Abstract:
A fishing rod that includes a rod portion having an outer circumference, at least one line guide portion, a reel secured to the rod portion, a line that extends through the line guide portion and has a hook secured to the end thereof, a handle portion that extends at least partially around the outer diameter of the rod portion, and a hook receptacle defined in the handle portion. The hook can be removably secured in the hook receptacle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention concerns fishing rods, and more particularly to a fishing rod having a receptacle for storing a hook when the rod is not in use. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Many approaches have been used to effect the secure protection of fishing lures or hooks from inadvertent snagging during storage or transport to the fishing site. 
         [0003]    Many fisherman attach a fishing lure or hook to the fishing line and then attach the fishing lure or hook to the fishing rod directly either to one of the line guides (which can cause the line to abrade) or to some other attachment point on the fishing rod. For example, some rods include a hook keeper placed on the fishing rod above the foregrip. This type of prior art keeper, which typically comprises a bent piece of wire that is attached to the rod above the foregrip, often gets in the way while fishing and is prone to bending or breaking off of the rod because it is exposed. 
         [0004]    In other situations, users place the hook into the cork of the handle, which can damage it, or on the cross bar of the reel, which can scratch the cross bar. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, a need exists for a fishing rod that overcomes the disadvantages mentioned above. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fishing rod that includes a rod portion having an outer circumference, a handle portion that extends at least partially around the outer diameter of the rod portion, and a hook receptacle defined in the handle portion. In a preferred embodiment, the hook receptacle comprises an opening that extends into the rear surface of the handle portion in a direction that is substantially parallel to the axis of the rod portion. 
         [0007]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fishing rod that includes a rod portion having an outer circumference, at least one line guide portion, a reel secured to the rod portion, a line that extends through the line guide portion and has a hook secured to the end thereof, a handle portion that extends at least partially around the outer diameter of the rod portion, and a hook receptacle defined in the handle portion. The hook can be removably secured in the hook receptacle. 
         [0008]    The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment and an alternate embodiment of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fishing rod including a hook receptacle in the handle portion thereof in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the fishing rod of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the handle portion of the fishing rod of  FIG. 1  showing the hook in the hook receptacle; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a fishing rod including a hook receptacle in the reel thereof in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    As shown in the drawings, for purposes of illustration, a preferred embodiment of the invention is a receptacle that is built into a fishing rod or reel component, such as the handle, for storing a hook attached to the fishing line. 
         [0014]    For exemplary purposes only, described hereinbelow is a preferred embodiment wherein the receptacle is used with a single hook to be baited. However, this is not a limitation on the present invention. It will be understood that the receptacle can be used with other hooks, such as a lure that includes a plurality of hooks. 
         [0015]    It will be appreciated that terms such as “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “side,” and “below” used herein are merely for ease of description and refer to the orientation of the components as shown in the figures. It should be understood that any orientation of the rod or reel, and the components thereof described herein is within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0016]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment of the fishing rod and reel combination  10  of the present invention includes a rod portion  12 , a first handle portion  14 , a second handle portion  16 , a reel  18 , a line  20 , a hook  22  and a hook receptacle  24 . It will be understood that the type of rod or reel is not a limitation on the present invention. 
         [0017]    The rod portion  12  includes a plurality of line guide portions  26  thereon for guiding the line  20  down the length of the rod portion  12 . However, it will be understood that the type of line guide portion is not a limitation on the present invention. For example, some rods may include a line that runs through the interior of the rod (and that includes line guide portions therein). 
         [0018]    As shown in the figures, the first handle portion  14  extends circumferentially around the outer circumference of the rod portion  12 . The first handle portion  14  can be made of any material. However in a preferred embodiment, the first handle portion  14  is made of cork, EVA foam or the like. However, it will be understood that the material is not a limitation on the present invention. 
         [0019]    The first handle portion  14  is preferably tubular in shape, thereby allowing the rod portion  12  to extend through an axially extending central opening. This shape provides an outer circumferential surface  14   a  and a rear surface  14   b.  In another embodiment, the first handle portion  14  may not extend around the entire outer circumference of the handle portion  14 . 
         [0020]    In a preferred embodiment, the hook receptacle  24  comprises an opening that extends into the first handle portion  14  in a direction that is substantially parallel to the axis of the rod portion  12 . Preferably, the hook receptacle is tubular or cylindrical in shape and is embedded in the first handle portion, such that an opening  24   a  at a first end thereof is substantially flush with the rear surface  14   b.  However, it will be understood that the hook receptacle does not have to be tubular or cylindrical in shape. Any shape that allows a hook to be inserted therein is within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0021]    In the embodiment shown in the figures, the hook receptacle  24  has an open end  24   a  and a closed end  24   b.  However, in another embodiment, both ends are open. In a preferred embodiment, the hook receptacle  24  is made of a metal, such as aluminum or stainless steel, however, it can also be made of another rigid material, such as a plastic. 
         [0022]    It will be understood that the hook receptacle  24  may also be an opening defined in the first handle portion  14  (or other component) as opposed to being a tube that is embedded therein. For example, the first handle portion  14  may be made of a hard plastic and include the hook receptacle  24  molded therein. 
         [0023]    To use the present invention, before transporting or storing the fishing rod and reel  10 , a user takes the hook  22  that is attached to the end of the line  20  and inserts the pointed end into the hook receptacle  24 , as best shown in  FIG. 3 . In some instances, the user may wind the reel to place tension in the line  20  to help secure the hook  22  in the hook receptacle  24 . 
         [0024]    In an alternative embodiment of the invention the hook receptacle may be defined in the outer circumferential surface  14   a  of the first handle portion  14 . In this embodiment, an opening is defined in the outer circumferential surface  14   a,  but at least a portion of the opening runs parallel to the axis of the rod portion  12 . Therefore, the opening is still flush with the outer circumferential surface  14   a,  and nothing protrudes from the first handle portion  14 , thereby preventing any protruding parts from getting in the way of a user. This embodiment may comprise a tube embedded, molded or defined in the first handle portion that includes an axis parallel to the rod portion  12 , but that has it&#39;s rearward facing end open to the exterior of the outer circumferential surface  14   a  of the first handle portion  14 . Such a hook receptacle could also be included on the second handle portion  26  or the rod portion  12 . 
         [0025]    In another embodiment, the first handle portion  14  (or other component) may be made of a softer material, such as cork or EVA foam, and may have a tubular shaped opening defined therein, similar to that shown in  FIG. 3 . However, instead of embedding a long tube therein, the hook receptacle may include a rigid ring disposed therein. 
         [0026]    It will be further understood that the hook receptacle  24  does not have to be included on the first handle portion  14 , but can be included in any component of the fishing rod or reel. In another embodiment, the hook receptacle  24  can be embedded, molded or defined in the second handle portion  16 . In another embodiment, the first and second handle portions can be connected to define a single aftgrip or aft handle portion that includes the hook receptacle. In another embodiment, the rod can include a foregrip that is located ahead of the reel seat and that includes a hook receptacle. In yet another embodiment, the rod can include a plurality of hook receptacles either on the same handle portions or on different handle portions. The placement nor size of the handle portion is not a limitation on the present invention. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , in another embodiment, the hook receptacle  24  can be embedded, molded or defined in the reel  18 . Here, the receptacle  24  is located in the reel foot. Other reels include a cross bar that spans the portion of the reel where the line is spooled. It is within the scope of the present invention to include a hook receptacle in the cross bar. In this embodiment, the receptacle may be an opening defined in the cross bar into which the hook is inserted. 
         [0028]    The embodiments described above are exemplary embodiments of a hook receiver and its placement on a fishing pole. The invention is readily applicable to areas on the fishing pole other than the handle or reel. Those skilled in the art may now make numerous uses of, and departures from, the above-described embodiments without departing from the inventive concepts disclosed herein. Accordingly, the present invention is to be defined solely by the scope of the following claims.