Fishing rod holder

Apparatus for supporting a fishing rod, includes receptacle and cover members pivotably connected to each other and movable about a pivot axis between open and closed positions, the two members when in an open relation being adapted to receive a portion of a fishing rod therebetween, and the two members when in a closed relation cooperating to define a housing circumscribing at least part of the contained portion of a fishing rod while supporting the fishing rod in a rest position with the axis thereof generally parallel to such pivot axis, and the two members being cooperative to engage with a part of the fishing rod to resist pivoting movement toward an open position in response to forces in the fishing rod tending to tilt the same on an angle with respect to such pivot axis, and an opening device or portion responsive to force applied by such fishing rod to the cover member in a direction generally perpendicular to such pivot axis to open the members to permit removing such fishing rod. Features of the invention include a unique secure interference fit of multiple parts of the invention for increasing strength thereof and facilitating use of molded plastic parts, a unique slide-lock to permit insertion and removal of the receptacle and cover members with respect to a support base, and a rotatability feature that both securely retains the receptacle and cover members in a support base while also facilitating expeditious and secure insertion and removal of the receptacle and cover members with respect to the base.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
This invention relates generally, as indicated, to rod holders, and, more 
particularly, to a selectively releasable fishing rod holder capable of 
facile use, orientation and installation. 
BACKGROUND 
During fishing, there are times when a fisherman may wish to put down the 
fishing rod, for example, when it is desired to check the radio gear, to 
get some food, simply to relax, etc. At these times, it may be undesirable 
or in any event usually unnecessary to reel in the hook and bait; yet to 
allow the same to remain in the water, a fish may bite and pull the rod 
and reel right off the boat, for example. It would be desirable to have a 
convenient means to hold the rod during such occasions. Other such 
occasions when it may be desirable to have a mechanical means to hold the 
fishing rod may be while trawling and when one fisherman may be fishing 
with more than one fishing rod. 
SUMMARY 
The present invention provides a convenient holder for fishing rods. The 
holder may be used easily; using one hand the fishing rod may be inserted 
into the holder, and using one hand and an upward motion the fishing rod 
can be removed expeditiously. Yet, the fishing rod holder securely holds a 
fishing rod therein against the force of a downward or outward pulling 
fish or against excess torque tending to rotate the rod; the holder 
retains the fishing rod therein against angular rotations of the rod. 
A number of significant features of the invention include strength, 
corrosion resistance, and avoidance of scratching or marring even delicate 
fishing rods, such as graphite and boron fishing rods. Moreover, the 
holder can be conveniently selectively rotated to locate the fishing rod 
in a desired position. Rotation permits optimum operation of the holder by 
both left-handed or right-handed fishermen. A snap lock that can be 
operated with great facility enables prompt locking of the holder and rod 
in a given position or the freeing of the holder for rotation to another 
position or for removal from a support base. Moreover, the support base is 
of low profile to enable covering of the same by a conventional boat cover 
without damaging or stretching the cover. 
According to one aspect of the invention, then, an apparatus for supporting 
a fishing rod includes a receptacle and cover members pivotally connected 
to each other and movable about a pivot axis between open and closed 
positions, the two members when in an open relation being adapted to 
receive a portion of a fishing rod therebetween, and the two members when 
in a closed relation cooperating to define a housing circumscribing at 
least part of the contained portion of a fishing rod while supporting the 
fishing rod in a rest position with the axis thereof generally parallel to 
such pivot axis, the two members being cooperative to engage with a part 
of the fishing rod to resist pivoting movement toward an open position in 
response to forces in the fishing rod tending to tilt the same on an angle 
with respect to such pivot axis, an opening device or portion responsive 
to force applied by the fishing rod to the cover member in the direction 
generally perpendicular to the pivot axis to open the members to permit 
removing of the fishing rod, a mounting device for mounting the receptacle 
and cover members for use to hold the fishing rod, and a slide lock device 
for selectively sliding between an open position to permit removal of the 
receptacle and cover members from the mounting device and a locked 
position to lock the receptacle and cover members in the mounting device. 
According to another aspect of the invention, such combination of the 
receptacle and cover members also includes a mounting base for 
substantially securely mounting the receptacle and cover members on the 
surface, the mounting base including an opening in a top portion thereof 
to receive a male support portion of the receptacle member to hold the 
same securely therein without permitting rotation thereof; and a further 
aspect includes the provision of cooperative surfaces in such base opening 
and on such receptacle male support to permit relatively fixed positioning 
thereof in a plurality of selected different relatively rotated 
orientations. 
According to still another aspect of the invention, the combination of 
receptacle and cover members is formed of plastic material that is 
injection molded. 
The foregoing and other objects, features, advantages and aspects of the 
invention will become more apparent as the following description proceeds 
with reference to the accompanying drawing. 
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, 
then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described in the 
specification and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following 
description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail a certain 
illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, 
of but one of the various ways in which the principles of the invention 
may be employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring, now, in detail to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals 
designate like parts in the several figures, and initially to FIGS. 1-6, a 
fishing rod holder in accordance with the present invention generally is 
indicated at 1. The holder 1 is formed of receptacle and cover members 2, 
3, a main support base 4, and a slide lock 5. A pivot pin 6 that 
preferably extends linearly through the entire holder 1 defines a pivot 
axis and couples the receptacle and cover to permit the cover to rotate 
about the pivot axis selectively to open and close the holder 1. The 
receptacle 2 and cover 3 define a generally cylindrical housing generally 
designated 10 for retaining therein a fishing rod shown at 11 in phantom 
outline. The holder 1 also may include a shim base 12 to alter the 
mounting angle of the holder. 
As it is seen in FIG. 1, for example, the fishing rod holder 1 is intended 
to be mounted in a general horizontally orientation, i.e., the pivot axis 
defined by the pivot pin 6 extending generally in a horizontal direction 
or, alternatively, at a slight angle with respect to horizontal. Such 
angle may be defined by the shim base 12 as is seen in FIG. 1, in the 
event the support surface 13 is close to horizontal. The support surface 
may be, for example, the top side wall of a boat, such as the gunwale, may 
be another part of a boat or may be another support surface, whether or 
not on or part of the boat. It is the object of the fishing rod holder 1 
to hold securely therein a fishing rod 11, to enable the fishing rod 
conventiently to be placed in the holder and to facilitate expeditious 
removal of the rod 11 when desired by a fisherman. 
As is illustrated in FIG. 1 in phantom outline, a fisherman may place a 
fishing rod 11 into the slots 20, 21 in the cover member 3 while the same 
is pivoted to an open position. Thereafter, with the fishing rod so 
positioned in the cover member 3, the latter may be rotated 
counterclockwise relative to the illustration of FIG. 1 about the axis of 
the pivot pin 6 until the cover 3 comes to the full-closed position or 
orientation shown in solid lines in FIG. 1. During such rotation of the 
cover 3, the fishing rod 11 also enters slots 22, 23 in the receptacle 2. 
On full closure of the cover 3, the slots 20-23 define respective openings 
24, 25 in the housing 10 through which the fishing rod 11 passes while the 
holder 1 ordinarily retains the fishing rod therein as will be described 
in greater detail below. 
Each of the receptacle 2 and cover 3 generally forms a half cylinder, which 
when closed to the position shown in FIG. 1, for example, complete the 
cylindrical housing 10. The slots 20, 21 are formed in end walls 30, 31 of 
the cover 3 and are bounded generally by straight side walls and a curved 
bottom with an open end. One of the straight side walls is formed by a 
respective cam arm 32, 33. 
The slots 22, 23 in the receptacle 2 are generally U-shape having a curved 
bottom and generally straight side walls. Near the top of one side wall is 
an opening through which the pivot pin 6 passes, and near the top of the 
opposite side wall of the slots 22, 23 are respective protuberances 34, 35 
which face inwardly in the respective slot for the opposite wall defining 
the slot. The protuberances 34, 35 effectively narrow the width of the 
slots 22, 23 to facilitate secure holding of a thin rod. The protuberances 
34, 35 may be filed or clipped off for wider rods. 
The curved portion of each of the slots 20-23 facilitates supporting or 
confrontation with the fishing rod without damaging the same, and this is 
all the more true in view of the relatively wide surface areas, 
specifically the thicknesses of the end walls 30, 31 of the cover and 36, 
37 of the receptacle. That the various parts, mainly the receptacle 2 and 
cover 3, are made of plastic material, as opposed to less desirable metal, 
further contributes to the ability to use the holder 1 without scratching, 
marring, or otherwise damaging the fishing rod 11. 
The slots 20, 21 are of such size and configuration and are mounted for 
rotation with the cover 3 about the pivot pin 6 such that with the fishing 
rod 11 fully in such slots, during closure of the cover over the 
receptacle 2, the fishing rod also smoothly enters the open tops of the 
slots 22, 23 and comes to rest at the curved bottoms of those slots 22, 
23. With the cover 2 closed to the position shown in FIG. 4, for example, 
the cam arms 32, 33 have surfaces aligned parallel and in a sense past and 
under center of the curved bottoms of the receptacle slots 22, 23. 
Therefore, when a downward force is applied to the end of the rod 11 (FIG. 
1), for example, by a fish pulling on the fishing line which is held by an 
eye to the end of the rod 11, such downward force tends to prevent the cam 
arm 33 (as it is seen in FIG. 1) from lifting up, whereas such downward 
force on such end of the rod where the line leaves the same tends to pivot 
the reel or handle end of the rod upward. Such upward movement of the reel 
end of the rod tends to try to open the cover 3. Since the downward 
pulling force acts on the cam arm 33 through a larger lever arm than 
effectively does the upward moving force acting on the side wall of slot 
20 opposite cam arm 32 (the downward moving force having the length of the 
rod extending beyond the holder 1 through which to act whereas the upward 
moving force has only the axial dimension of the holder 1 to act through, 
using the abutment of the rod with the bottom of the slot 33 (as seen in 
FIGS. 1 and 3) as the fulcrum), the cover 3 will not open and release the 
rod. Similar holder operation to retain a rod in response to a force at 
the handle end tending to tilt the same down and the distal end up also 
would occur in the invention. The invention, then, may be understood to 
operate to retain in the holder an elongate device even when differential 
force occurs tending to tilt the elongate device off a parallel relation 
with the pivot axis of pivot pin 6. 
However, when a fisherman decides to move the fishing rod from the holder 
1, an upward movement while maintaining the rod 11 generally parallel to 
the pivot axis of the pivot pin 6, will easily open the cover 3 and 
release the rod. 
A right-handed fisherman would grab the handle 40 of the rod 11 on release 
and would tend to move the rod toward the left as is seen in FIG. 3 at the 
same time upward movement is effected; this is referred to as a 
right-handed mounting of the fishing rod holder 1. As is seen in FIG. 2, 
such upward and leftward movement would result in the rod escaping the 
slots 22, 23 and subsequently the slots 20, 21 as early as possible 
without having to wait for the slots 20, 21 to reach vertical open 
position (FIG. 1 in phantom outline). The protuberances 34, 35 tend to 
cooperate with the rod to resist removal thereof until a certain snap 
action occurs to remove the same from a holder 1. The protuberances 34, 35 
tend to interfere with simple rod removal. Moreover, the protuberances 34, 
35 may be so dimensioned to facilitate snapping or otherwise retaining the 
rod in the slots 22, 23 while the cover 3 is in full open position. 
Moreover, while the cover is in such full openm position, it will be 
appreciated, as is seen in FIG. 1, that a second fishing rod could be 
supported therein. 
The main support base 4 can be secured, for example by screws 50, to the 
top of the gunwale or support surface 13 and the receptacle 2 and cover 3 
of the fishing rod holder 1 may be attached to or removed from the main 
support base 4. When the receptacle and cover are removed from the main 
support base 4, the latter has a relatively low profile and easily can be 
covered by a conventional boat cover or the like. 
For use the receptacle 2 and cover 3 are installed in the main support base 
4 by inserting a supporting extension 51 of the receptacle 2 into a mating 
opening 52 formed in the upstanding wall 53 of the main support base 4. 
The supporting extension 51 has a plurality of surface flats 54 
peripherally about the axis (a vertical line, not shown, in FIG. 3) and in 
the preferred embodiment and best mode of the invention, the supporting 
extension 51 has an octagonal periphery formed by eight generally equal 
size surface flats 54 about the axis thereof. The wall 53 bounding the 
opening 52 in the main support base 4 also has a plurality of flat 
surfaces 55 for mating generally in relatively close fitting 
surface-to-surface abutment relation with the respective surface flats 54. 
The arrangement of surfaces 55 permits the receptacle 2 and cover 3 to be 
positioned in the main support base 4 and any one of eight different 
positions that are oriented at approximately 45.degree. rotation with 
respect to each adjacent position. In this way the holder 1 may be used in 
the manner shown in FIG. 1 extending perpendicularly or outward from the 
boat for right-handed operation, as was described above. Alternatively, 
the receptacle 2 and cover 3 may be rotated 180.degree. relative to the 
main support base for left-handed operation. The receptacle 2 and cover 3 
likewise may be rotated to hold the fishing rod 11 at approximately a 
45.degree. angle with respect to the line of the boat or to allow the 
fishing rod to extend parallel to the line of the boat. 
When the cover is rotated to full open position, the tendency of a 
fisherman would be to move the fishing rod not only vertically up but also 
to its side. If the tendency were to move the same to the right, then the 
fishing rod would tend to ride up along the right-hand side (as seen in 
FIGS. 1 and 2) of the cover slots 20, 21 and would be guided by the sloped 
surfaces 45 off to the right out of the way of the fishing rod holder 1. 
Left-hand operation would be opposite that for right-handed operation. 
In the preferred embodiment and best mode of the invention, the supporting 
extension 51 includes eight surface flats 54. On the other hand, the wall 
53 forming the opening 52 has only four surface flats 55 therein and four 
slightly curved surfaces 56. A respective curved surface 56 separates each 
otherwise relatively adjacent flat surfaces 55. The curved surfaces 56 
reduce the effective tolerances required to permit facile insertion of the 
supporting extension 51 into the opening 52 by providing small clearance 
between the wall 53 bounding the opening 52 and the surface flats 54 which 
confront the curved wall areas 56. Smooth, easy insertion of the 
supporting extension 51 into the main support base 4 is enabled, 
accordingly, thus facilitating installation of the receptacle into the 
main base 4, even while the boat is rocking vigorously, for example. 
The slide lock 5 includes a slide 60 which slides within and is retained 
within a recess 61 in the bottom of the support base 4. The slide 60 has a 
pair of opposite stop surfaces 62, 63 that limit sliding travel thereof 
and a lock surface or wall 64. One or more spacer walls or ribs 65 at the 
bottom of the slide lock surface 64 are of a length so as to be generally 
coplanar with the bottom of the main support base 4 while urging the top 
surface of the lock surface 64 generally into engagement with the 
underside of the main support base 4 within the recess 61. Formed in the 
lock surface 64 is an opening 66 including a pair of relatively circular 
portions 67, 68, adjacent borders of which are separated by protruding 
lock points 69. Depending downwardly from the bottom 70 of the supporting 
extension 51 of the receptacle 2 is a lock tab 71 having a relatively wide 
head 73 at the distal end and a relatively narrower neck 73 between the 
head and the bottom wall 70. 
The diameter of the head 72 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the 
opening 66 in the slide 60 so that such head may be inserted into the 
opening 66 or withdrawn therefrom during usual insertion or removal of the 
receptacle 2 and cover 3 with respect to the main support base 4. During 
such insertion or removal the slide 60 would be moved to a position 
aligning the opening 68 with the lock tab 71. However, with the lock tab 
71 protruding through the opening 68, when the receptacle 2 and cover 3 
are fully inserted with respect to the main support base 4, the slide 60 
may be moved to the illustrated right-hand position shown in FIG. 8. On 
such sliding movement, the locking points 69 slightly resiliently deform 
to pass about the neck 73 of the lock tab 71, and then the lock tab neck 
is securely retained in the lock opening 67, while the head 72 protrudes 
below the slide lock surface 64, thus preventing withdrawal of the 
receptacle 2 and cover 3 from the main support base 4. Importantly, while 
the holder receptacle and cover are removed from the main support base 4, 
the slide 60 remains in place without affecting the low profile of the 
base 4 and is ready for use whenever the receptacle and cover are 
reinstalled in the base 4. 
Secure fitting together of the several parts of the fishing rod holder 1 is 
an important aspect of the invention. Such close fitting tolerances 
especially is advantageous when using molded plastic parts because the 
secure interfit helps one part give further strength to another part that 
is in abutting confrontation therewith. Thus, the close fit of several 
parts of the invention helps to strengthen the same. Moreover, an 
advantage of the invention over prior metal fishing rod holders is that 
the plastic material tends to be kind to the material of which the fishing 
rod itself is made thereby avoiding marring, scratching or otherwise 
detrimentally affecting the fishing rod. Plastic parts also are not 
subject to the corrosion problems of metal. 
Consistent with the close fit tolerances of the invention, the cam arms 30, 
31 are spaced with respect to the end walls 36, 37 of the receptacle so as 
to interfere and to abut with surfaces of such end walls during closure of 
the cover 3. Chamfered surfaces 80, 81 at the upper ends of the walls 36, 
37 help to guide such cam arms 32, 33 into such abutting and sliding 
engagement with the end wall surfaces. Such confrontation both strengthens 
the fishing rod holder 1 and helps minimize free play between the 
receptacle 2 and cover 3 during use of the fishing rod holder 1, 
especially helping to secure the same in closed position when downward 
force is applied by a fish pulling on the fishing line and also to resist 
too free opening of the cover member. 
Desirably the fishing rod holder 1 is mounted with the linear axis of the 
cylindrical axis 10, which is parallel with the axis of the pivot pin 6, 
in a horizontal position. If desired, the shim base 12 may be mounted 
beneath the main support base 50 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1 and 
as also is shown in FIGS. 2-5, to orient the fishing rod holder in a 
direction raising the distal end of the fishing rod above the handle end. 
However, the shim base also may be used to mount the fishing rod holder on 
an angle to the support, thus placing the main support base in a 
horizontal plane. 
Using the fishing rod holder according to the invention, then, the 
receptacle 2 and cover 3 are installed in the main support base 4, which 
is mounted on a support surface 13, and the slide lock 5 is slid to lock 
the receptacle and cover to the main support base. Thereafter, the cover 
may be opened. A fishing rod 11 may be inserted into the slots 20, 21 of 
the cover, and the cover then is rotated to closed position. When force is 
applied at the distal end of the fishing rod tending to pivot the same in 
the downward direction, the fishing rod holder still will hold the fishing 
rod securely. However, when a fisherman wishes to remove the fishing rod 
from the holder 1, vertical movement while maintaining the fishing rod 
generally parallel with the axis of the pivot pin 6 will permit prompt 
opening of the cover and removal of the rod. 
STATEMENT OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION 
In view of the foregoing it will be appreciated that the fishing rod holder 
1 may be employed to hold a fishing rod during fishing. The fishing rod 
also may be used for similar purposes in other environments, for example 
to hold an elongate member even when tilting force is applied to one end 
of the member while still permitting relatively facile intentional removal 
of the member from the holder.