Supports – Staff type – Angularly adjustable
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-13
2001-10-16
Braun, Leslie A. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Staff type
Angularly adjustable
C043S021200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302367
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to fishing rod holders and the like, and in particular to a fishing rod holder including a quick-release adjustment mechanism.
Fishing rod holders are used in recreation and sport fishing to hold fishing rods and associated fishing reels in a preselected position, thus allowing hands free use of the fishing rod/reel combination. Some such fishing rod holders allow the user to adjust the position of the fishing rod relative to a horizontal plane, thereby changing the angle formed between the fishing rod and the horizontal plane.
Heretofore, adjustment of such fishing rod holders has been somewhat clumsy and/or inefficient. Some designs for fishing rod holders have incorporated the use of two mating ratchet halves with threaded adjustment screws that hold the ratchet halves in matable contact with one another. To adjust the such fishing rod holders, the user must unscrew the adjustment screw to the point where clearance between the ratchet halves is sufficient to allow adjustment of the fishing rod holder. The user then adjusts the position of the fishing rod holder to a new desired position, and must then retighten the adjustment screw. This method of adjustment can be rather inefficient and inconvenient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention is to provide a fishing rod holder that includes a cradle shaped to receive and selectively retain a fishing rod therein, and a first ratchet half thereon. A support pedestal has a mount for attaching the fishing rod holder to a support surface, and includes a second ratchet half shaped to selectively lockingly engage with the first ratchet half. The fishing rod holder further includes a quick-release connector mechanism to permit angular adjustment between the cradle and the support pedestal. The quick-release connector mechanism includes an actuator pin extending centrally between the first and second ratchet halves, which rotatably connects the cradle and the support to permit mutual rotation between a variety of different cradle positions. The actuator pin has a fixed end associated with one end of the cradle and the support pedestal, and a free end associated with the other of the cradle and the support pedestal. The quick-release connector mechanism further includes an actuator lever pivotally operably connected with the free end of the actuator pin, with a cam configured to selectively engage the other of the cradle and the support pedestal when rotated to a locked position, wherein the first and second ratchet halves are converged to retain the cradle at a preselected position relative to the support pedestal, and an unlocked position wherein the first and second ratchet halves are separated and the cradle may be rotated relative to the support pedestal.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for adjusting a fishing rod holder that includes providing a cradle shaped to receive and selectively retain a fishing rod therein, having a first ratchet half thereon, and providing a support pedestal having a mount for attaching the fishing rod holder to a support surface, and includes a second ratchet shaped to selectively lockingly engage with the first ratchet half. The method further includes providing a quick-release connector mechanism that includes an actuator pin extending centrally between the first and second ratchet halves, and rotatably connecting the cradle with the support to permit mutual rotation between a variety of different cradle positions, wherein the actuator pin has a fixed end associated with one of the cradle and support pedestal, and a free end associated with the other of the cradle and the support pedestal, and an actuator lever pivotally connected with the free end of the actuator pin. A cam is configured to selectively engage the other of the cradle and the support pedestal when rotated to a locked position wherein the first and the second ratchet halves are converged to retain the cradle at a preselected position relative to the support pedestal. The method still further includes angularly adjusting the cradle relative to the support pedestal by rotating the actuator lever to the unlocked position, rotating the cradle, and then rotating the actuator lever to the locked position.
The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a fishing rod holder that is particularly adapted to allow quick and easy rotational adjustment of a fishing rod/reel combination held within a cradle portion of the fishing rod holder. A quick-release mechanism incorporated within the fishing rod holder greatly improves the efficiency and ease by which the rotational adjustment can be made, by eliminating the locking screw devices typically associated with adjustable fishing rod holders. In addition, the fishing rod holder includes a mount that allows for the easy pivotal adjustment thereof.
These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
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“Rhode Gear” Bicycle Carrier by Rhode Gear U.S.A., Providence, Rhode Island (3 pages), dated prior to Dec. 13, 1999.
Ratza Clifton J.
Rossman Christopher A.
Attwood Corporation
Braun Leslie A.
Price Heneveld Cooper DeWitt & Litton
Szumny Jon
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