Abstract:
A holder for a fishing pole includes a relatively moveable ground engaging member for pivotal attachment to the end of the fishing pole handle and can be selectively moved from an unextended storage position to an extended working position, the ground engaging member having a generally arcuate cross-section and tapering in both length and height and having an arcuate distal end for insertion into the ground to maintain a fishing pole at a desired operating position without the need for a user to physically hold the fishing pole. The fishing pole holder can be permanently attached to the fishing rod handle so that the holding feature is always available for use.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This Application is based on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/110,741, filed Dec. 3, 1998 by the same inventor, entitled “FISHING POLE HOLDER.” Applicant hereby claims the priority date of this earlier filed Application pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e). 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a holder for a fishing pole and, more particularly, a collapsible fishing pole holder that can be carried by the fishing pole handle for convenience of use. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Fishing rod holders are known in the prior art for holding a fishing rod and allowing multiple rods to be used at once by a single fisherman. Some fishing rod holders are mounted on boats and have a generally cylindrical body that allows a fishing rod to be easily inserted and removed from the holder to allow a fisherman to take control of the rod to land a fish. 
     Other known rod holders are used for holding a fishing pole in the ground, for example, along the bank of a river. Fishing rod holders of the latter type include a spring biased rod mounted inside a handle of a fishing rod which telescopically extends out of the handle end for insertion into the ground. Another known type includes a removable attachment cylinder and a folding blade that is inserted into the ground to hold a fishing rod. When the holder is no longer needed the cylindrical body is easily removed from the fishing rod handle and can be folded to fit into a tackle box or pocket for storage. However, such removable and/or complex fishing rod holders are not permanently attached to a fishing rod handle and are often forgotten and not ready for use. In addition, conventional fishing rod holders having a folding blade have sliding, loose pivotal connections where the folding blade is able to slide axially relative to the handle. Such loose pivotal arrangements require additional locking elements to hold the folding blade in desired positions and the inherent looseness of such connections increases noise. The resulting sloppiness of the holder reduces consumer confidence in the structural integrity of the device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a fishing pole holder having a relatively movable ground engaging member for pivotal attachment to the end of the fishing pole handle, the ground engaging member being selectively movable from an unextended storage position to an extended working position, said ground engaging member having a generally arcuate cross-section and tapering in both length and height and having an arcuate distal end for insertion into the ground. 
     The present invention further includes a fishing pole holder having a main body adapted to be attached to a distal end of the fishing pole handle, a ground engaging member pivotally connected to the main body for movement from an unextended storage position to an extended working position, a ground engaging member having a generally arcuate cross-section and tapering in both length and height and having an arcuate distal end for insertion into a ground surface. 
     The present invention further includes a fixed pivot connection between the ground engaging member and the fishing pole handle such that no unwanted looseness is present in the fishing pole holder. For example, the size of any aperture in the ground engaging member is approximately the same size as the diameter of any pivot pin or fastener that is utilized for creating a pivot joint. Having a relatively tight pivot joint also helps hold the ground engaging member in a desired position without the need for additional locking elements, as in the prior art. 
     The present invention further includes a generally arcuate distal end on the ground engaging member to prevent possible injury to a user, yet still provide adequate insertion properties when the ground engaging member is inserted into a ground surface. Moreover, an arcuate end shape provides improved strength for the ground engaging member to be inserted without deformation to the tip. 
     Preferably, the ground engaging member of the present invention is permanently connected to a handle of a fishing pole to eliminate any chance of losing the fishing pole holder and provide improved convenience to a fisherman by eliminating the need to carry a separate pole holder and eliminate the time required to assemble the pole to a holder. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features and inventive aspects of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description, claims, and drawings, of which the following is a brief description: 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 show perspective views of the present invention according to a first embodiment. 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 show side views of the present invention in an extended and a collapsed condition. 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the fishing rod holder according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 shows a partial cross-sectional view taken along lines  6 — 6  of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the present invention attached to a fishing rod. 
     FIG. 8 is a further embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a partial top view of the connection arrangement of FIG.  9 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows a fishing pole holder  20  in a disassembled condition having a main body  22  with first and second ends  24 ,  26 . Main body  22  can be generally cylindrical having a predetermined diameter designed to matingly engage a handle of a fishing pole (not shown) in a generally permanent fashion. Apertures  28  are provided adjacent second end  26  to facilitate pivotal attachment of a ground engaging member  30 . Main body  22  further includes a longitudinally extending slot  32  to provide a degree of flexibility for assembly of main body  22  onto a fishing pole handle and create a clamping effect for retaining pole holder  20  on a fishing pole. 
     FIGS. 2-4 show fishing pole holder  20  in varying positions. FIG. 2 illustrates ground engaging member  30  pivoted slightly upwardly into a partially folded position. 
     FIG. 3 shows fishing pole holder  20  in a fully extended position wherein main body  22  and relatively moving ground engaging member  30  are coaxial. In a fully extended position, a head portion  34  of ground engaging member  30  generally abuts second end  26  of main body  22  preventing ground engaging member  30  from any further pivoting motion in a clockwise direction relative to main body  22 . Head portion  34  includes upwardly extending ears  36  having apertures  37  for attaching to main body  22  in a pivoting manner. In the illustrated embodiment, fasteners  38 , for example, rivets, are used to connect ground engaging member  30  to main body  22  for pivotal motion about a pivot axis A. The length of the ears  36  and the location of apertures  37  relative to main body apertures  28  determine the location of pivot axis A. The location of pivot axis A is selected by adjusting one or more of the preceding dimensions such that ground engaging member  30  has sufficient clearance when pivoted to fold relative to main body  22  without interference by second end  26 . In this way, a pivot joint  39  can be produced that has a fixed axis A and no substantial radial movement between the fasteners  38  and apertures  37  or aperture  28 . Moreover, the respective diameters of the apertures  28 ,  37  are generally the same as fasteners  38  for a relatively tight pivot joint. FIG. 3 further shows ground engaging member  30  having a stake portion  40  that is generally arcuate in cross-section and has a second predetermined diameter for complementary mating engagement with main body  22  in a collapsed position. Stake portion  40  tapers from head portion  34  to distal end  44  both in height and in width to form a generally shovel-nosed stake to facilitate insertion into the ground for holding a fishing pole in a predetermined position. Preferably, distal end  44  is generally arcuate to eliminate a potential sharp point. Thus, the present invention provides a fishing pole holder  20  that acts as a handle in a collapsed or folded condition and is able to be unfolded or extended to form a stake for insertion into the ground to hold a fishing pole at a predetermined position. 
     FIG. 4 shows ground engaging member  30  folded over on top of main body  22  to form a generally continuous cylindrical handle having a complementary shape with a fishing pole handle to provide a comfortable structure for gripping by a user&#39;s hand. Preferably, ground engaging member  30  overlies longitudinal slot  32  to provide a generally continuous outer surface. However, ground engaging member  30  can be positioned at any circumferential position around main body  22 . 
     Fishing pole holder  20  is preferably made from aluminum, because of its light weight and corrosion resistance properties. Aluminum also allows sufficient flexibility such that main body  22  and ground engaging member  30  can be made from a same diameter tube. For example, ground engaging member  30  when made from aluminum is flexible enough to completely fold back and matingly engage the main body and securely hold itself in place without need for additional fastening methods. However, any suitable material can be used. Non-limiting examples of other suitable materials include plastic, wood, ceramic, brass, or steel, or any combinations thereof. 
     FIG. 5 shows a top view of fishing pole holder  20  in a fully extended position and further including a plurality of scallops or indentations  46  along a periphery longitudinal slot  34 . Scallops  46  are optional, but preferable, for providing improved retention of main body  22  to a fishing pole handle. 
     FIG. 6 shows a partial cross-section of main body  22  taken along lines  6 — 6  of FIG.  5 . Scallops  46  are illustrated having downwardly projecting portions that form a generally sinusoidal surface and improved retention of main body  22  on a fishing pole handle. 
     FIG. 7 shows fishing pole holder  20  assembled onto a fishing pole handle  48  of a fishing pole  50  having a fishing reel  52  mounted thereto. Further, FIG. 7 shows main body  22  engaging an exterior surface of fishing pole handle  48  and second end  26  of main body  22  generally aligned with a distal end of fishing pole handle  48 . Ground engaging member  30  is shown in a fully extended position. Scallops  46  aid in retaining main body  22  on fishing pole handle  48 . 
     FIG. 8 shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention wherein ground engaging member  30 ′ is attached directly to a distal end of fishing pole handle  48  using any suitable fastener  38 ″ or plurality of fasteners, including, rivets or a one-piece axle. Thus, main body  22  of fishing pole holder  20  is eliminated. This alternate embodiment of the present invention would be especially useful for manufacturers of fishing poles who wish to include a fishing pole holder on their fishing poles during manufacturing. In contrast, fishing pole holder  20  shown in FIGS. 1-7 is generally suitable for aftermarket sales where fishermen are able to attach a fishing pole holder to their existing fishing pole equipment. For that purpose, longitudinal slot  34  provides a certain degree of flexibility for main body  22  to adapt and fit over fishing rod handles having different shapes and different sizes. 
     FIG. 9 shows a further embodiment of the present invention having a fishing pole holder  20 ″ attached to a fishing pole  50  having a fishing reel  52  mounted thereto. Fishing pole holder  20 ″ includes a ground engaging member  30 ″ mounted directly to groove  60  formed in distal end  62  of fishing pole handle  48 . Ground engaging member  30 ″ further includes a tongue  64  mounted centrally in a head end  34 ″ of ground engaging member  30 ″ for guided relative motion in groove  60  to facilitate folding of ground engaging member  30 ″ relative to fishing pole handle  48 . An axle  66  secures tongue  64  within groove  60  and provides a pivot axis as illustrated in FIG.  10 . 
     Thus, the present invention provides a fishing rod holder that is permanently attached to a fishing rod and ready for use. To keep main body  22  attached to a fishing pole handle  48 , it is also contemplated to utilize an adhesive or other suitable attachment device for permanently retaining fishing rod holder  20  on fishing pole handle  48 . 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed. A person of ordinary skill in the art would realize, however, that certain modifications would come within the teachings of this invention. Therefore, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of the invention.