Abstract:
Adjustable holder apparatus for holding a trolling fishing rod in various upright orientations on a boat-mounted track. The apparatus includes a track-mounted base plate, a pivot bracket on the base plate, and a rod holder for detachably mounting and cantilever supporting the rod upright on the holder. A locking gear is fixed to the holder and pivotally secured to the bracket by a pivot pin for supporting the holder on the base plate for pivotal motion of the fishing rod for pivotally raising and lowering the rod. The gear has a circumferentially extending row of locking teeth arrayed in the holder pivot plane. A locking handle mechanism includes a locking pin bodily movable by the mechanism into and out of locking engagement with a selected root space between any two of the locking teeth for adjustably holding said holder in selected angularly spaced positions in the pivot plane.

Description:
This is a United States regular utility patent application filed pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §111 (a) and claiming the benefit of the priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e)(1) of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/437,811 and U.S. provisional application No. 60/437,871, both filed Jan. 3, 2003. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to fishing equipment designed for trolling from a moving boat, primarily for use in deep water sport and commercial fishing, and more particularly to devices for removably holding trolling fishing rods that are pivotally adjustable about both generally horizontal and vertical pivot axes. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Fishing is one of the oldest vocations and avocations. In the last fifty years or so the equipment and fishing techniques have evolved into increasingly sophisticated products and strategies for catching fish. Bait fish seek water at a certain temperature and water depth. The big fish follow them to feed on them. Numerous electronic devices have been provided to detect water temperature variations at different depths, to locate schools of fish at different locations and to provide a read-out of underwater topography where fish congregate. Modern trolling motors allow both large and small fishing and commercial boats to move at slow and controlled trolling speeds through the water. 
   It is preferred to equip trolling boats with the ability to fish with more than one fishing rod at a time in order to multiply the number of possibilities for catching fish simultaneously or in close sequence to thereby increase the chances of catching fish. Fishing boats are often equipped with mounting tracks along their port and starboard gunnels and across the transom top board to thereby enable fishermen to use more than one fishing rod, because many rod holders will fit into the track. Usually the track is mounted to the boat permanently. When so equipping fishing boats for use with multiple fishing rods deployed, it is necessary to be able to adjust the holders into which the fishing rods are telescopically inserted, handle end first, so that their respective fishing lines deployed from the tips of these rods do not interfere with each other. Moreover, different fishing techniques require that the fishing rods be tilted at different angles about both vertical and horizontal pivotal axes of rotation, as in dipsy fishing where it is desirable to have the rod extended at an angular range about a horizontal axis ranging from a vertical or upright position to a full-down position parallel to the water surface. The ability to adjust the angle of repose of the fishing rod while removably mounted in a holder greatly facilitates use of a variety of different fishing lures as well as trolling devices such as planer boards, and also accommodates various trolling techniques. 
   Although hitherto a variety of different types of fishing rod holders have been provided in an attempt to accommodate most if not all of the aforementioned usage parameters, there remains much room for improvement in such devices. For example, there is a need to improve the ease with which the rod holder can be adjusted both about a vertical pivot axis as well as a horizontal pivot axis and to be held securely at any adjusted selected position in the angular range of such pivotal movement. There is also a need for improvement in the locking system provided in the rod holder device from the standpoint of strength and elimination of play and slop in the various locked positions of the device. 
   There is also a need for a ratcheting type rod holding device that would allow the rod holder tube to pivot about a horizontal axis and be quickly pulled upwardly through a range of locking positions, and yet locked against down movement when released to set the holder at the desired angular inclination. Such a device would enable the rod holder to be quickly pulled up by the fisherman to make it easier for the fisherman to get his fishing rod out of the holder when a fish strikes, but also which would securely retain a given angular rod attitude if a fish strikes while the rod is in the holder. 
   There is also a need to provide an improvement in the ability to track mount the holder and to provide a track configuration cooperative with the holder base that would enable the rod holder mechanism to be removed easily after use and stored in a secure location out of the weather and thus protected from salt water corrosion and contamination. There is also a need to provide a reliable means for retaining the fishing rod in the holder that is simple and adjustable. 
   With all of these needs there still remains the overall need that these needs be met with an improved rod mounting and locking mechanism that is strong enough to take the loads of big fish and heavy sinkers on the fishing lines even when trolling at relatively fast deep sea sport and commercial fishing speeds. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, among one or more objects of the present invention are to provide an improved fishing rod holder for removably receiving a fishing rod handle-end-first that satisfies all of the foregoing needs with a strong, corrosion-resistant structure that is economical to manufacture and assemble, that is adjustable to provide a variety of angular positions of repose of the fishing rod about both generally horizontal and generally vertical pivotal axes, that is releasably lockable in a range of positions through each of these angular ranges of pivotal motion, that is very strong and wear resistant, that is easily latched and unlatched from lock positions, that is designed to compensate for wear of the locking mechanism parts and to eliminate play in locked positions, that provides an attachment between the fishing rod and the holder in the form of a bungee cord that serves as a safety feature to prevent the fishing rod from being pulled from the holder when unattended, and that provides a mono-leaf biasing spring in the locking mechanism that is simple in construction, compact, easy to mount and provides a uniform application of force to bias a locking pin in the mechanism squarely into engagement with a locking tooth. 
   Another object is to provide an improved adjustable holding and mounting mechanism of the foregoing character that is adaptable to a number of applications other than as a fishing rod holder, i.e., applications that call for pivotal motion with locking and unlocking in a range of positions, as in adjustable seatbacks, seat bottoms, armrests as well as adjustable tables or platforms and the like that would be enhanced by the improvement features of the present invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
     The foregoing as well as further objects, and also features and advantages of the present invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description of the best mode presently known to the inventors of making and using the invention as well as from the accompanying drawings (which are drawn to engineering scale unless otherwise indicated), wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective and partially exploded view of a conventional trolling fishing rod removably mounted telescopically, handle-end-first, into the holding tube of a presently preferred but exemplary embodiment of an improved track-mounted and universally adjustable fishing rod holder of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the adjustable fishing rod holder of  FIG. 1  shown separately from the track and, in solid lines, locked in an upright position at the upper end of its pivotal range of vertical angular motion and also shown, in phantom lines, re-positioned parallel to the water surface, thereby illustrating the angular range of travel “A” of the holder about a generally horizontal pivot axis. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the adjustable fishing rod holder of the invention to better illustrate the construction and assembly of its component parts as used in the preferred form of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a fragmentary side elevation view illustrating the rod holder locking mechanism and the angular range of travel “B” (an arc of approximately 60° about pivot pin  54 ) of the locking handle between locked position (phantom lines) and unlocked position (solid lines) relative to the toothed locking gear of the holder assembly. 
       FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of a dual-mode (ratchet/non-ratchet) locking gear tooth assembly provided in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated herein. 
       FIG. 6  is an end view of the locking gear tooth assembly of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a fragmentary perspective view of the holder locking and mounting structure of the assembly shown by itself with the locking handle in locked position. 
       FIG. 8  is a part sectional, part side elevational view taken along the section line  8 — 8  of  FIG. 7  showing the components in locked position and with the dual locking gear tooth assembly mounted in the holder bracket for ratcheting operation. 
       FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 8  but showing the dual locking gear tooth assembly reversely mounted (“flipped” or rotated 180° about its longitudinal axis) for the non-ratcheting locking mode of operation of the holder assembly. 
       FIG. 10  is a fragmentary view showing an end elevation of the holder mounting track with the U-bracket and base plate subassembly of the holder assembly mounted in the mounting track affixed to the boat structure, and with the bracket and base plate oriented as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
       FIG. 11  is a top plan view of the U-bracket and base plate subassembly of the holder assembly shown mounted in the track and oriented at one extreme limit of its angular range of pivotal motion about a vertical axis. 
       FIG. 12  is a fragmentary plan view similar to  FIG. 11  but showing the base plate and U-bracket subassembly oriented with the centerline axis of its two locking bolts oriented parallel to the centerline axis of the track, the U-bracket thus being oriented for holding the rod holder with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the track longitudinal axis. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring in more detail to the accompanying drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates the improved adjustable fishing rod holder assembly  20  of the invention releasably and adjustably mounted to a mounting track  22  of the invention, track  22  in turn being mounted by suitable fasteners  24  and  26  to a gunnel  28  of an associated fishing boat (not otherwise shown). A conventional trolling fishing rod  30  has its lowermost handle  32  telescopically inserted handle-end-first fully into a holder tube  34  of holder assembly  20 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , holder tube  34  may be adjustably swung about a generally horizontal pivot axis between an end-limit upright position shown in solid lines and an end-limit lowered (substantially horizontal) position shown in phantom, and thus through a pivotal range of travel “A” of about 100°. As shown, holder assembly  20  is operable for providing rod-up ratcheting action and rod-down locking in any selected one of five positions spaced at generally equal angular increments. Tube  34  thus may be swung from the horizontal position (phantom lines) through angular travel range “A” all the way up to the upright position (solid lines) with a ratcheting action without manually operating the locking handle for releasing the locking mechanism, as will be described in more detail hereinafter. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , holder assembly  20  is shown in exploded perspective format and comprises the following components: 
   NAME OF COMPONENT DRAWING REFERENCE NUMERAL 
   
       
       1. Base Plate  40   
       2. Lock Knobs ( 2 )  42 ,  44   
       3. Flat Mono-Leaf Spring  46   
       4. U-Bracket Mounting Screws ( 3 )  48 ,  50   
       5. U-Bracket  52   
       6. Unlocking Handle Pivot Pin  54   
       7. Pivot Pin Retaining C-Clips ( 2 )  56 ,  58   
       8. Locking Pin  60   
       9. Locking Pin Retaining Spring Finger Clips ( 2 )  62 ,  64   
       10. Unlocking Handle Arms ( 2 )  66 ,  68   
       11. Unlocking Handle Grip Tube  70   
       12. Unlocking Handle Tube Pin  72   
       13. Unlocking Handle Tube Pin Retaining Clips ( 2 )  74 ,  75   
       14. Dual Action Ratchet/Locking Gear Subassembly  80   
       15. Locking Gear Spacer Washers ( 2 )  82 ,  84   
       16. Locking Gear Cross Arm  86   
       17. Split-Sleeve Locking Gear Retaining Pin ( 2 )  88   
       18. Locking Gear Cross Arm Mounting Screw Pin  90   
       19. Fishing Rod Holder Tube  34   
       20. Rod Holder Vinyl End Cap  92   
       21. Elastic Bungee Cord  94   
       22. Cord Loop Spring Clamp  96   
       23. Bungee Cord End Locking Ferrule  98 
 
Assembling Fishing Rod Holder Assembly  20 
 
     
  
   Referring to  FIGS. 3 through 9 , the components enumerated with reference to  FIG. 3  hereinabove may be readily manually assembled to provide the complete fishing rod holder assembly  20  by following the hereinafter described exemplary assembly sequence. Spring  46  is positioned on the upper surface of base  40  as shown in  FIG. 3  with its angled foot tab  100  oriented with its screw hole  102  aligned with the screw hole (not seen) in base  40  for receiving associated self-tapping mounting machine screw  48 . Screw  48  is inserted upwardly through this plate and spring tab hole to thereby temporarily position spring  46  as shown. Then U-bracket  52  is lowered into its assembled position shown in FIGS.  4  and  7 – 10 . The extrusion-formed, screw-receiving, open-side channel  104  (see also  FIG. 11 ) formed in the bight portion  106  of bracket  52  is thereby aligned coaxially with screw hole  102 . The self-tapping machine screw  48  is then threaded upwardly into bracket channel  104  to initially secure bracket  52  onto base  40 , while at the same time clamping spring  46  with its upwardly inclined leaf portion  108  disposed between the parallel side legs  110  and  112  of bracket  52 . Then the two additional self-tapping machine screws  50  and  51  are respectively inserted upwardly through base holes  114  and  116  ( FIG. 3 ) into the extrusion-formed channels  118  and  120  (also extrusion-formed in legs  110  and  112  respectively) to thereby complete the screw-mounting of bracket  52  to base  40 . If desired, at this point, the threaded shanks of lock knobs  42  and  44  may be threadably started in their respectively associated threaded base plate holes  122  and  124  ( FIGS. 3 and 11 ). 
   Then, while the upper end of leaf spring  46  is held deflected toward U-bracket bight  106 , locking pin  60  is inserted through the coaxially aligned, horizontally elongated slots  126  and  128  provided in bracket legs  110  and  112  respectively. Then the upper end of spring  46  is released so as to allow it to spring forward and bear against pin  60  to drive the same to the right hand end of slots  126 ,  128  (as viewed in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  8  and  9 ). 
   Handle arm  66  may then be installed on bracket  52  by slipping its curved camming slot  130  over the protruding end of locking pin  60  to position arm  66  flat against the side of bracket leg  110 . Likewise, handle arm  68  is positioned on the other side of bracket  52  against the outside surface of leg  112  by slipping the protruding end of locking pin  60  through the camming slot  132  in arm  68 . The retaining clips  62  and  64  can then be slipped over the associated ends of locking pin  60  protruding outwardly from the arms and the clips individually registered and engaged with their associated locking grooves  134  and  136  in the end of pin  60  to thereby retain the arms initially on bracket  52 . Then handle tube pin  72  may be inserted through the coaxially aligned holes in the swinging ends of arms  66  and  68 , tube  70  first being held coaxially positioned therebetween to receive the pin  72  therethrough. Retaining clips  74  and  75  are then slipped into their respectively associated locking grooves in the protruding ends of pin  72  to thereby secure tube  70  and pin  72  in assembly with handle arms  66  and  68 . 
   Next, as best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , cross arm  86  is assembled to locking gear part  80  so that the end face  140  of cross arm  86  bottoms against the end face  142  of a central slot  144  defined between the legs  146  and  148  of gear tooth part  80 . Then machine screw mounting pin  90  is inserted into the mounting hole  150  in cross arm  86  and threadably tightened down in an associated receiving threaded hole (not shown) provided in part  80  to thereby securely affix cross arm  86  to part  80 . The subassembly of gear tooth part  80  and cross arm  86  is then inserted with a close clearance or press fit into the lower end of holder tube  34  until the wing tabs  152  and  154  of cross arm  86  abut the lower end edge  156  of tube  34  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). As best seen in  FIG. 6 , the curved end surfaces  160  and  162  of cross arm  86  and the curved end surfaces  164  and  166  of legs  146  and  148  lie on a common imaginary circle having a diameter matching the inside diameter (for close or press fit) of tube  156  to thereby provide a secure, stable mounting fit of gear  80  in tube  34  and vice versa. 
   Bracket leg  146  is provided with a through hole  168  ( FIGS. 3 and 5 ) for receipt of an associated roll pin  88  inserted in a hole  172  of tube  34  that is aligned with hole  168  in leg  146  to thereby pin-fasten gear tooth  80  with its cross arm  86  fixed in the lower end of tube  34 . Another split roll pin (not shown), like pin  88 , is inserted into another hole (not shown) in tube  34  located diametrically opposite hole  172  and then into hole  170  in leg  148  to complete the pin-fastening of subassembly  80 / 86  in the lower end of tube  34 . Another pair of diametrically opposite holes  176  and  178  ( FIG. 3 ) are provided in tube  34  located just clear of the inserted or installed position of the free ends of legs  146 ,  148  in assembly with tube  34 . An alignment pin (not shown) is inserted coaxially through holes  176  and  178  and fixed in place in tube  34  to register with an alignment groove (not shown) in the lower end of rod handle  32  to thereby maintain fishing rod  30  properly angularly aligned when installed in holder tube  34  with fishing rod reel  33  upright for proper operator access. 
   Then, at the upper end of tube  34 , a ferrule  98  is inserted through a hole  180  in the sidewall of tube  34  ( FIG. 1 ) with the head of the ferrule inside and its shank protruding outwardly on the outside of the tube. Then the double wall flexible vinyl cap  92  is slipped telescopically onto the upper end of tube  34  until a hole  182  in the outer sidewall  184  of cap  92  registers with hole  180  in the tube and the shank of the ferrule pushed through cap hole  182 . It is to be understood that cap  92  is made up of both the outer sleeve  184  as well as a concentric inner sleeve  186  joined integrally at their upper end by an annular web bight portion  187  ( FIG. 1 ). For clarity of illustration in the drawings, web bight  187  is cut off in  FIG. 3  and hence not shown therein. Cap sleeve  184  slips over the outside of tube  34  while cap sleeve  186  slips down the inside of tube  34 , and the web bight  187  joining these sleeves covers the upper end edge of tube  34 . 
   One end of the bungee cord  94  is inserted into the hollow shank of ferrule  98  and then the ferrule shank crimped to fasten that end of the cord to the ferrule and thus to tube  34 . A loop  188  ( FIG. 3 ) is then formed in cord  94  and a loop portion is squeezed together so that it can be pushed through the center opening  190  of cord spring clamp  96  and the registering interior slot in the spring biased clamp button  192  of clamp  96  to thereby form an appropriate size loop  188 . A simple overhand knot  194  is tied in the other free end of cord  94  to thereby capture bungee cord  94  and clamp device  96  in assembly with tube  34 . 
   With the subassembly of gear tooth  80  and cross arm  86  secured into the lower end of tube  34 , and with cap  92  and bungee cord  94  affixed to the upper end of the tube, these rod holder components are now ready for final assembly with the lock and latch subassembly of base  40 , U-bracket  52 , handle locking arms  66 / 68  and locking pin  60 . To effect this, the tooth end of gear  80 , along with a pair of flanking plastic spacer washers  82  and  84  (that are aligned with their center apertures coaxially registering with a pivot bore  200  of gear  80 ) are inserted between the bracket legs  110  and  112  until bore  200  coaxially registers with pivot bore holes  202  and  204  in bracket legs  110  and  112 . Then pivot holes  206  and  208  in locking arms  66  and  68  respectively are likewise brought into coaxial registry with holes  200 ,  202  and  204 . Then handle pivot pin  54  is inserted through this series of coaxially aligned holes to thereby pivotally secure the ends of arms  66  and  68  onto bracket  52 , while at the same time pivotally mounting holder tube and gear tooth subassembly  34 / 80  on bracket  52 . During this assembly process, locking pin  60  is registered into one of the root spaces between adjacent ratchet teeth of gear  80  as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
   Dual Mode Ratchet/Non-Ratchet Locking Gear  80   
   As best seen in  FIG. 5 , gear  80  is provided with a row of circumferentially spaced ratchet teeth  220 ,  222 ,  224  and  226 , as defined respectively by tooth camming side surfaces  228 ,  230 ,  234  and  236  respectively on one tooth side, and on the tooth opposite sides by radially oriented locking side surfaces  238 ,  240 ,  242  and  244  also respectively associated with ratchet teeth  220 ,  222 ,  224  and  226 . At the tube end of this row of ratchet teeth, the tooth surface  246  facing tooth surface  244  is a non-camming locking surface, i.e., it is generally radially oriented relative to the pivot axis  201  defined by the journal opening  200  of gear  80 . The tooth surface  248  facing surface  228  is likewise a non-camming locking surface since it too is a generally radially oriented surface relative to axis  201 . It will be noted that the ratchet locking teeth  220 – 226  occupy an arc on the circumference of gear  80  of about 110°. 
   On the other side of the free end circumference of gear  80  occupying a similar arc of about 110° is another row of non-ratchet locking teeth  260 ,  262 ,  264  and  266 . The sidewalls  268  and  270  of teeth  260  and  262  are slightly divergent from a radius centered on axis  201  at equal divergent angles. The same is true of the sidewalls  272  and  274  of teeth  262  and  264 , the sidewalls  276  and  278  of teeth  264  and  266  and the sidewalls  280  and  282  between tooth  266  and the end tooth formation  267 . The distance between these sidewalls of locking teeth  260 – 267  is coordinated with the diameter of locking pin  60  so that pin  60  can enter between these teeth into locking relationship therebetween, but without bottoming or touching the root surface  290  defined in like manner between the mutually facing sidewalls of each of the non-ratchet locking teeth. This non-bottoming, sidewall seating feature ensures that there is no play in the rod holder once locked, while at the same time compensating for the effects of wear of the pin and the sidewalls during prolonged usage, so that this anti-play feature is preserved over a long operating life of the rod holder. 
   The engagement of locking pin  60  between any two adjacent ratchet teeth  220 – 226  likewise is a non-bottoming engagement as determined by the dimensional relationship set-up between the locking pin slot  126  at its right hand end as viewed in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 ,  8  and  9  and the position of the root surface between any two such adjacent ratchet teeth. That is, pin  60  abuts or bottoms at the right hand end of slot  126  while still spaced slightly off the root surface between adjacent ratchet teeth. In this position the pin is designed to contact both the radial and inclined camming sidewalls in joining the root surface between such adjacent ratchet teeth so as to also lessen angular play in a ratchet lock position. 
   Track Mounting of Rod Holder Assembly  20   
   As best seen in FIGS.  1  and  10 – 12 , rod holder assembly  20  is preferably track mounted to gunnel  28  or the like of a trolling fishing boat utilizing a specially constructed track  22  best seen in  FIGS. 10–12 . Track  22  preferably is made as an extrusion and comprises a base portion  300  having a flat bottom surface  302  and flanked by laterally opposite upright sidewall portions  304  and  306  that terminate at their upper edge at in-turned lips  308  and  310 . The mutually facing end edges  312  and  314  of lips  308  and  310  respectively are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the maximum horizontal dimension of U-bracket  52 , as best seen in  FIG. 10 . The upper surface  316  of base portion  300  is made up of a series of parallel alternating grooves and lands comprising two laterally outermost grooves  318  and  320  and three narrower intermediate grooves  322 ,  324  and  326 , thereby defining lands  328 ,  330 ,  332  and  334  respectively between grooves  318  and  322 ,  322  and  324 ,  324  and  326 , and  326  and  320 . The upper surfaces of lands  328 ,  330 ,  332  and  334  are coplanar with one another and with the end edges of upper wall  316  of base portion  300 . The undersurfaces of lips  308  and  310  are spaced above the upper surface  316  of the base portion by a distance designed to receive the thickness of base plate  40  with a relatively close clearance sliding fit, as best seen in  FIG. 10 . The undersurface of base  40  thus is adapted to slide along the lands  328 – 334  and on the portions of surface  316  disposed at its outer lateral edges beneath lips  308  and  310 . 
   As best seen in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the configuration of base  40  in plan view is a modified diamond or “oblong” shape with thumb screw mounting holes  122  and  124  aligned along the major axis of base  40 . The major longitudinal axis of bracket  52  is oriented perpendicular to the major axis of base  40 . The ends of base  40  along its major axis are curved with a minor radius of curvature to provide curved ends  350  and  352 . The ends of the base plate  40  intersected by its minor axis are curves  354  and  356  having a larger radius of curvature and which are coincident with an imaginary circle whose diameter is only slightly less than the distance between the interior surfaces  305  and  307  of lips  304  and  306  respectively. The design dimensional expansion of base plate  40  beyond this imaginary circle outwardly to the major axis curved ends  350  and  352  provides space for positioning locking knobs  42  and  44  on base  40  alongside U-bracket  52 . Rounded end  350  is connected by tangential straight edge surfaces  358  and  360  with curved edges  354  and  356  respectively, and rounded end  352  is connected by tangential straight edge surfaces  362  and  364  with curved edges  354  and  356  respectively ( FIG. 12 ). 
   It will thus be seen that base  40  is capable of rotation while being constantly captured by lips  308  and  310  against upward release from the track, and can be rotated through angle C ( FIG. 11 ), i.e., rotation about a horizontal axis through a total angular range of approximately 70°, i.e., from 35° clockwise beyond the  FIG. 12  mid-position orientation (not shown) counterclockwise to the end limit orientation of  FIG. 11  where base straight edge  358  abuts sidewall interior surface  305  and base straight edge surface  364  abuts sidewall interior surface  307 . Thus base  40  also can be rotated from its  FIG. 11  end limit orientation in a clockwise direction through a total angular range of 70° to the other end limit orientation (not shown) wherein base straight edge  360  abuts sidewall interior surface  307  and base edge surface  362  abuts sidewall interior surface  305 . In the one end-limit position of angular range of rotation of base  40  shown in  FIG. 11 , the threaded hole  122  for receiving locking thumb screw  44  is aligned with groove  318  adjacent land  328 . Likewise, in this orientation the base through-hole  124  for threadably receiving locking thumb screw  42  is aligned with groove  320  adjacent the edge of land  334 . Thus, by screwing down thumb screws  42  and  44 , the protruding lower ends of these thumb screws will bottom in grooves  318  and  320  respectively. Upon continued threading down of the thumb screws, base plate  40  will be raised upwardly to bear tightly against the undersurfaces  309  and  311  of lips  308  and  310  to thereby firmly lock base  40  against clockwise rotation out of this one end-limit position on track  22 . 
   If it is desired to angularly shift the orientation of base  40 , thumb screws are threaded upwardly until their lower ends are flush with the undersurface of base  40  and thereby are fully withdrawn from the track grooves. If the base  40  is rotated 35° from the  FIG. 11  to the  FIG. 12  mid-position, the thumb screws will now align with the center groove  324 . Further screwing down of these thumb screws raises the base plate until it is firmly locked in the position of  FIG. 12 . When base  40  is fully rotated clockwise to the extreme right hand end limit position (not shown), thumb screw openings  122  and  124  will at that point be aligned with grooves  320  and  318  respectively. Grooves  322  and  326  provide two additional intermediate angular locking positions of base  40 . In this manner, it will be seen that base  40  provides a range of angular adjustment about a vertical axis of approximately 160° (2×C) and provides five circumferentially spaced locking orientations in its angular range of travel in rotating about a generally vertical axis. Base  40  can also be readily removed from one rail  22  and reverse mounted on another rail  22  so that the open end of bracket  52  then faces legs  310  to facilitate rod shifting between port and starboard side positions on the boat. 
   By having the screws engage the bottom surface of the grooves  318 – 326  rather than the upper surfaces of lands  328 – 334 , the thumb screw threaded shanks do not mar or scratch the upper surfaces of the lands so that the same remain as smooth sliding surfaces for easy sliding adjustment of the base  40  longitudinally along track  22  to any desired position. In addition, having the thumb screws engage grooves provide a very secure retention against the base being loosened by high torque forces exerted about the vertical axis tending to alter the rotational adjustment of base  40  on track  22 . 
   Operation of Adjustable Rod Holder Assembly  20  Mounted on Track  22   
   Adjustment of the angle of repose of fishing rod  30 , when mounted in holder tube  34 , can be readily and rapidly accomplished in a safe and secure manner through the operation of holder assembly  20  in cooperation with track  22 . First of all, rod  30  is easily mounted in holder tube  34  by sliding the rod handle  30  bottom end first into the tube until the angular orienting slot normally provided at the bottom end of handle  32  engages the orienting pin inserted through holes  176  and  178  of holder  34 , as described previously. Rod  30  may be retained against unintended pull-out from holder  34  by the bungee cord  94 . Bungee cord loop  188  is readily adjustable due to provision of locking device  96 . Handle  32  is inserted through the loop before insertion into the upper end of holder  34 , the loop being tightened down on handle  32  by moving clamp device  96  toward the end of the loop. 
   Ratchet Mode of Vertical Adjustment of Rod Holder Assembly  20   
   With rod holder  34  and associated locking gear  80  installed in U-bracket  52  as shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  7  and  8 , a ratcheting mode of operation is thereby provided in the vertical adjustment of rod holder assembly  20 . In the ratcheting mode, it will be seen by comparing  FIGS. 4 and 8  that in the locked position of  FIG. 8 , locking pin  60  is driven to a seated position between ratchet teeth  220  and  222  by the biasing force exerted by leaf spring  46 . In this locked condition, locking arms  66  and  68  are in their lower end-limit or locking position, and are maintained in this position by the spring biased force of pin  60  cam acting in the curved cam slot  130 . 
   If it is desired to raise or elevate rod  30  quickly, the rod and/or holder tube  34  can be gripped and manually swung in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in  FIGS. 4 and 8 , which will cause the ratchet tooth camming surface  230  to slidably force pin  60  to the left, as viewed in  FIGS. 8 and 4 . This motion in turn causes pin  60  to bear against the left hand edge of cam slots  130  and  132 , thereby also raising arms  66  and  68  toward the fully unlocked position shown in  FIG. 4 . As soon as pin  60  rides up over the crest of tooth  222 , spring  46  will tend to drive it back into the root space between ratchet teeth  222  and  224 . If the pole raising force is released at this point, rod  30  will have been raised one notch, corresponding to about a 35° change in elevation. However, if upward raising forces continue to be manually exerted on fishing rod  30  and/or holder tube  34 , pin  60  will continue being successively ratcheted over tooth  224  and then over  226  until it reaches the end-limit and seats in a notch defined by the juxtaposed radial locking surfaces  244  and  246  ( FIG. 5 ). The generally radial angulation of surface  246  prevents further counterclockwise rotation of gear  80  and hence further raising of rod  30 . 
   If it is desired to elevate rod  30  without using the ratcheting mode of operation, then locking handle arms  66  and  68  are raised by gripping the finger grip tube  70  and exerting an upward pull on the same, thereby pivoting the arms from their locked position shown in  FIG. 8  (and in phantom in  FIG. 4 ) to their unlocked position shown in solid lines in  FIG. 4 . This pivots the arms through the angular unlocking range “B” labeled in  FIG. 4 . As arms  66  and  68  are so lifted the right hand edge of cam slot  130  (as viewed in  FIGS. 4 and 8 ) cams pin  60  from its locking seated position between teeth  220  and  222  to its released position shown in  FIG. 4 . In this position pin  60  clears the outer edge of the ratchet teeth  220 – 226  and thus does not interfere with rotation of rod  30  about pivot axis  201  in either an up or down direction (counterclockwise or clockwise). When rod  30  has been so swung to a desired attitude of repose, thereby juxtaposing pin  60  between the selected ratchet teeth corresponding to this angle of rod repose, handle bar  70  is released, thereby allowing spring  46  to drive pin  60  into locking engagement between these ratchet teeth. 
   When it is desired to lower rod  30  from an elevated position downwardly, by clockwise rotation of gear  80  as viewed in  FIGS. 4 and 8 , locking handle  66 / 68  is gripped and pulled upwardly to pull pin  60  out of locking engagement with whichever tooth pair it has been engaged. This release action allows rod  30  to be lowered. If the locking handle is held up continually, the rod can be lowered all the way down to its substantially horizontal position wherein pin  60  registers with the end-limit locking root surfaces  248  and  228 . 
   Swivel Adjustment of Fishing Rod  30  on Holder Assembly  20   
   From the previous description of base  40  mounted in track  22  in conjunction with  FIGS. 10 ,  11  and  12 , it will be seen that fishing rod  30  can be rotated about a vertical axis through an angular range “C” of approximately 70°, or 35° either side of a mid-position shown in  FIG. 12  wherein the rod longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of track  22  (i.e., thus usually generally perpendicular to the fore and aft centerline of the fishing vessel when the track is side-gunnel mounted). Operation of the thumb screws  42  and  44  provides quick and secure locking of the rod in five angularly spaced positions in this 70° range of angular swivel adjustment, as described previously. 
   Non-Ratcheting Locking Mode of Vertical Adjustment of Fishing Rod Holder  20   
   The convertible dual mode feature of holder assembly  20  of the invention is best understood by comparing the operation of ratcheting adjustment described hereinabove in conjunction with  FIGS. 1–4  and  7  and  8  with the converted mounting of holder tube  34  and gear  80  shown in  FIG. 9 . Note that in the assembly of locking gear  80  in U-bracket  52 , the gear has been “flipped over”, i.e., rotated 180° about the longitudinal axis of holder tube  34 , so that the locking teeth of gear  80 , namely teeth  260 – 266 , are now uppermost and arrayed for selected locking engagement with locking pin  60 . Due to the generally radial orientation of the sidewalls of these locking teeth described in conjunction with  FIG. 5  hereinabove, rotational torque applied to gear  80  about pivot pin  54  (axis  201 ) cannot cam pin  60  out of locking engagement between any selected pair of the locking teeth  260 – 266 . It is therefore required, in order to unlock gear  80  for elevational adjustment of rod  30 , either upwardly or downwardly, to manually operate locking handle arms  66 ,  68  by pulling upwardly on handle tube  70  to move the locking handle from its locked position in  FIG. 9  to an unlocked position (corresponding to the solid line position of handle arms  66  and  68  shown in  FIG. 4 ) to thereby cam pin  60  out of registry with the locking teeth, against the biasing force of spring  46 . When pin  60  is registered with another selected locking tooth space, the locking handle is released, thereby allowing pin  60  to be snapped back into registry with the associated locking teeth by the strong biasing force exerted by spring  46 . The handle arms  66  and  68  are simultaneously returned by this spring bias to their locked position in  FIG. 9  due to the camming action of pin  60  acting on the right hand edges of cam slots  130  and  132 . 
   Further Features and Advantages 
   From the foregoing it will now be apparent that the adjustable fishing rod holder and track construction of the invention described hereinabove amply fulfills the aforestated objects and provides many advantages and features over the prior art. 
   Rod holder  20  can be track mounted and readily adjusted longitudinally along track  22  as well as swivel adjusted on the track. Using this track mount allows the fisherman to use more than one fishing rod because many rod holders will fit into track  22 . Preferably track  22  is permanently mounted to the boat gunnel or other suitable location. With multiple rods so mounted on one track it is necessary to adjust the plurality of rod holders  20  so that the associated fishing lines will not interfere with each other. The easy adjustment of holder  20  about both horizontal and vertical axes renders this readily achievable. Vertical adjustment is easily done with the set of handle levers  66 ,  68  that allow engagement into, and force release of pin  60  from, locking gear  80 . This gear lock system provides a very strong set-up with minimum play of the components in locked position. 
   The dual mode convertible nature of the holder assembly between ratchet and non-ratchet locking modes ( FIG. 8  versus  FIG. 9 ) enables the holder tube  34  and rod  30 , when installed in the ratcheting mode of  FIG. 8 , to be pulled up easily through the sequential locking positions. However, when the handle is released allowing the locking pin  60  to be lock engaged, the rod holder tube is held against downward motion by the locking relationship of the ratchet tooth with the pin. This allows the rod holder tube  34  to be rapidly pulled up by the fisherman to make it easier for the fisherman to get his fishing rod  30  out of holder  34  when a fish strikes. However, if a fish strikes while the fishing rod is being held only by holder  34 , the rod holder will stay in locked position against the downward pull of the fishing line. 
   Nevertheless, because some fishermen want their rod holders to lock in both directions, holder assembly  20  provides the aforementioned convertible mounting feature, merely requiring holder  34  to be flipped over and remounted in bracket  52  so that locking pin  60  engages with non-ratcheting (full locking) teeth ( FIG. 9 ). This conversion between ratchet mode and non-ratcheting locking mode is easily accomplished merely by removing the pivot pin  54 , extracting gear  80  and rod holder tube from U-bracket  52 , rotating the same 180° about its longitudinal axis and then reinstalling the tube and putting pin  54  back in place through the bracket and gear. 
   It is also to be understood that locking gear  80  may be provided solely with ratcheting locking teeth, or solely with non-ratcheting locking teeth, and such teeth located on both operative sides of the gear, or only on one operative side of the gear if the convertible mounting feature is not desired for certain applications. 
   Adjustment of fishing rod  30  horizontally by pivotal motion about a vertical axis is easily done by loosening locking screws  42  that clamp base  40  into track  22 , then rotating base  40  to one of the desired angular settings and then re-tightening knobs  42  and  44  into engagement with the selected track groove. Another desirable feature of track mounting of rod holder assembly  20  is that the rod holder assembly can be removed after use and stored in a secure location out of the weather and exposure to salt water corrosion and solidified salt build-ups. 
   The bungee cord provided as shown in  FIG. 3  enables the fishing rod  30  to be securely held in the fishing rod holder  34  with a readily adjustable retaining loop  188  and spring clamp  96  that allows the loop to be both snugged up and released quickly. 
   It will also be evident from the foregoing description and the drawings that rod holder assembly  20  is constructed with rugged dimensional relationships, and when constructed to the scale of the drawings provides vertical and horizontal locking mechanisms that are strong enough to take the loads of big fish and heavy sinkers on the fishing lines. 
   The anti-wear feature provided by designing locking pin  60  to lock in the center of the selected tooth space, such that the locking pin cannot engage the bottom or root face between the selected gear teeth, ensures minimal vertical rotational movement or “play” of the fishing rod  30  when in locked position. Wear compensation is also thereby achieved, because locking pin  60  will lock up in non-bottoming range of tooth sidewall engagement positions even if the sidewalls of the gear teeth and/or the pin surface erode from wear over a prolonged usage period. 
   The form and assembly orientation of biasing spring  46  is advantageous in that it is a simple shape and provides a wide flat spring. As arranged in clamped position by U-bracket  52 , spring  46  occupies substantially the full width of the space between the U-bracket legs  110  and  112  and slidably bears for its full width against pin  60 . Spring  46  thereby provides sufficient force over the wide extent of its engagement with locking pin  60  to make the pin squarely lock into the gear face. Lock spring  46  is also advantageous in that it takes up very little travel space and is easy to mount. 
   The locking handle pull-up release action is optimized such that the camming angle of slots  130 ,  132  is preferably about 30°, which by empirical try-out was found best to enable locking pin  60  to be moved with a low manual handle raising force and to produce a smooth motion within the design area available for the components and mechanical action. Note also that the unlocking handles  66  and  68  are designed to be pulled upwardly in order to release pin  60  from locking engagement, instead of being pushed down to accomplish this, thereby avoiding inadvertent unlocking which could occur if the handle could be unlocked by pushing down. This of course, is a desirable safety feature. 
   Note that handles  66  and  68  are held together in parallel array by three pins  72 ,  60  and  54 , as retained by their respective spring or push-on clips. This three pin mechanism ensures that the alignment of locking pin  60  is maintained as it moves from between locked and unlocked positions. The locking clips and pins are preferably stainless steel, whereas base  40  is a heavy aluminum stamping and U-bracket  52  and gear  80  are aluminum extrusions with finish details machined into the same. However, it is to be understood that gear  80  and cross arm  86  alternatively may be made as a one-piece integral unit by employing die casting or injecting molding processes, if desired. If these casting or molding processes are employed, a fishing rod engagement tab can be molded onto the end face of cross arm  86  to engage the angular alignment groove in fishing rod handle  30  in place of the alignment pin previously described that is inserted through holder holes  176  and  178 . The provision of locking grooves in track  22  cooperating with the thumb screws  42  and  44  prevents damage to the sliding surfaces of the track and when the knobs are tightened provides further resistance to rotation from torsional forces applied about the vertical pivot axis. The materials described above are not the only materials of which these mechanisms could be made, i.e., plastic composites, bronzes and stainless steels are examples of some of the materials that could be used. 
   From the foregoing description, it will now be evident that the principles of construction and operational mode of the invention can be advantageously employed in other mechanisms besides fishing rod holders that advantageously require rotational locking and unlocking action, such as in various seating applications, for example, adjustable seat backs, adjustable seat bottoms and adjustable arm rests. In addition, adjustable tables or platforms could be supported by the adjustment holder mechanism either alone or in combination with a mounting track such as that disclosed and claimed. Accordingly, the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed and is intended to cover equivalent structures and mechanisms that may be beyond the literal scope of the present preferred embodiments as illustrated and disclosed herein, but yet within the spirit and intent of the present invention as limited only by the lawfully applicable prior art.