Abstract:
A fishing rod support includes a restriction member configured to receive a portion of a fishing rod, wherein the restriction member is configured to substantially restrict rotational movement of the rod about a substantially vertical axis passing through the rod portion. The support is also provided with a retaining member configured to releasably inhibit vertical movement of the rod portion.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to the field of fishing rod supports and holders. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   When fishing, it is often desirable to be able to set a fishing rod down periodically, while leaving the line and lure in the water in order to continue to attract fish. Standard fishing rod holders typically have a loop or sleeve within which the butt end of a fishing rod handle is axially inserted. However, as a result, such fishing rod holders require the handle to be axially withdrawn in reverse fashion before the user can regain proper control over the rod. 
   Accordingly, the inventor has recognized a need for a fishing rod support which facilitates removal while maintaining control over the rod 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention is directed towards a fishing rod support which is adapted for supporting a fishing rod. 
   The support includes a restriction member configured to receive a portion of a rod, wherein the restriction member is configured to substantially restrict rotational movement of the rod about a substantially vertical axis passing through the rod portion. The support is also provided with a retaining member configured to releasably inhibit vertical movement of the rod portion. 
   Preferably, the retaining member is movable between a substantially closed position in which upward vertical movement of the rod portion is inhibited, and an open position in which upward vertical movement is substantially uninhibited. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts and in which: 
       FIG. 1A  is a side perspective view of a fishing rod support with the retaining member in the open position, made in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 1B  is a rear view of the fishing rod support of  FIG. 1A ; 
       FIG. 2A  is a side view of a restriction member of the support of  FIG. 1A  with the retaining member removed; 
       FIG. 2B  is a side view of a retaining member of the support of  FIG. 1A , with the restriction member removed; 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the support of  FIG. 1A  supporting a fishing rod, with the retaining member in the closed position; 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the support of  FIG. 1A , where the rod has been moved upwardly, with the retaining member in the open position. 
       FIG. 5  is a side cutaway view of a prior art fishing rod holder; and 
       FIG. 6  is a side schematic cutaway view of an alternate embodiment of a fishing rod support made in accordance with the present invention, and adapted for seating within the prior art fishing rod holder of  FIG. 5 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring simultaneously to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B,  2 A and  2 B, illustrated therein is a fishing rod support, referred to generally as  10 , made in accordance with the present invention. The support  10  includes a restriction member  12  and a retaining member  14 . 
   The restriction member  12  may be substantially cylindrical and tubular, and is provided with a rod guide  16  which may take the form of a substantially vertical slot. The retaining member  14  may also be substantially tubular and configured to slidably fit over and receive the restriction member  12 . The restriction member  12  and retaining member  14  may typically be made out of plastic or other sufficiently resilient material, including wire framing. 
   The retaining member  14  is provided with a mouth  18  in the front of the member  14 . The restriction member  12  and the retaining member  14  are typically aligned about a substantially vertical support axis  20 . 
   Referring also now to  FIG. 3 , the rod guide  16  is configured to receive and support a rod portion  17  of a fishing rod  19  (substantially between points A and B). The guide  16  substantially limits rotational movement of the rod about the support axis  20 . 
   The reel and handle portion  22  of the fishing rod  19  are relatively heavy and as a result, the force of gravity tends to pivot the rod  19  (and specifically the handle  22 ) substantially vertically in a downward direction about the rod portion  17 , while the end (not shown) of the rod  19  remote from the handle  22 , tends to pivot upwards in the opposite direction. The retaining member  14  is preferably sufficiently weighted to prevent unassisted or unintended vertical movement of the rod  19 , while at the same time being sufficiently light such that the resistance may be overcome when the user intends to release the rod. Additionally, the binding force of the restriction member  14  against the retaining member  12  as the rod portion  17  tends to pivot in a substantially vertical arc and correspondingly pivots the restriction member  14  relative to the retaining member  12 , also restricts the vertical movement of the rod  19 . 
   The restriction member  12  is provided with guideposts  24  which are received within guide slot  26  in the retaining member  14 . The guideposts  24  and guide slot  26  serve to couple the members  12 ,  14  together. 
   When the retaining member  14  is in the closed position (shown in  FIG. 3 ) such that the fishing rod  19  is supported, the rod  19  is in an orientation which is similar to when the rod  19  is being held by a fisherman, and the fishing line and lure may remain in the water until the rod  19  is picked up again. As will be understood, a downward deflection of the end of the rod  19  which is remote from the handle  22 , provides a visual indicator of a possible fish striking the lure. 
   When the fisherman picks up the rod  19  to release it from the support  10 , he grabs the fishing rod handle  22  and lifts the rod  19  in a generally upward vertical direction. This upward movement of the rod portion  17  pushes the retaining member  14  upward relative to the restriction member  12 , until the retaining member  14  is in its open position, shown in  FIG. 4 . In the open position, the upper guidepost  24  abuts against the lower edge of the guide slot  26 , and prevents further upward movement of the retaining member. As well, in the open position, the mouth  18  of the retaining member  14  is substantially beyond the top  29  of the restriction member  12 . 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 2B , the mouth  18  of the retaining member  14  is provided with a mouth guide  30 , which at its lower portion is rearwardly disposed and forms a generally upward arc towards the front of the member  14 . When the fishing rod  19  is raised by the user, and particularly once the retaining member has reached its open position with the upper guidepost  24  abutting against the lower edge of the guide slot  26 , the mouth guide  30  directs the rod portion  17  towards the front of the mouth  18  and out of the support  10 . 
   Proximate its lower end  40 , the support  10  may also be provided with a ground engager  42 , such as an auger bit, for enabling the support  10  to be secured to the ground. When used herein, “ground” is intended to include for example the bank of a river or lake as well as ice if the support is used when ice fishing. If the body  42  of the support  10  is sufficiently long (eg. 1-1.5 meters), the support  10  may be augured several centimeters (eg. 10-20 cm) into the bed of a shallow stream or river. 
   One advantage of the present design is that it allows the user to grab hold of the rod handle  22  and quickly jerk the rod  19  upwards to set the hook (in the event of a possible fish strike while the rod  19  is being supported by the support  10 ), in a generally fluid motion. This is not possible with prior art holders as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
   The support  10  is also provided with a mount for mounting the support  10  to an object when in use. The mount may take the form of a simple mounting bracket with bolts or other fasteners to attach the support  10  to a dock or side of a boat, for example. Similarly, the mount may be in the form of straps or other materials for tying the support to a post or similar solid object. As noted above, the mount may also take the form of the ground engager  42 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6 , illustrated therein is an alternate embodiment of a support shown generally as  10 ′. As will be understood, many of the components of the alternate embodiment  10 ′ correspond to those of the first embodiment  10 . However, instead of having a substantially straight body  42  as in the first embodiment, the body  42 ′ may include a bent neck portion  50 . 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , prior art holders  60  often have a generally tubular pocket  62  for receiving a fishing rod handle  22 , with the pocket  62  aligned about a pocket axis  64 . Typically, the pocket axis  64  is at an angle of deflection φ relative to a vertical axis  66 . This angle of deflection φ is often between approximately 0° to 31°, although the angle can be greater. 
   The alternate support  10 ′ is also provided with a mount  42 ′ substantially aligned about a base axis  68  which has been adapted to friction fit within a pocket  62  of a prior art holder  60 . The base of the support  10 ′ may include an expansion anchor  70 , having a solid round stock  72  disposed internally within the restriction member  12 ′. The stock  72  is typically secured to the restriction member  12 ′ using a retaining pin  74  or other means such as an adhesive. The stock  72  may also be provided with a centrally disposed and aligned threaded blind hole  76  configured to receive a first threaded end  78  of a pair of interlocking threaded eye-bolts  80 . The lower eye of the bolts  80  is seated against a large washer  82 , which in turn is seated against a second washer  84  to which a flexibly biased framework of expansion wires  86  has been welded or otherwise attached. A nut with washer-style flange  88  is positioned at the bottom of and also attached to the framework  86 , and threaded at the second threaded end  90  of the eye-bolts  80 . 
   As will be understood, the framework  86  is inserted within the pocket  62  of a holder  60 . The restriction member  12  may then be rotated, causing the nut  88  to thread upwardly on the eye-bolt  80 , thereby compressing the framework and causing it to expand within the pocket  60 . The member  12  may be rotated until a secure friction fit is established. 
   The bent neck portion  50  is configured to form a neck angle, in the body. Preferably, neck angle β is substantially supplementary to the angle of deflection φ (ie. forming an angle of 180°), such that the support axis  20  is substantially vertical when the framework  86  is inserted within the pocket  62  and correctly aligned. 
   Thus, while what is shown and described herein constitute preferred embodiments of the subject invention, it should be understood that various changes can be made without departing from the subject invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.