GB2129261A - Rod rest - Google Patents

Abstract

Anglers rod rest head 1 comprises a body 2 adapted to be supported in use on an elongate support element 4. The body 2 has exterior side edge portions 2c and 2d between which a rod seat 5 is defined. Skirts 6 and 7 are provided each as a respective extension of one of said edges 2c and 2d. The skirts converge toward each other to a position beyond that at which the body 2 is supported on support element 4 and are adapted to engage against said support element. The skirts 6 and 7 prevent line becoming snagged behind the head 2. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to fishing tackle This invention relates to an item of fishing tackle, and more particularly to a head for an anglers rod rest.

Anglers rod rests have a head with a rod seat in which the anglers fishing rod may be supported.

When a conventional rod rest head is used, line between the reel and the ring may, unbeknown to the angler, pass over the head and come to line at the back thereof. If the rod is then picked up quickly (e.g. to strike) the line may become snagged behind the head and break.

It is an object of this invention to provide a rod rest head in which the aforementioned disadvantage is obviated or mitigated.

According to the present invention there is provided a rod rest head comprising a body adapted to be supported in use on an elongate support element, said body having exterior side edge portions between which a rod seat is defined, and the head having skirts each as a respective extension of one of said edges, said skirts converging toward each other to a position beyond that at which the body is supported in use on the support element and being adapted to engage against said support element.

The skirts provide guide surfaces which ensure that, should line pass over the side edges of the body portion of the head, then when the rod is picked up this line will simply pass smoothly along these guide surfaces so that snagging of the line is avoided.

Preferably the rod rest head of the invention is a one piece plastics moulding, e.g. of an engineering plastic such as polycarbonate.

The invention will be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a perspective view of one embodiment of rod rest head in accordance with the invention and the manner in which it is mounted on a bank stick.

The illustrated rod rest head 1 is a one piece polycarbonate moulding and comprises a body 2 formed as wings 2a and 2b, and a screw threaded abutment 3 for mounting of the head 1 on a bank stick 4 in conventional manner.

A rod seat 5 is defined by the wings 2a and 2b.

The wings 2a and 2b have side edges 2c and 2d respectively which are extended by respective skirts 6 and 7, moulded integrally with the head 2.

These skirts 6 and 7 converge symmetricaliy towards each other and throughout the most part of their length they line in the same plane as the body 2. However, close to their ends remote from body, the skirts 6 and 7 each have a slight deviation out of the plane of body 2 so that a notch 8 is formed in the region at which the skirts 6 and 7 meet.

In use, the head 1 is screwed by means of its screw threaded abutment 3 onto bank stick 4, so that notch 8 lies thereagainst.

It will be appreciated that, in the absence of the skirts 6 and 7, line can pass behind the head 1 and possibly become trapped between the head 1 and the bank stick 4. In either case, the line can become snagged and may break when the rod is picked up.

The provision of the skirts 6 and 7 avoids this problem and ensures that any line which passes over the head 2 is simply guided along the edges of the skirts when the rod is picked up.

A number of modifications may be made to the illustrated head 1. Thus, for example, the skirts 6 and 7 may meet together without the formation of a notch 8. In this case, it is simply necessary to move the skirts slightly out of the plane of the body 2 when it is desired to mount the head 1 on the bank stick 4.

Alternatively or additionally the upper surfaces of wings 2a and 2b may be provided with a layer of a soft elastomeric material which will lessen vibrations (which may scare fish) transmitted to the ground when the rod is placed in the head 1.

Such a layer of elastomeric material may be keyed into the slots 9.

1. A rod rest head comprising a body adapted to be supported in use on an elongate support element, said body having exterior side edge portions between which a rod seat is defined, and the head having skirts each at a respective extension of one of said edges, said skirts converging toward each other to a position beyond that at which the body is supported in use on the support element and being adapted to engage against said support element.

2. A rod rest head as claimed in claim 2 wherein the skirts are elongate extensions of said side edge portions.

3. A rod rest head as claimed in claim 2 wherein the body comprises two coplanar wing portions and the skirts lie generally in the same plane as said wing portions.

4. A rod rest head as claimed in claim 3 wherein a notch is formed at the point of convergence of said skirts.

5. A rod rest head as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the body and the skirts together comprise a one piece plastics moulding.

6. A rod rest head as claimed in claim 5 wherein the moulding is of polycarbonate.

7. A rod rest head as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the rod seat is provided with a layer of a soft elastomeric material.

8. A rod rest head substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to fishing tackle This invention relates to an item of fishing tackle, and more particularly to a head for an anglers rod rest. Anglers rod rests have a head with a rod seat in which the anglers fishing rod may be supported. When a conventional rod rest head is used, line between the reel and the ring may, unbeknown to the angler, pass over the head and come to line at the back thereof. If the rod is then picked up quickly (e.g. to strike) the line may become snagged behind the head and break. It is an object of this invention to provide a rod rest head in which the aforementioned disadvantage is obviated or mitigated. According to the present invention there is provided a rod rest head comprising a body adapted to be supported in use on an elongate support element, said body having exterior side edge portions between which a rod seat is defined, and the head having skirts each as a respective extension of one of said edges, said skirts converging toward each other to a position beyond that at which the body is supported in use on the support element and being adapted to engage against said support element. The skirts provide guide surfaces which ensure that, should line pass over the side edges of the body portion of the head, then when the rod is picked up this line will simply pass smoothly along these guide surfaces so that snagging of the line is avoided. Preferably the rod rest head of the invention is a one piece plastics moulding, e.g. of an engineering plastic such as polycarbonate. The invention will be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a perspective view of one embodiment of rod rest head in accordance with the invention and the manner in which it is mounted on a bank stick. The illustrated rod rest head 1 is a one piece polycarbonate moulding and comprises a body 2 formed as wings 2a and 2b, and a screw threaded abutment 3 for mounting of the head 1 on a bank stick 4 in conventional manner. A rod seat 5 is defined by the wings 2a and 2b. The wings 2a and 2b have side edges 2c and 2d respectively which are extended by respective skirts 6 and 7, moulded integrally with the head 2. These skirts 6 and 7 converge symmetricaliy towards each other and throughout the most part of their length they line in the same plane as the body 2. However, close to their ends remote from body, the skirts 6 and 7 each have a slight deviation out of the plane of body 2 so that a notch 8 is formed in the region at which the skirts 6 and 7 meet. In use, the head 1 is screwed by means of its screw threaded abutment 3 onto bank stick 4, so that notch 8 lies thereagainst. It will be appreciated that, in the absence of the skirts 6 and 7, line can pass behind the head 1 and possibly become trapped between the head 1 and the bank stick 4. In either case, the line can become snagged and may break when the rod is picked up. The provision of the skirts 6 and 7 avoids this problem and ensures that any line which passes over the head 2 is simply guided along the edges of the skirts when the rod is picked up. A number of modifications may be made to the illustrated head 1. Thus, for example, the skirts 6 and 7 may meet together without the formation of a notch 8. In this case, it is simply necessary to move the skirts slightly out of the plane of the body 2 when it is desired to mount the head 1 on the bank stick 4. Alternatively or additionally the upper surfaces of wings 2a and 2b may be provided with a layer of a soft elastomeric material which will lessen vibrations (which may scare fish) transmitted to the ground when the rod is placed in the head 1. Such a layer of elastomeric material may be keyed into the slots 9. CLAIMS

1. A rod rest head comprising a body adapted to be supported in use on an elongate support element, said body having exterior side edge portions between which a rod seat is defined, and the head having skirts each at a respective extension of one of said edges, said skirts converging toward each other to a position beyond that at which the body is supported in use on the support element and being adapted to engage against said support element.

2. A rod rest head as claimed in claim 2 wherein the skirts are elongate extensions of said side edge portions.

3. A rod rest head as claimed in claim 2 wherein the body comprises two coplanar wing portions and the skirts lie generally in the same plane as said wing portions.

4. A rod rest head as claimed in claim 3 wherein a notch is formed at the point of convergence of said skirts.

5. A rod rest head as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the body and the skirts together comprise a one piece plastics moulding.

6. A rod rest head as claimed in claim 5 wherein the moulding is of polycarbonate.

7. A rod rest head as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the rod seat is provided with a layer of a soft elastomeric material.

8. A rod rest head substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.