Back to results
US 6,186,087 B1Granted
Fishing rod protector assembly
OwnerLewis G. Vinasinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fishing rod protector assembly for protecting the fishing rod from being damaged when the fishing rod is secured to a boat deck. The fishing rod protector assembly is designed for use on a boat having a fishing rod holder for holding multiple fishing rods against a deck of the boat. The fishing rod protector assembly includes a main member pivotally coupled to the boat and a latch member designed for coupling to the boat deck to selectively engage the main member. The main member is positioned such that the top of the main member is positioned over the end of a fishing rod engaged to a fishing rod holder on the boat deck.
Claims8
A fishing rod protector assembly for coupling to a boat having a fishing rod holder for holding a plurality of fishing rods against a deck of the boat, the fishing rod protector assembly comprising:
- a main member having a top, sides extending from the top, and a pair of open ends;
- said main member having a connection flange extending outwardly from a first one of said sides;
- said main member having a latching flange extending outwardly from a second one of said sides;
- said connection flange being adapted for hingably coupling to the boat deck such that said main member is pivotable between an open and a closed position, said open position being defined by said latching flange being positioned in spaced relationship to the boat deck, said closed position being defined by said latching flange contacting the boat deck;
- a latch member adapted for coupling to the boat deck such that the latch member is positioned to selectively engage said latching flange when said main member is in said closed position;
- and
- said main member being positioned such that said top of said main member is adapted for positioning over a distal end of a fishing rod engaged to the fishing rod holder for preventing contact of a foot of a user with the distal end of the fishing rod.
4 more elements
A fishing rod protector assembly for coupling to a boat having a fishing rod holder for holding a plurality of fishing rods against a deck of the boat, the fishing rod protector assembly comprising:
- a main member having a top, sides extending from the top, and a pair of open ends;
- said main member having a connection flange extending outwardly from a first one of said sides;
- said main member having a latching flange extending outwardly from a second one of said sides;
- said connection flange being adapted for hingably coupling to the boat deck such that said main member is pivotable between an open and a closed position, said open position being defined by said latching flange being positioned in spaced relationship to the boat deck, said closed position being defined by said latching flange contacting the boat deck;
- a latch member adapted for coupling to the boat deck such that the latch member is positioned to selectively engage said latching flange when said main member is in said closed position;
- said main member being positioned such that said top of said main member is adapted for positioning over a distal end of a fishing rod engaged to the fishing rod holder for preventing contact of a foot of a user with the distal end of the fishing rod;
- said main member being substantially clear for permitting visual inspection of the distal end of the fishing rod when said main member is in said closed position;
- a pair of hinges, each of said hinges being coupled to said connecting flange proximate a respective end of said main member, each of said hinges being adapted for coupling to the boat deck whereby said main member is hingably couplable to the boat deck;
- said top of said main member being generally trapezoidal such that a first one of said open ends has a length greater than a second one of said open ends, said first open end being positioned nearer said rod engaging member than said second open end;
- said latch member having a flange holding portion, a gripping portion, and a medial portion between said flange holding portion and said gripping portion;
- said medial portion being adapted for coupling to the boat deck such that the latch member is rotatable around said medial portion for selectively engaging and disengaging said flange holding portion from said latching flange;
- and
- said gripping portion extending upwardly from an upper surface of said medial portion for facilitating grasping of said gripping portion by a user.
10 more elements
A fishing rod protector assembly comprising, in combination:
- a fishing boat having a raised boat deck, a fishing chair coupled to said raised boat deck, and a pair of rod holders, each rod holder being for holding a plurality of fishing rods such that a distal end of each fishing rod held by a respective one of said fishing rod holders extends along said raised boat deck proximate said fishing chair;
- and
- a pair of fishing rod protectors, each fishing rod protector being aligned with an associated one of said fishing rod holders, each fishing rod protector comprising:
- a main member having a top, sides extending from the top, and a pair of open ends;
- said main member having a connection flange extending outwardly from a first one of said sides;
- said main member having a latching flange extending outwardly from a second one of said sides;
- said connection flange being for hingably coupling to said raised boat deck such that said main member is pivotable between an open and a closed position, said open position being defined by said latching flange being positioned in spaced relationship to said raised boat deck, said closed position being defined by said latching flange contacting said raised boat deck;
- a latch member for coupling to said raised boat deck such that said latch member is positioned to selectively engage said latching flange when said main member is in said closed position;
- said main member being positioned such that said top of said main member is positionable over a portion of a fishing rod engaged to an associated one of said fishing rod holders for preventing contact of a foot of a user with the portion of the fishing rod positioned beneath said main member;
- said main member being substantially clear for permitting visual inspection of the portion of the fishing rod positioned beneath said main member when said main member is in said closed position;
- a pair of hinges, each of said hinges being coupled to said connecting flange proximate a respective end of said main member, each of said hinges being coupled to said raised boat deck;
- said top of said main member being generally trapezoidal such that a first one of said open ends has a length greater than a second one of said open ends, said first open end being positioned nearer said rod engaging member than said second open end;
- said latch member having a flange holding portion, a gripping portion, and a medial portion between said flange holding portion and said gripping portion;
- said medial portion being coupled to the boat deck such that the latch member is rotatable around said medial portion for selectively engaging and disengaging said flange holding portion from said latching flange;
- and
- said gripping portion extending upwardly from an upper surface of said medial portion for facilitating grasping of said gripping portion by a user.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.