Abstract:
A rod holder rotatably connected to a mounting having an adjustable array of hooks for connecting rubber bands to the rod holder and a latch trigger which releases when a fish pulls the rod holder downward.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to devices for attachment to a fishing rod for both holding the rod and setting the hook when a fish strikes 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The prior art discloses many devices for supporting a fishing rod and for automatically setting the fish hook in the mouth of the fish when the fish bites. These devices usually rely on a latch mechanism which holds the fishing pole down against spring tension. A tug on the line by a biting fish releases the latch mechanism, jerking the pole upward under spring tension and thus setting the hook in the mouth of the fish. Many of these devices are of complex structure which increases the cost and difficulty of use. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,205 discloses a rod holder which is pulled upward by a tug on the line releasing latch mechanism which is a roller nut rotatably attached to the holder arm and a pawl ended latch arm pivotally interconnected to the vertical support member. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,298 discloses a rod holder connected to a cable which disengages a collapsible linkage mechanism when the rod is pulled down by a fish taking the line. When the collapsible linkage mechanism is released, a spring pulls the rod holder and the rod upward sharply to set the hook. U.S. Pat. No. 3,007,275 discloses a hook setting device with a cam operated trigger mechanism. U.S. Pat. No. 2,986,834 discloses two toggle arms hingedly connected so that when the hinge pin drops below dead center the fishing rod will be jerked upward by a spring connected to one of the toggle arms. All of these devices are made of metal parts which must be machined and assembled raising the cost of manufacture. Moreover, these devices are subject to corrosion in the salt air or else further increased construction expenses for coating of the metal or selection of non-corrosive materials. What is needed is a device of simple design with few parts that can be manufactured from inexpensive, lightweight non-corrosive materials such as plastic or polyvinyl chloride, that can take advantage of rubber bands rather than springs for tension, that be adjustable for several different tension strengths and that can operate on a simple triggering mechanism. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention meeting the needs identified comprises a rod holder rotatably connected to a mounting having an adjustable array of hooks for connecting rubber bands to the rod holder and a latch trigger which releases when a fish pulls the rod holder downward. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers represent like parts of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a left side view of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear view of the invention. 
     FIG. 3 is partial side view of the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of a boat support device. 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of a dock support device. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In FIG. 1, the hook setting device  10  is shown having holder element  100  and stand element  110 . Holder element  100  comprises casing  120  and casing leg  140 . Casing  120  has securing device  123 . Securing device  123  has knob  125  and threaded arm  126 . Casing leg  140  is fixedly engaged to casing  120 . In the preferred embodiment, casing  120  and casing leg  140  are molded in one piece from the same material such as plastic or polyvinyl chloride. In the preferred embodiment casing leg  140  has casing leg aperture  130  for accommodating bait casting reels. Casing  120  is generally cylindrical in shape with a cut-away portion to facilitate placing the fishing rod handle into casing  120 . Casing  120  has a hole (not shown) for receiving threaded arm  126 . Casing leg  140  has casing leg hook  144  for receiving band  200 . Stand element  110  has base  160 , latch support  162 , latch  168  and latch securement device  164 . Interface  163  is fixedly engaged to base  160 . Base support  180  is removably engaged to interface  163  and base  160 . In the preferred embodiment, base support  180  has base support first end  181  (located inside interface  163  in FIG.  1 ). Base support first end  181  is threaded for threaded engagement with threads on the interior of interface  163  (not shown). Persons skilled in the art are aware of alternative ways to removably engage base support  180  to interface  163 . Interface  163  may be included in base  160  and it is not necessary that interface  163  be a separate part from base  60 . Base support  180  has hook element  182  and foot bar  190 . Hook element  182  is fixedly engaged to base support  180 . In the preferred embodiment, hook element  182  is molded in one piece with base support  180 . Alternatively, hook element  182  can be glued to base support  180 . Persons skilled in the art will be aware of further alternative ways to affix hook element  182  to base support  180 . Base support  180  has two holes directly opposite to each other for receiving foot bar  190  which extends outward to either side of base support  180  (not shown). 
     When latch  168  is in a first position or horizontal position, casing leg  140  is in the position shown by the solid lines. When latch  168  moves from the first position or horizontal position, casing leg  140  is free to rotate about base  160  and band  200  will pull down on casing leg hook  144  causing a rod held in casing  120  to jerk upwards rapidly. Casing  120  will then be in a second position shown in dotted lines. In the preferred embodiment hook element  182  has first hook  184 , second hook  186  and third hook  188 . Band  200  may be connected to first hook  184  for lowest tension, second hook  186  for intermediate tension and third hook  188  for highest tension. The tension achieved can also be varied by the number of bands  200  and strength of bands  200  used. 
     FIG. 2 depicts an end view of hook setting device  10 . Casing  120  has cutaway section  118  (See FIG. 1) and uncut section  119 . Viewing casing  120  from the rear, the profile of uncut section  120  is generally circular and is intended for receiving the fishing rod handle. Threaded arm  125  extends though threaded hole  127  in casing  120  ending in pressure plate  124 . By turning knob  122 , threaded arm  126  will rotate in threaded hole  127  and either raise or lower pressure plate  127  depending on the direction in which knob  122  is rotated. By lowering pressure plate  124  until pressure plate  124  contacts the handle of the fishing rod, the fishing rod can be secured within casing  120 . Casing leg  140  has casing leg arm  142  extending outward perpendicularly to casing leg  140 . Casing leg arm  142  is fixedly engaged to casing leg  140 . In the preferred embodiment, casing leg  140  is molded from in one piece with casing leg  140  and casing  120 . Alternatively, casing leg arm  142  can be inserted into a hole in casing leg  140  or a screw or bolt inserted into casing leg  140  could be utilized. Casing leg arm  142  extends outward from casing leg  140  a sufficient distance to allow engagement by latch  168 . The length of casing arm  142  will be less than the distance between casing leg  140  and latch support  162 . Latch  168  is rotatably engaged to latch support  162  by screw  164  which passes through a latch hole (not shown) in latch  168  and engages a latch hole support hole (not shown) in latch support  162 . In the preferred embodiment, latch support  162  is fixedly engaged to base  160  by permanent adhesive. Alternatively, latch support  162  may be affixed to base  160  by a plurality of screws. Base  160  is generally “U” shaped and has a base right arm  161  and a base left arm  159 . Base cylinder  165  passes through base right arm  161 , first washer  167 , casing, arm  142 , washer  166  and base left arm  159 . In the preferred embodiment, a hole is drilled through base right arm  161  and partially through base left arm  159  so that the hole does not exist outer surface of base left arm  159 . A hole is drilled in casing leg  140  and base cylinder  165  is passed through base right arm  162 , first washer  167 , casing leg  140 , second washer  166  and inserted into the hole in base left arm  159 . Latch support  162  is then affixed to base  160  which seals base cylinder  165  is permanently held in position. Alternatively, latch support  162  can be removably affixed to base  160  so that base cylinder  165  can be replaced if it breaks. Base support  180  is removably engaged to base  160 . In the preferred embodiment, base support  180  is threadingly engaged to base  160 . Base support  180  has base support second end  192  which is cut at an angle to provide a penetrating point so that hook setting device  10  can be placed in sand or soil by pressing base support  180  into the sand or soil. To aid in pressing base support  180  into the sand or soil, base support  180  has foot bar  190  which passes through foot bar holes (not shown) in base support  180 . Foot bar  190  is fixedly engaged to base support  180  by retaining screw  191 . Alternatively, foot bar  190  may be removed by removing retaining screw  190  and withdrawing foot bar  190  from base support  180 . In the preferred embodiment, base support  180  is approximately 25 and ¼ inches long and made from 2″ polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe and casing  120  is made from a 13″ long portion of 2″ PVC pipe cutout as shown in FIG.  1 . In the preferred embodiment, foot bar  190  is a 10 and ¼ inch ¾ inch conduit rod and is positioned through base support  180  approximately 6 and ½ inches from the bottom of base support  180 . 
     FIG. 3 depicts a partial view of base  160  with base left arm  159  cut away to reveal the positioning of base cylinder  165  and casing leg arm  142 . 
     FIG. 4 depicts accessory  301  for adapting hook setting apparatus  10  for employment at a dock with railings. Accessory  301  has dock base support  310 . Dock base support  310  has dock base support first end  311  which is threaded for engagement with interface  163  (not shown in FIG.  5 ). Dock base support  310  has first strap holes  302  and second strap holes  304  for receiving straps  306 . Straps  306  have securement device  308 . Securement device  308  could be a buckle, a velcro connector or other means of engaging the free ends of straps  306  around surface for holding accessory  300 . For example, accessory  300  could be affixed to a railing at a pier to hold dock base support  301  in a vertical position. Hook element  182  is located on dock base support  310  at the same distance from interface  163  as hook element  182  is located from interface  163  on base support  180  thereby ensuring uniformity of tension by band  200 . 
     FIG.  5 . depicts accessory  300  for adapting hook setting device  10  for use on a boat. In order to utilize hook setting device  10  on a boat, boat base support  305  is substituted for base support  180  by removing base support  180  and installing base support  305 . Boat base support  305  has base support first end  306  which is threaded for threaded engagement with interface  163  (not shown in FIG.  5 ). Boat base support  305  has boat base support second end  307  which is adapted for fitting into a standard rod holder. Rod holder adapter  320  has rod holder adapter interface  321  which is threaded for receiving boat base support second end  307 . Rod holder adapter interface is fixedly or removably engaged with fixture  322 . In the preferred embodiment, fixture  322  is an 8 inch long 1 inch Hook element  182  is fixedly engaged to boat base support  305 . In the preferred embodiment, hook element  182  is molded in one piece with boat base support  305 . Alternatively, hook element  182  can be glued to boat base support  305 . Persons skilled in the art will be aware of further alternative ways to affix hook element  182  to boat base support  305 . Hook element  182  is located on boat base support  305  at the same distance from interface  163  as hook element  182  is located from interface  163  on base support  180  thereby ensuring uniformity of tension by band  200 . 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.