Abstract:
A fishing pole storage system has one or more storage compartments for storing fishing poles. The storage compartments retract and hide within a base cabinet and rise out of the base cabinet to allow access the fishing poles. The storage compartment(s) is lifted out of the base cabinet by a motor driven system using gears, pulleys or hydraulics.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates to the field of storing fishing rods and reels or other long devices, and more particularly, to a system where the storage compartment elevates out of a compartment.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Storage of fishing rods and reels requires substantial length due to the fact that fishing rods are long. Often, fishing rods and reels are stored on pegs mounted in a wall, utilizing substantial wall space and, in living spaces such as condominiums, affecting the aesthetics of the room in which they are stored. A storage cabinet for storing fishing rods and reels would need to be very large and, although not being very deep, they would require substantial wall space. Furthermore, a cabinet that is not very deep has reduced stability and tends to fall forward when doors or drawers on its face are opened.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,275 to Pappas addresses the problem of storage of various small items on hooks and in boxes, but is not suited to hold fishing rods and reels. U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,670 to Liu addresses the problem of storing and elevating a screen and is hereby incorporated by reference.  
         [0006]     What is needed is a system that will efficiently store a number of fishing rods and reels in an orderly fashion while not detracting from the aesthetics of a living space.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     In one embodiment, a system for storing fishing poles is disclosed including a base housing with a front, rear, top with one or more openings, bottom and two side walls. At least one fishing pole storage compartment is housed within the base housing and adapted to lift out of the base housing through the one or more openings. The at least one fishing pole storage compartment has a top surface, a back surface, at least two side surfaces and a plurality of hooks mounted to a front side of the back surface for holding fishing poles. There is a mechanism to raise and lower the at least one fishing pole storage compartment out of the base housing through the one or more holes.  
         [0008]     In another embodiment, a method of storing fishing poles is disclosed including raising a fishing pole storage compartment configured within a base housing, the fishing pole storage compartment lifts out of the base housing through one or more openings in a top of the base housing. The fishing pole storage compartment has a top surface, a back surface, at least two side surfaces and a plurality of hooks mounted to a front side of the back surface for holding fishing poles and the base housing has a front, rear, top, bottom and two side walls. The fishing pole is hung on the plurality of hooks affixed to the back surface of the fishing pole storage compartment and the fishing pole storage compartment is lowered into the base housing.  
         [0009]     In another embodiment, an apparatus for storing fishing poles is disclosed including a base housing with a front, rear, top with at least one opening, bottom and two side walls. At least one fishing pole storage compartment is configured within the base housing and adapted to lift out of the base housing through the at least one opening. The at least one fishing pole storage compartment has a top surface, a back surface, at least two side surfaces and a plurality of hooks mounted to a front side of the back surface for holding fishing poles. There is a mechanism to raise and lower the at least one fishing pole storage compartment. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a view of a system of a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates a detail view of the raising and lowering system of a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a view of a system of a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates a detail view of the raising and lowering system of a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  illustrates a view of a system of a third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  illustrates a view of an up/down switch of all embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  illustrates a view of a system of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  illustrates a detail view of the raising and lowering system of a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a view of a system for storing fishing poles  10  of a first embodiment of the present invention is described. Although most useful for storing fishing rods and reels, the present invention can be adapted to store other objects of considerable length such as oars, shotguns and the like.  
         [0021]     The base housing has a front surface  24 , side surfaces  22  and a top surface  20 . The bottom and back surface are not visible. In some embodiments, the base housing is made of decorative material such as wood or a wood-based material with a wood veneer or decorative plastic surface. Housed within the base housing is a fishing pole storage compartment with sides  32 / 34 , back  36 , bottom  38  and top  30 . Although the fishing pole storage compartment can be made from most any material, in some embodiments, the fishing pole storage compartment is made of decorative material such as wood or a wood-based material with a wood veneer, painted surface or decorative plastic surface. In some embodiments, the top surface  30  is decorated to match the top surface  20  of the base housing, so that when the fishing pole storage compartment is lowered and its top surface  30  is flush with the top surface  20  of the base housing, the two match. Mounted on the back surface  36  of the fishing pole storage compartment is a plurality of hooks  40  configured to hold a plurality of fishing poles  42  and, in some embodiments fishing reels  44 . These hooks  40  may be standard hooks or formed of slots in wood.  
         [0022]     The fishing pole storage compartment fits within the base housing and there is a hole in the top of the base housing large enough for the fishing pole storage compartment to lift out of the base housing. To facilitate the lifting, a rack  50  is mounted to one or both sides  32 / 34  of the fishing pole storage compartment and the rack engages with a gear  52  that is driven by a motor  54 . The motor is mounted to a surface of the base unit, in this example it is mounted to the side  22  with a bracket  58  and screws  60 . Power is supplied by a power cord  56  and the motor is controlled by a switch  62 , the switch having a momentary contact to raise the fishing pole storage compartment and a momentary contact to lower the fishing pole storage compartment.  
         [0023]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a detail view of the raising and lowering system of a first embodiment of the present invention is described. In this example, the rack  50  is mounted to the right side  32  of the fishing pole storage compartment; the motor  54  is mounted to the right side  22  of the base housing with a mounting plate  58  and screws  60  and connected to a source of electricity by a power cable  56 . When energized, the motor  54  turns the gear  52  which engages with the rack  50 , raising or lowering the fishing pole storage compartment, depending on which way the motor turns. The top  20  and back  21  of the base housing are visible.  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a view of a system for storing fishing poles of a second embodiment of the present invention is described. The base housing has a front surface  24 , side surfaces  22 , a back surface  21  and a top surface  20 . In some embodiments, the base housing is made of decorative material such as wood or a wood-based material with a wood veneer or decorative plastic surface. Housed within the base housing are two fishing pole storage compartments with sides  32 / 132 / 34 / 134 , backs  36 / 136 , bottoms  38 / 138  and tops  30 / 130 . In some embodiments, the fishing pole storage compartments are made of decorative material such as wood or a wood-based material with a wood veneer or decorative plastic surface. In some embodiments, the top surfaces  30 / 130  are decorated to match the top surface  20  of the base housing, so that when the fishing pole storage compartment is lowered and its top surfaces  30 / 130  are flush with the top surface  20  of the base housing, they match. Mounted on the back surface  36 / 136  of the fishing pole storage compartment is a plurality of hooks  40 / 140  configured to hold a plurality of fishing poles  42 / 142  and, in some embodiments fishing reels  44 / 144 . These hooks  40 / 140  may be standard hooks or formed of slots in wood.  
         [0025]     The fishing pole storage compartments fit within the base housing and there are holes in the top of the base housing large enough for the fishing pole storage compartments to lift out of the base housing. To facilitate the lifting, a worm drive is mounted to one or both sides  32 / 132 / 34 / 134  of both fishing pole storage compartments. The worm drive consists of threaded shafts  76 / 84  threaded through a threaded hole in brackets  77  that are attached to the sides of the fishing pole storage compartment. An end of each of the threaded shafts is coupled to a motor  70 / 78 . The motors  70 / 78  are mounted to a side  22  of the base unit, in this example it is mounted to the side  22  with a bracket  72 / 80  and screws  74 / 82 . The motors are controlled by two switches, one for the front fishing pole storage compartment  64  and one for the back fishing pole storage compartment  66 , the switched having a momentary contact to raise the fishing pole storage compartments and a momentary contact to lower the fishing pole storage compartments.  
         [0026]     Referring to  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 3 , a detail view of the raising and lowering system of a second embodiment of the present invention is described. The worm drive consists of a threaded shaft  76  threaded through a threaded hole in a bracket  77  that is attached to a side of the fishing pole storage compartment. An end of the threaded shaft  76  is coupled to a motor  70 . The motor  70  is mounted to a side  22  of the base unit, in this example it is mounted to the side  22  with a bracket  72  and screws  74 . The motor is controlled by two switches, one for the front fishing pole storage compartment  64  and one for the back fishing pole storage compartment  66 , the switches have a momentary contact to raise the fishing pole storage compartments and a momentary contact to lower the fishing pole storage compartments. In other embodiments, the motor  70  is mounted to the bottom, front or back of the base housing. The back  21  of the base housing is visible.  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a view of a system for storing fishing poles of a third embodiment of the present invention is described. The base housing has a front surface  24 , side surfaces  22 , a back surface  21 , a bottom surface  25  and a top surface  20 . In some embodiments, the base housing is made of decorative material such as wood or a wood-based material with a wood veneer or decorative plastic surface. Housed within the base housing is a fishing pole storage compartment with sides  32 / 34 , back  36 , bottom  38  and top  30 . In some embodiments, the fishing pole storage compartment is made of decorative material such as wood or a wood-based material with a wood veneer or decorative plastic surface. In some embodiments, the top surface of the fishing pole storage compartment  30  is decorated to match the top surface  20  of the base housing, so that when the fishing pole storage compartment is lowered and its top surface  30  is flush with the top surface  20  of the base housing, they match. Mounted on the back surface  36  of the fishing pole storage compartment is a plurality of hooks  40  configured to hold a plurality of fishing poles  42  and, in some embodiments, fishing reels  44 . These hooks  40  may be standard hooks or formed of slots in wood.  
         [0028]     The fishing pole storage compartment fits within the base housing and there is a hole in the top of the base housing large enough for the fishing pole storage compartment to lift out of the base housing. To facilitate the lifting, one or more hydraulic cylinders  88  are mounted to the bottom of the base housing  25  and hydraulic pistons  90  of the hydraulic cylinders are attached to the side  32 / 34  of the fishing pole storage compartment by brackets  92 . A hydraulic pump  86  generates hydraulic pressure, causing the pistons  90  to rise out of the cylinders  88 , thereby lifting the fishing pole storage compartment, or lowering by releasing pressure. The hydraulic pump is controlled by a switch  62 , the switch having a momentary contact to raise the fishing pole storage compartment and a momentary contact to lower the fishing pole storage compartment.  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a view of an up/down switch of all embodiments of the present invention is described. The switch  62  has an up position and a down position. In some embodiments, the up and down positions are momentary contact and in some embodiments pressing the up makes contact, lifting the fishing pole storage compartment until it reaches a limit where a limit switch stops the motor or pump from lifting the fishing pole storage compartment further. Pressing the down makes contact, lowering the fishing pole storage compartment until it reaches a lower limit where a limit switch stops the motor or pump. In some embodiments, there is a separate switch for up and one for down.  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIG. 7 , a view of a system for storing fishing poles of a fourth embodiment of the present invention is described. The base housing has a front surface  24 , side surfaces  22 , a back surface  21 , a bottom surface  25  and a top surface  20 . In some embodiments, the base housing is made of decorative material such as wood or a wood-based material with a wood veneer or decorative plastic surface. Housed within the base housing is a fishing pole storage compartment shown in the lowered position with sides  32 , back  36  and top  30 . In some embodiments, the fishing pole storage compartment is made of decorative material such as wood or a wood-based material with a wood veneer or decorative plastic surface. In some embodiments, the top surface  30  is decorated to match the top surface  20  of the base housing, so that when the fishing pole storage compartment is lowered as shown and its top surface  30  is flush with the top surface  20  of the base housing, they match. Mounted on the back surface  36  of the fishing pole storage compartment is a plurality of hooks  40  configured to hold a plurality of fishing poles  42  and, in some embodiments, fishing reels  44 . In some embodiments, the back surface  36  of the fishing pole storage compartment is covered with a decorative material such as cloth or felt. The hooks  40  may be standard hooks or formed of slots in wood.  
         [0031]     The fishing pole storage compartment fits within the base housing and there is a hole in the top of the base housing large enough for the fishing pole storage compartment to lift out of the base housing. To facilitate lifting and lowering, one or more motors  94  are mounted to the back surface  21  of the base housing of the fishing pole storage compartment by screws  97 . Each motor(s)  94  has a pulley  96  with a rope or wire  100  wrapped around the pulley  96 . An end of the rope or wire  100  is attached to a bracket  102  so that as the motor(s)  94  turns, the rope or wire  100  wraps around the pulley  96  thereby lifting the fishing pole storage compartment, or lowering by an opposing rotation. Power is provided to the motor(s) by a power cable  95 . The motor(s) are controlled by a switch  62 , the switch having a momentary contact to raise the fishing pole storage compartment and a momentary contact to lower the fishing pole storage compartment.  
         [0032]     Referring to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 7 , a detail view of the raising and lowering system of a fourth embodiment of the present invention is described. The motor  94  is held against the back surface  21  by fasteners  97 , though in some embodiments the motor is mounted on another surface of the base housing. A wire or rope  100  is attached to a spool  96  and wraps or unwraps from the spool  96  depending on the rotational direction of the motor  94 . An end of the wire or rope  100  is attached to a bracket  102  affixed to the side  32  of the fishing pole storage compartment so that as the wire or rope  100  wraps or unwraps around the spool  96 , the fishing pole storage compartment lifts or lowers out of/into the base housing. The motor  94  receives electrical power from a power cord  95 . The back of the fishing pole storage compartment  36  is visible.  
         [0033]     Although the preceding descriptions have motor-based mechanisms for lifting the fishing pole storage compartment out of the base housing, in some embodiments, a manual method is provided using a crank or other lever mechanism to raise and lower the fishing pole storage compartment. Furthermore, the fishing pole storage compartment is lifted using magnetism with either two electromagnets or an electro-magnet and a permanent magnet pushing away from each other when energized.  
         [0034]     Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result.  
         [0035]     It is believed that the system and method of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.