Abstract:
A detachable grip is provided with bracket system that can be removably attached to a desired location along the length of a fishing rod, and that has a removable grip which attaches to the bracket. More particularly, in one embodiment the bracket girdles the fishing rod using bolts to fasten a top half of the bracket to the bottom half of the bracket. In one or more embodiments, the grip attaches to the bracket and extends in a direction away from the bracket that is substantially in a direction perpendicular to the rod. In one embodiment, the grip is attached to the bracket by a bolt, and is adapted to allow the grip to be readily detached.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/072,505, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to fishing rod grips in general, and more particularly to fishing rod grips that project in a direction substantially perpendicular and away from the fishing rod. 
     Anglers must often continuously hold a fishing rod by hand over long periods of time while waiting for a fish to strike. Since the typical fishing rod is linear, and the tip of the rod must be pointed in the general direction of the water, the angler is forced to hold the rod with a rotated or bent wrist. Over time, this contortion of the wrist can cause discomfort, fatigue or injury. Furthermore, the potential for discomfort, fatigue or injury to the wrist is exacerbated when a fish strikes and the angler must maintain a strong grip on the rod, or when the angler must make a repeated motion involved in casting a lure. Altogether, fishing for long periods of time can place a substantial strain on the wrist, arm, neck, back and shoulders of the angler. Several rod configurations have been proposed to ameliorate these risks, but there remains a need for improvement. 
     A grip that extends in a perpendicular direction from a fishing rod is useful for the angler&#39;s handling of a fishing rod, and may reduce the potential for wrist discomfort, fatigue, or injury. However, such an extension becomes a hindrance to storage when a fishing rod is not in use and can interfere with an angler carrying multiple fishing rods at the same time. Moreover, the placement of a perpendicular extension may be useful for some types of fishing, but may be a hindrance for other types of fishing. Thus, there is a need for an improved vertical extension grip that can both reduce the potential for wrist injury, while also being easily removed when not in use and easily repositioned for alternative types of fishing. 
     Other generally rod-shaped objects must be held by hand and similarly pose the potential for bodily fatigue or injury. Thus, there is a need for an improved grip for holding generally rod shaped objects. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention described herein overcomes the deficiencies of current fishing rod designs with respect to the positioning of the angler&#39;s wrist, and overcomes handling and storage problems of vertical grips when the rod is not in use. Among other things, the present invention provides various fishing rod grips that are removably attachable to a fishing rod. 
     One or more embodiments of the present invention provides a top half of a bracket and a bottom half of a bracket that are adapted to girdle a fishing rod. Either the top half or bottom half or both are attached to a grip that projects substantially perpendicularly from the length of the girdled rod. Specifically, one or more embodiments may comprise a grip having a top and a bottom. The top of the grip may be adapted to receive a bolt having a first end and a second end. The top half of a bracket may have a substantially concave form defining a first interior area substantially in the shape of a half-cylinder. The bottom half of the bracket may have a substantially concave form defining a second interior area substantially in the shape of a half-cylinder. The top half and the bottom half of the bracket may be reversibly mated, with the flat part of the first interior area junctioning with the flat part of the second interior area to form a single interior area substantially in the shape of a cylinder. This interior area is the space around which the fishing rod grip may girdle the rod. The top of the grip may be reversibly mated with a first end of a bolt and either the top half or the bottom half are reversibly mated with the second end of the bolt. Thus, the present invention provides a means for both attaching a fishing rod grip in a desired position along the length of a rod, and also provides a means for easily attaching and removing a grip to the mated bracket halves girdling the rod. 
     In other embodiments, the fishing rod grip of the present invention may comprise a top half defining one or more individual through-holes and a bottom half defining one or more individual receptor holes. The one or more individual through-holes may line up directly with the individual receptor holes and may be adapted to receive a threaded end of a bolt. In this manner, the top half and the bottom half may be held in a mated position girdling a fishing rod by screwing a bolt in place through the top half into the bottom half, thereby pinching the fishing rod between. The benefits of this system are that the fishing rod grip may be placed at any point along the length of a fishing rod. 
     In other embodiments, the fishing rod grip of the present invention may comprise a top half defining through-holes that are low-relief. In this manner, the head of a bolt would be below the upper surface of the top half, when the top half and the bottom half are reversibly bolted together. This type of debossed though-hole prevents an angler&#39;s hand or other material from getting scratched, or prevents any other material getting entangled by the head of the bolt. 
     In one or more embodiments, a flexible material may be attached to the concave side of the top half and bottom half of the bracket. This material may enhance the clenching of the top half and bottom half around the fishing rod when in a mated position. Furthermore, a grasp enhancing material may be attached to the outer surface of the grip. This material can serve the purpose of both helping the angler to keep a grasp on the grip and also provide additional comfort. 
     In one or more embodiments, the grip of the fishing rod grip may have a frustoconical shape and also define an interior space. The grip may further comprise interior support beams to enhance its strength. Other grip shapes and structures are possible, however, including a solid or hollow cylinder shape or hour-glass shape, among others. 
     Similarly, one or more embodiments of the bracket aspect of the invention may be formed into a variety of hollow or solid shapes. In some embodiments, the top half and the bottom half may be adapted to girdle a fishing rod. 
     The top half, bottom half, and the grip may optionally be made of steel, wood, plastic, aluminum, hardened rubber, graphite, thermoplastics, hybrid mixtures of metal and composites, or any other substantially stiff material. 
     While some embodiments of the invention described herein may be adapted to girdle a fishing rod, other embodiments of the invention may be adapted to girdle other rod-shaped objects which are used in a manner involving push, pull or lift motions. For example, some embodiments of the present invention may be adapted to girdle brooms, shovels, rakes, hoes, tampers, picks, axes, crowbars, pry bars, tree pruners, fruit pickers, sidewalk scrapers, paint roller poles, post-hole diggers, pole saws, sickles, grass hooks, pitch forks, garden tillers, ground aerator, root irrigators, and the like. By way of non-limiting, specific example, one or more embodiments of the invention may be adapted to girdle the forestock (fore-end) or barrel of a riffle. The description of various embodiments of the present invention as being adapted to girdling a fishing rod should not be read as limiting the invention to those particular configurations. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention attached to a typical linear fishing rod. 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a cross sectional side view of one embodiment of the grip part of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the grip part of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2C  illustrates a top view of one embodiment of the grip part of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2D  illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the grip part of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2E  illustrates a bottom view of one embodiment of the grip part of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates a cross sectional side view of one embodiment of the top half of the bracket part of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates a top view of one embodiment of the top half of the bracket part of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3C  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the top half of the bracket part of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3D  illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the top half of the bracket part of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3E  illustrates another side view of one embodiment of the top half of the bracket part of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3F  illustrates another side view of one embodiment of the top half of the bracket part of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3G  illustrates a bottom view of one embodiment of the top half of the bracket part of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates a cross sectional side view of the bottom half of one embodiment of the bracket part of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates a top view of the bottom half of one embodiment of the bracket part of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4C  illustrates a perspective view of the bottom half of one embodiment of the bracket part of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4D  illustrates another side view of the bottom half of one embodiment of the bracket part of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4E  illustrates another side view of the bottom half of one embodiment of the bracket part of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4F  illustrates another side view of the bottom half of one embodiment of the bracket part of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4G  illustrates a bottom view of the bottom half of one embodiment of the bracket part of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5A  illustrates a cross sectional top view of the bracket part of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5B  illustrates a side view of one embodiment of the grip part of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5C  illustrates a side view of another embodiment of the grip part of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5D  illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention attached to a typical linear fishing rod. 
         FIG. 6A  illustrates a cross sectional side view of a partially assembled embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6B  illustrates another cross sectional side view of one embodiment of a partially assembled fishing rod grip of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of a partially dissembled embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure describes the best mode or modes of practicing the invention as currently contemplated. This description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but provides an example of the invention presented solely for illustrative purposes by reference to the accompanying drawings to advise one of ordinary skill in the art of the advantages and construction of the invention. In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar parts. 
       FIG. 1  shows an exemplary and non-limiting example of one embodiment of the fishing rod grip  100  of the invention.  FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a fishing rod grip  100  comprising a bracket  110  and a grip  120  as attached to a typical linear fishing rod  101 . Specifically, the fishing rod grip  100  is attached via the bracket  110  which girdles the linear fishing rod  101 . In this particular embodiment, the fishing rod grip  100  is attached to the rod  101  in a proximal position above the reel  102 . In other embodiments of the present invention, the fishing rod grip  100  may be attached to the linear rod  101  in a position proximally below the reel  102 . In yet other embodiments the fishing rod grip  100  may be attached to the fishing rod  101  and distal position below, or a distal position above, the reel  102 . In the particular embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the grip  120  of the fishing rod grip  100  is positioned trans-to the reel  102 . In other words, in the embodiment seen in  FIG. 1 , the grip  120  is positioned on the far-side of the reel  102  on the fishing rod  101 . Other embodiments of the grip  120  of the present invention  100  may be positioned cis-to the reel. In yet other embodiments, the grip  120  may be at any other position of rotation relative to the reel  102  around the linear fishing rod  101 . 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the bracket  110  comprises an attached flexible material that contacts the fishing rod  101  while the bracket  110  girdles the rod. This flexible material can be composed of any padding or other material that is capable of being deformed or bent without breaking, and is adapted to accommodate girdling of fishing rods of varying diameters by the bracket  110 . The flexible material is located substantially inside of the concave portions of the bracket, in a position between the bracket and the fishing rod. 
     In one or more embodiments, the bracket  110  and the grip  120  of the fishing rod grip  100  comprises a substantially inflexible material. For example, in one embodiment, the bracket  110  and the grip  120  are composed of stainless steel. Other substantially inflexible materials may be used as well, including plastic, aluminum, wood, hardened rubber, graphite, thermoplastics, hybrid mixtures of metal and composites. 
     One or more embodiments of the present invention employ a bracket  110  that is comprised of a top half  130  and a bottom half  140 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 3  A, B, and E, one or more embodiments of the top half  130  may have a form that defines an interior space  135 . In one embodiment, the interior space  135  is substantially in the shape of a half-cylinder, and is adapted to having a width at its widest that is substantially the same as the cross sectional diameter of a fishing rod. As seen in  FIGS. 3  B and G, some embodiments of the top half  130  of the bracket  110  may have a substantially square shape when viewed from above. As can be seen in  FIGS. 3  B, D, F, and G, one or more embodiments of the top half  130  of the bracket  110  may be adapted to define one or more through-holes  150 . There are four separate though holes  150 ; each one located in a position that is substantially in the corners of a substantially square-shaped top half  130  of the bracket  110  when viewed from above. Other embodiments of the top half  130  of the bracket  110  of the present invention may comprise more than four, or less than four, through-holes  150 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 3  A-G, the through-holes  150  may be partially or fully debossed in the top half  130  of the bracket  110 . Debossed through-holes are oriented in a position that is perpendicular to the flat part of the half-cylinder interior space  135  that is defined by the top half  130 . In other embodiments, however, debossed through-holes  150  may be oriented at various other angles relative to the flat part of the half-cylinder interior space  135 , or oriented at various other angles relative to each other. In various embodiments, the through-holes  150  of the top half  130  may be adapted to allow the shank of a screw or bolt of varying sizes to substantially pass through the through hole  150 . 
     As seen in  FIGS. 3  A and G, the top half  130  of the bracket  110 , may be comprised of one or more support beams  160 . These support beams  160  may be continuous with the rest of the top half  130 , or may be separate structures that are attached to the top half  130 . As seen in  FIGS. 3  A and G, in one embodiment, the support beams  160  are adapted to support the structure of the top half  130  by resisting bending stresses from a direction perpendicular to the support beam  160  length. Any substantially inflexible material may comprise the support beams  160  such as stainless steel, plastic, aluminum, wood, hardened rubber, graphite, thermoplastics, hybrid mixtures of metal and composites. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 3  A and G, there are two parallel support beams  160  perpendicular to a single support beam  160 . However, in various embodiments, the top half  130  may comprise one or more support beams  160  oriented at various other positions relative to each other. 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 4  A, C, and E, one or more embodiments of the bottom half  140  of the bracket  110  have a form that defines an interior space  145 . The interior space  145  is substantially in the shape of a half-cylinder and is adapted to have a width at its widest point that is substantially the same as the cross sectional diameter of a fishing rod. Some embodiments of the bottom half  140  of the bracket  110  may have a substantially square shape when viewed from above ( FIG. 4   b ) or below ( FIG. 4   g ). As seen in  FIGS. 4  A, B, and C, the bottom half  140  may be adapted to define one or more receptor holes  170 . The receptor holes  170  are adapted to receive the shank of a bolt or screw. There are four separate receptor holes  170 ; each hole  170  located in a position that is substantially in the corners of a substantially square-shaped bottom half  140  of the bracket  110 . Other embodiments of the bottom half  140  of the bracket  110  of the present invention may comprise more than four or less than four receptor holes  170 . Receptor holes  170  are oriented in a position that is perpendicular to the flat part of the semi-circle interior space  145  that is defined by the bottom half  140 . In other embodiments, however, receptor holes  170  may be oriented at various other angles relative to the flat part of the semi-circle interior space  145 , or oriented at various other angles relative to each other. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 4  A and B, the bottom half  140  of the bracket  110 , may be comprised of one or more support beams  180 . These support beams  180  may be continuous with the rest of the bottom half  140 , or may be separate structures that are attached to the bottom half  140 . As seen in  FIGS. 4  A and B, the support beams  180  are adapted to support the structure of the bottom half  140  by resisting bending stresses from a direction perpendicular to the support beam  180  length. Any substantially inflexible material may comprise the support beams  180  such as stainless steel, plastic, aluminum, wood, hardened rubber, graphite, thermoplastics, hybrid mixtures of metal and composites. As illustrated in  FIG. 4  B, there are two parallel support beams  180  perpendicular to a single support beam  180 . However, in various embodiments, the bottom half  140  may comprise one or more support beams  180  oriented at various other positions relative to each other. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 4  C, D, E, and F, the bottom half  140  of the bracket  110 , may comprise a projection  190  that extends outwardly from beneath the bottom half  140 . In one or more embodiments, the projection  190  is adapted to receive the shank of a bolt or screw. Specifically, the projection  190  may define an empty space  195  which is capable of receiving a bolt or screw. 
     While some embodiments of the present invention have described the bracket  110  as reversibly girdling a generally rod-shaped object, other embodiments of the bracket  110  may be permanently fixed to the rod-shaped object. In some embodiments, the bracket  110  is permanently built into the generally rod shaped object, with the grip  120  being mateably detachable. Some embodiments may employ bolts or screws to permanently affix the bracket  110  to the generally rod-shaped object, while other embodiments may use adhesives. The description of various embodiments of the bracket  110  as adapted to being reversibly attached should not be read as limiting the invention to those particular configurations. 
     One or more embodiments of the present invention also comprise a grip  120  which may be detachably connected to the bracket  110 . As seen in  FIGS. 5  B and C, the grip  120  has a top  121  and a bottom  122 , and may comprise a bolt  200  extending vertically from the top  121  of the grip  120 . In one embodiment of the invention, the bolt  200  is adapted to be screwed into an empty space  195  defined by the projection  190  ( FIG. 6 ). In some embodiments, the top of the grip  120  is fashioned so as to form a substantially continuous surface between the grip  120  and the projection  190  when the grip  120  and projection  190  are fully mated. As seen in  FIGS. 2  A, B, C, D, and E, in some embodiments the grip may have a frustoconical shape. Also, as seen in  FIG. 2A , in some embodiments the grip may define a hollow space  127 . The grip of the present invention may also have an opening  125  in the top  121  of the grip  120  that is adapted to receive the shank of a bolt of a screw ( FIGS. 2  A, C and E). Other embodiments may have a second opening  128  located on the bottom  122  of the grip  120  ( FIGS. 2  A and E). The structure of the grip  120  may comprise one or more support beams  126 . The support beams  126  may be positioned radially from the center of the opening  125  of the grip  120 . In one or more embodiments, the outer surface of the grip  120  may comprise a material that enhances the angler&#39;s grip on the grip  120 , or enhances the angler&#39;s comfort. For example, in one or more embodiments, the outer surface comprises foam padding. 
     One or more embodiments of the invention may comprise a grip  120  that is adapted to be heated or cooled. For example, one embodiment of the grip  120  may be attached to a heating or cooling element and a power supply. In some embodiments, the grip  120  may define a hollow area that is adapted to receive and retain a battery and a heating or cooling element. In yet other embodiments, the grip  120  may define a hollow area that is adapted to receive a single-use packet containing chemicals for an endothermic or exothermic reaction. 
     In other embodiments of the present invention, the grip  120  may be adapted to function as a storage space. For example, in some embodiments the grip  120  may define a space adapted to hold fishing lures, and may comprise a removable lid. 
     Some embodiments of the present invention may comprise a grip  120  that is adapted to being substantially encapsulated by a viscid material. In one or more embodiments, the grip  120  is adapted to receive a viscid sleeve which may permanently or removeably slide or roll onto the grip  120 . Other embodiments of the grip  120  may be adapted to adhere to various tacky materials such as tape. 
       FIGS. 6  A and B illustrate two different cross sectional side views of one embodiment of a partially assembled fishing rod grip  100  of the present invention. As seen in both  FIGS. 6  A and B, one or more embodiments of the top half  130  and the bottom half  140  of the bracket  110  are mateable. The through-holes  150  defined by the top half  130  are lined up with the receptor holes  170  defined by the bottom half  140  when the top half  130  is fully mated with the bottom half  140 . While mated, a screw  210  may be screwed or inserted through the through-hole  150  and screwed into the hole  170 , thereby holding the top half  130  and the bottom half  140  together. While in the mated position, one or more embodiments of the top half  130  and the bottom half  140  define an interior space  220 . In one embodiment, the interior space  220  is defined as substantially cylindrical (See  FIG. 6  B). The mated top half  130  and bottom half  140  define a space  120  which has a three dimensional structure that approximates the dimensions of a section of a fishing rod. Whether or not the top half  130  and bottom half  140  are mated, the grip  120  may be mated with the bottom half  140  by screwing the bolt  200  projecting from the grip  120  into the empty space  195  that is defined by the projection  190 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 6  B, one or more embodiments of the top half  130  and the bottom half  140  of the bracket  110  comprise teeth  230  positioned on the surface that defines the interior space  135 ,  145 ,  220 . The teeth  230  may be made of any hard or soft material, and may be formed in any shape or size that fits within the boundaries of the space  220  when the top half  130  and bottom half  140  of the bracket  110  are mated. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention in a partially disassembled state. As seen in  FIG. 7 , in one or more embodiments the grip  120  is detachable from the bracket  110 . In some embodiments, the grip  120  is reversibly mated to the bracket  110  via a bolt  200  that extends from the top  121  of the grip  120 . In some embodiments, the bolt  200  may be received by the bottom half  140  of the bracket  110 . 
     In one or more embodiments of the present invention, the top half  130  and bottom half  140  may be attached to one another and/or attached to a generally rod shaped object by a permanent or non-permanent adhesive. The adhesive may be used alone or in combination with bolts that hold the top half  130  and bottom half  140  together, while girdling the generally rod shaped object. The types of possible adhesives include pastes, liquids, films, pellets, tape, hot melt, reactive hot melt, thermosetting, pressure sensitive, contact, structural, semi-structural, or non-structural adhesives. 
     While the invention has heretofore been described with certain degrees of particularity, there are countless configurations for the grip of the present invention.  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 7  illustrate only a few possible configurations, and in no way should be construed as limiting the application of the inventive apparatus to those configurations. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.