Holder for an elongate device

• US 6,269,990 B1
• Filed: 12/08/1999
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Taylor's Beach Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Taylor's Beach Pty Limited
• Inventors: Gray, Lindsay T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K.
• Application Number:
  US09/456,600
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 224/197, 224/200, 224/222, 224/251, 224/267, 224/271, 224/272, 224/922, 43/212, D 3/221
• US Class Current: 224/200
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 97/10 Supports for rods
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/922 Fishing rod holder

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus for holding an elongate device such as a fishing rod, and includes a tube for receiving an end of the fishing rod to a depth effective to retain the fishing rod therein and, a leg brace for releasable attachment to a leg of the user. The tube is attached to the leg brace by an adjustable pivot coupling so that the attitude of the tube, and thus a device supported therein, can be adjusted relative to the leg of the user. The leg brace includes a shaped rigid member that partially surrounds the leg, and a plurality of straps. The straps are arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the member and have one end attached to the member and a free end adapted to engage the opposite strap of the same pair to secure the member to the user'"'"'s leg.

Claims

1. A holder for an elongate device, said holder including:

a tubular member for receiving an end of the elongate device to a depth effective to self retain said elongate device therein;

a substantially rigid member shaped to partially surround a lower part of a leg of a user of the holder, said tubular member coupled to said rigid member in a manner to allow selective adjustment and fixing of the attitude of the tubular member relative to the leg; and

at least one strap attached to said substantially rigid member and adapted to fasten about the lower leg of a user to fasten said holder to said lower leg, whereby, in use, said elongate device can be self supported in the holder while said holder is attached to the leg of the user;

wherein said tubular member is coupled to said rigid member using a fastener, said fastener comprising

a first end attached to said rigid member,

a cylindrical middle section extending through said tubular member, and

a second threaded end extending beyond the outer diameter of the tubular member, where the threaded end is suitable for receiving a bolt to tighten said tubular member to said rigid member and thereby allow the selective adjustment and fixing of the attitude of the tubular member relative to the leg.

2. The holder of claim 1, wherein said rigid member further includes a plurality of protrusions spaced in an arc about a longitudinal axis of said fastener, and where said tubular member further includes at least one protrusion positioned so as to engage one or more of said plurality of protrusions on said rigid member, thereby allowing the selective adjustment and fixing of the attitude of the tubular member relative to the leg.

3. The holder of claim 2, wherein the plurality of protrusions on the rigid member and the protrusion on the tubular member are provided by opposed-tooth discs associated with each of said members, wherein one or more opposed teeth on each of said discs engages the opposite teeth when the members are brought together by the tightening of said fastener.

4. A holder for an elongate device, said holder including:

a tubular member for receiving an end of the elongate device to a depth effective to self retain said elongate device therein;

a substantially rigid member shaped to partially surround a lower part of a leg of a user of the holder, said tubular member coupled to said rigid member in a manner to allow selective adjustment and fixing of the attitude of the tubular member relative to the leg, wherein said tubular member is coupled to said rigid member by each member being permanently affixed to one of a pair of notched discs, said discs being biased so as to normally engage one another, and where adjustment of the attitude of said tubular member is achieved by pulling the tubular member apart from the rigid member against the bias; and

at least one strap attached to said substantially rigid member and adapted to fasten about the lower leg of a user to fasten said holder to said lower leg, whereby, in use, said elongate device can be self supported in the holder while said holder is attached to the leg of the user.

5. A holder according to claim 4, wherein a lower edge of said substantially rigid member is provided with a lateral extension that passes over the front of a foot of the leg of the user to which the holder is attached.

6. The holder according to claim 4, wherein the depth of the tubular member is of a length suitable for retaining substantially all of a handle of a fishing rod therein.

7. The holder of claim 4, wherein the at least one strap is elastically expandable.

8. The holder of claim 4, wherein the at least one strap has a pair of ends, a first end having a hook-type fastening material thereon and a second end having a loop-type fastening material thereon, wherein the first and second ends may be releasably attached to one another to fasten the strap and the rigid member to said lower leg.

9. An apparatus for holding a fishing rod, comprising:

a tubular member for receiving the handle of a fishing rod, said tubular member being of a length and diameter sufficient to retain the handle when said tubular member is maintained in a partially upright orientation;

a leg brace, including a member shaped so as to partially surround a wearer'"'"'s leg and flexible means for attaching the leg brace to the wearer'"'"'s leg wherein the leg brace further includes a lateral extension from a lower edge thereof that passes over the front of a foot on the leg of the user to which the apparatus is attached;

a pivotable coupling connecting said tubular member to said leg brace, said pivotable coupling suitable for maintaining a desired angular relationship between the tubular member and the leg brace.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the leg brace is a garment that is elastically supported on a wearer'"'"'s leg.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the leg brace is constructed of a mouldable material so as to partially conform to the shape of a wearer'"'"'s leg.