Retainer system for a rod

A retainer system for a rod and a mounting device for storing the rod utilizing the retainer system are provided. The retainer system has a retainer portion or rest for receiving the rod and a rod engagement means for closely mounting on a rod. The rod engagement means has a hook shaped structure at one end. The retainer portion has a retainer back which includes a material engagement means and a support. The material engagement means in one embodiment is clip-like and is used to clasp material such as a belt or a waist band, thereby attaching the retainer portion to a person wishing to transport a rod or fish using a rod. The support is bowl-like and has a lip. Preferably the lip is configured so as to firmly engage the hook shaped structure of the rod engagement means when the hook shaped structure is mounted thereon. The retainer back is resilient and semi-flexible. It can be compressed and thus snapped into an aperture in a mounting device or the material engagement means can be used to engage the mounting device. The mounting device is hung from a flat surface with the retainer system used to couple, for example, fly fishing rods to the mounting device for storage purposes. When a person wants to take a rod fishing, the retainer system and attached rod are snapped out of the mounting device and attached to the fisherman at, for example, a waist band. The rod balances at the hip region of the fisherman freeing hands for transporting other equipment. When the fisherman is ready to cast, the rod engagement means at the hook shaped structure is snapped off the support at the bowl lip. When the fisherman wants to continue fishing, while having one hand free, the hook shaped structure is again snapped onto the lip of the bowl of the retainer portion. Attached in this manner, the rod can be freely maneuvered along the edge of the bowl mouth with one hand, freeing the second hand for other tasks.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
A retainer system for a rod and a mounting device for storage of the 
retainer system are provided. The retainer system comprises a rest or 
retainer portion and a body or rod engagement means having a hook for 
engaging the rest. The retainer system is especially useful for holding a 
rod or rods when fishing and free use of both hands is desired, for 
example when tying flies, retrieving a lure, using an alternate rod and 
the like. The retainer system is also useful for transporting a rod and 
for storage of a rod. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Various rod holsters and holders for securing the butt end of a fishing rod 
to a person while fishing or transporting a fishing rod are known in the 
art. Examples include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,123,578 (Morse); 5,024,018 
(Ferrigno); 4,569,466 (Webber) and 3,874,573 (Fruscella, et al.), each of 
which limit the mobility of the rod relative to the person fishing and 
each of which a require a semi-permanent attachment to a belt. These and 
other commercially available rod holders suffer from additional 
short-comings. Where the rod is not secured to the holder, a danger of 
losing the rod occurs if the person fishing needs both hands to accomplish 
an alternate task. In some instants, the holder orientation requires that 
the person fishing be right handed. Further, previous holders have limited 
mobility and orientation of the rod relative to the person fishing, 
especially with respect to the side to side mobility of the rod when 
attached to the fisherman. 
OBJECTS 
It is an object of the instant invention to provide a retainer system for 
rod, such as for example a fishing rod, which secures the rod to the 
person and the rod to the retainer portion while increasing the mobility 
of the rod relative to the fisherman. It is an additional object of the 
invention to provide a retainer system which secures a rod to a person 
transporting a rod, thus freeing both of the person's hands for an 
alternate task. It is an object of the instant invention to provide a 
retainer which in combination with a rod engagement means comfortably 
secures the rod to the person both when the rod is oriented for fishing 
and when the rod is oriented for transporting. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide a retainer system which 
is easy to mount and dismount from an article of clothing worn by a person 
when fishing. 
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a retainer system 
which is useful by both left and right handed persons. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The inventive rod retainer system has two components: a retainer portion or 
rest for supporting the end of a rod proximal to the butt and a rod 
engagement means or body for connecting to the retainer portion while 
balancing the rod. The retainer portion for supporting the butt end of a 
rod has a bowl with a lip and a semi-flexible retainer back having a 
plurality of apertures, such as for example a clip-like extension or hole 
for receiving thread, for attaching or mounting the bowl at a pocket, a 
belt, waders and the like, to the person. The retainer portion may also be 
attached to a mounting device for storage. The rod engagement means 
preferably attaches at a first hook-shaped end to the retainer portion at 
the bowl shaped region and at its second end to a fishing rod at the 
balancing point of the rod. When the person is fishing, the rod engagement 
means is disengaged from the bowl, for example when casting. When the 
fisherman requires the use of one or both hands even though the fishing 
line and hook may still be in the water, the rod engagement means is 
snapped back onto the bowl. Since the retainer system is designed to 
balance the rod, the fisherman can continue fishing with the rod at his 
hip with the rod positioned at substantially a right angle to the 
fisherman's torso. 
In the preferred embodiment of the retainer portion, the retainer back is 
made with a semi-flexible material that can bend. The retainer back has a 
means for engaging material such as for example, an extended arm(s) that 
is clip-like or notch-like for grasping a material. The retainer portion 
has a bowl shaped protrusion attached to the retainer back. The bowl 
shaped protrusion, also called a bowl, has a mouth, a protruding lip on 
its exterior surface, a contoured interior surface, and a bottom. The lip 
has a slanted upper edge, a middle portion, and a slanted lower edge which 
provides the lip with a substantially trapezoidal shape. However, 
alternative shapes for the lip are contemplated. 
The rod engagement means has a first end and a second end. The first end 
which is substantially hook shaped mirrors the shape of the interior 
surface of the bowl. The interior surface of the bowl is contoured to 
reflect the shape of the lip. The second end engages the rod. In a first 
embodiment, the rod engagement means has two components: a closure band 
which preferably is a cable tie; and a body having an aperture (also 
termed a "band receiving aperture") for receiving or engaging the rod 
receiving closure band and having a hook for engaging the bowl. A fishing 
hook receiving aperture may also be present in the body. The closure band 
has a locking mechanism for securing the body with the hook end to the 
rod, for example a band having locking ribs at one end and a hole for 
receiving the locking ribs at the other end. 
In a second embodiment of the rod engagement means, the body has a hook for 
engaging the bowl at a first end of the body and a substantially circular 
snap on hook for engaging the rod at a second end of the body. Thus, the 
rod engagement means has a unitary construction. The rod engagement means 
hook at the first end of the body has a shape which is the mirror image of 
the bowl at the interior surface of the lip. The shape of the interior 
surface of the bowl and the shape of the hook at the first end of the rod 
engagement means complement each other. In a third embodiment of the rod 
engagement means, the second end has two arms, each arm having a serrated 
or toothed surface. The interior face of the first arm mates with the 
exterior face of the second arm when pressure is applied to the mated 
arms. The rod engagement means is made of a resilient material which 
allows the rod engagement means to be snapped on to and off of the 
retainer portion. 
A mounting device for receiving the retainer system for storage of the 
retainer system or the retainer system and rod is also provided.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
When fishing with a rod, especially when fly fishing, the ability to 
manipulate a rod with one hand while maintaining control of the rod is 
highly desired. The inventive retainer system firmly anchors the butt end 
of the rod in a support or retainer portion while securing the rod to the 
support by a snap on rod engagement means which can be comfortably 
positioned on the person, thus freeing a hand for other functions, such as 
for example, retrieving a dropped object. Referring now to FIG. 1, a 
person 10 wearing waders and a belt 20 is shown wearing a retainer system, 
generally referenced throughout as reference numeral 100, while the rod is 
in position to be transported. The retainer portion (also called a rest or 
support) of the retainer system is mounted on the belt while balancing a 
rod 30 using the retainer system. The retainer portion 110 of the retainer 
system provides a rest or support for the rod, while the rod engagement 
means (also called a body) 140 secures the rod to the retainer portion 
110. Hands are not required to secure and balance the rod. When the person 
wants to use the rod to fish, as is illustrated in FIG. 1B, the rod 
engagement means 140 mounted on the rod is unsnapped at its hook shaped 
first end from the retainer portion 110 while the fisherman casts. The rod 
engagement means 140 may then be snapped back on to the retainer portion 
and manipulated with only one hand while fishing. 
Referring now to the series of FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C which illustrate the 
preferred embodiment of the retainer portion, comprises a retainer back, a 
structure for receiving a rod engagement means which is illustrated herein 
as a bowl shaped structure, and a material engagement means. FIG. 2A shows 
a top down view of the retainer portion 110 looking in through the open 
mouth of the bowl (generally referenced throughout by the reference 
numeral 120) towards the bowl base 124. The upper edge 122a of the lip of 
the bowl is shown. Preferably, the bowl is contoured at its interior 
surface to reflect the protruding lip shape illustrated in FIG. 2B. The 
bowl 120 is attached to a retainer back, generally referenced throughout 
by the reference numeral 111. Preferably, the retainer back is made of a 
semi-flexible polymeric material so that it may be conformed to the shape 
of the fisherman. 
FIG. 2BA illustrates a side perspective view of the retainer portion of 
FIG. 2A. FIG. 2BB, the reference numerals of which correspond to those 
shown in FIG. 2BA, provides a cross-sectional view of the retainer portion 
110 of FIG. 2BA of the retainer portion 110 which illustrates one 
embodiment of a material engagement means, which in this figure is shown 
as a clip-like or notched structure having an elongated arm 112 which 
extends from the top edge of the retainer back 111 and which terminates in 
a tip which has a protrusion 114. The material engagement means is used 
for mounting the retainer portion on a person. Alternatively, it can be 
used for mounting the retainer system on a wall unit during storage 
thereof. The inner face of the arm has a rounded protrusion 113 which in 
conjunction with the tip 114 acts to facilitate gripping of material 
against the rear face 115 of the retainer back upon which the bowl 120 is 
mounted. The exterior face 116 of the retainer back is slightly rounded to 
indicate that the retainer back is semi-flexible. The bowl exterior face 
has a lip having a upper edge panel 122a at the top which slants from the 
bowl mouth towards a first edge of an elongated, protruding middle portion 
122b of the lip. A slanted lower edge panel 122c connects a second edge of 
the middle portion with the bowl exterior face. The interior face of the 
bowl is contoured to reflect this shaping and provides an indented surface 
along which a rod engagement means can slide. The rod engagement means 
which has a shape which is the mirror image of the bowl exterior face at 
the lip. The rod engagement means may be releaseably attached to the bowl 
at the lip so that when snapped onto the bowl, the rod engagement means 
may slide along the edge of the lip. Thus, when a rod is mounted on the 
bowl with the rod engagement means snapped to the bowl, the rod can swing 
from side to side without becoming detached from the bowl. The base of the 
bowl 124 is also shown. 
FIG. 2C provides a view of the retainer portion 110 which shows the front 
face 116 of the retainer back, the bowl 120, and an embodiment of the 
material engagement means, generally referenced as reference numeral 130. 
A material, such as for example, fabric, a wall mounted bracket, a belt, 
or the like, is urged into the material engagement means when it is 
mounted. FIG. 2C also provides a front view of the bowl. The base 124 of 
the bowl is gradually rounded. An aperture 121 in the retainer back is 
visible at the mouth of the bowl which is the slanted upper edge of the 
lip 122a. The middle portion of the lip 122b and the slanted lower edge 
122c of the lip are also shown. Thus, the lip is substantially trapezoidal 
in shape. The retainer back is made of a semi-flexible, resilient 
preferably plastic material, for example ABS, polyethylene blends of 
medium to high density, impact rubberized styrene, a polypropylene 
homopolymer or copolymer resin or a nylon, such as for example nylon 6. 
Nylon 6 is preferred. 
Referring now to FIG. 3, an alternate embodiment of the retainer portion 
110 is illustrated. A bowl 120 for receiving a rod engagement means is 
shown. Clip-like or notched structures 130a, 130b having apertures in the 
retainer back 311 for receiving material, such as for example leather, are 
illustrated. This embodiment is particularly suited for mounting on a belt 
as is illustrated in FIG. 1. 
Referring now to FIGS. 4A and 4B which illustrate the preferred embodiment 
of the rod engagement means, generally referenced throughout the 
specification by reference numeral 140. The rod engagement means, also 
called a body, has a first end 142 for engaging the lip of the bowl of the 
retainer portion and a second end for engaging a rod. The first end 142 
has a shape which is substantially a mirror image of the shape of the bowl 
at its top lip. The second end, generally referenced as reference numeral 
144, provides a means for attaching to a rod. The first end of the body 
closely fits the shape of the retainer bowl lip thus it acts to secure the 
rod against displacement by an upward motion. Removal of the rod from the 
retainer portion is accomplished by performing an outward and upward 
motion at the rod engagement means. The body is made of thermoplastic 
elastomer (TTE), such as for example Hytrel.TM. TTE (available from E. I. 
DuPont de Nemours & Co., Inc., Wilmington, Del.) which has a memory or 
resiliency which urges the body, also called the rod engagement means, 
back into its original configuration after it is stretched at its ends to 
receive or release a rod or a retainer portion. Variations on the second 
end are provided to illustrate different embodiments of the rod engagement 
means. Preferably, a hole 141 for securing a fishing hook or like when 
transporting the rod is located proximal to the first end. The size of the 
second end, 145a as shown in FIG. 4A and 145b as shown in FIG. 4B, of the 
rod engagement means varies depending upon the rod chosen. 
Primarily two types of rods exist: those which balance on the handle and 
those which balance in front of the handle. FIG. 4A illustrates an 
embodiment of a rod engagement means having a first end 143a for engaging 
a bowl of a retainer portion and a curved second end 145a for engaging a 
rod for use with a rod which balances on the rod handle. FIG. 4B 
illustrates an embodiment of a rod engagement means having a first end 
143b for engaging a retainer portion and a second curved end 145b for 
engaging a rod for use with a rod which balances in front of the handle. 
The second end of each rod engagement means embodiment shown in FIGS. 4a 
and 4b, curves in a direction opposite to that of the curvature of the 
first end to facilitate balancing of the rod at the retainer portion when 
the rod is secured by the second end of the rod engagement means and the 
first end is clipped to the bowl. FIG. 4a also illustrates a protrusion 
147 located at the second end which is useful for urging the second end of 
the rod engagement means away from the rod when disengaging the rod from 
the rod engagement means of the retainer system. 
Referring now to FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C which illustrate an alternative 
embodiment of the rod engagement means wherein the second end of the body 
has a racketed closure means. The closure means has a first arm having a 
interior face and a second arm having an exterior face, each face having a 
serrated or toothed surface. In FIG. 5A is a side view of an alternative 
embodiment of the engagement means in the open position where the second 
end 144 of the body 140 has a serrated or toothed surfaces which can be 
mated. A pair of protrusions, one on each arm 149a, 149b for urging one 
arm towards the other arm when the closure means is to be tightened around 
a rod and locked in place is also present. At the tip of the first arm is 
a release means 149c which is used to disengage the serrated surfaces when 
removing the engagement means from the rod. At the first end 142 of the 
body is a hook shaped region having a enclosed aperture 141. A fishing 
hook may be secured in the aperture. 
FIG. 5B which is a side view of the alternative embodiment of the 
engagement means of FIG. 5A shown in the closed position. FIG. 5B 
illustrates the mating of the two serrated surfaces. The reference 
numerals correspond to those provided in FIG. 5A above. 
FIG. 5C illustrates a top down view of the alternative embodiment of FIG. 
5A showing the first end 142 and the second end 144. 
FIG. 6 illustrates a third embodiment of the engagement means. A body 200 
is provided with a hooked upper end 202 similar to that shown in FIG. 5B, 
and an aperture 204. A locking ribbed cable tie 206, similar to those used 
on plastic bags passes through the aperture and around the rod where it is 
pulled tight to lock it in position around the rod 208. This rod 
engagement means 206 can be removed from the rod later if desired by 
cutting it off. When the rod handler wishes to free their hands for other 
tasks, the hook 202 is placed over the lip of a molded bowl such as, for 
example, shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B where it catches over the lip and rests 
against the wall of the bowl. The bowl extends outward from the retainer 
back which has two slits which can be slipped over a belt or other flat 
object such as a storage plate on a wall. Alternately, the retainer back 
may be provided with perforations to allow it to be sewn onto a garment or 
attached by fasteners to a wall. Or the retainer back may be provided with 
an indentation having a shape. A flat matching shape having a size 
slightly less than that of the indentation having a corresponding shape is 
also provided in this variation. When the backing is brought proximal to a 
fabric and the flat indentation matching shape is placed on the other side 
of the fabric, application of pressure simultaneously to the two pieces 
sandwiches the fabric into the indentation where it is held by 
compression. 
The components of the instant invention, for example the retainer system 
shown in FIGS. 2A through 2C, may also be utilized for storing the rods 
when attached to a mounting device. The retainer portion which has a 
retainer back, a material engagement means and a retainer bowl 120 or a 
plurality of retainer portions each having a retainer bowl are seated on a 
mounting device 1111 such as illustrated in FIG. 7. A mounting device 
having a flat face is provided with a means for mounting it onto a flat 
surface such as holes for receiving screws, mated hooked and napped 
surfaces, and the like. The flat backing is also provided with apertures 
for receiving a retainer portion. The aperture may be sized to receive the 
resilient retainer portion. Herein the retainer portion is compressed and 
fitted to the aperture, substantially snapping into the aperture. 
Alternatively, the retainer portion at the material engagement means may 
engage the mounting device at an edge of a mounting device aperture for 
receiving the retainer portion. The retainer portion is snapped onto the 
edge, clasping the edge. As described above, a rod engagement means 140 is 
attached to a rod 30 and the hooked end of the rod engagement means is 
clipped to the bowl of the retainer portion when a rod is to be stored. 
Both the retainer portion and the rod engagement means can be manufactured 
using injection molding. 
The foregoing is considered only illustrative of the currently preferred 
embodiments of the invention presented herein. Since numerous 
modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art, it is 
not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction used to 
illustrate the various means comprising this invention.