Abstract:
The disclosed apparatus is a fishing rod holding apparatus which is capable of holding, singularly or in combination, a fishing pole, an umbrella, and a lantern. The device is easily transportable because it easily disassembles into small and easy to handle component parts. The device incorporates a swivel, so the fishing rod may be swung about for baiting the hook, unhooking a catch, or adjusting the tackle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to devices used to assist and enhance the sport of fishing, and more particularly to devices which are configured to hold a fishing rod, where the device is secured to the ground surface. The device is further adapted to hold other fishing and camping equipment, such as a lantern, an umbrella, or other fishing and camping gear. 
     When fishing from a shoreline, it is often desirable for the fisherman to cast his line and then set the fishing pole in a holder anchored in the ground so that the fisherman is free for other activities. A number of devices which perform this function are known, each having various advantages and disadvantages. Among the desired features of these devices are that the device should allow for the rapid and easy insertion of the fishing rod and the device should be easily transported, i.e., the device should be easy to disassemble and be relatively light. It would also be advantageous if the device would allow for the pole to be pivoted from pointing towards the water to some other direction away from the water, thereby allowing the fisherman to leave the pole within the holder while the fisherman is either rebaiting his hook, unhooking his catch, or making other adjustments to his fishing equipment. 
     Fishermen have been known to enjoy their sport at all times of day and night, and in all types of weather. If he fishes in the very early morning or late into the night, the fisherman requires a light source and a location to place the light source for effective lighting. Fuel burning lanterns provide a steady and relatively inexpensive source of bright light. A fishing rod holder having the further capability of holding a lantern would be desirable. Because fishermen also fish in both bright sunlight and rainy weather, it would be advantageous to have a fishing rod holder also capable of holding a sheltering device such as an umbrella. It would also be advantageous to have a device which is capable of holding any combination of a fishing pole, umbrella and/or lantern, separately or together. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an apparatus which meets the need identified above. 
     The disclosed apparatus is a fishing rod holding apparatus, comprising a ground penetrating anchor, a pole holding member, an extension tube, and an extension rod. The ground penetrating anchor comprises first an inverted L-shaped rod having a substantially vertical first member and a substantially horizontal second member, the first member having a lower end and an upper end, the lower end sharpened for penetrating the ground, and the second member having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end connected to the upper end of the first member. The ground penetrating anchor further comprises a sleeve insert having a top and a bottom, wherein the bottom is attached to the upper end of the first member such that the axis of the sleeve insert is substantially parallel to the first member, and the top extends above the upper end. The pole holding member comprises a first sleeve adapted to receive and retain a fishing rod handle, a second sleeve adapted to slide over the sleeve insert of the anchor and stop at the bottom of the sleeve insert, leaving the top of the sleeve insert exposed, and a connecting arm having a rod end and an anchor end, the rod end connected to the first sleeve and the anchor end connected to the second sleeve. The second sleeve is free to pivot on the sleeve insert, thereby allowing the pole holding member to swivel a complete circle with respect to the ground penetrating anchor, thereby allowing the user to swivel a fishing rod from pointing toward a water body to some other orientation. The extension tube is adapted to slide over the top of the sleeve insert and the extension rod has an insert end adapted to slide inside the extension tube. At its opposing end, the extension rod has a hook adapted to receive and retain a lantern handle. The disclosed device further comprises a first locking means for locking the extension tube to the top of the sleeve insert and a second locking means for locking the extension rod within the extension tube at a desired position. When not locked, the extension rod is free to slide within the extension tube so the height of the hook may be set as desired. 
     In a second embodiment, the disclosed fishing rod holding apparatus further comprises a handle holder attached to the distal end of the horizontal second member, where the handle holder is adapted to receive and retain an umbrella handle. A third locking means for locking the umbrella handle into the handle holder may be also be included. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of the disclosed fishing and camping apparatus being used to hold a fishing pole and a lantern. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the disclosed apparatus being used to hold a fishing pole and an umbrella. 
     FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the disclosed apparatus. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now specifically to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the disclosed fishing and camping apparatus  10 . The major components of the device are the ground penetrating anchor  12 , the pole holding member  14 , extension tube  16  and extension rod  18 . 
     The ground penetrating anchor  12  comprises an inverted L-shaped rod  20  having a substantially vertical first member  22  and a substantially horizontal second member  24 . The first member  22  has a lower end  26  and an upper end  28 . The lower end  26  is sharpened to allow the user to set the anchor  12  into the ground. The second member  24  has a proximal end  30  which is attached to the upper end  28  of the first member  22 . The second member  24  also has a distal end  32 . The second member  24  provides a convenient place for the user to place his or her foot to push the anchor  12  into the ground. Alternatively, the anchor may further comprise a foot bar  34  which may have a substantially horizontal first leg  36 , to which is attached a substantially vertical second leg  38 . The tip  40  of the vertical second leg  38  may be sharpened to allow further ease in inserting the second leg  38  into the ground. 
     The ground penetrating anchor  12  may further comprise a handle holder  42 , which may be attached to the distal end  32  of the second member  24 . Handle holder  42  is adapted to receive and retain an umbrella  44 . The umbrella  44  may be additionally secured with locking means (third locking means)  46 , such as a bolt having a winged head, for tightening down on the umbrella handle. It is to be appreciated that a ground penetrating anchor  12  equipped with the handle holder  42  makes a convenient umbrella stand, even if the other components described below are not attached to the apparatus, thus providing an apparatus for standing an umbrella as a sun screen or shelter at the beach, athletic field, or camp site. 
     A round sleeve insert  48  is attached at its bottom  50  to the upper end  28  of the first member  22 . The sleeve insert  48  also has a top  52 . The bottom  50  is attached to the upper end  28  such that the axis of the sleeve insert  48  is substantially parallel to the first member  22 . The top  52  of the sleeve insert  48  extends above the upper end  28 , so that the entire diameter of the top  52  of the sleeve insert  48  is exposed preferrably including two or more inches of the length of the sleeve insert  48 , measured from the top  52 . 
     The pole holding member  14  comprises a first sleeve  54 , a second sleeve  56 , and a connecting arm  58  having a pole end  60  and an anchor end  62 . The pole end  60  is attached to the first sleeve  54  and the anchor end  62  is attached to the second sleeve  56 . The first sleeve  54  is adapted to easily receive the handle of a fishing pole  64 . The first sleeve  54  may be equipped with locking means (fourth locking means)  65 , such as a finger-adjustable bolt for tightening against the fishing rod handle for securing the fishing pole  64  within the sleeve. The second sleeve  56  is adapted to slide over the top  52  of the sleeve insert  48 . The sleeve insert  48  and the second sleeve  56  are sized so that the top  52  of the sleeve insert  48  remains exposed after the second sleeve  56  is slid onto the slide insert  48 . The second sleeve  56  pivots freely about the sleeve insert  48  allowing the pole holding member  14  to rotate a complete 360 degrees with respect to the axis of the sleeve insert  48 . This feature of the pole holding member  14  allows the user to orient their fishing pole in any direction without removing the pole  64  from the device, thereby facilitating baiting the hook, attaching a lure, or removing a catch. 
     Extension tube  16  has sleeve end  66  and hook end  68 . Sleeve end  66  slides over the top  52  of the sleeve insert  48 , above second sleeve  56 . Locking means (first locking means)  70  secure the extension tube  16  to the top  52  of the sleeve insert. The sleeve insert  48  may have a first hole  72  and the sleeve end  66  may have a second holes  74  which align with the first hole  72  when the sleeve end  66  of the extension tube  16  is slid over the sleeve insert  48 . The locking means  70  may then comprise a bolt extending through the second holes  74  and through first hole  72  of the sleeve insert  48 , the bolt secured with a nut. 
     Extension rod  18  has an insert end  76  and hook  78 . Insert end  76  is adapted to slide inside hook end  68  of the extension tube  16 . Hook  78  is adapted to receive and retain the handle of a conventional lantern  80 . Extension rod  18  is free to telescope inside extension tube  16 , so that the lantern  80  might be set at the desired height. Once the desired height is determined, locking means (second locking means)  82  are used to secure extension rod  18  within the extension tube  16 . Extension tube  16  may have a first threaded opening so that locking means  82  may comprise a bolt extending into the first threaded opening and engaging the extension rod  18 . 
     It is to be appreciated that if the user is using the disclosed device  10  during the day time and no lantern  80  required, the disclosed device may be used without extension tube  16  and extension rod  18 . The disclosed device is therefore adaptable for use in a variety of configurations. First, the ground penetrating anchor  12  may be used by itself as an umbrella stand. Second, the pole holding member  14  may be attached to the ground penetrating anchor so that the apparatus may be used for holding a fishing pole  64  alone, or for holding both a fishing pole and an umbrella  44 . Third, if the extension tube  16  and extension rod  18  are attached, the device may be used solely as a lantern stand, as a combination umbrella stand-lantern stand, a combination fishing pole holder and lantern stand or for simultaneously holding a fishing pole, lantern and umbrella. Therefore, the disclosed apparatus provides multiple utility in a simple and easily transportable form, which is relatively inexpensive to construct. The ground penetrating anchor  12 , the pole holding member  14 , extension tube  16  and extension rod  18  may be constructed of a variety of materials, including heavy gauge metal, alloys, composites, or high strength plastic. 
     While the above is a description of various embodiments of the present invention, further modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the size, shape, and/or material of the various components may be changed as desired. Thus the scope of the invention should not be limited by the specific structures disclosed. Instead the true scope of the invention should be determined by the following claims.