Fishing Pole Holder

This invention relates to a holder for use on a fishing boat or the like, for holding one or more fishing poles in secure fashion during fishing, while awaiting a strike. The holder may be in the form of an attachment which may, for example, be secured to the rail or transom of a fishing boat to support the or each pole in a secure yet readily adjustable manner relieving the fisherman of the burden of holding the pole or poles.

Applicant is aware of the following U.S. Pat. Nos. showing fishing rod holders and the like. None of these, however, discloses the features of the present invention.

2,196,472

2,612,334

3,667,708

3,564,758

4,375,731

3,783,547

3,964,706

Among objects of the invention are one or more of the following, namely; the provision of a fishing pole holder which is simple and economical to manufacture from readily available rust-proof materials, which is simple to install, use and adjust, while being durable and reliable in operation, which can be adapted for use in diverse locations, and which does not require any special attachments on a fishing pole with which it is to be used.

In accordance with the invention, a remarkably simple and effective fishing pole holder, particularly for cane or bamboo fishing poles, but also suitable for other types of rods, comprises an elongate pin adapted to fit in a blind longitudinal bore formed in the fishing pole from its butt end, and support means for retaining the pin in upright position. The holder may, for example, include a mounting attachment for a plurality of the pole pins, each of which may conveniently be fabricated from standard bolts with the boltheads removed, the bolts being bent at right angles adjacent their threaded ends, and the threaded ends used to secure the bolts to the support means, with releasable locknuts allowing the angle of the bolts to be adjusted. The support means, which may be fabricated from metal bar, may comprise a central riser for attachment to a fishing boat rail or the like, and a cross-bar pivotally connected to the riser by means of an adjustable locknut, with one pole pin being pivotally secured at one end of the cross-bar, and a pair of pole pins being secured to pivotal brackets attached to the other end of the cross-bar by an adjustable locknut, with the brackets projecting transversely on opposite sides of the cross-bar. This arrangement allows the angle of each pole pin to be adjusted independently and provides for the mounting of three fishing poles in positions for precluding snagging of the respective fishing lines.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fishing pole holder in accordance with the invention, with fishing poles attached.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the holder.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pole pin bracket.

A fishing pole holder 10 in accordance with the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 holding three cane or bamboo fishing poles 12, 14, 16 in upright positions with the holder secured on a rail 18 of a fishing boat or the like.

Holder 10 includes an angled riser 20, having holes 22 in its base 20a for screws 24 attaching same to the rail, and a hole (not shown) in its upright portion 20b for the pivotal attachment of a cross-bar 26 by means of a cap screw 28, which may be spot-welded to the cross-bar at 30, and a locknut 32. The riser and cross-bar may both be fabricated from 1/8".times.3/4" stainless flat bar, the riser being about two inches in height with a two inch long base and the cross-bar about three inches in length.

At one end of cross-bar 26 there is mounted a first pole pin 34 which may comprise a five inch long 5/16" diameter rust-proof bolt with the head removed, the bolt being bent substantially at a right angle adjacent its threaded end. The bolt is inserted in a suitable opening (not shown) in the cross-bar, and adjustably secured by means of locknuts 38, 40 and a lock washer 42 allowing the angle of the pin to be adjusted.

At the other end of cross-bar 26 are mounted a pair of outwardly projecting substantially C-shaped pole pin brackets 44, 46 which may also be bent to shape from a three inch length of the flat bar, with 90.degree. and 45.degree. bends, the brackets being pivotally attached to the cross-bar by a common bolt 48, lock washer 50, a locknut 52 extending through holes (as 54 in FIG. 4) in the respective brackets and a hole (not shown) in the cross-bar. At the outer ends of the respective brackets are pivotally mounted second and third pole pins 60, 62 of like construction to pole pin 34, pins 60, 62 extending through respective openings (as 64, FIG. 4) in the brackets and being adjustably secured by locknuts 68, 70 and 72, 74 with interposed lock washers 76, 78.

For mounting poles 12, 14, 16 on the respective pole pins, the poles are formed with blind bores 12a, 14a, 16a from their respective butt ends, the bores, for example, being about 3/8" diameter for the 5/16" diameter pole pins.

The holder is effective to hold the poles securely in position when the respective pole pins are tightened in place. The pins can be adjusted for angle individually about the axes of their respective threaded ends, for example to adjust the height of the outer ends of the fishing poles above the water, and pins 60, 62 can also be adjusted by adjusting the position of brackets 44, 46. Another degree of adjustment is provided by pivotally adjusting the position of cross-bar 26 on riser 20. The fishing poles can thus be readily set in positions suited to a particular situation, and are securely held in place during fishing. The angular displacement of the pole pins about riser 20 aids in preventing fishing lines from the respective poles from becoming snagged. The holder can be readily installed, removed and dismantled. The individual pole pins can be removed when not in use to prevent theft.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.