Rod holder
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A rod holder comprising:
- a two-axis gimbal comprising;
a static base portion; and
a driven upper portion;
a shaft extending from said static base portion; and
a shank extending from said driven upper portion and adapted to receive a fishing rod butt,said driven upper portion configured to be at least partially rotatable about a first axis that passes through said static base portion and at least partially rotatable about a second axis that also passes through said static base portion during use while said rod holder is holding a fishing rod such that the driven upper portion is constrained just to rotation about the first axis and the second axis, said first and second axes being substantially perpendicular to each otherwhere the two-axis gimbal comprises a ball joint arrangement with;
said static portion comprising a ball joint socket member;
said driven upper portion comprising a ball member;
said shaft extending from said ball joint socket member;
said shank extending from said ball member and adapted to receive a fishing rod butt; and
a ball joint liner located between said ball joint socket member and said ball member,said ball member defining a slot, said ball joint liner having a finger extending therefrom and mated with and residing in said slot, said finger shaped such that it is able to slide along the length of said slot but is not able to rotate within said slot to provide at least a partially rotational movement about said first axis;
said ball joint socket member defining a shoulder portion which constrains movement of said ball joint liner to provide at least a partially rotational movement about said second axis.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is concerned with an improved rod holder, particularly a gunwale rod holder, particularly for use in sports fishing.
23 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A rod holder comprising:
-
a two-axis gimbal comprising; a static base portion; and a driven upper portion; a shaft extending from said static base portion; and a shank extending from said driven upper portion and adapted to receive a fishing rod butt, said driven upper portion configured to be at least partially rotatable about a first axis that passes through said static base portion and at least partially rotatable about a second axis that also passes through said static base portion during use while said rod holder is holding a fishing rod such that the driven upper portion is constrained just to rotation about the first axis and the second axis, said first and second axes being substantially perpendicular to each other where the two-axis gimbal comprises a ball joint arrangement with; said static portion comprising a ball joint socket member; said driven upper portion comprising a ball member; said shaft extending from said ball joint socket member; said shank extending from said ball member and adapted to receive a fishing rod butt; and a ball joint liner located between said ball joint socket member and said ball member, said ball member defining a slot, said ball joint liner having a finger extending therefrom and mated with and residing in said slot, said finger shaped such that it is able to slide along the length of said slot but is not able to rotate within said slot to provide at least a partially rotational movement about said first axis; said ball joint socket member defining a shoulder portion which constrains movement of said ball joint liner to provide at least a partially rotational movement about said second axis.
-
-
2. A rod holder comprising:
-
a two-axis gimbal comprising; a static base portion; and a driven upper portion; a shaft extending from said static base portion; and a shank extending from said driven upper portion and adapted to receive a fishing rod butt, said driven upper portion configured to be at least partially rotatable about a first axis that passes through said static base portion and at least partially rotatable about a second axis that also passes through said static base portion during use while said rod holder is holding a fishing rod, said first and second axes being substantially perpendicular to each other; wherein the two-axis gimbal comprises a ball joint arrangement with; said static portion comprising a ball joint socket member; said driven upper portion comprising a ball member; said shaft extending from said ball joint socket member; said shank extending from said ball member and adapted to receive a fishing rod butt; and a ball joint liner located between said ball joint socket member and said ball member, a first component comprising one of said ball joint liner and said ball member defining a slot, a second component comprising the other of said ball joint liner and said ball member having a finger extending therefrom or therethrough and mated with and residing in said slot, said finger shaped such that it is able to slide along the length of said slot to provide at least a partially rotational movement about said first axis; said ball joint socket member comprising a retaining portion which retains said ball joint liner and/or said ball member in said ball joint socket member and constrains movement of said ball joint liner to provide at least a partially rotational movement about said second axis. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A rod holder comprising:
-
a two-axis gimbal comprising; a static base portion; and a driven upper portion; a shaft extending from said static base portion; and a shank extending from said driven upper portion and adapted to receive a fishing rod butt, said driven upper portion configured to be at least partially rotatable about a first axis that passes through said static base portion and at least partially rotatable about a second axis that also passes through said static base portion during use while said rod holder is holding a fishing rod, said first and second axes being substantially perpendicular to each other; wherein the two-axis gimbal comprises a ball joint arrangement with; said static portion comprising a ball joint socket member; said driven upper portion comprising a ball member; said shaft extending from said ball joint socket member; said shank extending from said ball member and adapted to receive a fishing rod butt; and a ball joint liner located between said ball joint socket member and said ball member, said ball joint liner defining a slot, said ball member having a finger extending therefrom and mated with and residing in said slot, said finger shaped such that it is able to slide along the length of said slot but is not able to rotate within said slot to provide at least a partially rotational movement about said first axis; said ball joint socket member defining a shoulder portion which constrains movement of said ball joint liner to provide at least a partially rotational movement about said second axis.
-
Specification