Patent Publication Number: US-6910592-B1

Title: Fishing rod storage device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a device and method of storing fishing rods for long-term storage and during transport. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A fisherman&#39;s collection of fishing rods and reels may be worth thousands of dollars. Fishermen have been stacking fishing rods in the corner of the garage for decades. Known fishing rod storage racks are one-dimensional, meaning they can only store fishing rods vertically, or horizontally, and only on a floor, wall, or a ceiling. Many known fishing rod storage racks are limited to a low number of rods that can be secured. Some can&#39;t store rods with the reels attached. Many storage devices are capable of storing only a limited size fishing rod. Other storage racks require assembly. 
   Another issue is how to store rods in both stationary and transportable locations. Transportable locations include, but are not limited to a vehicle, boat, recreational vehicle, or camper. Stationary locations include, but are not limited to, a garage, boathouse, attic, or shed. 
   Fishermen have long had issues with wrapping fishing rods together when going on a fishing trip. The only known rod carriers that are available on the market utilize small straps and usually attached with VELCRO®, where the straps wrap the rods together, binding each to the other. This causes the surface of the rods and eyes of the rods to rub against each other. This rubbing causes scratches and chips in the rods, and can cause a fishing rod to be weakened or to break. This sort of rod wrapping provides no protection for rods, from the rip to the butt of the rod. 
   Another common transport container is the rod tube. When transporting fishing rods in a rod tube, the rods bounce around inside the tube causing damage to rods while in transit. 
   What is needed is a device to enable safe transport and secure storage of fishing rods without damaging the rods. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The apparatus of the instant invention is a fishing rod storage device comprising two mounting racks that are configured to allow one or more fishing rods to be placed in it. There is also a series of holes and slots that allows a fishing rod to be placed therein, the holes and slots being aligned between the racks such that a fishing rod is put into a preferred alignment between the two racks. The racks are mountable to a stationary fixture, such as a wall, ceiling, or truck body. 
   The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the invention to store fishing rods securely on a wall or ceiling of a house or transportation vehicle. 
   It is an object of the invention to provide a device to hold fishing rods in a stable and protective manner while transporting the rods. 
   Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective oblique view of a two-rod embodiment of the fishing rod storage rack mounted on an overhead horizontal surface. 
       FIG. 2  shows an elevation view of a six-rod embodiment intended for ceiling mount. 
       FIG. 3  is an elevation view of a six-rod embodiment suitable for mounting on a ceiling or on an up-facing horizontal surface. 
       FIG. 4  shows a three-rod, ceiling-mounted embodiment having grip slots. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective oblique portion view of a portable fishing rod storage rack. 
       FIG. 6  provides a perspective view of a portable fishing rod storage rack with rods shown in phantom. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The disclosed fishing rod storage devices are versatile, and are capable of storing rods horizontally overhead, on a wall, or at floor level at any angle, as well as vertically. The fishing rod racks are one piece, so there&#39;s no assembly required and the racks are modularly designed, providing unlimited rod storage capability with or without the reels attached. The fishing rod racks secure any size fishing rod. The 90-degree bend at the top of the rack acts as the mounting bracket and provides stability to the entire rod rack. Additionally, the rack allows the mounting bracket to be flexible, providing the capability to be mounted to a flat, convex, or concave surface. The racks may utilize a retainer cord. The cord secures the fishing rods in place by being placed below the rods while the rods are in the rod racks, thereby preventing rods from falling out of the rack, or, alternately, by placing the cord over the rods, pushing the rods down on the fishing rod rack. 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective oblique view of a two-rod embodiment of the fishing rod storage rack generally indicated  2 , comprising a pair of racks  4  and a pair of retainer cords  18 . Each rack has a rod grip hole  10  and a rod tip slot  12 . Each rack has a mounting flange  6  having two or more countersunk bores  8  for mounting fasteners (not shown). Two fishing rods (shown in phantom by dashed lines) illustrate how rod grips  24  fit in rack holes  10 , and rod tips  26 , with finish guides, lie in slots  12 . The alternating grip-tip arrangement of fishing rods allows more space for fishing reels  28 . 
   One end of optional retainer cord  18  is affixed in hole  16  by means of a ferrule or knot  22 , and at the opposite end, is affixed to a pull knob  20  using another ferrule or knot  22 . Rod tip slot  12  is closed, to prevent rod tip  26  from inadvertently falling from rod tip slot  12 , by stretching retainer cord  18  by pull knob  20  until the cord slideably engages slot  14 . Retainer cord  18  is made of elastic cord-like material, inexhaustibly including fabric covered stranded rubber, bungee cord, or shock cord. 
   The embodiment shown accommodates two fishing rods, whereas it is intended that the scope of the present invention further include any even number of fishing rods. A rack may be made of a variety of materials, inexhaustibly including ABS (poly-acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), acrylics, PVC (poly-vinyl chloride) and such like. Rack  2  may be pigmented white or another color. Preferred manufacturing methods include injection molding, casting, high-density foam molding, extruding with secondary operations, and routing from sheet stock with welded or adhesively bonded miter joint. 
     FIG. 2  shows an elevation view of a six-rod embodiment intended for ceiling mounting. After releasing retainer cord  18  (not shown), a rod tip is inserted in slot  12  until it lies in the toe of the slot  12 . The retainer is closed by engaging slot  14  in order to prevent dislodgement of a rod tip due to vibration, earthquake, capsizing, or other catastrophe. 
     FIG. 3  is an elevation view of a six-rod embodiment suitable for mounting on a ceiling, on an upward-facing horizontal surface, or on a vertical surface. Rod tip slots  30  have T-shaped terminations to hold a rod tip without regard to the orientation of the rack. Other numeric designators indicate previously described features. 
     FIG. 4  shows a three-rod, ceiling-mounted embodiment having grip slots  32  that are sized to accommodate fishing rod grips of the conventional diameter. Retainer cord  18  is shown installed and in the retaining position. Other numeric designators indicate previously described features. 
     FIG. 5  is a perspective oblique view of one of two assemblies comprising a portable fishing rod storage rack generally indicated  40 . This embodiment of the fishing rod storage rack is also called a sepoleator  40 . The sepoleator  40  comprises an elastic cylindrical body  42  having two or more grooves  44  in the cylindrical surface, and a strap  46  compressibly affixed to body  42  by means of buckle  48  and hook or pile fastener  50 . The sepoleator  40  is preferably between approximately 2 and 10 inches in length. Its diameter determines how many fishing rods can be retained, and in a preferred embodiment is about 3 inches in diameter. 
   In a further alternative embodiment, the cylindrical body  42  further comprises a central axial hole  52  through which is affixed a loop of ropelike material (not illustrated) in order to carry and hang the assembly. The central axial hole  52  increases the elastic compliance of body  42  in order to better grip the shafts and tips of fishing rods. 
   Preferred materials for body  42  inexhaustibly include EVA foam, closed cell foamed polyethylene, and closed cell foamed flexible polyurethane. Preferred methods of manufacture include extruded-profile foam bars cut to length, low-pressure steam molding, and low-pressure reactive molding. The materials of choice are preferably environmentally stable and resistant to salt water and to ultraviolet radiation. 
     FIG. 6  provides a perspective view of the portable fishing rod storage rack  42  with two fishing rods (shown in phantom by dashed lines) affixed in the grooves of body  42  by straps  46 . Body  42  is sufficiently compressible to retain rod tips  26  when strap  46  is tightened. Strap  46  is made long enough to retain a fishing rod shaft in each slot of body  42 . The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  may accommodate eight fishing rods, whereas only two are indicated for clarity. When the portable storage carrier is fully loaded, there is sufficient clearance around the periphery for all the reels  28 . The assembly is preferably carried by using a grip  24  as a handle, or by grasping the shaft of one of the rods. Alternative embodiments have more or fewer slots for fishing rods. 
   The sepoleator  40  enables safe transport in a rod tube as well (not illustrated). In an alternative embodiment, up to 8 rods may be secured with the reels attached. When the rods are secured in place, the eyes on the rods are turned inside, toward each other, and away from the exterior of the rod tube. The rods then slide into the tube securely. The sepoleator  40  prevents the rods from moving around inside the rod tube. An optional embodiment is to secure the rods with the sepoleator  40 , and then place the secured rods in a bag, before inserting them into the rod tube. 
   Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.