Abstract:
The fishing rod support is a versatile device providing support or bracing for the handle or butt of a fishing rod against a portion of the angler&#39;s body. The support includes an elongate pad joined to a crosspiece having three sockets. When the butt of the rod is placed in either of the two aligned sockets, the pad is generally parallel to the rod. This allows the pad to be placed under the arm to restrain upward movement of the rod butt as the angler lifts the rod. Alternatively, the butt of the rod may be placed in the third socket, with the pad aligned generally perpendicular to the rod. In this configuration, the pad is placed against the forward body of the angler (e.g., upper thigh, hip, waist, etc.) for bracing. The fishing rod support is particularly useful for anglers having back pain or limited upper body strength.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to fishing, and more particularly to a fishing rod support that provides a versatile device for supporting the butt or handle of a fishing rod against various portions of the angler&#39;s body. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Sport and game fishing are increasingly popular activities for many people. Generally, these activities do not require a great deal of upper body strength or exertion, particularly with smaller freshwater fish (bass, etc.). However, there are many exceptions to the above statement, particularly with larger ocean fish. While most anglers do not fish for marlin or other game fish weighing perhaps over a thousand pounds, even smaller fish such as large tuna and some freshwater catfish and sturgeon can require considerable upper body strength to hold the fishing rod while fighting such a large fish. 
         [0005]    This can be of even greater concern for an angler who has injured his or her back and/or lacks upper body strength or flexibility for whatever reason. The strength required to manipulate a large and heavy rod and reel, and to fight a larger fish can result in undue pain and discomfort for such a disabled individual, thus removing a great deal of the satisfaction and pleasure from the sport. 
         [0006]    Thus, a fishing rod support solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The fishing rod support is a versatile device providing support or bracing for the handle or butt of a fishing rod against a portion of the angler&#39;s body. The fishing rod support may be formed of a series of pipe or tube elements comprising a cross and modified tee joined by a nipple extending between the stem of the tee and one of the arms of the cross, with an underarm crutch pad attached to the crossmember of the tee. Alternatively, the above structure may be cast or otherwise formed as one or more integral components, if so desired. One or more additional sleeves may be permanently or removably installed in one or more of the arms of the cross, to provide for different fishing rod handle or butt diameters. 
         [0008]    The support may be used in a variety of ways, depending upon the needs of the angler. The handle or butt of the fishing rod may be inserted into either of the two opposed ends of the cross, to extend generally parallel to the length of the crutch pad. The crutch pad is then positioned beneath the arm of the angler. In this configuration, the butt of the rod is restrained when the angler lifts the forward portion of the handle of the rod, thus enabling the angler to pull the rod back and up with minimal exertion. 
         [0009]    Alternatively, the butt of the fishing rod may be inserted into the end of the cross opposite the tee connection, with the crutch pad extending generally normal to the length of the rod. In this configuration, the crutch pad may be braced against the forward portion of the angler&#39;s body (upper thigh, hip, forward waist or stomach, etc.). Again, manipulation of the rod is greatly facilitated by the angler due to the leverage provided by the relatively fixed location of the butt of the rod. 
         [0010]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a fishing rod support according to the present invention, showing its components and their assembly. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the fishing rod support of  FIG. 1 , showing the installation of a fishing rod therein with the rod generally parallel to the elongate pad. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the fishing rod support of  FIGS. 1 and 2  oriented differently than in  FIG. 2 , showing the installation of a fishing rod therein with the rod generally normal to the elongate pad. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an environmental perspective view showing the use of the fishing rod support of  FIG. 1  as an underarm brace. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an environmental perspective view showing the use of the fishing rod support of  FIG. 1  as a brace against the front of the body. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a side elevation view of an alternative embodiment of a fishing rod support according to the present invention formed as a single, unitary component, with the exception of the pad. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    The fishing rod support is used for bracing the butt end of the rod against some part of the angler&#39;s body. This enables the angler to manipulate the rod much more easily, particularly when raising the tip of the rod as when reeling in a large fish. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  of the drawings is an exploded perspective view of a series of components that may be used to construct the fishing rod support  10 . These components may comprise various pipe fittings or the like formed of various materials, e.g., metal, and/or composites, but preferably the support  10  and its various components are formed of plastic, and most preferably polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. 
         [0020]    A pipe cross  12  or equivalent fitting or receptacle includes multiple branches, with each having a socket for the insertion of the butt of a fishing rod therein. The first and second sockets  14   a ,  14   b  are mutually opposed relative to one another, with the third and fourth sockets  14   c ,  14   d  also being mutually opposed to one another and normal to the first two sockets  14   a ,  14   b . A pipe nipple  16  is permanently affixed in the fourth socket  14   d , with the remaining sockets serving as fishing rod butt sockets  14   a  through  14   c.    
         [0021]    A modified pipe tee  18  is permanently affixed to the pipe nipple  16  opposite the fourth socket  14   d , with the pipe tee  18  and nipple  16  comprising a body brace pad attachment arm and providing for the attachment of a body brace pad to the support  10 . The conventional tubular crossmember of the tee  18  is normal to the pad attachment arm assembly, and is partially cut away to form a channel  20 . The upper edges of the channel  20  converge slightly, i.e., the upper edges are spaced apart from one another a distance slightly less than the diameter of the crossmember. This provides a clamping or retaining action for a device having a width close to that of the inside diameter of the crossmember. 
         [0022]    An elongate, resilient body brace pad  22  is installed in the channel  20  of the modified tee  18 . The brace pad  22  may comprise a conventional crutch underarm pad  24  installed upon a conventional crutch top with a depending, arcuate attachment portion  26  therebeneath. The attachment portion  26  forms a bow with a generally circular cross section beneath the crutch top, with the sides of the channel  20  spreading slightly around the attachment portion  26  to clip and secure the attachment portion  26  therein. As the channel  20  is parallel to the first and second rod butt sockets  14   a  and  14   b , it will be seen that the body brace pad  22  is also disposed at least generally parallel to the first and second sockets  14   a ,  14   b.    
         [0023]      FIGS. 2 through 5  illustrate two different orientations for the removable placement of the butt B or handle end of a fishing rod R into the support  10 , and two exemplary positions of use for the support  10 . In  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the support  10  is oriented for use as an underarm brace or support. The butt B of the rod R is inserted into the second fishing rod butt socket  14   b , with the body brace pad  22  being oriented generally parallel to the fishing rod R when the support  10  and fishing rod R are assembled as in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . It will be seen that the fishing rod support  10  is essentially symmetrical about the axis defined by the nipple  16 , and thus the fishing rod butt end B may be inserted removably into either the first or second rod butt socket  14   a  or  14   b  with the orientation being as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . A sleeve or sleeves  28 , shown in broken lines in  FIG. 1 , of appropriate diameter may be removably or permanently installed within one or more of the sockets  14   a  through  14   c  as desired to accommodate smaller diameter rod butts B. 
         [0024]    This arrangement enables the butt B or handle end of the fishing rod R to be tucked between the upper arm and side of the angler with the body brace pad  22  secured comfortably in the arm pit of the angler, generally as shown in  FIG. 4 . This allows the angler to lift or raise the fishing rod R with one hand and arm while operating the reel with the other without undue stress on the lifting arm or the angler&#39;s back and/or upper body, due to the leverage provided by the fulcrum defined by the body brace pad  22  captured in the arm pit of the angler. 
         [0025]    In  FIGS. 3 and 5  the butt B of the fishing rod R is shown inserted into the third fishing rod butt socket  14   c , normal to the first two sockets  14   a ,  14   b  and aligned with the fourth socket  14   d , the nipple  16 , and the stem of the modified tee  18 . This results in the body brace pad  22  being aligned generally normal to the elongate axis of the fishing rod R, generally as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . In this orientation the major axis of the fishing rod R is aligned generally normal to the angler&#39;s body, with the body brace pad  22  extending across a portion of the angler&#39;s body to serve as a fulcrum for the fishing rod R. The body brace pad  22  may be positioned as desired by the angler, e.g., against one upper thigh as shown in  FIG. 5 , or against one hip, adjacent the pelvic structure, on or adjacent to the belt line across the front of the body, etc., as desired. The result in either configuration of fishing rod and support is a much more comfortable and less demanding means of holding and manipulating a fishing rod, particularly when fighting and landing a relatively large fish. 
         [0026]      FIG. 6  of the drawings is an illustration of an alternative embodiment of a fishing rod support  110 , which is formed as a single rigid, unitary, monolithic component, with the exception of the resilient body brace pad removably attached thereto. The support  110  may be cast, forged, or otherwise formed as a single, unitary component, or may be constructed from separate components permanently secured to one another (e.g., welded, etc.). The support  110  includes a crossmember portion  112  having first through third fishing rod butt sockets  114   a  through  114   c , with the sockets  114   a  and  114   b  being coaxial and directly opposite one another and the third socket  114   c  being normal to the sockets  114   a ,  114   b . The fourth leg  114   d  of the crossmember  112  extends opposite the third socket  114   c  with its distal end  118 , i.e., the end opposite the crossmember  112 , joining to an arcuate body brace pad attachment member  126 , thus obviating the need for an intermediate nipple portion. The crossmember  112 , its leg  114   d , and the pad attachment member  126  all form a rigid, unitary structure incapable of mechanical disassembly. 
         [0027]    The resilient body brace pad or crutch pad  122  is stretched over the ends of the brace pad attachment member  126  for removable attachment thereto. The arcuate curvature of the attachment member  126  allows pressure to distend the pad  124  downwardly for further cushioning effect. The arcuate pad attachment member  126  is preferably joined to the fourth leg  114   d  of the crossmember  112  at a slight angle, i.e., the plane defined by the arcuate curvature of the member  126  is not coplanar with or parallel to the plane defined by the crossmember  112 . Preferably, the two planes form an angle of about 5° with one another. This allows the body brace pad  124  and its attachment member  126  to meet the body more squarely when the fishing rod extending therefrom is at some angle thereto. 
         [0028]    The longer fourth leg  114   d  of the fishing rod support  110  is also cross-drilled, as can be seen by the edges of the holes  128 . The butt or handle of the fishing rod may also be diametrically drilled, with a retaining pin (not shown) inserted through the holes  128  of the rod support leg  114   d  and through the hole in the fishing rod butt or handle to prevent the fishing rod from turning or rotating relative to the fishing rod support  110 . The support  110  also includes a lanyard attachment bracket  130 , e.g., a gusset, web, etc. having a hole formed therethrough, or perhaps a short length of rod or the like welded or otherwise permanently attached diagonally between the distal end  118  of the fourth leg  114   d  and the adjacent portion of the pad attachment member  126 . This provides for the removable attachment of a lanyard or the like (not shown) to the fishing rod support  110  for securing the support  110  to the apparel (belt, belt loop, etc.) of the angler. 
         [0029]    It will be seen that any of the various features noted above for the fishing rod support  110 , e.g., the stretched installation of the crutch pad  124  over the arcuate attachment member  126 , the provision of fishing rod attachment holes or passages  128  through the fourth member  114   d , and the provision for a lanyard attachment member  130 , may be incorporated with the fishing rod support embodiment  10  of  FIGS. 1 through 4 , if so desired. In a similar manner, such features as the removable or permanently installed sleeves  28  of the fishing rod support  10  of  FIGS. 1 through 5  to adjust the inner diameter of the sockets for different diameter fishing rod handles or butts may be incorporated with the embodiment  110  of  FIG. 6 , if desired. Regardless of the specific features incorporated with either of the embodiments, the fishing rod support  10  or  110  is a most valuable accessory to the angler who needs additional leverage or assistance when landing a larger fish and/or working with larger and heavier fishing tackle. 
         [0030]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.