Abstract:
A fishing rod holder having one or more rod stations attached to a support bar. Each rod station includes a loop terminating in a pair of legs received in a pair of apertures in the support bar. In a preferred embodiment, the rod holder provides a plurality of rod stations to improve a fisherman&#39;s chances of catching a fish. In another preferred embodiment, the rod holder is configured with a pair of clamps receivable over the rim of a bucket allowing the rod holder to be used virtually anywhere. The bucket may be filled with water to provide storage for live bait.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to a holder for a fishing rod. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, the present invention relates to a holder for a fishing rod which may be temporarily supported from another object. 
     2. Background 
     Fishing rod holders are well known in the art. Generally speaking, rod holders potentially solve two problems: (a) they free the fisherman to do other things while maintaining one or more lines in the water; and (b) they allow the fisherman to have several lines in the water at one time, thereby increasing the chances of catching a fish. 
     It is generally accepted that simultaneously fishing with multiple lines in the water dramatically increases the chances of catching a fish. Beyond the obvious advantage of merely increasing the odds of a strike, each hook may be placed at a different depth, different baits may be used, or other factors may be varied to determine an effective combination for a particular type of fish at a particular location at that particular time. Rod holders have been developed for a number of environments, allowing a single fisherman to maintain several rods at one time whether fishing from a boat, a dock, the bank, etc. 
     In addition, rod holders have been developed in a variety of styles to fill various competing needs, i.e. rod holders for temporary installation versus rod holders for permanent installation; rod holders which hold the rod handle versus rod holders which support the rod while the handle rests on the ground or deck; rod holders developed specifically for use on a particular type of boat; rod holders to be supported from an automobile; rod holders for anchoring to the ground, and the like. 
     A limitation of some rod holders is the ease with which the rod may be removed by a striking fish. For example, many holders use a simple tube, such as a section of PVC pipe, to support the rod handle. If the pipe is too close to horizontal and sufficient line is in the water, the rod may be easily lost to a striking fish. It should be noted that for boat mounted holders, rocking of the boat may cause the angle between the rod and the line to vary significantly which may compound this problem. Rod holders which support the rod, instead of the handle, likewise allow the rod to fall prey to a striking fish. While it may seem obvious that a rod holder should not allow the rod to be removed by a striking fish, a surprising number of prior art devices will release the rod to relatively small forces exerted longitudinally from the tip of the rod. 
     A further limitation of many prior art rod holders is that such holders only accommodate a single rod. Since a single fisherman can usually manage a large number of rods, a rod holder should provide multiple stations to reduce the number of mounting points for the holders. In addition, many holders which accommodate multiple rods do not hold the rods in a position, relative to each other, which makes logical use of the fishable area. The ability to “fan-out” the rods at angular intervals improves the distance between rod tips and reduces the risk of entanglement between adjacent fishing lines. 
     Yet another limitation of many prior art rod holders if the complexity of manufacturing the device. Ideally, a rod holder should be relatively simple to manufacture and should employee a minimal number of fasteners which may inadvertently loosen during use or which may be accidentally lost. 
     Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fishing rod holder which overcomes the problems and alleviates the needs discussed above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a fishing rod holder which is easy to manufacture, adaptable to virtually any fishing environment, provides stations for a plurality of fishing rods while making logical use of the fishable area, and which will not allow removal of the rod by a striking fish. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of wire loops are attached to a support bar which is secured to a fixed object by means of a clamping device. When a rod is supported by the holder, the rear portion of the handle passes under the wire loop while the central or forward portion of the rod handle rests on a forward portion of the wire loop which is directly supported by the support bar. To remove the fishing rod, the rod must be tipped slightly upward, thus preventing an outward force on the line from dislodging the rod. 
     In another embodiment, the clamping device comprises a pair of brackets which are receivable over the edge of a bucket, such as, by way of example and not limitation, a five gallon bucket of the type commonly used as a container for paint. The bucket may then be weighted with sand, water, rocks, or the like, to provide a temporary, fixed support for the rod holder. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, filling the bucket with water is of particular interest since the bucket may also be used for temporary storage of live bait. 
     In another embodiment, the inventive rod holder includes a clamp configured for clamping the rod holder to a vertical post, such as a post commonly found on boat docks. Thus, each post of a dock may be used to support several fishing rods simultaneously. 
     In yet another embodiment, the inventive rod holder includes a clamp configured for clamping the rod holder to a horizontal rail such as, for example, the handrail typically found on pontoon boats. 
    
    
     Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon examining the accompanying drawings and upon reading the following description of the preferred embodiments. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 provides a top plan view of the inventive rod holder adapted for mounting on a bucket. 
     FIG. 2 provides a cutaway side view of the rod holder as seen from perspective  2 — 2  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 provides a bottom view of the inventive rod holder installed on a bucket. 
     FIG. 4 provides a partial back view of the inventive rod holder as seen from perspective  4 — 4  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 provides a top view of the inventive rod holder installed on a bucket. 
     FIG. 6 provides a side cutaway view of the rod holder shown from perspective  6 — 6  of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 provides a cutaway view of the rod holder as seen from perspective  7 — 7  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 8 provides an exploded isometric view of the inventive rod holder. 
     FIG. 9 provides a top view of the inventive rod holder having brackets for clamping to a horizontal rail. 
     FIG. 10 provides a partial back view of the rod holder shown from perspective  10 — 10  of FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 11 provides a cutaway side view of the rod holder as seen from perspective  11 — 11  of FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 12 provides a top view of the inventive rod holder having a bracket for clamping to a vertical square post. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is important to understand that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction illustrated and the steps described herein. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in a variety of ways. It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate the same parts throughout the several views, a preferred embodiment of the inventive fishing rod holder  20  is shown in FIG.  1 . Rod holder  20  comprises: a support bar  22 ; a plurality of loops  24 ,  26 , and  28  (three shown), mounted to bar  22 ; and a pair of brackets  30  and  32  secured to bar  22  with screws  34  and  36 , respectively. Each loop  24 - 28  provides a rod station along bar  22  to support a fishing rod. 
     As best seen in FIG. 8, support bar  22  preferably comprises an elongated section of square tubing  60  having a top wall  122  and a bottom wall  124 ; a pair of end caps  62 ; apertures  64   a  and  64   b  in top wall  122  and bottom wall  124 , respectively, such that apertures  64   a  and  64   b  are in alignment to receive screw  34 ; similarly, apertures  66   a  and  66   b  in alignment through top wall  122  and bottom wall  124 , respectively, to receive screw  36 ; apertures  68   a  and  68   b  through top wall  122  to receive loop  24 ; apertures  70   a  and  70   b  to receive loop  26 ; and apertures  72   a  and  72   b  to receive loop  28 . 
     Screws  34  and  36  receive nuts  38  and  40 , respectively to secure brackets  30  and  32 . Preferably, brackets  30  and  32  are identical in construction and, therefore, only bracket  30  will be described in detail, but it is to be understood that bracket  32  includes identical features. Referring next to FIGS. 2 and 3, bracket  30  includes: a mounting surface  42 ; an outer leg  44  projecting downward from mounting surface  42 ; and an inner leg  46  likewise projecting downward from surface  42 . Gap  48  is formed between legs  44  and  46  for placement over the rim of a bucket  50  (FIG.  3 ). Preferably, the distal end  52  of outer leg  44  bends slightly outward and the distal end  54  of inner leg  46  bends slightly inward to facilitate slipping bracket  30  over the bucket  50 . Mounting surface  42  includes an aperture (not shown) for receiving screw  34 . It should be noted, as best seen in FIG. 3, that brackets  30  and  32  swivel at screws  34  and  36 , respectively, to allow rod holder  20  to accommodate buckets of varying sizes or shapes. After fitting brackets  30  and  32  to a particular bucket, screws  34  and  36  may be tightened to hold brackets  30  and  32  in place. Alternatively, nuts  38  and  40  may be of a locking style such that brackets screws  34  and  36  do not need to be tightened to the point where brackets  30  and  32  have resistance to movement. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, it is also possible to provide threaded apertures directly in surface  42  which would eliminate the need for nuts  38  and  40 . 
     Referring again to FIG. 1, with further reference to FIG. 4, preferably, loops  24 ,  26 , and  28  are identical in construction. Accordingly, only the construction of loop  26  will be described in detail, however it is to be understood that the description of the features of loop  26  are likewise applicable to loops  24  and  28 . In the preferred embodiment, loop  26  is formed by bending a metal wire. At a first bend  100 , approximately at the center of the wire, the rearward portion of the loop is formed such that the wire transitions forward and slightly downward from bend  100 . At bends  102  and  104 , the wire is bent to extend forward and slightly upward to form a U-shaped portion. At bends  106  and  108 , the wire is bent to narrow the U-shaped portion and, at bends  110  and  112 , bent to extend forward once again. Finally, at bends  114  and  116 , the wire is bent downwards to form vertical legs  118  and  120  which are received in apertures  70   a  and  70   b  (FIG. 8) of support bar  22 . As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, while in the preferred embodiment, loop  26  is formed by bending metal wire, a number of alternative materials and methods could be employed instead. By way of example and not limitation, loop  26  could be: formed from plastic material by known molding techniques such as injection molding; formed from tubing rather than solid wire; formed by forging or casting suitable metal materials; etc. 
     It should be noted that the position of the aperture pairs  68   a-b ,  70   a-b , and  72   a-b  (FIG. 8) determines the angle of each fishing rod  128   a ,  128   b , or  128   c  (as seen in FIG.  5 ), relative to the rod holder  20  and the other fishing rods  128   a-c . It should also be noted that if, in forming the loops  24 - 28 , the spacing between legs  118  and  120  is made slightly larger than the spacing between the apertures of a pair  68   a-b ,  70   a-b , or  72   a-b , and loops  24 - 28  are formed from a somewhat resilient material, then the loops  24 - 28  must be temporarily squeezed to insert legs  118  and  120  in their respective apertures and, after insertion, will spring back outwards to secure the loops  24 - 28  to support bar  22 . Alternatively, loops  24 - 28  may be secured to bar  22  by welding or with an adhesive. When a loop, such as loop  26 , is attached to support bar  22 , an opening  126  is formed through the inside of loop  26 . 
     Referring next to FIGS. 5 and 6, typically clamps  30  and  32  of rod holder  20  are first placed over the outer rim of bucket  50 . To insert fishing rod  128   b , for example, the bottom end of rod handle  130   b  is first placed through opening  126  (FIG. 1) of loop  26  then the rod is allowed to tip forward with the forward portion of handle  130   b  resting on the narrowed portion  132  (FIG. 1) of loop  26 . It should be noted that outward longitudinal forces applied to the rod (as when a fish bites) will tend to pull handle  130   b  into the wedge formed by the narrowed portion  132  of loop  26  and movement of the rearward portion of handle  130   b  will resisted by loop  26  at bend  100  (FIG.  1 ). Thus, rod holder  20  resists dislodging of the fishing rod absent at least a slight upward tipping of the fishing rod. When a fish is caught, the fisherman can grasp the rod  128   b  at the fishing reel and easily remove the rod from loop  26  by simply tipping the rod tip slightly upward for reeling the fish in. 
     In another preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the inventive rod holder  200  is configured for clamping to a vertical post, such as the posts commonly found on boat docks. The structure of support bar  22  and loops  24 ,  26 , and  28  is identical to the previously described embodiment. However, instead of clamps  30  and  32  for securing the device to a bucket, rod holder  200  includes clamp  202  secured to support bar  22  with screws  204  and  206 . 
     Clamp  202  includes: arms  208  and  210  extending from support bar  22 ; bracket  212  attached to arms  208  and  210 ; and screw  214  threadedly received in bracket  212  for squeezing sides  216  and  218  of bracket  212  to secure rod holder  200  to a post. Preferably, screw  214  includes a feature such as wing  220  to allow tightening, or loosening, of screw  214  without the use of a tool. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, a number of such features are well known in the art such as, by way of example and not limitation: knobs, either with or without knurling; T-handles; and the like. It should be noted that, while rod holder  200  is shown having a clamp for square posts, bracket  212  could be formed to accept cylindrical posts, rectangular posts, or, for that matter, posts of virtually any shape. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9,  10 , and  11 , the inventive rod holder  300  is configured for five rod stations, rather than three stations, as in the previously described embodiments, thus having five loops  302 ,  304 ,  306 ,  308 ,  310 . In addition, rod holder  300  includes clamps  312  and  314 , attached to support bar  316  with screws  318  and  320 , respectively, for clamping rod holder  300  to a horizontal rail  330 . 
     Each clamp  312  or  314  includes: an upper arm  322 ; a lower arm  324 ; a screw  326  extending through arms  322  and  324 ; and a nut  328 . Typically, clamps  312  and  314  are first secured to support bar  316  with screws  318 - 320 , and nuts  332 . The clamps are then placed over a horizontal rail  330 , screws  326  are next placed through arms  322  and  324  and secured with nuts  328 . Rail  330  is typical of rails found on pontoon boats, as well as many other types of boats. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, clamps  312  and  314  could easily be formed to accommodate other types or sizes of rails and such modifications are within the spirit of the present invention. 
     As will also be apparent to those skilled in the art, while the preferred embodiments of the inventive rod holder have been described as providing three or five rod stations, the invention is not so limited. The inventive device may be configured with any number of rod stations. However, it should be noted that, as more stations are added, care should be taken to ensure that either the distance between individual rods is sufficient, or the angular displacement between rod is sufficient to maintain an acceptable distance between individual fishing lines in the water to keep line entanglement to an acceptable level. 
     In a similar vein, while the support bar has been shown as straight with an angular offset between adjacent loops, the invention is not so limited. By way of example and not limitation, the support bar could instead be curved with the loops placed perpendicular to the bar at each station or a straight bar could be made long enough that the distance between individual stations is sufficient to make good use of the fishable area. Such modifications are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
     Finally, it should also be noted that the inventive device is equally well suited for use on a boat, a dock, the shore or bank, or virtually any other area on or around a body of water. 
     Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are encompassed within the spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.