Abstract:
A fishing rod holder with a unique, adjustably tension-biased, automatic triggering mechanism that allows the user to place the holder in the ground and in a cocked position, cast a line into a body of water and then place the rod in the holder, such that when a fish tugs on a hook on the line, the tug actuates the triggering mechanism to cause the holder to snap the top of the rod away from the tug to automatically set the hook in the mouth of the fish. The holder can also be configured with a permanently affixed or removable clamp to fasten the holder to a variety of mounting surfaces.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for hooking a fish automatically, and more particularly, to an apparatus that can be set in the ground or clamped to a mounting surface, for holding a fishing rod that has already been cast and automatically pulling back on the rod upon a strike by a fish in order to hook the fish. 
     Fishing rod holding devices and apparatuses are known in the prior art, and a multitude of various configurations have been documented. Each of the prior art configurations evidence operating and functional features that vary across a wide range of more familiar and less familiar mechanisms with a similar variety of purposes and objectives. 
     Some of these devices have been patented, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,835,065, 3,016,648, 3,777,389, 4,012,861, 4,235,035, 4,397,113, 4,486,968, 5,279,064, 5,359,802, 5,524,376, 5,533,294, 6,088,946, and 6,125,570. 
     However, the prior art devices suffer because they are technically complex, too subtle and unreliable in application, and/or because they are not readily adjustable to accommodate different fishing rods, types of fish and fishing conditions. Those with more complex designs require more costly manufacturing. While each of these patented devices may fulfill their respective objectives, it would be desirable to provide an easy to use and appropriately sized rod holder that includes a simple and elegant triggering mechanism, and is easily adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of different sized handles. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The present invention resides in a fishing rod holder that is set in the ground, such that a fishing rod can be cast into a body of water and the lower end of the rod easily placed in a tension-biased cage on the holder that has been cocked away from the holder&#39;s support stake in such a manner that the rod rests against a trigger in the cage and the top of the rod is directed toward the body of water. When a fish tugs on a hook on the line, the tug pulls the rod against the trigger, releasing the cage from its cocked position to rapidly swing the lower end of the rod toward the holder&#39;s support stake and simultaneously snap the top of the rod away from the tug and thereby automatically set the hook in the mouth of the fish. This relieves the user of the necessity of holding the fishing rod at all times that the line is cast. 
     More particularly, the holder incorporates a unique triggering mechanism that engages the top of the holder&#39;s support stake and is tension-biased to release within a predetermined range of force. The trigger bias can be selectively adjusted for different rods, fish types and fishing conditions. Similarly, the tension bias that snaps the rod against the support stake can likewise be selectively adjusted for different rods, fish types and fishing conditions. Because the tension bias on the trigger and the tension bias on the cage are both applied with readily accessible rubber bands or springs, adjusting either tension bias is a simple matter of replacing the rubber bands or springs with different sizes or quantities. 
     Further, the present invention is comprised of simple, readily manufactured parts to enable low cost manufacture. The holder can also be configured with a permanently affixed or removable clamp to fasten the holder to a variety of mounting surfaces. 
     Of course, the present invention is readily adaptable to numerous shapes and sizes, and may be constructed of many materials, such as wood, plastics and metals. 
     Additional features of the present invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the novel rod holder with the cage in the relaxed position against the support stake. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the rod holder of FIG. 1 embedded in the ground, with the cage in the relaxed position against the support stake, with the gate closed and locked against the cage by the latch, and with a phantom view of a fishing rod located in the cage, and a phantom view of the gate open. 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the rod holder of FIG. 1, embedded in the ground, with the cage in the relaxed position and the gate closed and locked against the cage by the latch; 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the rod holder of FIG. 1 embedded in the ground, with the cage in the cocked position away from the support stake, with the gate closed and locked against the cage by the latch, and with a phantom view of a fishing rod located in the cage, and a phantom view of the gate open. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a clamp for the rod holder, showing the lower portion of the rod holder stake in the clamp. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the clamp for the rod holder, showing the lower portion of the rod holder stake in the clamp, with directional arrows drawn along and about the stake to indicate the rotational and elevational mobility of the rod holder within the clamp. 
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The preferred embodiment of the novel automatic hook set fishing rod holder is indicated generally at A (FIGS. 1,  2 ). The rod holder A includes a support stake  10 , a cross-member  12  attached to the stake  10 , a pin  14  attached to the stake  10  near the top of the stake  10 , and a rod handle cage C. The top of the cage C fixedly attaches to one end of a pair of pivot arms  16 , and the pivot arms  16  rotatably attach to the pin  14  near the top of the stake  10 . A clamp  70  (FIGS. 5,  6 ) can be provided to mount the holder A to a suitable mounting surface, such as a table, a chair, a seat or bench, or a boat gunwale. 
     The cage C includes a spine  18 , a U-shaped stirrup  26 , a frame  32 , a brace  39 , a gate  40 , and a slotted latch  50  (FIG.  2 ). The spine  18  is formed into three portions, a back  20 , a foot  22  and a hooked handle  24 . The back  20  is straight and forms one vertical side of the cage C, while the foot  22  runs at a generally right angle to the back  20  and forms the floor of the cage C. The hooked handle  24  descends from the end of the foot  22 . The top of the back  20  is attached to the top end of the frame  32  and to the proximal ends of the pivot arms  16  extending from the cage C. 
     The frame  32  includes a generally U-shaped top portion  34  (FIG. 1) which extends perpendicularly away from the spine back  20  to a bend  36 , where the frame  32  turns and frame sides  38  descend toward the spine foot  22 . The brace  39  spans between and attaches to the lower portion of the frame sides  38 . The bottom end of each of the frame sides  38  attaches to one of the legs  28  of the stirrup  26 . The U-shaped stirrup  26 , in turn, attaches at its midpoint to the lower end of the spine back  20  above the junction between the back  20  and the foot  22 . 
     A series of holes  30  are formed in each end of the stirrup  26 . The gate  40  is generally C-shaped and includes a base  42 , a vertical leg  44  and a top  46 . The base  42  is directed through a pair of the holes  30 , in each of which the gate  40  can freely rotate. The holes  30  are sized to accommodate the base  42  of the gate  40 , and each of the holes  30  is paired to and aligned with, a corresponding hole in the opposite leg  28  of the stirrup  26 . A plastic or rubber cap  48  fits snugly over the end of the gate base  42  to secure the gate  40  in the holes  30 . The opposite or top end  46  of the gate  40  can be rotated such that it rests against both sides of the frame  32  below the bend  36 , where the gate  40  can be held in place by the latch  50 . As can be seen in FIG. 1, the latch  50  is rotatably attached at one end to one side of the frame  32  near where the gate  40  meets the frame  32 . The other end of the latch  50  has a slot  51  sized to accommodate the upper end of the gate  40 . When the gate  40  is positioned at or near the frame  32 , the latch  50  can be rotated such that the slot  51  engages the gate  40  to secure the gate  40  in place. 
     A pair of pivot arms  16  are fixedly attached to opposite sides of the spine back  20 , near the upper end of the spine back  20 , and extend perpendicularly away from the cage C. The pivot arms  16  are pivotally attached near their midsections to the pin  14 . The pin  14 , in turn, is attached to the stake  10 , near the upper end of the stake  10 , such that the cage C is able to rotate about the pin  14  on the pivot arms  16 . A second pin  52  spans between, and extends a short distance beyond, each of the distal ends of the pivot arms  16 , such that a pair of nubs  53  protrude from the sides of the pivot arms  16 . 
     A rubber band  54  is attached at one end to the spine handle  24 , and attached at the other end to the cross-member  12 , such that the rubber band is always in slight tension. Hence, the rubber band  54  tends to pull the cage C toward the stake  10 . The cage C assumes its relaxed position when the cage C is rotated downward and the rubber band  54  holds the spine back  20  against the stake  10 . 
     The trigger  56  is a rectangular hoop having a top crossbar  58 , a bottom crossbar  60  located within the cage C, a pair of legs  62  extending between the top and bottom crossbars  58  and  60 , and a pivot pin  63  that spans between and is attached to the midsection of the each of the legs  62 . A plastic sleeve  64  is rotatably mounted to the bottom crossbar  60 . The trigger pivot pin  63  fits through a pair of holes  17  in the pivot arms  16 , such that the trigger  56  is free to rotate about the axis of the pin  63  in the holes  17 , and the bottom crossbar  60  crosses through the cage C and the top crossbar  58  encircles the top side of the pivot arms  16 . Further, the trigger  56  is positioned so that its top crossbar  58  slips over the top of the stake  10  when the cage C rotates about the pin  14  near the top of the stake  10  to its cocked position. The trigger  56  is also sized so that the sleeve  64  is positioned within the cage C to engage the midsection of a rod handle between the sleeve  64  and the gate top  46 , as seen in FIG. 2, when the trigger top crossbar  58  is engaged with the top of the stake  10  and the gate  40  is locked in place by the latch  50 . 
     A second, smaller rubber band  66  spans between the trigger top crossbar  58  and one of the nubs  53  at the distal ends of the pivot arms  16 , such that one end of the rubber band  66  is looped over the nub  53 , the midsection is wrapped around the trigger top crossbar  58 , and the other end is then also looped over the nub  53 . The rubber band  66  is thereby doubled-over and normally in slight tension. However, as the cage C pivots upward about the pin  14  and the trigger top crossbar  58  begins to slide across the top of the stake  10 , the rubber band  66  begins to stretch further and the tension exerted on the trigger top crossbar  58  increases. (See FIG.  4 ). When the trigger top crossbar  58  crosses the top of the stake  10 , the tension in the rubber band  66  snaps the trigger top crossbar  58  down against the side of the stake  10  opposite the cage C, thereby rotating the trigger bottom crossbar  60  and the sleeve  64  upwardly to hold the trigger  56  and the cage C in a cocked position. In this way, the trigger  56  can be automatically cocked. The trigger  56 , and hence the cage C, are then held in the cocked position by engagement of the trigger top crossbar  58  with the top of the stake  10 . Additionally, when the cage C is rotated upward about the pin  14 , past the point of rotation where the trigger  56  moves into the cocked position, the pin  52  butts against the side of the stake  10  opposite the cage C, thereby limiting further rotation of the cage C about the pin  14 . 
     The spine back  20  and foot  22 , the cage frame  32 , the brace  39  and the stirrup  26 , form the fixed confines of the cage C. As can be seen in FIG. 2, when the upper end of the gate  40  is rotated away from the frame  32 , a handle H of a fishing rod can readily be placed in or easily removed from the cage C. The lower end of the handle H fits within the framework formed by the stirrup  26 , the brace  39  and the lower end of the gate  40 . In order to accommodate different sizes and shapes of rod handles, the lower end of the gate  40  can be placed in different pairs of the holes  30 . The butt end of the handle H rests on the top of the spine foot  22 , and the side of the handle H rests against the trigger sleeve  64 . The top  46  of the gate  40  is then rotated upward toward the frame  32 , and the latch  50  is rotated to engage the gate  40  to lock the handle H in the cage C. Thus, the handle H is sandwiched between the trigger sleeve  64  and the gate top bar  46 . 
     The sleeve  64  is adjustable and comprised of one or more tubular plastic sheets  68  (FIG.  1 ). The plastic sheets  68  can be readily removed or layered to optionally decrease or increase the diameter of the sleeve  64  to accommodate rod handles of different sizes and shapes. Although preferably made of plastic, the sleeve sheets  68  can be made from most any material which can be flexed to allow for removal or addition of the sleeves sheets  68  to and from the trigger bottom crossbar  60 . Of course, the trigger  56  can also be configured to disassemble to allow for the use of additional material types for the sleeve sheets  68  that are not so flexible or pliant. 
     When a fish tugs on the fishing line attached to the fishing rod in the cage C, the tug is translated through the rod to the handle H, where the tug will exert a downward force on the sleeve  64  to pull the sleeve  64 , and hence the trigger bottom crossbar  60 , toward the cage spine back  20 . The downward force causes the trigger bottom crossbar  60  to rotate about the pivot pin  63  in the pivot arms  16  toward the stake  10 , and the trigger top crossbar  58  to rotate away from the stake  10 . As the force is applied to the sleeve  64 , and the trigger  56  begins to rotate about the pivot pin  63 , the sleeve  64  rolls along the length of the handle H of the rod to minimize the likelihood of erratic trigger movements. 
     If the downward force caused by the tug on the fishing line is of sufficient magnitude to overcome the engagement between the trigger top crossbar  58  and the top of the stake  10 , the trigger top crossbar  58  will rotate over the top of the stake  10 , and the tension caused by the rubber band  54  pulling on the spine handle  24  will snap the cage C down in an arc against the side of the stake  10 . This, in turn, snaps the top of the fishing rod up and away from the direction of the tug, pulling the fishing line and hook away from the fish, thereby automatically setting the hook in the fish that was tugging on the line. 
     Of course, different fishing rods, fish types and fishing conditions may demand different tension bias to the trigger  56  and the cage C. As one skilled in the art will quickly recognize, the tension biases to the trigger  56  or the cage C are readily adjustable by merely replacing the rubber bands  66  or  54 , respectively, on the holder A with one or more rubber bands or springs that apply a different amount of tension. A calibrated set of rubber bands and/or springs can be readily identified and utilized on the holder A. The rubber bands  66  or  54  can even be wrapped in different configurations to adjust the tension bias; e.g. the rubber band  66  can be doubled-over more than once between the trigger  56  and the pivot arms  16  to adjust the tension on the trigger  56 . 
     As an additional feature, the present invention also incorporates a separable clamp  70  that can readily be attached to the lower end of the stake  10 . (FIG.  5 ). In the preferred embodiment, the clamp  70  is formed from a set of parallel rods  72  that wrap around a second pair of parallel vertical rods  74 . The rods  72  are spaced apart from one another a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the stake  10 , and form three sides of a rectangle, having upper rungs  72   a  and lower rungs  72   b . The ends of the rods  72  along the upper rungs  72   a  are each covered with caps  75 . The fourth side of the rectangle formed by the rods  72  comprises the open end of the clamp  70 . The vertical rods  74  are likewise spaced apart from one another a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the stake  10 . The rods  74  bisect, and run parallel to the open side of, the rectangle formed by the rods  72 . Each end of both of the rods  74  are rigidly attached to the rods  72 . 
     A top plate  76  spans across and is rigidly attached to the top of the rods  72  directly above the top ends of the rods  74 . A hole  78 , having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the stake  10 , runs through the center of the plate  76 . The hole  78  is aligned with the rods  74  such that the stake  10  can simultaneously fit through the hole  78  and between the rods  74 . A stake plate  80  spans across and is rigidly attached to one side of the rods  74 . A hole  82 , threaded to accept a bolt  84 , runs through the center of the plate  80 . When the clamp  70  and the rod holder A are properly conjoined, the stake  10  is placed through the top plate hole  78  and between the rods  74 . The bolt  84  is then placed in the stake plate hole  82  and tightened against the stake  10  to fasten the rod holder stake  10  to the clamp  70 . The bolt  84  has a flat end  85  which can be easily gripped to adjust the bolt  84  by hand. Because the stake  10  is free to rotate about its own axis in the clamp  70  until the bolt  84  is tightened on the stake  10  (See FIG.  6 ), the rod holder A can be secured in any rotational orientation within the clamp  70 . The rod holder A can also be secured in the clamp  70  at different vertical positions within in the clamp  70 , so long as the bolt  84  is able to tighten on a portion of the stake  10 . Further, the clamp  70  is designed to simultaneously accept the descending leg  13  of the cross-member  12  along with the stake  10  to provide additional stability and further limit the potential for rotation of the rod holder A in the clamp  70  during operation. Of course, the clamp  70  can also accommodate any rod holder other than the rod holder A, so long as the central stake is sized to fit within the clamp  70 . 
     A third plate  86  spans across and is rigidly attached to the top side of the bottom rungs  72   b  of the rods  72  near the open side of the rectangle formed by the rods  72 . A hole  88 , threaded to accept a bolt  90 , runs through the center of the plate  86 . The bolt  90  has a floating head  92  and a flat end  94  that can be turned by hand. The bolt  90  is long enough to be tightened against the bottom side of the mounting surface located between the upper rungs  72   a  and the lower rungs  72   b . The head  92  and end  94  maintain the bolt  90  in the hole  88  of the plate  86 . 
     When it is desired to hold the rod holder A fast to a mounting surface, such as on a table, chair, bench or boat rail, the rod holder A and the clamp  70  are united by placing the stake  10  of the rod holder A through the hole  78  and between the rods  74 , and tightening the bolt  84  against the stake  10 . Additionally, the leg  13  of the cross-member  12  can be received between the clamp upper rungs  72   a  to further prevent rotation of the holder A relative to the clamp  70 . The bolt  90  should be unscrewed to provide sufficient clearance for the desired mounting surface to fit between the head  92  of the bolt  90  and the bottom surfaces of the upper rungs  72   a . The clamp  70  is then positioned on the mounting surface such that the one end of the mounting surface fits between the head  92  of the bolt  90  and the bottom of the upper rungs  72   a . The bolt  90  tightened to clamp the clamp  70  to the mounting surface. 
     Of course, the clamp  70  can be clamped to the mounting surface first, and the rod holder A can thereafter be united with the clamp  70 . In addition, the rod holder A may be separated from the clamp  70  at any time by merely loosening the bolt  84  and sliding the stake  10  up and out of the center of the clamp  70 . In this way, the clamp  70  can remain clamped to a desired mounting surface while the rod holder A can be used elsewhere. Furthermore, the clamp  70  may be clamped on virtually any mounting surface that fits between the upper rungs  72   a  and the top of the head  92  of the bolt  90 . 
     The present invention, therefore, enables the user to cast a fishing line into a body of water and set the rod in the rod holder A. When the rod holder A is then cocked, the user can perform other activities while still fishing. A tug on the fishing line will cause the rod holder A to automatically hook the fish for the user. The user can then remove the rod from the rod holder A at the user&#39;s leisure and reel the fish in. In addition, not only can the rod holder A be set in the ground on its own, the user can easily, controllably, and rapidly clamp the rod holder A to a fixed mounting surface and just as easily remove the rod holder A from the mounting surface. 
     Because the design of the present invention is uncomplicated and elegant, it is simple to use, reliable and easy to maintain. In addition, all of the parts for the device are easy to manufacture, require no special machines or tooling, and should result in a reasonably low cost to produce. 
     Other variations on the basic apparatus are also available. For example, the entire rod holder A and the clamp  70  can be made in a variety of sizes for different fishing applications. Similarly, the cage C can independently be made in a variety of sizes for different rod shapes and sizes. By incorporating a removable pin or other such device at the pin  14 , the cage C can readily be designed to be removed and interchanged with different cages. Each of the various members of the cage C, such as the frame  32  and the stirrup  26 , can also be reshaped and resized. Similarly, the clamp rods  72  can be formed into a variety of shapes, so long as they construct an opening along one side for the clamp to fit over the desired mounting surface. Further, the clamp plate  80  and bolt  84  can be attached to either side of the clamp rods  74 . Likewise, the plate  86  and bolt  90  can be located along the upper rungs  72   a  instead of the lower rungs  72   b.    
     A variety of different restraining or locking devices, such as clasps, magnets or clamps, can be used in place of the latch  50 . Similarly, other elastic devices, such as springs, may be used instead of the rubber bands  54  and  66 . Additionally, the rubber band  66  may be omitted to allow for manual setting of the trigger. The cross-member  12  may be formed in a variety of shapes, such as loops, diagonals and a fork, so long as at least part of the cross-member  12  can be directed into the ground. In addition, the rods may all be formed in numerous cross-sectional shapes, such as rectangles, squares and octagons. Similarly, the bolts  84  and  90  can be replaced with a variety of other fastening devices such as screws, ratchets and clamps. Finally, each of the components of the invention can be manufactured from a variety of materials, including, but not limited to, plastics, metals and woods, so long as the apparatus maintains the same functionality and the necessary structural integrity. 
     As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.