Abstract:
A fishing post cap that is configurable to dock posts of different cross-sectional areas. The post cap may have a carrying handle. Attached to the cap are a plurality of post cap accessories, such as cup holders, mini-tackle box, a fishing pole holder and gear hooks. The method of using the fishing post cap includes positioning the fishing post cap upon one post and then reconfiguring for another post if necessary. The method also includes the step positioning the fishing pole over water.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part and claims benefit from U.S. application Ser. No. 10/171,105 filed Jun. 13, 2002 of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to a removable post cap for attachment atop one of the dock support posts of docks or piers, commonly used to extend access from the shore out into a lake, ocean harbor, etc.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     This invention relates to a device, based upon a removable post cap particularly adapted for attachment to exterior end posts of docks, commonly associated with fresh water lakes. It is understood, however, that it could also be used for piers that extend into the ocean.  
         [0004]     Docks or piers allowing access beyond just the shoreline of fresh water lakes or to the ocean are common. The invention will be described hereafter particularly with respect to fresh water lake docks, but it is understood that it could be used with piers as well.  
         [0005]     Commonly along fresh water lakes, the shoreline property owners use docks. The dock provides accessibility to a boat hoist, the lakeshore owner&#39;s boat, and provides a seating area to enjoy sitting, surrounded by water for fishing or relaxation.  
         [0006]     One of the reasons the end of such docks are used for fishing is because the area under the docks and the shadows caused by the dock usually provide an area around which fish congregate. When one is engaged in such fishing activity, one&#39;s tackle box, lures and leaders are all at risk as they sit on the end of the dock. It is not uncommon to spill those over into the water, losing them.  
         [0007]     Moreover, the top end of dock posts are often susceptible to environmental damage caused by extreme heat, sun, rain, moisture, humidity, etc. As a result, dock posts, particularly if they are of wood, commonly rot. If they are metal tubes, it is not uncommon to lose things, falling down into the interior shaft of the dock post.  
         [0008]     It therefore can be seen that a need exists for some sort of a system to be placed on top of dock posts which allow safekeeping of fishing gear, lures, etc. and which provides an environmentally safe protective cover on top of the dock post. This invention has as its primary objective the fulfillment of this need.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     With respect to the preferred embodiment, the invention provides a post cap which can be positioned on top of an end dock post. The post cap is easily removable from the post to allow easy, convenient portability from one post to another. The post cap has attached a plurality of post cap accessories. Acceptable and usable accessories include, but are not limited to, cup/can holders, a mini-tackle box, fishing pole holders and gear hooks.  
         [0010]     The post cap is configurable to dock posts of different cross-sectional areas. The method of using the fishing post cap includes positioning the fishing post cap upon one post and then reconfiguring for another post if necessary. The method also includes the step positioning the fishing pole over water. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a fishing post cap in perspective view mounted on a dock post.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a fishing post cap in perspective view with the tackle box open and a bottom insert section hanging by a tether.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the fishing post cap with a loop for attaching a live well, fish basket and/or fish stringer.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the fishing post cap with a fishing pole holder.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the fishing post cap.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the fishing post cap. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]     This invention relates to an integral dock post cap referred to generally as  10  for fitting over the top end of dock post  12 .  
         [0018]     Referring now to the post cap  10  as seen in  FIG. 1 , it comprises four sides  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20  and a top  22 , all joined to form a cap which can fit over dock posts  12 A-D. Attached to the post cap top  22  is handle  24 . It can therefore be seen that cap  10  can be inserted over the top of the posts  12 A-D and may provide an environmental-proof top. Moreover, the cap  10  is not attached at all and can be easily removed simply by lifting on handle  24 , and sliding the cap  10  and all of the attached accessories off the post thus making it an easy carrier for the contents of the cap accessories.  
         [0019]     Attached to the various sides  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20  of post cap  10  are a variety of post cap accessories. The accessories can vary as much as the imagination of the fisherman/lakeshore owner desires. They can include, however, a cup/can holder  26 , a mini-tackle box  28 , a fishing pole holder  30 , and gear loops  32 . The gear loops  32  may be used to hold a towel or to attach a live well, fish basket, and/or fish stringer. Mini-tackle box  28  has a lid  34  that is hingedly attached at  36  to tackle box  28 . The mini-tackle box  28  has a grooved rim  35  upon which spinner bait, hooks, and/or other fishing lure may be attached. It goes without saying that other accessories could be provided in lieu or in addition to those mentioned. For example, a holder for a minnow bucket could be attached. A mini ice chest could be attached, a mini first aid kit holder could be attached, a mini radio holder could be attached, etc.  
         [0020]     As seen in  FIGS. 1, 4 ,  5  and  6 , the fishing pole holder  30  is positioned at an angle that prevents the fishing pole from being pulled out when a fish is caught. This angle is approximately 33 degrees from the bottom of the fishing cap post  10 . The fishing pole holder  30  has a front end  46  that is rounded such that the fishing pole may be easily inserted into the holder  30 . The fishing pole holder also has a rear end  48  that is flat and has a pronounced sharp edge that that engages the fishing pole to prevent unintended release of the fishing pole from the holder  30 .  
         [0021]     The post cap  10  is moveable between a variety of dock posts including common rectangular and cylindrical posts. Docks are commonly constructed using a 4″×4″ square wooden posts, a 3″ diameter cylindrical wooden posts, 1½″ to 2″ diameter metal rods, a combination of wooden post and metal rod, and/or other wooden post and metal rod. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the post cap  10  is in place upon dock post  12 A that has an approximately flush top end. The post cap can be moved to dock post  12 B that has a beveled upper end or the post cap  10  can be reconfigured using bottom insert  42  to be placed upon rod  12 C.  
         [0022]     As seen in  FIGS. 2-6 , the post cap  10  has a tapered portion  38  that accommodates a variety of rectangular posts and cylindrical posts. As illustrated, the fishing post cap  10  is designed to fit upon a 4″×4″ square post. The fishing post cap  10  also accepts dock posts  12 B that have a top bevel and permits the posts  12 B inclined surface to rest against the inner side of the tapered portion  38 .  
         [0023]     The fishing post cap accepts a variety of different sized dock posts. As illustrated, those that are sized less than a 4″×4″ rectangular post will have a top end rest upon a portion of the inner side of the tapered portion  38 . The fishing post cap  10  may tilt slightly to abut the dock post  12 .  
         [0024]     The post cap  10  also has a bottom insert section  42  that, as illustrated, accepts cylindrical posts. A removable bottom insert section  42  can be seen in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  6  and has clips  44  that grip an opening in the cap bottom  23 . The bottom section  42  is removable so that it may accommodate different types of dock posts. The bottom section  42  has a circular opening  44  that receives a cylindrical post; which is typically 2″ or 1.5″ in diameter. The post cap  10  also has a cylindrical center section  40  for receiving the cylindrical post  12 C at the top  22  of the post cap  10 . The post cap  10  can also receive cylindrical post  12 D that is larger than the circular opening  44  by removing the insert  42 . The post cap can be made from metals such as steel and/or aluminum, or it can be plastic. If plastic, injection molded units of unitary configuration or rotomold configurations work well.  
         [0025]     As seen in  FIG. 1 , the fishing post cap  10  is positioned such that a fishing pole in fishing pole holder  30  extends out over the water. Additionally, the fishing post cap  10  is positioned such that the a gear loop  32  on side  16  may have a live well, fish basket and/or fish stringer (not shown) attached to the gear loop and extend directly into the water. A live well is typically a cage for storing the fish alive in the water and also has a line attached to it for connecting the cage to a boat or dock.  
         [0026]     From above it can be seen that the invention accomplishes all of its stated objectives.