Abstract:
A fishing rod holder. The fishing rod holder includes a base member, a front rod support member movable between an upright position and a folded down position, a rear rod support member movable between an upright position and a folded down position, a spacer member movable between a use position, in which said spacer member engages the front rod support member and the rear rod support member to hold the front rod support member and the rear rod support member in the upright position, and a non-use position, in which the front rod support member and the rear rod support member are pivotable to the folded down position, and an extendible foot member. The front rod support member defines a notch for supporting a tip portion of the fishing rod, an aperture for securing the fishing rod, and a slot extending between the notch and the aperture. In the use position, the dimension of the rod holder is larger than a dimension of an ice fishing hole so that the ice fishing rod holder is prevented from moving through the ice fishing hole.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates generally to a fishing rod holding device, and, more particularly, to an ice fishing rod and reel holding device. 
     2. Related Prior Art 
     Fishing rod holding devices are used to hold a fishing rod unattended between fish strikes. Illustrative of prior art holder devices are U.S. Pat. No. 4,594,805 to McClelland and U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,584 to Butterwick, Sr., which are particularly adapted to holder devices for ice fishing rod and reels. 
     McClelland &#39;805 discloses a fishing rod holder including front and rear supports hinged on a base piece. The front and rear supports may be folded down onto the base piece. The fishing rod holder also includes a fixed rear wall against which the handle of the fishing rod rests. The front support is longer than the rear support, so that the fishing rod extends at a 45 degree angle from its resting point against the fixed rear wall through a groove in the rear support to a groove in the front support. 
     Butterwick &#39;584 discloses a fishing rod holder including a base, a front support mounted on the base by a spring-loaded hinge and a rear support mounted on the base by a spring-loaded hinge. The hinges urge the front and rear supports toward an upright position. The front and rear supports are reasonably held in a folded down position by a retainer mechanism. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is to provide a fishing rod holder that includes means for preventing a fishing rod supported on the holder from being pulled off the holder device. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a more stable, convenient and compact fishing rod holder. 
     In a basic form, the present invention relates to an apparatus for supporting a fishing rod and which includes a base member and at least one rod support member interconnected with the base member. Alternatively, the invention relates to a fishing rod holder that includes a base member, at least one rod support member (preferably two) attached to the main base member, and a spacer member foldable to a position engaging the rod support member so as to hold the rod support in an upright, extend or usable position. 
     In a preferred form, two rod supports are pivotably (e.g., by hinges) supported on the base member and such that one of said rod support is foldable over the other rod support. Also, the holder includes at least one or more foot members extendible outward so as to prevent the rod holder form tipping. 
     Alternatively, the invention relates to a holder device adapted for use with a rod for ice fishing including a main base member and a support base member foldable over the main base member. The present invention includes a front rod support and a rear rod support attached to the main base member. The rod supports are held in an upright position by the support base member. Also, the rod supports are arranged so that one rod support folds over the other rod support into a transportable position. In addition, the present invention includes feet members attached to the main base member in order to prevent lateral tip. 
     It is a feature and an advantage of the present invention to provide a biasing mechanism predisposing the rod supports to a folding position. 
     It is a feature and an advantage of the present invention to provide an offset portion attached to one of the rod supports to approximate the thickness of the other rod support so that one rod support can be folded over the other rod support. 
     It is a feature and an advantage of the present invention to provide a security latch attached to the front rod support that can be rotated over the fishing rod to prevent movement of the rod. 
     It is a feature and an advantage of the present invention to provide a notch on the top surface of the front rod support for placement of a fishing hook. 
     It is a feature and an advantage of the present invention to provide an eyelet on the rear surface of the rear rod support for placement of a fishing hook. 
     Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a fishing rod holder device incorporating various features of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the fishing rod holder device in a folded down position. 
     FIG. 2 a  is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line  2   a — 2   a  in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the fishing rod holder device in a transportable position. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of a front rod support of the fishing rod holder device lying down with the inside surface facing upwardly. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the front rod support illustrated in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 with the outside surface facing upwardly. 
     FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating an alternate arrangement for the front rod support. 
     FIG. 8 is a plan view of a rear rod support of the fishing rod holder device lying down with the inside surface facing upwardly. 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of the rear rod support illustrated in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a base member of the fishing rod holder. 
     FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the base member. 
     FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the base member. 
     FIG. 12 a  is a view taken generally along line  12   a — 12   a  in FIG.  12 . 
     FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a locking member or spacer of the fishing rod holder device. 
     FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the locking member. 
     FIG. 14 a  is a view taken generally along line  14   a — 14   a  in FIG.  14 . 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the fishing rod holder device in use with a common ice fishing rod. 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 15 showing the position of an ice fishing rod in position with the alternate arrangement of the front rod support illustrated in FIG.  7 . 
    
    
     Before one embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIG. 1 depicts a fishing rod holder  8  embodying various features of the invention and positioned for use to support a fishing rod R as illustrated in FIG.  15 . As will become apparent below, the rod holder  8  is particularly adapted for use with an ice fishing rod and reel. 
     The rod holder  8  includes an elongated base member  10  having a front end  10   a , a back end  10   b , a generally flat bottom surface  10   c , and a generally flat top surface  10   d . A pivotable first or front upright or rod support  20  is supported on and connected by a hinge to the top surface  10   d  proximate the front end  10   a  and a pivotable second or rear upright or rod support  22  is supported on and connected by a hinge to the top surface  10   d  proximate the back end  10   b . The front and rear rod supports  20  and  22  are pivotable to a generally upright position wherein the rod supports  20  and  22  are spaced apart and disposed in generally parallel relation as best shown in FIG.  1 . 
     An elongated spacer or locking member  12  is connected by a hinge to the base member  10  for pivotal movement between an unfolded or unlocking position disposed along one edge of the base member  10  as shown in FIG. 2 to a folded over or locking position disposed on top of the base member  10  as shown in FIG.  1 . The distance between the front rod support  20  and the rear rod support  22  approximates the length of the locking member  12  so that, when the locking member  12  is folded over the base member  10  and placed in its locking position, it fits snugly between the front and rear rod supports  20  and  22 . In this folded over locking position, the locking member  12  secures or locks the front and rear rod supports  20  and  22  in a generally upright position for use. 
     The front and rear rod support members  20  and  22  may be fastened or connected onto the base member  10  by any of a number of conventional pivotal means, as may be the locking member  12 . The locking member  12  may also be detached from the base member  10 , and manually placed in between the rod supports  20  and  22  to lock them in the use position. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the front rod support  20  includes an offset portion  40  disposed on the lower end of the front rod support  20  and fastened to the front end  10   a  of the base member  10  by hinge  24  for relative pivotal movement. The lower end of the rear support member  22  is fastened via a hinge  26  to the back end  10   b  of the base member  10  for relative pivotal movement. The locking member  12  is connected by hinges  14  and  16  to the top surface  10   d  and along one edge of the base member  10  for relative pivotal movement. 
     The rod holder  8  includes feet members  30  and  32  which are mounted by pins or the like to the bottom surface  10   c  of the base member  10  for relative pivotal movement. The feet members  30  and  32  can be rotated to a use position shown in FIG. 1 where they are generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the base member. In this use position, the feet members  30  and  32  serve to prevent the rod holder a from tipping over laterally. The feet members  30  and  32  can be rotated to a storage or non-use position where they are generally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the base member  10  as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     As shown in FIG. 2 a , washer members  34  and  36  are provided between the bottom surface  10   c  of the base member  10  and the feet members  30  and  32 . The washer members  34  and  36  provide smooth movement of the feet members  30  and  32  between the use position and the nonuse position. Also, at least one of the washer members  34  is formed of a resilient material, such as rubber, to accommodate wear during continued use of the rod holder  8  and prevent the feet members  30  and  32  from becoming wobbly or unstable in the use position. 
     FIG. 2 depicts the rod holder  8  in the non-use position and FIG. 3 depicts the rod holder  8  in a transport position. In the non-use position, the rear rod support  22  rests on the top surface  10   d  of the base member  10 . The front rod support  20  rests or is closely adjacent to the outside surface of the rear support  22  in a position generally parallel to both the rear rod support  22  and the base member  10 . As best shown in FIG. 2, the length of the offset portion  40  preferably approximates the thickness of the rear rod support  22  so that the front rod support may be folded and rest on the outside surface of the rear rod support  22 . 
     As best shown in FIG. 2, to permit the rod holder to be moved to a non-use position, the locking member  12  must be disengaged from the front and rear rod supports  20  and  22  and folded downwardly to a position generally coplanar with the base member  10  where the front and rear rod supports  20  and  22  may be folded down as described above. As best shown in FIG. 3, the locking member  12  thereafter may be folded 90° back toward the rear rod holder  22  where it is disposed adjacent one edge of the rear holder  22 . A securing mechanism consisting of a latch hook  82  on the outside surface of the front end support  20  and an eyelet catch  84  on one edge of the locking edge of the locking member  12  may be used to secure the locking member  12  in this folded up position. The securing mechanism also secures the front and rear rod supports  20  and  22  in folded down positions. 
     As best shown in FIG. 3, the feet members  30  and  32  can be rotated 90° to a position where they are generally aligned with the longitudinal of the base member  10  for transporting and/or storing the rod holders. When the rod holder  8  is in the transport position, the longitudinal axes of the front and rear rod support members  20  and  22 , the locking member  12 , the base member  10  and the feet members  30  and  32  are generally parallel. Thus, the rod holder  8  can be folded into a compact form to facilitate transportation and/or storage in an automobile trunk or the like. 
     Referring to FIGS. 10,  11  and  12 , the base member  10  includes spring loaded pins or bullet catches  60  and  62  which respectfully bias the front and rear rod support members  20  and  22  into engagement with respective opposite ends of the locking member  12  to provide stability. The bullet catches  60  and  62  are located at positions where the front and rear rod supports  20  and  22 , respectively, engage the top surface  10   d  of the base member  10 . 
     Both or one of the bullet catches  60  and  62  can be replaced with a counter sunk wood screw which is turned counterclockwise (raised) a small amount to engage the bottom of a rod support before it is in the upright position, thereby providing an adjustable tension for stability. 
     FIGS. 4-6 illustrate further detail of the front rod support  22 . As best shown in FIG. 4, a top portion  20   a  of the front rod support  20  has a generally V-shaped notch  70 , a generally tear-drop shaped aperture  72  and a narrow slot  74  extending between the notch  70  and aperture  72 . 
     FIG. 7 illustrates an alternate arrangement for the front rod support including a V-shaped notch  70 ′ in the top portion  20   a ′ of the front rod support  20 ′, a generally tear drop-shaped aperture  72 ′ slightly rotated from the position of the aperture  72  illustrated in FIG. 4 so that the narrowest part extends toward one edge of the front rod support  20 ′ and a slot  74 ′ which extends from the aperture  72 ′ to a side of the front rod support  20 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the top portion of the rear support has a generally U-shaped notch  76 . A fishing rod R may be supported on the rod holder  8  with the hand grip  90  resting in the U-shaped notch  76  of the rear rod support  22  and the tip portion  92  resting in the V-shaped notch  70  of the front rod support  20  as illustrated in FIG.  16 . 
     Referring to FIG. 16, the fishing rod R can be supported on the rod holder  8  with the hand grip  90  resting in the U-shaped notch  76  and the tip portion  92  resting inside the aperture  72  after the line  98  is guided through the slot  74 . The maximum dimension of the aperture  72  is smaller than a portion of the fishing rod R, such as the hand grip  90 , the reel assembly  94  or at least one of the fishing rod line guides  96 , so that the fishing rod R cannot be pulled through the aperture  72  and off the rod holder  8 . 
     Also, the dimension of the slot  74  is smaller than the width of the tip portion  92 . However, the line  98  is able to passed through the slot  74  so that the tip portion  92  can be quickly moved from the V-notch  70  and into the aperture  72  while the line  98  is in the water. Thus, the fishing rod R can be left unattended with the line  98  in the water without fear of the fishing rod R being pulled off the rod holder. 
     When the front rod support  20 ′ is arranged in the manner illustrated in FIG.  7  and the user desires to leave the fishing rod R unattended, the tip portion  92  can be lifted from the V-shaped notch  70  and guided through the slot  74 ′ into the aperture  72 ′. Again, the maximum dimension of the aperture  72 ′ is smaller than a portion of the fishing rod R, such as the hand grip  90 , the reel assembly  94  or at least one of the fishing rod line guides  96 , so that the fishing rod R cannot be pulled through the aperture  72 ′ and off the rod holder  8 . 
     One advantage of the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 7 is that the tip portion  92  of the fishing rod R cannot inadvertently drop through the slot  74 ′ into the aperture of  72 ′. This is particularly advantageous when more slender fishing rods are used. 
     As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the rod holder  8 , when disposed in the use position, is designed to be wider, longer, and taller than the typical ice fishing hole. More specifically, the length of the feet members  30  and  32  and base member  10 , and the heights of the rod supports  20  and  22  are sufficiently long (when these members are extended to their use positions) to prevent the rod holder  8  of being pulled through the ice hole. 
     Referring to FIG. 9, the rear rod support  22  is equipped with screwable hook eyelet  86  disposed on a rear surface near the top surface of the rear rod support  22 . When the rod holder  8  is in use, the hook eyelet  86  may be used to secure a fishing hook (e.g., when baiting the hook). Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, the front rod support  20  is equipped with a hole  88 . The hole  88  is positioned so that it is in alignment with the hook eyelet  86  when the front rod support  20  is folded over the rear rod support  22 . Thus, the hole eyelet  86  extends upwardly into the hole  88  so as not to interfere with the engagement of the front rod support  20  with the rear rod support  22 , and the rod holder  8  is kept “streamlined” when in the transport or transportable position. 
     While several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, alternate embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are within the intended scope of the present invention. Therefore, the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.