A rod holder for fishing while walking

Technical Field

This invention relates to a rod holder for fishing while walking. Background Art

In sports fishing, and in particular in fishing while walking, that is to say, while walking to reach different fishing positions, often located in a river, there is always the problem of finding a system for supporting the fishing rod when one needs one's hands free to perform operations requiring both hands, for example baiting a hook or changing the end, getting hold of a fish caught to put it in the appropriate container, etc. This problem is particularly significant for people fishing with the "fly-fishing technique". This type of fishing, using thin rods which have an enlarged handgrip at the end with a reel attached which pays out and winds in the line to the end of which the bait (fly) is attached, is usually performed while the fisherman has his legs immersed in the water. In these conditions the fisherman is surrounded by water and therefore it is particularly difficult for him to free his hands in order to perform the various operations.

Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of this invention is to provide a rod holder which allows the fishing rod to be accommodated in it for the time needed by the fisherman to perform the operations that require both hands.

One advantage of the invention is that it provides a rod holder that is simple to make and easy to use.

These aims and advantages and others are all achieved by this invention as described in the appended claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Further features and advantages of this invention are more apparent in the detailed description which follows of a non-limiting embodiment of the rod holder illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the rod holder according to the invention with a belt inserted through the loop and the spring clip at the side; - Figure 2 is a view of the rod holder according to the invention with the loop positioned below the tubular element and in a horizontal plane;

- Figure 3 is a view of the rod holder according to the invention with the loop positioned on the left of the tubular element and in a vertical plane;

- Figure 4 is a top view of the rod holder according to the invention;

- Figure 5 is a perspective view of the rod holder according to the invention with a rod inserted in the tubular element.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

The rod holder according to the invention is of the type to be used for carrying a tubular fishing rod 10 which has an enlarged handle 11 to which a reel 12 is connected. Use of such a rod holder is particularly recommended for fishing while walking, that is to say, while walking to reach different fishing positions. In particular, but without limiting the scope of the invention, the rod holder according to the invention may be used by persons who use the "fly-fishing" technique, that is to say, fishing with thin rods having an enlarged handgrip at the end with a reel attached for paying out and winding in the line at the end of which the bait (fly) is attached, and with the fisherman standing with his legs in the water. Figure 5 shows a rod of the type used for "fly-fishing".

The rod holder according to the invention comprises a loop 1 designed to be coupled to a belt 2 which will be secured around the body of the user. Said loop, having a tubular shape with an approximately oval cross-section, is several centimetres long (around 8 - 10 cm). The dimensions of the tubular cross-section are such that they allow insertion of the belt, which may be a special belt supplied with the rod holder, or the belt used by the fisherman to hold up his trousers.

The rod holder according to the invention also comprises a tubular element 3, securely fixed to the loop 1 on one of its generatrices. The tubular element has a substantially cylindrical shape, its transit cross-section being greater than the cross-section of the rod and approximately equal to the cross-section of the handgrip. A through slot 4 is made in the outer surface of the tubular element, interrupting the continuity of the outer surface of the element and extending over the entire length of the tubular element. At all points the width of the slot is greater than the diameter of the rod and less than the diameter of the handgrip.

It should be noticed that hereinafter: angular references will relate to a clockwise rotation starting from the contact generatrix between the loop and the rod (reference generatrix); the upper and lower zones and the right and left sides relate to the rod holder seen vertically with the tubular element in front of the loop, and with the part that in practice faces forward relative to the fisherman indicated as upper.

The slot 4 extends over an arc of the circumference of the tubular element, its amplitude being between 60 and 100°. In other words, the opening that the slot makes on the various circumferences of the tubular element is equal to the chord subtended by an arc having an amplitude of between 60 and 100°.

The slot 4 comprises a lower stretch 4a formed by two straight edges, respectively a left edge 5a and a right edge 6a, both extending along the generatrices of the tubular element 3. The lower stretch 4a is therefore formed by two edges which are parallel with each other.

The slot 4 also comprises an upper stretch 4b formed by two straight edges, respectively a left edge 5b and a right edge 6b, both extending along the generatrices of the tubular element 3. Therefore, the upper stretch 4a is also formed by two edges which are parallel with each other. The left edge 5b and the right edge 6b of the upper stretch are offset by the same angle relative to the left edge 5a and the right edge 6a of the lower stretch. Therefore, the upper stretch of the slot 4 is angularly offset relative to the lower stretch, despite maintaining the same opening.

There is an intermediate connecting stretch 4c formed by two curved edges, respectively a left edge 5c and a right edge 6c. The left edge 5c connects the left edges 5a and 6a whilst the right edge 6c connects the right edges 5b and 6b of the upper 4a and lower 4b straight stretches. The left edge 5 c and the right edge 6c therefore form a shaped and curved stretch of the slot which connects the lower and upper stretches of the slot which instead extend parallel with the generatrices of the tubular element and are angularly offset and positioned as described below.

The left edge 5a of the lower stretch 4a is positioned on one of the generatrices of the tubular element which is set at an angle of around 90° to the reference generatrix. The opening formed by the upper stretch 4b is made in such a way that it is approximately symmetrical relative to a generatrix set at an angle of around 180° to the reference generatrix. The length of the lower stretch 4a of the slot 4, measured according to the axial direction of the tubular element 3, is at least half the axial length of the entire tubular element 3. Moreover, the position and amplitude of the various parts of the slot, for the reasons described in more detail below, are created in such a way that the upper end 7b of the right edge 6b of the upper stretch 4b of the slot can be connected to the lower end 7a of the left edge 5 a of the lower stretch 4a of the slot with an ideal straight line segment, angled relative to the generatrices of the tubular element, which is entirely contained in the slot 4.

The rod holder according to the invention also comprises a recess 8, made in the lateral wall of the lower zone of the tubular element 3, which is open towards the lower end of the tubular element and is set at an angle of around 270° relative to the reference generatrix. This recess is particularly useful for accommodating part of the reel of a rod used for fly-fishing.

The rod holder also comprises a hole 9 made in the lateral wall of the upper zone of the tubular element 3 and positioned approximately on the reference generatrix. In this hole it is possible to insert the hook of a spring clip 9a, which can be connected to the belt 2 by means of a ring 9b connected to the other end of the spring clip, in such a way as to secure the rod holder to the belt when the belt is not inserted in the loop 1 , or when the rod holder is not used.

The loop 1 and the tubular element 3 are preferably made of a rigid material, for example a rigid plastic material which allows the rod holder to be made in such a way that it is very light. The inner wall of the tubular element 3, and the outer wall of the loop 1 which is not connected to the tubular element 3, being covered with an anti-slip material, for example towelling, a rubbery or plastic material, or soft inserts with a knurled surface or projections.

The dimensions of the rod holder are rather limited and it is not bulky. Depending on the dimensions of the rods to be supported, the rod holders may have the tubular element with, for example, a length ranging from 15 to 25 cm and a diameter of 4 to 6 cm. Since the dimensions of the handgrips of the rods are quite standardised, not very many different sizes of rod holder are necessary.

When the rod holder is not used, it can be carried on the belt by inserting the hook of the spring clip 9a in the hole 9. The spring clip is connected to the belt 2 by the ring 9b.

For use, the belt is inserted in the rod holder loop 1 in such a way that the rod holder is secured to the fisherman's abdomen. The shape of the rod holder is such that it is in a practically horizontal position with the slot 4 facing outwards and with the upper zone of the slot forwards.

The moment the fisherman using a rod for fly-fishing needs his hands to be free, with a simple movement the part of the rod closest to the handgrip is inserted in the slot 4 with a movement from outside to inside. Since often, for example when a fish has been caught, this movement must be performed with the rod angled downwards, the particular shape of the slot makes this manoeuvre particularly easy. Between the upper end 7b of the right edge 6b of the upper stretch 4b and the lower end 7a of the left edge 5 a of the lower stretch 4a there is an ideal straight line segment entirely contained in the slot 4. That is to say, there is a stretch of the slot, angled downwards relative to the generatrices of the tubular element, which is clear and allows easy insertion of the rod when it is angled downwards.

Once that manoeuvre has been performed, the rod is pushed forwards until part of the handgrip is inserted, from the rear of the rod holder, in the tubular element. Thus the rod remains secured to the rod holder, with the reel projecting from the rear part of the rod holder, and the fisherman has his hands free to perform the required operations.

Obviously, the rod holder described may also be used to support different types of rods, for example rods on which the reel is fixed to an intermediate zone of the handgrip. This type of rod is secured by simply inserting, from the front part, the rod handgrip in the tubular element. In that case, the reel will be positioned outside the rod holder in its front zone.

The presence of the anti-slip material on the inner wall of the tubular element 3 and on the outer wall of the loop 1 allows unwanted movements by the rod holder relative to the fisherman's body, and by the rod relative to the rod holder to be avoided.