Fishing rod and beverage holder

• US 8,640,377 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2009
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MTB Designs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MTB Designs, Inc.
• Inventors: Baltes, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Ark, Darren W
• Application Number:
  US12/612,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20110099883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: 43/212, 224/922, 224/926, 224/406, 224/567, 248/523, 248/511, 248/311.2, 114/364, 114/255
• US Class Current: 43/21.2
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 97/10 Supports for rods

Abstract

A combined fishing rod and beverage holder for insertion into and removal from an opening in a marine vessel is disclosed. The combined fishing rod and beverage holder includes a substantially tubular hollow cylindrical member which is formed with an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion has a diameter which is larger than the diameter of the lower portion. The diameter of the upper portion enables a beverage container with or without an insulating jacket to be placed within and retained within the upper portion of the combined rod and beverage holder. The upper portion includes an outwardly projecting flange which includes apertures through which fasteners can be placed to secure the combined rod and beverage holder to a surface, such as a gunwale of a marine vessel. Other types or secure devices can also be employed to secure the combined rod and beverage holder to any surface.

Claims

1. A combined fishing rod and beverage holder comprising:

a first tubular portion having an outer surface, an inner bore, a top portion, a bottom portion and a length, said outer surface sized to fit within a substantially circular bore in a marine vessel, said inner bore sized to accept a beverage container, said inner bore having a longitudinal axis, said top portion of said first tubular portion having an outwardly extending flange thereon, said flange oriented substantially perpendicular with respect to said longitudinal axis for positioning said first tubular portion within said circular bore, said outwardly extending flange having at least one aperture extending therethrough, said at least one aperture sized to accept a fastener for securing said flange to a surface surrounding said substantially circular bore, said bottom portion of said first tubular portion having an inwardly extending flange with an aperture therethrough, said inwardly extending flange secured to an upper portion of a second tubular portion,

said second tubular portion having a second outer surface, a second inner bore, a second top portion and a second bottom portion and a length, said second outer surface smaller in diameter than said first outer surface, said second inner bore having a second longitudinal axis, said length of said second tubular portion is at least twice a diameter of said second inner bore, said length of said second tubular portion is at least twice the length of said first tubular portion, said length of said second tubular portion and said second inner bore sized to cooperate with a hand grip portion of a fishing rod so that said hand grip portion remains substantially axially aligned with said second longitudinal axis.

2. The combined fishing rod and beverage holder of claim 1 wherein said second bottom portion of said second tubular portion includes a bar member constructed and arranged to prevent rotation of said fishing rod hand grip portion.

3. The combined fishing rod and beverage holder of claim 2 wherein said bar member includes two members secured together to form a cross, said two members constructed and arranged to engage a corresponding fitting on an end of said hand grip portion of a fishing rod.

4. The combined fishing rod and beverage holder of claim 2 wherein said bar member is readily separable from said second bottom portion of said second tubular portion.

5. The combined fishing rod and beverage holder of claim 1 including a flexible ring secured to said inner bore of said first tubular portion of said combined fishing rod and beverage holder, said flexible ring constructed and arranged to receive and retain a beverage container within said first tubular portion of said combined fishing rod and beverage holder.

6. The combined fishing rod and beverage holder of claim 5 wherein said flexible ring is a rubber grommet.

7. The combined fishing rod and beverage holder of claim 5 wherein said flexible ring is a plurality of separable members spaced in relation to each other to hold and retain a beverage contained within said first tubular portion of said combined fishing rod and beverage holder.

8. The combined fishing rod and beverage holder of claim 1 wherein said second tubular portion of said combined fishing rod and beverage holder is readily removable from said first tubular portion of said combined fishing rod and beverage holder without the use of tools.

9. The combined fishing rod and beverage holder of claim 1 wherein said second longitudinal axis of said second inner bore of said second tubular portion of said combined fishing rod and beverage holder is oriented at an angle with respect to said first longitudinal axis of said inner bore of said first tubular portion, whereby said second longitudinal axis intersects said first longitudinal axis within said inner bore of said first tubular portion.

10. The combined fishing rod and beverage holder of claim 9 wherein said second longitudinal axis is oriented to cross said first longitudinal axis and extend through a top portion of said inner bore of said first tubular portion.

11. The combined fishing rod and beverage holder of claim 1 wherein said bottom portion of said second tubular portion of said combined fishing rod and beverage holder is substantially fluid tight and includes a drain hole for the removal of fluids.

12. The combined fishing rod and beverage holder of claim 11 wherein said drain hole includes a fitting therein, said fitting constructed and arranged for attachment to a tube member.

13. The combined fishing rod and beverage holder of claim 1 wherein said length of said second tubular portion is at least three times the diameter of said second inner bore.

14. The combined fishing rod and beverage holder of claim 1 wherein said length of said second tubular portion is at least four times the diameter of said second inner bore.