Abstract:
A fishing rod holder for shore-based fishing, comprising a base having two or more recesses, each recess adapted to receive a rod having a fishing rod receiving end at its top end. Mating hook and loop closures on the base and rod shafts allow the rods to be stowed against the base in a storage or transit position. A handle on one long side of the base allows easy transport. Each pair of rods features rods of two lengths: a shorter rod approximately two thirds the length of the longer rod. When the shorter rod is placed closer to the water&#39;s edge relative to the longer rod, this orientation is typically used for carp or catfish fishing. When the rod position is reversed, this orientation is suitable for bass or bluegill fishing. A second embodiment allowing multiple rods to be held at the same time is also provided.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention pertains to the field of fishing equipment. More particularly, the present invention pertains to fishing rod holders designed for shore or land based fishing. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Shore fishing is a popular recreational pastime, where a fisherman standing or sitting along the shoreline of a lake or pond casts his line into the water, and then waits for a fish to bite. A bobber, a floating and often colorful indicator, is generally affixed to the fishing line, and indicates to the fisherman that a fish is on the line when the bobber starts moving around. With the types of fish generally caught with shore fishing, for instance, carp, catfish, bass, and bluegill, and the fact that often the sole indication that a fish has been caught is movement of the bobber, a main requirement of shore fishing is holding the fishing rod still for long periods of time. 
         [0003]    Fishing rod holders make shore fishing less tedious, but a problem with currently available holders is that since the fish may grab the hook and try to swim away, the holder cannot be flimsy, or else the fish will pull the entire rod and holder into the water. Hence, fishing rod holders are often staked into the ground, requiring a mallet or other necessary (and heavy) tools, thus burdening the fisherman with more things to carry to the shore side. Further, staking is sometimes impossible if the shoreline is rocky, or if the fisherman lacks the physical strength to pound in the stakes. 
         [0004]    What is needed is a fishing rod holder that is conveniently portable and compact, does not require extra tools to assemble, is substantial enough to resist the force of the fish pulling on the line, is easily modified for use when catching different types of fish, and is both economical and able to withstand the elements and years of use. 
       DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
       [0005]    The invention provides a fishing rod holder for shore fishing, comprising a base with at least two spaced apart recesses in a top face surface of the base, each recess adapted to receive a bottom end of a rod, the rod further having a fishing rod receiving end, typically a U-shaped bracket, at its top end. The rods are of different lengths, with the longer rod being about one third longer than the shorter rod. Hook and loop strips are affixed to the face side of the base, with the corresponding mating strips also affixed around the circumference of the rods. A handle is affixed securely to one edge of the base. To assemble, the bottom end of each rod is inserted into a recess, with the fishing rod receiving ends parallel to one another such that the fishing rod receiving ends are oriented so that the space between the arms of the U shaped brackets are both parallel to the shortest side of the base and to each other. The shorter rod is placed at a base first end, and the longer rod is placed in the remaining recess at the base second end. For carp or catfish fishing, the base is oriented so that the shorter first rod is placed closer to the water&#39;s edge, relative to the longer second rod. A fishing rod is placed in the fishing rod receiving ends, with the line directed towards the water, such that the handle of the fishing rod is furthest from the water, and the tip of the fishing rod is pointing towards the water, at about a 10 degree angle below horizontal. For bass or bluegill fishing, the orientation of the base is reversed, so that the longer second rod is placed closer to the water&#39;s edge, relative to the shorter first rod, and such that the tip of a fishing rod placed in the fishing rod receiving ends will be tilting upwards approximately 10 degrees above the horizontal. Another embodiment is designed to allow two fishing rods to be held at the same time, by including more recesses and rods, and by orienting the base so that the longer sides are parallel to the water. The rods may again be oriented as desired, and it is possible to have one set of rods oriented for carp or catfish fishing, and the other set oriented for bass or bluegill at the same time. To store or transport, the rods are removed from their respective recesses, and then the hook and look closures affixed to the rods are firmly pushed against the mating hook and loop closures on the base. The fisherman then carries the holder by holding the handle. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the subsequent detailed description presented in connection with accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a top view a base of a fishing rod holder according to the invention, shown in storage position. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a base of the fishing rod holder of  FIG. 1 , showing the base and a plurality of receiving holes. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of an assembled fishing rod holder according to the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the assembled fishing rod holder shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DRAWINGS LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       [0011]    The following is a list of reference labels used in the drawings to label components of different embodiments of the invention, and the names of the indicated components. 
         [0012]      10  fishing rod holder 
         [0013]      12  base or board  12   a  base first end  12   b  base second end base second end  12   c  base face  12   d  base first side (handle side)  12   e  base second side 
         [0014]      14  hook and loop closure 
         [0015]      16  first rod 
         [0016]      16   a  first rod top end 
         [0017]      16   b  first rod bottom end 
         [0018]      18  second rod 
         [0019]      18   a  second rod top end 
         [0020]      18   b  second rod bottom end 
         [0021]      20  u-shaped bracket or u-shaped fishing rod receiving end 
         [0022]      22   a  first recess 
         [0023]      22   b  second recess 
         [0024]      22   c  third recess 
         [0025]      22   d  fourth recess 
         [0026]      24  carrying handle 
         [0027]      40  fishing rod 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-4 , a fishing rod holder  10  according to the invention is provided in a transit or storage position, comprising a base  12  having a base face  12   c,  a base first end  12   a  and a base second end  12   b.  Hook and loop closures  14  are affixed to the base face  12   c  and also along a portion of a shaft of a first rod  16  and also on a second rod  18 , the hook and loop closures for attaching the rods  16   18  to the base face  12   c.  The hook and loop closures on the rods  16   18  are pressed securely into the mating hook and loop closures on the base face  12   c.    
         [0029]    The first rod  16  is further comprised of a top end  16   a  and a bottom end  16   b.  The second rod  18  is further comprised of a top end  18   a  and a bottom end  18   b.  A U-shaped bracket  20  is secured to the top end  16   a    18   a  of each rod  16   18 . The primary difference between the rods  16   18  is that the first rod  16  is approximately two-thirds the length of the second rod  18  in a preferred embodiment, and generally the first rod  16  is shorter than the second rod  18  so that a fishing pole  40  resting in the U shaped brackets  20  will rest in the brackets at an angle. A handle  24  is affixed to one edge of the base  12  to allow a user to easily transport the fishing rod holder  10 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  shows the base  12  and a plurality of recesses  22   a - d,  the recesses adapted to receive the bottom ends  16   b    18   b  of the rods  16   18 . 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3-4 , the fishing rod holder  10  is shown in its assembled position. To assemble, the rods  16   18  are removed from the hook and loop closures  14  on the base face  12   c,  then each rod is inserted into a desired recess  22   a    22   b,  depending on the type of fish the user wants to catch. The U-shaped brackets  20  are oriented so that the arms of the bracket are parallel, such that a fishing rod can be placed into the brackets  20 . In  FIG. 3 , the base second end  12   b  is oriented so as to be closest to the water relative to the base first end  12   a.  When the shorter first rod  16  is inserted into the recess  22   b,  and the longer second rod  18  is inserted into the recess  22   a,  the fishing rod holder  10  is oriented for carp or catfish fishing, where the fishing rod  40  placed in the brackets  20  will be oriented with a tip (not shown) of the fishing rod angled towards the water surface, with the tip of the fishing rod angled about 10 degrees below the horizontal in a downwards orientation towards the water surface. If the base first end  12   a  is positioned closer to the water relative to the base second end  12   b,  the tip of fishing rod  40  held in the brackets  40  will be angled upwards and a handle (not shown) of the fishing rod will be positioned closer to the base  12  relative to the tip position, causing the fishing rod  40  to be angled about 10 degrees above the horizontal with the tip angling upwards, away from the water surface. This orientation of the fishing rod holder  10  is suitable for bass or bluegill fishing. 
         [0032]    The rods  16   18  may be inserted into any recess  22   a    22   b,  and either end of the base  12   a    12   b  may be placed closer or further away from the water, depending on the type of fish sought. The plurality of recesses  22   a - d  and in some embodiments, such as the one shown in  FIG. 1 , allows two fishing rods  40  to be held by the fishing rod holder  10 , and allowing two rods oriented the same way (tilted up or down), or one rod oriented to catch bass or bluegill, and the other oriented to catch carp. The user may thus easily assemble the rod holder  10  and then turn the holder to orient it as desired. In some embodiments, it is possible to orient the base  12  so that a base first side  12   d  or a base second side  12   e  is oriented closer to the water relative to the opposing side, allowing the fishing rod holder  10  to be positioned between two users, each user sitting at a first side  12   a  or a second side  12   b,  with the fishing rod holder  10  sandwiched between them. Alternatively, a single fisherman can sit on either end and use two rods at the same time. Again, the rods  16   18  may be oriented as desired. 
         [0033]    The recesses  22   a - d  shown in the Figures may include a cup fitting inserted and sitting on the base face  12   c,  although the recesses  22   a - d  may simply be through bore-holes cut into the base  12  with or without a cup fitting. Both rods  16   18  are identical in composition, and the only difference is the length of each rod relative to the other. The recesses  22   a    22   d  are also identical to one another, and the rods are interchangeable in the recesses. 
         [0034]    It should be noted that the brackets  40  shown in the Figures are U-brackets, however other shaped brackets, such as Y-shaped, are also suitable, so long as the fishing rod  40  maybe easily placed into the bracket and held so that it cannot be easily displaced by a fish tugging on a fishing line threaded onto the fishing rod  40 , or rolled out of the bracket by the user inadvertently bumping the fishing rod holder  10 . 
         [0035]    Suitable materials for use with the fishing rod holder  10  are screw in type metal U-shaped brackets, the brackets dipped so as to have a slide resistant surface, and schedule 40 pvc pipe. The U-shaped brackets are then easily screwed into the top end  16   a    18   a  of the rod, and in the Figures, into a pvc end cap. In some embodiments, not shown, rod inserts are inserted in the rods  16   18  to further stabilized and strengthen the rods, particularly if the recesses are less than half the depth of the base  12 . The plastic fittings for the recesses and the top cap over the end of the top end of the rods are all made of schedule 40 pvc. Other materials can be used for the rods, including wood or plastic dowels, metal, etc. The rods can be solid or hollow, and may be square, circular, or rectangular in cross section, as desired. A rectangular cross-sectioned rod would allow the fishing rod holder  10  in storage position ( FIG. 1 ) to be more compact and sleek. It should also be noted that the rod bottom ends  16   b    18   b  may also be threaded and screw into the recesses  22   a - d.    
         [0036]    The base itself is typically pressure treated lumber, but plastic or other materials are also suitable. It should be noted that the inventor feels that for stability, the base  12  material must be reasonably substantial, and hence has recommended using wood. It is also possible to make the fishing rod holder  10  out of hollow plastic for ease of transport, and with a hollow fillable base  12  that can be filled with water, sand or other suitable material, to make the base stable when used. Typically the base will be rectangular, although other shapes are permissible. The fishing rod holder will have a total weight of typically about 8-10 pounds if wood is used for the base, or about 6 pounds or less if plastic is used for the base, with the majority of the weight being attributed to the base itself. A less heavy base may be used, and can be created easily by using a shape other than a rectangle, but lighter bases increase the risk of a fish pulling the rod holder  10  into the water. 
         [0037]    The handle  24  is typically made of metal for durability, although any other suitable handle material may also be used. The materials typically used for the fishing rod holder  10  according to the invention and described above result in an economical, long lasting holder, able to withstand years of outdoor use. More expensive and/or different materials may be used, for instance, wooden dowels may be substituted for the pvc pipe, and a furniture grade of wood may be used for the base  12 , so long as the wood is treated with the appropriate finish to withstand outdoor use. Plastic is appropriate for all parts of the fishing rod holder  10 , so long as the plastic or other materials are able to withstand exposure to the elements, particularly sun and moisture. The inventor feels that  14  and loop closures  14  are ideally suited to fasten the rods  16   18  to the base face  12   c,  however other fastening means are possible, such as straps. Additionally, the base face  12   c  may be configured with recesses adapted to hold the rods. 
         [0038]    It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. For instance, the base  12  can be modified to hold just one fishing rod, or more rods by staggering the pattern or recesses and/or making the pairs of rods  16   18  different dimension so as to have two or more height levels of rods. A small child, for instance, could sit on one end and have a pair of rods that maintain the same height ratio but are overall shorter in length compared to a second pair of rods used by an adult, allowing each user to have a comfortably positioned fishing rod holder. Staggering the heights of the pairs of rods is particularly suitable when space is limited.