Patent Publication Number: US-2003221358-A1

Title: Swiveling fishing rod holder assembly

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to an improved fishing rod holder assembly that can be swivelled or pivoted so as to facilitate the removal of the fishing rod from the holder.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Fishing rod holders are often fixed in stationary positions. As such, it may be cumbersome or even dangerous to remove fishing rods from their holders when they are extended over the side of the boat and pointed toward the water. There is a need to swivel or pivot the fishing rod holder toward the inside of the boat so the fishing rod can be safely and easily removed from its holder by the operator without bending over the side of the boat.  
       [0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a fishing rod holder that can pivot or swivel toward the inside of a fishing boat to facilitate the easy and safe removal of the fishing rod from its holder.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004] The present invention provides an improved fishing rod holder assembly comprising a vertical post adapted to be mounted on a fishing boat. A support member is mounted on the vertical post and a cradle member is pivotally mounted relative to the support member. The fishing rod holder is fixedly connected to the cradle member and pivots with the cradle member relative to the support member and vertical post.  
       [0005] The support member has two radially extending stop members extending from the support member and the stop members are spaced up to 180° apart. A vertically extending engagement member is mounted on the bottom of the cradle member for engaging one of the stop members during the fishing operation.  
       [0006] The fishing rod holder and cradle member are adapted to be pivoted by the operator relative to the support member and vertical post away from the stop member and toward the inside of the boat in order to allow the operator to easily and safely remove the fishing rod from the fishing rod holder. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0007]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the fishing rod holder assembly.  
     [0008]FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the support member and the cradle member.  
     [0009]FIG. 3 shows a top view of the support member.  
     [0010]FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the fishing rod holder assembly installed in the side of a boat. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0011] FIGS.  1  to  4  show an improved fishing rod holder assembly  10  comprising a vertical post  20  adapted to be mounted on the side of a fishing boat  30 . A circular support member  40  is removably mounted on the vertical post  20  and a cradle member  50  is pivotally mounted relative to the support member  40 . The fishing rod holder  60  is fixedly connected by welding to the cradle member  50  so as to pivot with the cradle member  50  relative to the support member  40  and the vertical post  20 .  
     [0012] The support member  40  has two radially extending stop members  42  and  44  extending from the support member  40 . The stop members  42  and  44  are spaced up to 180° apart and are in the form of stop pins  42  and  44 .  
     [0013] A vertically extending engagement member  52  in the form of a vertical pin is mounted on the bottom of the cradle member  50  for engaging one of the stop members  42  and  44  during the fishing operation.  
     [0014] A pivot pin  46  is connected to cradle member  50  and vertical post  20  to allow cradle member  50  to pivot relative to vertical post  20 .  
     [0015] The fishing rod holder  60  and the cradle member  50  are adapted to be pivoted by the operator relative to the support member  40  and vertical post  20  away from one of the stop pins  42  and  44  toward the other stop pin in order to allow the operator to remove the fishing rod  70  from the fishing rod holder  60 .  
     [0016] The fishing rod holder  60  is connected to cradle ember  50  at an angle in the range of 15° to 75°.  
     [0017] During the fishing operation, vertical pin  52  engages stop pin  42  if assembly  10  is on one side of the boat, and vertical pin  52  engages stop pin  44  if assembly  10  is on the other side of the boat. In both cases, if the operator wishes to remove the fishing rod  70  from holder  60 , the operator pivots holder  60  toward the inside of the boat, and this pivots vertical pin  52  away from one of the stop pins  42  or  44 , and toward the other stop pin. In this manner, fishing rod  70  may be easily and safely removed from holder  60  when holder  60  is facing toward the inside of the boat.  
     [0018] A latitude of modification, change, and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.