GB2039701A - Improvements in or relating to supports for fishing rods - Google Patents

Abstract

A fishing rod support 11 comprises a tube 12 to which are attached a thigh strap 13 and a shoulder strap 14 so that the tube can be worn with the tube at the side near the hip. The user can insert the hand end of the rod 16 into the tube leaving both hands free. The straps can extend through sleeves on the tube so that by moving the strap round the tube the support can be used on either side. The tube can be combined with a bank stick. The shoulder strap can be replaced by a belt. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to supports for fishing rods This invention relates to supports for fishing rods.

According to this invention a support for a fishing rod comprises a holder in which in use a fishing rod is received, and means adapted to support the holder on or from the user with the rod inclined upwardly and forwardly. With such an arrangement the user's hands are left free. The invention also includes the combination of such a support and a rod in the holder.

The holder may comprise a hollow member.

The support means may comprise first means for supporting the holder from a lower part of the user, and second means for supporting the holder from a higher part of the user, the arrangement being such that in use the member may be supported in an upwardly and forwardly inclined position.

Preferably the first means is adapted for supporting the holder from a leg of the user with the rod at the side of the user.

Preferably the second means is adapted for supporting the holder from a lower part of the torso, for example the hips or waist. The second means could be adapted for supporting the holder from a shoulder of the user.

The first and second means are preferably straps, preferably provided with means for adjusting their effective lengths.

The hollow member may take the form of a tube with outwardly flared ends.

In the case where the first and second means are elongate members, for example straps, the tube may be provided with two sleeves, the elongate members extending respectively between the tube and the sleeves. Opposed ends of the sleeves may be provided with notches for angularly locating the elongate members in relation to the hollow member. The elongate members may be adjustable or be able to move round the tube enabling the support to be used on either side of the body.

The invention may be performed in various ways and some specific embodiments will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of a fisherman using a fishing rod support; Fig. 2 is a side view of a fisherman using the support: Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one form of support; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an attachment for use with the support; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another form of attachment; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a preferred form of support.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a fisherman 10 is shown using a fishing rod support 11 according to the invention. The support 11 includes a hollow member 12 to which is attached a thigh or leg strap 1 3 which can be releasably fastened conveniently round the thigh using for example a buckle fastener. Also attached to the hollow member 12 is a fastener in the form of a shoulder strap 1 4 which, in the case shown, extends over the shoulder on the opposite side of the body to the support. The strap 14 is conveniently in two parts releasably connected by a buckle so that the effective length of the strap 14 can be adjusted to the size and convenience of a particular user.

The straps 13, 14 are in use arranged so that the hollow member 1 2 extends forwardly and upwardly on the outside of the user's body, preferably in the region of the upper end of a thigh.

The handle end 1 5 of a fishing rod 1 6 can then be received in the hollow member 12, as shown, with the reel 1 7 abutting the front end 1 8 of the hollow member 1 2 to limit the extent to which the rod enters into the hollow member. In some cases the handle may protrude below the lower or rear end 19 of the hollow member. Usually both ends of the hollow member are open but in certain cases the rear end is blocked off, for example by a removable plug.

With the rod thus supported both hands of the fisherman are left free. This is particularly useful when fishing at a distance from the fisherman in flowing water or a lake. In these conditions the angler is required to bait his hook, feed his swim, unhook his fish and similar tasks requiring both hands, whilst standing well away from the bank.

Of course, the support can be used with the angler standing in the water.

After the task is finished the rod is easily removed from the support by a forward motion and can be returned to the support when required.

The support may be particularly useful for disabled anglers.

Referring now to Fig. 3, a support includes the tube 12 in this case of uniform cross-section with a bracket 20 at one end including a longitudinal portion 21 defining an aperture through which the strap 1 4 extends. A similar bracket 22 is provided at the other end so that the support can be used on the other side of the user. The tube 12 has an external bracket 23 midway between its ends through which passes the thigh strap 1 3 provided with buckle 24 and apertures 25 to enable its effective length to be adjusted.

A substantial part of the weight of the rod 1 6 is provided by the handle. The position of the bracket 23 is selected so that a substantial part of the weight of the rod is taken on the thigh strap 13 thus easing the weight on the shoulder strap 14.

The tube 12 can be moulded from plastics, or be of other material for example fibreglass or aluminium or other material providing adequate strength and rigidity without being unduly heavy.

Instead of a shoulder strap 1 4 the tube 1 2 may preferably be provided with a belt fastener, for encircling the waist or hips. This could be a webbing strap for encircling the user, provided with a buckle to adjust the effective length, or a clip could fasten the tube 12 to a separate belt, or the tube could be riveted or otherwise fixed to a belt.

The length of the tube 12 can for example be from 21.25 cm to 42.5 cm depending on the size of the rod.

The diameter of the tube 1 2 is such that the butt or hand end of the rod can pass freely into and out of the tube. Some rods have an enlarged butt end and for these the tube 12 preferably has outwardly flared ends 40, 41 as shown in the embodiment of Fig. 6. In this case the bracket 23 is replaced by an outer plastics sleeve 42, the leg strap 13 passing between the sleeve and the tube 12 to support the tube along the greater part of the tube length. The bracket 20, 21 is repiaced by a further plastics sleeve 43 and the belt strap 14 extends between the tube 12 and the sleeve 43. It will be appreciated that this embodiment can also be used on either side of the angler's body because the straps can move round the tube to support it in the required orientation.

In a modified arrangement the adjacent ends of sleeves 42, 43 are each provided with a notch in which is received the respective strap, the ends of the sleeves possibly abutting. Such a construction resists undesired rotation of the straps around the tube.

The support can have an attachment to enable it to be mounted on the ground, for example a river bank.

In the arrangement of Fig. 4 a conventional bank stick 50 which has an internally threaded end 51 receives a threaded end 52 of the attachment 53 in the form of a plug, for example of metal, secured, for example by moulding, in the rear end of the tube 12.

In the arrangement of Fig. 5 the tube 12 has secured to it midway between its ends a laterally extending threaded stud 60 which can extend through apertures in the arms of a U-shaped boss 61 adapted removably to receive the upper end of a conventional bank stick 62, the stud being secured by a wing nut 63.

It will be appreciated that straps 1 3, 14 have been omitted from Figs. 4 and 5 for convenience.

in some cases, for example in fly fishing, the reel is at or very close to the butt end of the rod leaving little or no length of rod handle below the reel for insertion into the tube 12. In such cases the tube may be provided with a slot, generally as shown dotted at 70 in Fig. 6, extending from the upper end to near the lower end, downward movement of the rod being prevented by the reel enyaging the lower end 71 of the slot.

Claims (19)

CLAIMS:

1. A support for a fishing rod comprising a holder in which in use a fishing rod is received, and means adapted to support the holder on or from the user with the rod inclined upwardly and forwardly.

2. A support as claimed in claim 1, in which the holder comprises a hollow member.

3. A support as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the support means comprises first means for supporting the holder from a lower part of the user, and second means for supporting the holder from a higher part of the user.

4. A support as claimed in Claim 3, in which the first means is adapted for supporting the holder from a leg of the user with the rod at the side of the user.

5. A support as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, in which the second means is adapted for supporting the holder from a lower part of the torso.

6. A support as claimed in claim 5, in which the second means is adapted for supporting the holder from the hip or waist.

7. A support as claimed in any of claims 3 to 6, in which the first means is elongate.

8. A support as claimed in any of claims 3 to 7, in which the second means is elongate.

9. A support as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the hollow member is a tube with outwardly flared ends.

10. A support as claimed in claim 8 and claim 9, in which the tube is provided with two sleeves, the elongate members extending respectively between the tube and the sleeves.

11. A support as claimed in claim 10, in which each sleeve is provided with a notch for receiving the respective elongate member in relation to the holder.

12. A support as claimed in claim 8, in which the holder includes two brackets spaced along the holder for removably receiving the elongate members therethrough.

13. A support as claimed in claim 10, in which the elongate members are angularly movable around the holder so that the support can be used on either side of a user.

14. A support as claimed in claim 3 and claim 8, in which the holder includes first, second and third brackets spaced along the holder, the second bracket being arranged for receipt therethrough of the second elongate means and the first and third brackets being arranged for selective receipt therethrough of the first elongate means so that the support can be used on either side of a user.

1 5. A support for a fishing rod substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig. 3, or Fig. 6, of the accompanying drawings.

1 6. A support for a fishing rod comprising an elongate holder for receiving a butt end region of a fishing rod, and means adapted to support the holder on or from a user with the rod inclined forwardly.

17. A support for a fishing rod substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or Fig. 3, or Fig. 4, or Fig.

5, or Fig. 6, of the accompanying drawings.

1 8. A support as claimed in any preceding claim of which the holder is supported on or from a user.

19. In combination a support as claimed in any preceding claim and a fishing rod, a butt end region of which is received in the holder.