GB2201322A

GB2201322A - Angling aid

Info

Publication number: GB2201322A
Application number: GB08803671A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert A Blake
Original assignee: K M TACKLE DEVELOPMENTS LIMITE
Current assignee: K M TACKLE DEVELOPMENTS LIMITE
Priority date: 1987-02-18
Filing date: 1988-02-17
Publication date: 1988-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 2008-02-17
Also published as: GB8803671D0; GB2201322B

Abstract

A portable rod support unit is disclosed which comprises folding legs (7) providing preferably four ground contact points and positionally adjustable bank sticks (15) for supporting means for carrying one or more fishing rods. The support unit includes an elongate member (1) having rod supporting means 15 adjacent its ends and two pairs of legs (7) located between the ends of the elongate member (1) and mounted for pivotal movement between folded and extended working positions. <IMAGE>

Description

ANGLERS AID This invention relates to rod support units for anglers.

Hitherto, anglers requiring to support one or more fishing rods, other than manually, have normally had recourse to a bank stick which needs to be driven into the comparatively soft ground close to the water's edge.

When fishing from a concrete or other hard surface, such as a jetty, dock or pier, this is not possible, so anglers have been forced to adopt inconvenient alternatives.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a portable rod support unit comprising closable, foldable, stowable, retractable or the like legs providing three or more ground contact points, preferably four, and means or supporting one or more fishing rods on the support unit.

The rod support unit preferably comprises an elongate member, i.e., a tube of aluminium alloy or steel, the tube having rod-supporting means adjacent the ends thereof, and two pairs of legs located between the ends of the elongate member and mounted for pivotal movement between extended and closed or folded positions. It is preferred for the closed, folded, stowed, retracted or like positions of the legs be close to and parallel with the elongate member. Means may be provided for locking the legs in the extended and folded or like positions.

The positions of the rod supporting means on the tube may be adjustable for height, so that the angle at which the rod(s) is (are) supported is variable.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompaning drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of -rod support unit in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is an end elevation of the rod support unit of Figure 1, Figure 2a is an elevation of part of Figure 2 to an enlarged scale; Figure 3 shows a rod support element; Figure 4 is a side elevation of an alternative form of the rod support unit in accordance with the invention; and Figure 5 is an end view of the rod support unit shown in Figure 4.

Referring now to Figures 1,2 and 2a which show an elongated main tube 1, e.g., of approximately one metre-in length, which may be of aluminuium alloy, mild steel or other suitable material, and which can have any cross-section considered convenient. For example, circular, square or triangular.

Between the ends of the tube there are mounted a pair of saddles 2 secured by hand screws 3 to fixed locations on the tube. The saddles are bifurcated at each side so that each supports a pivot pin 4 and a stop pin 5. The pivot pins 4 carry pivoting sleeves 6 (see particularly Figure 2a) which themselves accommodate, in pivotal manner, laterally offset end portions of the 7a and 7b. In the Figures 1 and 2j the legs 7a and 7b are shown in the extended (i.e., erected) normal working positions, in which the stop pins 5 engage the with the associared legs to prevent further outward movement. In use, the legs would be widely spaced along the tube so that when the feet 7c of the legs 7a and 7b are on level ground, the tube 1 will be inclined.

The strews 3 extend right through the tube 1 and engage on the upper ends jf the legs 7a and 7b, which may be bevelled slightly, as indicated at 7d, particularly in Figure 2a, for positive engagement with a bevelled end of the screw 3.

In order to retract the legs 7a, 7b, the screws 3 are slackened to clear the ends of the legs, which can then be pivoted about the pivot pins 4 towards each other and then about the pivot sleeves 6 so as to rest flat along the tube 1. They can then be secured-in this position by a further tightening of the screw 3 which then re-engages the end of the leg in a slightly different position.

At each end the tube 1 carries clamp 11 in the form of a fork which is mounted by means of a spigot 12 entering the tube 1 and secured by a pin 13. The clamp 11 is resilient and is tightened by means of a finger scew 14. Forward and aft bank sticks 15 and 15a, which differ only in length, are adjustably mounted and arranged to be held by the clamaps 11 in the adjusted positions. Each bank stick 15, 15a carries a socket 16 which threadedly receives a supporting member 17 for a transverse bar 18.

At the ends of the transverse bar 18 are threaded sockets 21 for receiving rod support elements 22. In addition, it is possible to provide one or more further sockets 21 (not shown) adjustably mounted on the transverse bar 18 at intermediate positions.

These rod support elements 22 will normally be in the form of electronic bite indicators having V form rod supports, which are onventionally used, but they may be in the form of a simple V form support as shown in Figure 3. This support22 is shown as having a threaded portion 23 to enter the threaded socket 21 and a pair of rods 24 forming a V section bight. The rods 24 are surrounded by replaceable non-slip rubber sleeves 25.

It will be seen that the support, with the legs folded is a comparatively compact device, particularly if the bank sticks 15 and 15a can be removed and lashed to the tube 1.

In use the legs 7a, 7b are extended from their folded positions to their normal working positions which define an inclinded setting for the tube 1 defined by the stop pins 5. The actual angle of the rod may be varied by sliding the bank sticks 15 and 15a up or down as required, by releasing the clamp screws 14 and sliding the -- bank sticks 15 and 15a to a new position and retightening.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4 an elongate main tube 41 serving the function of the tube 1 of the previously described embodiment, is formed of two telescopically engageable inner and outer members 41a and 41b to permit the overall length of the main body tube 41 to be adjusted. The inner part 41a carries a spring biassed pin 42 which can engage in any one of several spaced holes 43 in the outer part 41b to lock the parts 41a and 41b to one another on reaching the desired extension.

Each of the two parts 41a and 41b is formed with a pair of pivotable legs 44. Each leg 44 is pivotable about a pin 45 extending between two plate 46 welded to the respective part 41a and 41b. Each leg 44 also has a stop pin 47 resiliently projecting into one of several holes 48 in one of the plates 46 so as to enable the leg 44 to be locked in different positions relative to the tube 41. As shown in dotted lines, the legs can be folded to lie parallel with and in close proximity to the tube 41 to facilitate transportation of the support unit.

When the legs are in the normal working position they effectviely move to an 'over-centre' position as shown in Figure 4 to provide stability to the unit.

Near their ends, the parts 41a and 41b are each formed with a transverse bore 49 and screws 50 extending in the axially direction of the parts 41a and 41b permit a bank stick 15, 15a passing through the bores 49 to be locked at any desired height.

If desired, four legs arrangements can be provided at each end of the tube.

In relation to either of the above discussed embodiments the legs can be of such construction that they are individually adjustable in respect of the length thereof. Thus the legs can comprise two part foldable or telescopic constructions (not shown).

In addition, the rod support units as above discussed can be provided with means for retaining the unit in the erected setting. This retaining means can be conveniently regarded as a retaining bracket for holding the unit down during, for example, stox > conditions.

Claims

1. A portable rod support unit, comprising closable,foldable, stowable, retractable or like legs providing three or more ground contact points, and means for supporting one or more of the support means for fishing rods on the unit.

2. A portable rod support unit. as claimed in claim 1.

wherein the supporting means is adjustable.

3. A portable rod support unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein at least four contact points are pz vided.

4. A portable rod support unit as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the unit includes an elongate member having rod-supporting means adjacent the ends thereof, and wherein there are foldable legs so mounted from the elongate member as to be pivotable between folded and erected positions.

5. A portable rod support unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the length of the elongate member may be changed.

6. A portable rod support unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the elongate member includes at least two parts which are pivoted to each other, the arrangement being such that the parts can be folded for stowage of the unit and arranged in-line for the purposes of use.

7. A portable rod support unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the elongate member includes at least two telescopically engageable parts.

8. A portable rod support unit as claimed in claim 5,6 or 7, wherein when in their closed,folded, stowed, retracted or like positions the legs are arranged to lie close to and parallel with the elongate member.

9. A portable rod support unit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the rod supporting means are heightwise positionally adjustable with respect to the elongate body whereby rods may be supported in selectively variably positions relative to the elongate means.

10. A portable rod support unit, constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1,2,2a and 3 or Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.