Abstract:
A fully-integrated fishing caddy system which generally includes a five gallon bucket as a base and a padded lid enclosing the interior of the bucket, the padded lid further serving as a seat for the user. The bucket includes at least one rod holder which can be rotated to different angles to suit the user. There are hooks in the bucket for receiving the fishing line and thereby preventing the wind from blowing the line around, resulting in faster detection of catches. Other features include the ability to place caught fish into the bucket via a chute, cup holders, and drainage spouts.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/028,626, filed on Jul. 24, 2014, and also claims priority in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/065,549, filed Oct. 17, 2014, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to a fishing caddy, and particularly to a unique caddy with adjustable features for accommodating various species and fishing environments. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Currently a person going fishing has to pack a number of items, including a folding chair, hooks, rods, rod holders, and flashlights or head lamps. The fisherman would have to carry all of this gear to and from the fishing site, as well as set the gear up on the site once they have reached the site. 
         [0006]    Existing rod holders require the holders to be driven into the solid earth, resulting in rods being placed too far from the water and resulting in missed bites. These holders are also non-adjustable and cannot be placed in locations without soil present. Existing rod holders are further subject to missed catches on windy days when it is difficult to tell when a catch is on the line. 
         [0007]    Head lamps and flashlights are added costs which can scare fish away when shone directly into the water. Light is necessary when fishing early in the morning, but can be detrimental if the fish are scared away from the source. 
         [0008]    Heretofore there has not been available a fishing caddy system and method with the advantages and features of the disclosed subject matter. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    A fully-integrated fishing caddy system which generally includes a five gallon bucket as a base and a padded lid enclosing the interior of the bucket, the padded lid further serving as a seat for the user. The bucket includes at least one rod holder which can be rotated to different angles to suit the user. There are hooks in the bucket for receiving the fishing line and thereby preventing the wind from blowing the line around, resulting in faster detection of catches. Other features include the ability to place caught fish into the bucket via a chute, cup holders, and drainage spouts. 
         [0010]    An alternative embodiment includes a rod holder unit which can be attached to an existing five gallon bucket or the like. The rod holder unit could be screwed into the bucket, using a backing plate placed within the bucket to receive the screws, or the rod holder could be punched through the wall of the bucket with spikes or screws, allowing a quick attachment to the bucket. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the invention illustrating various objects and features thereof, wherein like references are generally numbered alike in the several views. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is an isometric drawing of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is another isometric drawing thereof, showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention with its lid removed. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an isometric drawing of the lid thereof. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an isometric drawing of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is another isometric drawing thereof. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6A  is a detailed isometric diagram taken about the circle of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 6B  is a continuation of  FIG. 6A , showing the rod holder being pulled away from the base. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6C  is a continuation of  FIG. 6B , showing the rod holder being rotated within the base. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6D  is a continuation of  FIG. 6C , showing the tab of the rod holder being fitted into a different notch of the base. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken about line  7  of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is an isometric drawing of yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is another isometric drawing thereof. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     I. Introduction and Environment 
       [0025]    As required, detailed aspects of the disclosed subject matter are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
         [0026]    Certain terminology will be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, up, down, front, back, right and left refer to the invention as orientated in the view being referred to. The words, “inwardly” and “outwardly” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the aspect being described and designated parts thereof. Forwardly and rearwardly are generally in reference to the direction of travel, if appropriate. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar meaning 
         [0027]    The present invention is a fishing caddy system with various features and functions for accommodating different fishing conditions, target species and environments. For example and without limitation, the following description provides information concerning embodiments of the invention, which can be adapted and changed as necessary. 
         [0000]    II. Preferred embodiment fishing caddy system  2   
         [0028]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the fishing caddy system  2  is a device that allows a fisherman to sit while monitoring his or her poles  30 . This device comprises a plastic bucket  4  that has four holes in it which allows piping  11  to go through one side to the other. This piping has a handle  18  on the back side which allows the fisherman to adjust the height and angle of his or her rod which his placed within a rod holder  10  located on the other end of the piping  11  from the handles  18 . The device has a cushion  8  on the lid  6  which allows for more comfort when sitting for longer periods of time. 
         [0029]    In the middle of the device is a light emitting diode (LED) receiver  12  for an LED light  14  that allows the fisherman to see his or her lines at night and also fishing tackle in low light conditions. The bucket itself may also illuminate or be illuminated by mounting an LED light  14  underneath of the bucket lid  6  as shown in  FIG. 3 . In this setup, the actual bucket will glow a faint light since the plastic of the bucket is not perfectly opaque. This lighting system may be powered by either solar or battery power. 
         [0030]    The cushion  8  may be attached to the lid by a hook and loop fastener system so that the cushion may be washed when it is dirty. The “lip” of the lid has small holes in it that will allow the fisherman to anchor down the fishing caddy when it is not being sat upon. The caddy can also be attached to the earth below through the use of metal “U” poles. In a preferred embodiment, however, the bucket is simply filled with water prior to placing the lid  6  onto the bucket  4 , and this water holds the bucket down. 
         [0031]    The device allows the fisherman to select special notches in which to place his or her rod depending on the species of fish which is sought to be caught. Examples include: a 35 degree angle for catching trout or other fish which require less line visibility 90 degree angle for catching fish which are light biters to enable quicker fishing rod reaction time, or a 180 degree, vertical angle for fish species which are heavy bitters and line tuggers. 
         [0032]    The fishing caddy device will be highly personalizable and available in various color choices. The included piping will also be available in a wide variety of colors and styles. Fishing tackle boxes will be able to be attached to the side of the fishing caddy device through notches above the marked water line on the caddy. Additional lighting may also be attached. 
         [0033]    Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the bucket  4  includes a handle  20  which allows for easy transport of the system  2 , both to and from the fishing site. A spout  22  with a cap  23  allows the water to be drained from the bucket once the user is done fishing for the day. A hook  16  is associated with each rod holder  10 . These hooks receive the fishing line  32  of a fishing rod  30  connected to a fishing hook  34  as shown in  FIG. 4 , thereby preventing wind from blowing the line around, resulting in missed catches. 
         [0034]    A fish chute  24  allows fish  36  to be placed into the bucket  4  when they are caught for easy storage. The chute may be attached to the bucket at a later stage, but essentially allows fish to easily slide into a hole in the bucket for storage. 
         [0035]    A cup holder  26  and pouch  28  allow for additional storage and usability of the system  2 . The cup holder  26  may be detachable, and may hang from a strap suspended around the rim of the bucket  4 , or may include a connector arm  38  which connects to a receiver  40  mounted on the side of the bucket  4  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The pouch  28  may be waterproof and allows the user to store items, such as phones or wallets, with the system  2 . 
       III. Alternative Embodiment Fishing Caddy System  52   
       [0036]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show an alternative fishing caddy system  52  which includes an existing bucket  54  which might have a handle  70 . A rod holder base  56  is mounted to the exterior wall of the bucket  54  using screws or other attachment devices (e.g. strong adhesive, hook and loop fasteners, etc.). The embodiment showed uses screws which pass through the wall of the bucket  54  and are received by a backing plate  58  which is inserted into the inside of the bucket. The rod holder base  56  includes a receiver  62  for a rod holder  60  which slots into the base  56 . A number of rotation notches  64  on the base  56  receive a tab  66  located on the end of the rod holder  60 . This allows the rod holder  60  to be turned similar to the embodiment disclosed above. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 6A-6D  show how the rod holder  60  is rotated within the base  56  by pulling the rod holder away from the base ( FIG. 6B ), rotating the rod holder within the base ( FIG. 6C ), and reinserting the tab  66  of the rod holder  60  into another rotation notch  64  of the base  58  ( FIG. 6D ). 
         [0038]      FIG. 7  shows a sectional view as taken about the line on  FIG. 6 . This view shows a better view of how the base  56  is screwed into the bucket  54  sidewall and into a backing plate  58  which receives the screws and holds the base in place. 
         [0039]    Alternatively, the entire assembly could include multiple rod holders  60  connected to a single base assembly having multiple base connectors  56 , and at least one LED mount placed in proximity to those base connectors, similar to the embodiment disclosed previously. In this way, a single attachment can include multiple rod holder elements in a single installable piece. 
       IV. Alternative Embodiment Fishing Caddy System  102   
       [0040]      FIGS. 8 and 9  show another alternative fishing caddy system  102  which includes an existing bucket  104 . This embodiment is somewhat similar to the alternative embodiment above. It features a rod holder base  106  which has several piercing elements  108 , such as screws, which allow the system  102  to be pushed through the material of the bucket  104 , creating a semi-permanent attachment to the bucket. Adhesives could also be used to supplement or replace the piercing elements  108 . 
         [0041]    A rod receiver  110  again is rotatable within the base  106  using a tab  116  of the rod receiver  110  which is slotted into one of multiple rotation notches  114  of the base  106 . 
         [0042]    The embodiments disclosed herein could include buckets of any size, not simply five gallon buckets as mentioned by example. These buckets could be of any material or color, as to associate with the use of LED lights used either on the interior or exterior of the buckets. 
         [0043]    It is to be understood that while certain aspects of the disclosed subject matter have been shown and described, the disclosed subject matter is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects.