FISHING ROD HOLDER

Abstract: An angler's rest for use with fishing pole, whip or rod, the rest comprising a body (10), an arm member (11) from which an arm projects, a spindle (12) on which the arm member is biased to rotate in one direction relative to the body, a spring (14) biasing the arm and the body axially apart on the spindle, at least one protrusion (17) on each of the body and the arm, the protrusions engaging each other when the arm and body are close together on the spindle to prevent rotation of the arm in said one direction and being out of engagement when they are apart to allow the rotation.

Description: FISHING ROD HOLDER This invention is concerned with an angler's rest, and in particular with a rest for use with a pole or whip or fishing rod. A pole or whip rest is an angling accessory that is commonly used in conjunction with a pole or whip or rod (hereinafter referred to simply as a rod), commonly between 3m to 15m. or more in length and used to deliver the anglers bait into the water. Once a rod has been put onto its rests it is advantageous for the angler to be able to quickly lift the rod in readiness to strike (i.e. lifting the rod quickly) to hook or attempt to hook a fish. It is also necessary for the angler to be able to be able to lift the rod without disturbing its position which in turn may disturb the developing bite (i.e. an indication that a fish is about to take the bait). Putting the rod to rest allows both anglers hands to be free. The present method of putting the rod to rest is by placing it on a front rest, mounted appropriately a short distance away and located between the angler and the water (commonly up to lmtr.) and a rear rest in the form of loop or down-turned hook that the butt end of the rod is offered under. Due to the greater proportion of the rod extending beyond the front rest, the front rest becomes a pivot point causing the butt of the rod to exert an upward pressure to the underside of the rear rest. The present methods generally require manual removal normally involving considerable movement of the rod. Rests are commonly attached by appropriate means to banksticks, i.e. varying lengths and sizes of metallic rod that push into the ground or fit into attachments on the anglers fishing box. In making a strike the angler is fully occupied in observing the correct moment at which to strike and any deviation or hindrance in being able to lift the rod could jeopardise successfully hooking the fish. It is an object of the present invention is to provide a rear rest that enables the quick release of the rod by the angler when required The present invention is an angler's rest comprising a body, an arm member from which an arm projects, a spindle on which the arm member is biased to rotate in one direction relative to the body, a spring biasing the arm and the body axially apart on the spindle, at least one protrusion on each of the body and the arm, the protrusions engaging each other when the arm and body are close together on the spindle to prevent rotation of the arm in said one direction and being out of engagement when they are apart to allow the rotation. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :- Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of an angler's rest according, to the present invention, in the set position; Figure 2 shows in perspective the rest of Figure 1 in the tripped position; Figure 3 illustrates how the forces of the rod interact with the rest's to hold the rest in a set position thus retaining the rod in a fixed position; Figure 4 illustrates the forces required to trip the rest, and final position and direction of movement of the tripped arm; Figure 5 shows an exploded view of the invention; and Figure 6 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of an angler's rest according to the present invention. Like parts are referred to by the same or similar reference numerals throughout all the drawings. Referring to the drawings, an angler's rear rest according to the present invention comprises a body 10, an arm member 11 capable of linear and circular movement around and along a spindle 12 which protrudes from the body 10. The member 11 carries a radially extending curved arm and is retained on the spindle 12 by a clip, pin or other suitable means, in this embodiment a split pin 13. Both the body 10 and the arm member 11 have a number of inwardly extending protrusions 17. In this embodiment four protrusions are provided on each of the body 10 and member 11, but a single protrusion on each is all that is necessary. A spring 14 with compression and torsion characteristics is located on the pin 12 between the arm 11 and the body 10. Each end of the spring 14 is located in holes in the body 10 and the arm 11. The spring 14 biases the body 10 and the arm 11 apart axially along the pin 12 and biases them rotationally from the set position to the tripped position. The rest is attached attaching to a bankstick by suitable conventional means 15. In order to retain a rod in a resting position the arm 11 needs to be set as shown in Fig. 3. To set the arm 11, it is rotated 180 degrees in the direction shown by the arrow 16 against the bias torsion force of the spring 14, and then moved along the pin 12 in the direction of the arrow 24 against the axial bias of the spring 14 thus compressing the spring 14 and moving the protrusions 17 on the arm 11 in between the protrusions on the body 10. The arm 11 is retained in this position because the upward force indicated by the arrow 18 exerted by the rod on the arm 11 causes sufficient friction between the interengaged faces of the protrusions 17 to resist the axial bias of the spring 14 and retain the arm 11 of the rest in the set position. The appropriate degree of friction between the faces of protrusions 17 is achieved by offsetting the underside 23 of the hooked portion of arm 11 from its pivot point on pin 12 shown in Fig. 5. This combined with the upward pressure exerted by the rod indicated by arrow 18 Fig. 3 generates the torque necessary to retain the arm 11 in the set position shown in Fig 1 and Fig. 3. Tripping of the arm 11 to the position shown Fig. 4 is achieved by applying a downward force in the direction of arrow 19 to the rod in the area of the rear rest, thus reducing the force shown in direction of the arrow 21 in Fig. 3, and therefore the friction between the faces of the protrusions 17. Once the friction between the faces of the protrusions is less than the axial bias force of the compression spring 14, the spring moves the arm 11 along the pin 12 in the direction shown by arrow 22 until the protrusions 17 on the arm 11 and body 10 disengage and allow the torsion characteristic of spring 14 acting on the arm 11 to rotate the arm 11 in the direction of the arrow 25 thus releasing the rod leaving it free to be lifted in the direction shown by arrow 20. The necessary tripping force applied to the rear of the rod is less than the force 18, but in practice the angler simply balances the force 18 so that the rod is not moved when the arm 11 is tripped. A stop ( not shown) is provided on the main body to limit rotation of the arm to approximately 180 degrees to protect integrity of spring 14. The modified embodiment of the rest shown in Fig. 6 is essentially the same as that of Fig. 1, the difference being that the pin 30 is a separate component. The pin 30 has a central bearing area 32 with an axial projection at each end. The extension 34 has an external thread and passes through a hole 36 in the body, a nut 38 on the outside of the body engaging the external thread to secure together the pin 30 and the body 10. The extension 36 at the other end of the pin 30 has an axial bore which is tapped and, passing through a hole 39 in the arm 11 , is engaged by a bolt 40 whose head 42 retains the arm 11 on the pin 30. As so far described the axial movement of the arm 11 on the central area 32 is similar to that of the arm of Fig. 1 , but the threaded shank of the bolt 40 is also engaged by a nut 44 which, moving along the shank of the bolt 40 can limit the axial movement of the arm 11 and prevent tripping of the arm.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An angler's rest comprising a body, an arm member from which an arm projects, a spindle on which the arm member is biased to rotate in one direction relative to the body, a spring biasing the arm and the body axially apart on the spindle, at least one protrusion on each of the body and the arm, the protrusions engaging each other when the arm and body are close together on the spindle to prevent rotation of the arm in said one direction and being out of engagement when they are apart to allow the rotation. 2. A rest as claimed in claim 1, in which the arm is biased by a spring to rotate in said one direction. 3. A rest as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the spindle passes through the arm member and is provided with means for retaining the arm member on the spindle. 4. A rest as claimed in any preceding claim, including means for adjusting the relative axial movement of the arm member and the body on the spindle. 5. A rest as claimed in any preceding claim, including means on the body for mounting the rest on a bankstick.

Inventors: PALMER NICHOLAS JOHN, PALMER, NICHOLAS, JOHN
Applicants: PALMER NICHOLAS JOHN, PALMER, NICHOLAS, JOHN
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A01K97
IPC codes: A01K97