TRANSPORTATION CONTAINER FOR A MODULAR FISHING ROD

Abstract

As a result of the development of a range of modular fishing rods, has become possible to produce a number of different rod styles from a relative small number of modular fishing rod components. Alongside this development is the growing trend of people interested in fishing to travel and to explore different fishing experiences. This has created a need for a safe and convenient way to store and transport modular fishing rods, or rod sets. Disclosed is a transportation container for a modular fishing rod primarily including four hinged panels that can be opened out to gain easy access, and then folded together to provide a strong carry case having a rigid triangular cross section. The container has an inside surface that can secure parts of a modular fishing rod in a spaced apart arrangement and/or secure inserts having slots which perform a similar function.

Claims

1. A transportation container for a modular fishing rod, the transportation container having four panels; a base panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, and a closure panel; each of the said four panels being elongate panels and being connected at least one other of the said panels by a hinged line of connection; the closure panel overlying one of the first panel or the second panel when the transportation container is in a closed configuration; and the transportation container also having two or more container inserts configured to receive and to hold sections of a modular fishing rod in a spaced apart arrangement, the or each container insert being connectable to the base panel.

2. The transportation container for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first side panel is connected both to the base panel and to the second side panel with a hinged line of connection, and the closure panel is connected to the base panel with a hinged line of connection.

3. The transportation container for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hinged line of connections are each situated along a long edge of each of the elongate panels.

4. The transportation container for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein a connected assembly comprising the base panel, the first side panel, the second side panel, and the closure panel, form a shell of the transportation container.

5. The transportation container for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transportation container has a substantially triangular cross section when the transportation container is in the closed configuration.

6. The transportation container for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base panel, the first side panel and the second side panel are each substantially flat panels.

7. The transportation container for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure panel is a substantially flat panel.

8. The transportation container for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said four panels of the transportation container are capable of lying substantially within a single plane when the transportation container is in an open configuration.

9. The transportation container for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the closure panel substantially overlies the second side panel when the transportation container is in the closed configuration.

10. The transportation container for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transportation container further includes a latching mechanism configured to hold the closure panel in a closed position when the transportation container is in the closed configuration.

11. The transportation container for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 10, wherein the latching mechanism includes a magnetic fastening means.

12. The transportation container for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein each container insert has a substantially triangular shape.

13. The transportation container for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein each container insert is made from a foamed plastics material.

14. The transportation container for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein each container insert has a plurality of spaced apart slots into which modules of a modular fishing rod can be inserted.

15. The transportation container for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 14, wherein the spaced apart slots each have slot openings in a first edge or face, and in a second edge or face, of each container insert.

16. The transportation container for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein each container insert is connectable to the base panel using a hook and loop style fastening system.

17. The transportation container for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inside face of the base panel, the first side panel and the second side panel, are each substantially covered in a material that is suitable for use as a part of a hook and loop style fastening system.

18. The transportation container for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transportation container further includes two end panels, with one end panel being situated at each end of the transportation container, each end panel being configured to provide closure at an end of the transportation container when the transportation container is in the closed configuration.

19. The transportation container for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 18, wherein the two end panels form a part of the shell of the transportation container.

20. A modular fishing rod kit incorporating at least one transportation container for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 1, and at least one modular fishing rod.

Description

DESCRIPTION

[0036] Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0037] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transportation container for a modular fishing rod according to the present invention,

[0038] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the transportation container in a closed configuration and in which a detailed view A is defined,

[0039] FIG. 2A is a detailed perspective view A as defined in FIG. 2,

[0040] FIG. 3 is a plan view of an outside of a shell of the transportation container for a modular fishing rod, and

[0041] FIG. 4 is a plan view of an inside of the shell of the transportation container for a modular fishing rod.

[0042] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, a transportation container for a modular fishing rod (11) according to the present invention will now be described. The transportation container for a modular fishing rod (11) has been designed for use in housing, protecting and transporting a modular fishing rod kit. All of the parts of one or more modular fishing rods can be individually fitted into the transportation container to keep the parts together to prevent parts becoming lost, while at the same time maintaining space between adjacent parts of the kit to prevent chafing or other damage during transportation. The transportation container also provides easy access to the component parts of the fishing rod kit, and safe storage of any parts that are not being used, whilst out on fishing ventures.

[0043] The transportation container for a modular fishing rod (11) is in the form of a fold up shell (13) and a number of container inserts or internal bulkheads (15). The shell (13) provides a protective covering of the parts of a modular fishing rod kit, and the container inserts (15) keep the component parts of the kit separate from one another.

[0044] The shell (13) is made up of a connected assembly comprising four connected panels, these being a base panel (17), a first side panel (19), a second side panel (21), and a closure panel (23). Each of these four panels are substantially rectangular and are elongate panels and they are connected to form the shell (13) by a hinged line of connection (25) between each adjacent panel. Each of the three hinged lines of connection (25) are situated along the long edges of each of the elongate panels. The hinged lines of connection (25) can include a hinge or hinges, but can also simply be formed as a thinner of flexible line of the material forming the panels. For example the hinged lines of connection (25) could be made from a fabric cover that is part of each panel, or of a zone of reduced thickness of a plastics material that is used to form the panels or the entire shell (13).

[0045] In this example, when the transportation container (11) is in a closed configuration the closure panel (23) overlies the second panel (21) as shown in FIG. 2A. Depending on the configuration of the shell, the closure panel (23) could alternatively overly the first panel (21).

[0046] Also, in this example, it can be seen that the first side panel (19) is connected both to the base panel (17) and to the second side panel (21) with a hinged line of connection (25), and the closure panel (23) is connected to the base panel (17) with another hinged line of connection (25). From this construction, it can be seen that the four panels can be folded up, with the closure panel (23) overlying the second panel (21), to form a transportation container (11) that has a substantially triangular cross section when the transportation container is in the closed configuration, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0047] In FIGS. 3 and 4 it can be seen that the base panel (17), the first side panel (19), the second side panel (21) and the closure panel (23) are all substantially flat panels, and that when the transportation container is in an open configuration, all of the panels are capable of lying substantially within a single plane. This is advantageous when fitting component parts into the transportation container (11) as it allows very clear access to the container inserts (15).

[0048] The transportation container (11) further includes a latching mechanism (27) configured to hold the closure panel (23) in a closed position against the second side panel (21) when the transportation container (11) is in the closed configuration. In this example, the latching mechanism (27) includes magnetic fastening means in the form of a magnetic strip along an inside face of a long free edge (29) of the closure panel (23) and a complementary strip of magnetic material on an outer part of the second side panel (21) adjacent to the connection between the second side panel (21) and the first side panel (19).

[0049] In this example the transportation container (11) has two container inserts (15) that are substantially triangular in shape, and which are configured to receive and to hold sections of a modular fishing rod, and to hold them in a spaced apart arrangement.

[0050] Each container insert or internal bulkhead (15) is made from a foamed plastics material and has a plurality of spaced apart slots (31) into which modules of a modular fishing rod can be inserted. The spaced apart slots (31) each have slot openings in a first edge or face (33), and in a second edge or face (35), of each container insert (15).

[0051] The container inserts (15) are connectable to the base panel (17) along a base edge or face (37) of each container insert (15) using a VELCRO or hook and loop style fastening system. A wide strip (38) of one part of a VELCRO or hook and loop style fastening system is attached to an inside face, and along a greater part of the length, of the base panel (17). As can be seen in FIG. 4, the wide strip (38) covers the greater part of the area of an inside face or internal surface of the base panel (17).

[0052] A complementary section of a VELCRO or hook and loop style fastening system is also attached to the base edge or face (37) of each container insert (15). In this way, the container inserts (15) can be positioned as desired along the length of the base panel (17) to suit the fishing rod components that are being fitted inside the transportation container (11).

[0053] When the transportation container (11) is in the closed configuration, the first side panel (19) lies adjacent the first edge or face (35) of each container insert (15), and the second side panel (21) lies adjacent the second edge or face (37) of each container insert (15).

[0054] The transportation container (11) further includes two end panels (39), with one end panel (39) being situated at each end of the transportation container (11). Each end panel (39) is configured to provide closure at each end of the transportation container (11) when the transportation container (11) is in the closed configuration. The end panels (39) are omitted in FIG. 2 for visual purposes only to allow the arrangement of the four panels to be clearly seen.

[0055] The two end panels (39) are connected to the base panel (17) and form a part of the shell (13) of the transportation container (11). The two end panels (39) can be made of a solid material such as wood or dense foamed plastics material that is glued or otherwise fastened to the base panel (17). Or alternatively the two end panels (39) can be formed as a part of the base panel (17) or of the rest of the shell (11) and be made from the same plastics, or foamed plastics material. The two end panels (39) can have a connection to the base panel (17) in the form of a hinged joint to allow the shell (11) to fold completely flat for shipping and storage of empty transportation containers (11), or alternatively the two end panels (39) can have a rigid connection to the base panel (17) to keep the process of closing the transportation container (11) as simple as possible.

[0056] It can be seen in FIG. 3 that the transportation container (11) further includes a carry strap (41). The carry strap (41) is attached to a point near each end of the base panel (17), and on the outside of the base panel (17), and can be used to carry the transportation container (11) by hand or over a shoulder.

[0057] The transportation container (11) also includes a handle (43), the handle (43) being in two halves, a first half attached to the closure panel (23) adjacent to a free edge of the closure panel (23), and a second half being connected to the first side panel (19) adjacent to a connection between the first side panel (19) and the second side panel (21). The halves of the handle (43) being adjacent one another when the transportation container (11) is in its closed configuration.

VARIATIONS

[0058] Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.

[0059] In the transportation container (11) described herein, the transportation container (11) has just two container inserts (15), however it is envisaged that in an alternative configuration a similar transport container could have three or more container inserts (15). It is also envisaged that the end panels (39) could be incorporated into two of the container inserts (15), that is, two of the container inserts (15) could double as end panels (39) that also provide support for items within the transportation container (11).

[0060] It is also envisaged that an inside face of the first and second side panels (19) and (21) can also have a hook and loop style fastening system that can engage with a complementary hook and loop style fastening system on the first and second edges (33) and (35) of the container inserts (15) to help stabilise the container inserts (15) when the transportation container (11) is closed and is being used as a storage container or for transportation.

[0061] In a further variation, the inside faces of the base panel, the first side panel and the second side panel, can each be covered, or substantially covered, in a material that is suitable for use as a part of a hook and loop style fastening system. For example, the inside faces of the base panel, the first side panel and the second side panel can each be covered in a loop style fabric which will adhere to a patch of hook material when the two are brought into contact.

[0062] In this way, the container inserts (15) can be located anywhere inside the transportation container (11). And as an alternative to the use of the container inserts (15), the parts of a fishing rod can be furnished with small sections of hook material adhered to their surface, or with sleeves of hook material about the parts of the fishing rods. In such a case, the parts of the fishing rod can each be individually secured directly onto the inside faces of the base panel, the first side panel and/or the second side panel, by engaging the hook material with the loop material on the inside faces of the transportation container (11). In this way, the parts of the fishing rod are each held securely and separately within the transportation container (11) when it is closed, and they become laid out and accessible when the transportation container (11) is opened out and laid flat.

Definitions

[0063] Throughout this specification the word comprise and variations of that word, such as comprises and comprising, are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

ADVANTAGES

[0064] Thus it can be seen that at least the preferred form of the invention provides a transportation container for a modular fishing rod which has one or more of the following advantages; [0065] it is relatively compact in size and light weight making it suitable for shipping purposes, i.e. for the shipping of internet purchases, [0066] it has a triangular shape and is made of folded panels and this configuration gives an inherent rigidity that provides protection for parts of a fishing rod, [0067] the design offers flexibility in terms of insert design and insert positioning which enables the transportation container to easily accommodate a range of different types of rods, [0068] the design also allows fishing rod parts to be secured directly to an inside surface of the container for simple, spaced apart storage and ease of access, [0069] the configuration provides separation between components and helps to minimize damage that may occur as a result of contact or chafing between components, [0070] the transportation container provides easy access to any components housed by the transportation container when the shell is opened out flat, and/or [0071] the shell opens out flat for compact storage and easier transportation of empty transportation containers.