets  38  but are larger and deeper and are located on waist belt  14 , preferably at opposing hip areas, removably attached by means of looping over and engaging upper snap retaining straps  39  and lower snap retaining straps  41  on the pouch back wall  66  (see FIG.  3 C). Side pouches  40  may be used for tackle, bait, or quarry and have drain holes  69  at their respective lower ends as in the lower pouches  38 . 
   Waist belt  14  has a belt buckle outer housing  44  at a fixed end of belt buckle outer housing loop  46 , and an adjustable belt buckle inner snap portion  48  having adjustment portion  50  through which the free end of belt  14  is threaded forming belt adjustment flap  52 . This type of buckle is conventional in outdoor sports equipment as shown more completely in U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,393 to Bellamy discussed above, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Belt adjustment flap  52  folds over inside belt  14  and is removably attached by hook and loop material  53  (shown in hidden lines) and the length of belt  14  between buckle outer housing  44  and adjustment portion  50  is adjusted in a manner similar to that of chest strap  17  described above. 
   Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 3B-3D  there is shown a perspective view, a rear elevation view, and a bottom view, respectively, of a side pouch  40 . Side pouch  40  has a front wall  60 , sidewalls  62 , a pouch cover  64 , a back wall  66 , and a bottom wall  68 . Upper snap retaining straps  39  extend outward from the upper portion of back wall  66 , and lower snap retaining straps  41  extend outward from the lower portion of back wall  66 . As explained above, upper straps  39  are looped over belt  14  and lower straps  41  looped under belt  14  and snapped together to attach side pouch  40  to belt  14 . Cover  64  may be held in a closed position by gravity, spring force, hook and loop material or any-other appropriate means, such not being a part of the present invention. The covers on pouches  36  may be closed in a similar manner. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4A  there is shown a front elevation view of a fishing harness and gear holder similar to that of FIG.  2 . In this embodiment, left shoulder strap  18  and right shoulder strap  20  are not adjustable in length, being fixed to the front portion of belt  14  by sewing (not shown) at connections  78 , respectively. Chest strap  17  is shown with the free end in the secured position, hook and loop material  24  and  25  (shown in hidden lines) maintaining the chest strap in the secured position during use. 
   Referring to  FIG. 4B , there is shown a side elevation view of line cutter  42 , wherein generally rectangular body  70  has a centrally located slit oriented parallel with belt  14  when mounted thereon. A top-edged blade  72  is perpendicularly located in the central part of body  70  and bridging the slit so as to be protected by body  70  and avoid accidental injury to the angler A. The blade is preferably sloped downward from front to rear of body  70  to aid in cutting fishing line. Line cutter  42  has a rectangular body back having an upper snap retaining strap  74  extending from its upper back portion and a lower snap retaining strap  76  extending from its lower back portion. Upper strap  74  is looped over belt  14  and lower strap  76  looped under belt  14  and snapped together to attach line cutter  42  to belt  14 , preferably near belt buckle outer housing  44 . Line cutter housing  70  is oriented so as to allow access to blade  72  from the top for ease of use by the angler A while providing protection from accidental cuts. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 6A-6C , there are shown a plan view and an inner elevation view of the pouch clip  38  in an open position, and a rear view of a pouch  36  with clip  38  mounted thereon in a closed position. Pouch clip  38  is generally rectangular in shape has a toothed mount portion  100  having a belt engaging grooved side  102  and a mounted side  104  for horizontal mounting on the back  27  of pouch  36 . Mount portion  100  has a spring snap  106  at one end thereof attached by a spring snap axel  108 . Spring snap  106  extends outward from mount portion  100 , ending in an inward turned clip cover engaging portion  110  having grooved thumb grip  112  formed in a portion of its perimeter. Pouch clip  38  also has a rectangular clip cover portion  114  having an outer surface  116  and an inner surface  118  and has a snap engaging end  120  extending outward beyond inner surface  118  of such dimensions as to fit within spring snap  106 . 
   Mount portion  100  and clip cover  114  are attached lengthwise by clip hinge  122  formed by upper and lower end portions of mount portion  100  and center end a center end portion of clip cover  114  and clip cover  114  rotates around hinge pin  124  so as to close over a shoulder strap  18  or  20  for mounting a pouch  36  thereon (see FIGS.  2 A and  5 A). Clip cover snap engaging end  120  may be inserted into spring snap  106  by rotating the snap outward around axel  108 , conveniently by engaging grooved thumb grip  112  with the users thumb and exerting pressure on spring snap  106 . The engaging end  120  is then the inner surface of mount portion  100  and the spring snap  106  is allowed to close over clip cover snap engaging end  120 , thus securing pouch clip  38  over the shoulder belt. The spring snap  106  has a spring (not shown) that rotates it around axle  108  in a known manner. Clip cover  114  is of such a length relative to mount portion  100  that engaging end  120  is securely held by spring snap  106  when in a closed position. Clip cover  114  is of such a thickness as to provide clearance for the shoulder belt while providing clamping pressure to avoid slippage along the shoulder strap when in a closed position. The grooved portion of toothed mount portion  100  is preferably of the same width as the shoulder strap to be received thereby, and mount portion  100  is preferably of an adequate length to extend horizontally substantially across the back wall  37  of pouch  36 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a perspective view of the snap hook of the invention. Snap hook  43  has a vertical hook  126  and a snap  128  extending outward from a rectangular vertical base  130  and meeting so as to securely receive a fish net or stringer. Upper snap strap  136  extends back from the upper end of base  130  and lower snap strap  134  extends back from the lower end of base  130 . Snap hook  43  is removably mounted on waist belt  14  by looping over and under, respectively and snapping together. 
   The belt, straps, chest strap, and pouches may be made of any appropriate material including leather or cotton, but are preferably of a weather-resistant polymeric woven cloth material conventionally employed in the construction of outdoor sports equipment. 
   It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.