Abstract:
A telescopic outrigger for use with fishing vessels. The outrigger of the instant invention has multiple tubes that are circular in shape and each include a means for securing to an adjoining tube and locking in a position relative thereto. The circular shape allowing for ease of sealing the connecting components from the elements. An internal locking mechanism for positive interlocking of adjoining tubes can be accessed externally for ease of servicing. The extension of the adjoining tubes by the locking mechanism allows for movement of the outrigger pole from a stowage position to a deployment position and vice versa.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims the priority date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/251,175, filed Oct. 13, 2009, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to the field of fishing and more particularly to a telescoping outrigger pole for use on fishing boats. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Outriggers are a common fixture on fishing vessels. Open fishing vessels typically run extremely fast and are highly maneuverable making them the preferred vessel for most fishing events. Smaller fishing vessels, especially those that are operated at high speed or have height restraints, have a particular advantage in using outriggers that can be stored in a compact position and telescope for use as a full sized outrigger. 
     Mounting an outrigger system on an open fishing vessel is typically performed from the T-top but can easily be adapted to sidewalls and even rod holders. Many open fishing vessels now include the use of the T-top that, as the name implies, is formed from a “T” like structure to provide shade and rain protection for those standing around the console. The T-top does not inhibit operation of the vessel and allows an occupant to walk around the vessel uninhibited in a semi-protected position. 
     Fishing with outriggers is performed when a fishing vessel is driven slowly, commonly referred to as trolling, which permits the strategic placement of bait behind the vessel. Trolling allows the fishing vessel to cover large areas of water so as to increase the chance of catching fish. The quantity and spacing of the bait placed behind the vessel is generally proportional to the size of the vessel, as well as the success of the fishing expedition. If the bait is properly placed, the wake generated by the vessel can be made to appear like a school of fish. Bait that appears to be struggling or separated are most attractive to predator fish. 
     The positioning of bait behind a vessel would be limited to the width of the vessel but for the use of the outriggers. Smaller fishing vessels have a beam less than ten feet and trolling with more than two fishing lines behind such a vessel provides very little distance between the baits and further limits the ability to place bait outside of the boat wake. Further, trolling with two lines behind a narrow beam vessel severely limits vessel maneuvering. Even a gradual turn may cause bait lines to cross and become entangled. In addition, closely positioned baits can become entangled during a fish strike. The use of outriggers provides a means for effectively widening the spacing of the bait, as well as adding additional bait/lines without fear of tangling of the lines. 
     An outrigger is basically a long pole having a proximal end coupled to the vessel and a distal end that can be rotated from a stowage position outboard to a trolling position. A positioning line is drawn along the length of the outrigger pole wherein release clips secured to the positioning line are used to secure the fishing pole line at a desired outboard location. When a fish strikes the bait, the release clip disengages the fishing line from the positioning line, and the fisherman is free to reel in the fish without interference. 
     For example, a fifteen foot outrigger placed on each side of a vessel having an eight foot beam allows the placement of bait across a large area thereby increasing the opportunity of catching fish. However, having outrigger poles extend from each side of a vessel during non-fishing times has obvious drawbacks. For this reason, outriggers must be stowable to allow for normal traveling and docking. The outriggers are typically stored within the vertical plane of the vessel, the vertical plane defined by the side walls of the vessel. In operation, a fixed outrigger is swung laterally outward to a deployed position for fishing purposes. Outrigger poles may be ten to over thirty feet long with the longer poles having cable trusses to prevent excessive flexing. The length of the fixed poles makes it difficult to remove for storage away from the vessel, thus the vessel owner must accommodate for the onboard storage of fixed outriggers even when the vessel is not use for fishing. 
     Mounting of long outriggers to open fishing vessels presents numerous problems, mainly due to storage when they are not in use. If a vessel employs the elongated outriggers, the outriggers could easily extend over the rear of the vessel. If the vessel has backed into a dock, the outriggers could extend over the dock leading to a most dangerous position. Even if the vessel is docked with it bow inward, the use of long outriggers hanging over the transom could affect boat traffic behind the vessel. Another problem can be low bridges which must be taken into account while passing beneath the bridge. 
     Another problem with long outriggers can be traveling in high speeds or over large swells. Even if the outriggers are in a stored position, long outriggers can place a large strain on the mounting base wherein the cantilever effect can easily damage the base. Also, should the full length of an outrigger be deployed in large swells, should the boat be caught in a trough the long outrigger could dip beneath water which can damage the outrigger. 
     An alternative to fixed outriggers is the use of a telescoping outrigger. Such an outer may use multiple tubes to that can be stored within each other or extended outwardly when needed. In a compressed state, the outrigger is compact for each of storage or movement. While the outrigger may maintain a conventional tubular shape, a non tubular, shaped, or grooved tube may be used as to prevent rotation of the member tubes to ease in locking during the telescoping step. However, shaped tubes, and tubes that are grooved are more expensive to manufacture, are not appealing to the consumer, and the shape is known for galling of metals. Further, shapes and grooves do not allow for the proper sealing between members leading to early corrosion problems. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,196 discloses an outrigger assembly for use with a fishing vessel having an elongated tubular section in receipt of smaller cross-sections telescopingly joined, which are movable from a retracted position to a fully extended position. A spring lock assembly is formed from a hair pin styled spring wherein a locking button is attached to one spring leg and an opposing second spring engages an inside wall portion of the elongated tubular section. The assembly includes multiple extension tubes each with an internally positioned spring lock for locking each tube in an extended position. The internally positioned spring lock is commonly used with patio umbrellas and known to be easily dislodged and difficult to reposition. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,574 discloses an outrigger assembly for use with a fishing vessel employing multiple D-shaped extension tubes. The D-shape prevents rotation of the individual telescoping tubes when moved from a stowage position to a deployment position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,025,015 discloses an outrigger assembly for use with a fishing vessel having multiple extension tubes each with an external groove and cooperating internal protrusion. The groove and protrusion interface to prevent rotation of the extension tube when being moved from a stowage position to a deployment position. By preventing the rotation, a spring load plunger used to interlock adjoining extension tubes is always aligned. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,431 discloses a telescoping device having pins that rest in grooves upon the extension of subsequent telescoping sections. The multiple shaped tubes lead to premature wear in an operation such as seawater use and the locking mechanism disclosed is a series of pins having a butting end within grooves so that the pin prevents the tube from escaping outward. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,006,477; 6,761,501; and 6,854,919 disclose telescoping tubes each having a spring lock to interlock the individual tubes. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,387,048 discloses an umbrella having telescoping tubes wherein a spring loaded plunger is employed for engagement of multiple tubes. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,017 discloses a flag pole having telescoping tubes wherein a rotation of the tubes is inhibited by use of an inwardly protecting rib. 
     The Assignee of this present invention is the owner of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,738,035; 4,993,346; 6,769,377, and Provisional Ser. No. 61/251,009 incorporated herein by reference, which teach the use of outriggers for use on fishing vessels having a T-top, half tower, or the like. 
     Accordingly, what is lacking in the art is a telescoping outrigger that eliminates the need for groove or odd shaped members to assist in deployment locking. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention discloses an improved telescopic outrigger for use with fishing vessels. The outrigger has multiple tubes that are circular in shape and each include a collar mounted on a first outrigger tube that is operatively associated with a shoulder and plunger base sleeve mounted on a second outrigger tube. The second outrigger tube slidable within the first outrigger tube. A movable shoulder bolt is securable to the collar thereby locking said first and second outrigger in a fixed position. 
     An objective of the invention is to provide a telescoping outrigger that retains the smooth cylindrical outer shape to allow for ease of assembly, cleaning and polishing. 
     Another objective of the invention is to disclose a telescoping outrigger that eliminates the need for shaped tubes and/or grooved tubes for use in extension tube alignment. 
     Still another objective of the instant invention is to teach the use of conventional tubing to lower production costs yet improving longevity and appearance. 
     Still another objective of the instant invention is to disclose the use of a locking mechanism that is engaged external of the telescoping poles and can be accessed for repair or replacement without the use of special tools. 
     Yet another objective of the instant invention is to provide telescoping outrigger that allows for rotation of the tubes between the stowage position and the deployment position and the use of seals to inhibit matter from being trapped within the support sections. 
     Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objectives and features thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a pictorial view of a vessel with the telescoping pole of the instant invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the telescoping pole; 
         FIG. 3  is cross sectional side view of the shoulder bolt and plunger assembly; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the shoulder bolt and plunger assembly; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of the plunger assembly shown in an engaged position; 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the plunger assembly shown in a disengaged position; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional side view of a 15′ telescoping pole assembly in a collapsed position; and 
         FIG. 8  is a cross sectional side view of a 15′ telescoping pole assembly in an extended position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Now referring to the figures, set forth is a fishing vessel  10  having a centrally located console  12  with a T-top  14  extending over the console  12  providing an area of shade for the those occupants standing around the console. The outrigger assembly  20  of the instant invention includes a base member  22  securable to the T-top  14  having a drive handle positioner  24  mounted beneath the structure  14 . Operation of the drive handle positioner  24  allows the outrigger to have rotational positioning in a horizontal plane relationship to the base member. In this manner the positioner  24  provides positive movement of the distal end  112  of the outrigger pole between a stowage position and a trolling position. For ease of illustration, this specification will be directed to the use of a manual rotatable crank which is not limiting but rather for purposes of illustration. 
     The telescoping outrigger assembly of the instant invention consists of a radial base tube  49  for coupling to an outrigger positioner such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,377, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. The radial base tube  49  may be part of the outrigger drive assembly mounted to a vessel or may be part of the instant telescoping pole assembly depending upon the coupling necessary. A base collar  52  is secured to the radial base tube  49  providing a coupling between the radial base and a first extension tube or member tube  50  having a predetermined length. Additionally, the base collar  52  provides an internal stop so that a proximal end of member tube  64  cannot slip past the base collar  58  while in a stowage position. It should be noted that the length of the radial base tube  49  may be most any size and is dependant upon the manufacturer&#39;s preference for making the overall telescopic length and the mounting mechanism of the outrigger to a vessel. It should also be noted that longer telescoping poles may require a thicker and larger radial base for proper support. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2-4  set forth is a member tube  50  as coupled to the base collar  52  by use of fasteners  51 . In this embodiment, first member tube  50  has a predetermined length ending with a bushing  56  and large collar  58  secured to the distal end of member tube  50  by the use of fasteners  57 . Before securement of the large collar  58  onto the member tube  50 , the second member tube  62  is made ready for securement to the first member by placement of a plunger base  64  into the open end of member tube  62  which is constructed and arranged for slidable insertion with the member tube  50  but not through the large collar  58 . It is noted that the plunger base  64  is secured after the member tube  62  is placed through the collar  58 , and once fastened to the tube the plunger base  64  does not extend beyond the large collar  58 . 
     The plunger base  64  forms part of a locking mechanism consisting of a plunger  68  biased by a spring  70  and a threaded shoulder bolt  72 . The first end  71  of the plunger  68  includes a plastic tip  69  that prevents the scratching of the inner surface of a member tube thereby maintaining the corrosion resistance of the tube. The threaded shoulder bolt  72  is threaded  77  into the plunger base  64  along aperture  80 . The aperture is constructed and arranged to entrap the spring  70  between the shoulder bolt  72  and the second end  73  of the plunger  68 , the aperture  80  sized to allow the first end  71  of the plunger  68  to extend into but not pass through. The plunger  68  having a lip  75  for engaging the collar  81  wherein the plunger may extend through the aperture but not pass through, The first end of the plunger allowed to extend through aperture  116 . The plunger base  64  effectively operates as a stop to prevent the second member  62  from pulling out of a coupling engagement with the first member tube  50 . The second member  62  is of a predetermined length preferably matching the length of first member tube  50  and is coupled to the plunger base  64  in combination with an isolating plunger base sleeve  82 . The plunger base sleeve  82  is sized to correspond with the outer diameter of the plunger base  64  and is sized to slidably move within the inner chamber of the first member tube  50  so as to allow slideable insertion with minimal effort. The plunger base may be formed from delrin or other non-metallic material. Tube member  62  is moved from a storage position by inserting the end of tube member  62  into tube member  50  wherein the extension of plunger  68  through the aperture  80  of the plunger base  62  may engage the locking aperture  92  of the first member tube  50  to position adjoining member  62  in a deployed position. 
     The second member  62  may rotate in relation to the first member  50  when the plunger is not engaged. The plunger base  64  is sized to place the plunger  68  in a position to engage the aperture  92  of first member  50  wherein a rotation of the second member  62  in relation to the first member  50  will allow for the spring biased insertion of the plunger  68  into the aperture  92 . 
     Similarly to the assembly of components on the first member  50 , the use of a second collar  94 , be it smaller than the first collar  58 , and is coupled to the member tube  62  by use of fasteners  96  such as Allen screws  57 . The bushing  98  provides ease of slidable movement of the tube and prevents galling from its connection with the second member tube  62 . The use of a smaller plunger base  102  is inserted before mounting of the collar  94  in bushing  98 . The final member of this embodiment includes the plunger base sleeve  104  which is mounted to the smaller plunger base  102  and secured by placement of the plunger  106 , spring  108 , and shoulder bolt  110 . A tip point  112  extends from the end of the tube for aesthetic purposes, as well as to prevent matter from entering the hollow tube. It should be noted that additional tubes could be mounted to the telescoping pole, albeit the 3 sections being a preferred embodiment. Eye hooks  99  are placed along the length of the telescoping pole for use in the directional control of conventional spreader lines. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , set forth is an illustration of the assembly in an extended position. Tube member  50  is shown engaged with tube member  62  by use of the plunger  68  that is biased in position by spring  70 . As previously described, the plunger is assembled by placement through aperture  80  of end bolt  64 . The spacer sleeve  82  is shown with a lower engagement point  105  that abuts against the plunger base  64  and an upper engagement point  107  that abuts the large bushing  56 . The bushing  56  is held in position by collar  58  and with an edge  109  that is spaced apart from the outer surface of the tube  62  to prevent metal to metal contact yet provide sufficient support to the bushing  56 . The plunger is shown inserted through aperture  92  for a deployed position. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , set forth is an illustration of the assembly in a collapsed position. Tube member  50  is shown disengaged with tube member  62  placement of the plunger  68  in a compressed position by depressing spring  70  and placing the plunger body  68  along the inner surface of tube member  50 . As previously described, the plunger is assembled by placement through aperture  80  of plunger base  64 . The spacer sleeve  82  is shown with a lower engagement point  105  that abuts against the plunger base  64  and an upper engagement point  107  that is now abutted against the large bushing  56 . The plunger tip  69  is preferably formed from a material that will not gall the inner surface of the member tube  50 . The radial base tube  49  is shown in its position within the lower end of member tube  50  providing structure reinforcement thereby allowing the use of a thinner base tube  50 . The radial base tube  49  is sized a length to operate as a stop for the plunger base  64  which abuts the end  53  of the radial tube while in a collapsed position. The radial tube is secured to member tube  50  by use of a collar having fastening bolt  51  extending to fastening nut  55 . 
       FIG. 7  is a cross section view of a 15′ telescoping pole embodiment in a collapsed position measuring about 6′9″. The plunger base  64  and  102  are juxtapositioned with tube member  50  encompassing a majority of tube member  62  which further encompasses a majority of tube member  100 .  FIG. 8  is a cross section view of a 15′ telescoping pole embodiment in an extended position measuring about 15′. The plunger bases  64  and  102  are each engaged with their respective tube member affixing the pole in a deployed position for use. Eye hooks  99  secured to the collars providing line guides. Eye hook  99  is used in combination with the tip  112  for securing to the tube member  100 . 
     In operation the plunger  106  is secured to the third member tube  100  and locked in position when placed through the second member tube aperture  114 . Similarly plunger  68  is placed through aperture  92  of first member tube  50  while in a deployed position. 
     One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives an obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.