Fishing rod handle

Abstract

Handles, apparatus devices, and methods for clamping and using an extra handle onto fishing rods that provides enhanced leverage while holding the existing elongated handle on the rod between clamps on the extra handle, as well as being used for carrying the rod before and after it is being used. The extra handle has bent member between two clamp ends with an inner generally wide flat smooth face, and lower and upper smooth perimeter edge surfaces, that provide a comfortable surface against the back of the hand of the fisherman and helps provide leverage to the fisherman while fishing with the rod and carrying the rod before and after use.

Claims

1. An attachable handle for fishing rods, comprising: a first clamp having a first upper member attachable to a first lower member and forming a first vertical plane passing through all of the first upper member and all of the first lower member, with a first central axis formed between the first upper member and the first lower member, the first central axis running perpendicular to the first vertical plane; a second clamp having a second upper member attachable to a second lower member and forming a second vertical plane passing through all of the second upper member and all of the second lower member, with a second central axis formed between the second upper member and the second lower member, the second central axis running perpendicular to the second vertical plane, and wherein the first clamp and the second clamp are parallel to one another, and the first central axis and the second central axis are in a straight line with one another; a first stem portion extending upward perpendicular from the first clamp; a second stem portion extending upward perpendicular from the second clamp, the first stem portion and the second stem portion being in a straight line with one another, and in a top view the first clamp and the second clamp form a longitudinal center line with one another; and an elongated bent member between an upper end of the first stem portion and an upper end of the second stem portion, the elongated bent member consisting of a lower smooth contiguous edge between the first stem portion and the second stem portion without finger indentations, and the bent member consisting of an upper smooth contiguous edge between the first stem portion and the second stem portion, the bent member consisting of a generally wide and smooth front side face surface and a generally wide and smooth rear side face surface, the bent member continuously bending in one direction along the front side face between the first stem portion and the second stem portion, the bent member is bent sideways at a first angle to the perpendicular first stem portion and at a second angle to the perpendicular second stem portion so the bent member is not directly over the straight line formed between the first stem portion and the second stem portion, the second angle being larger than the first angle, wherein the first clamp and the second clamp are attachable about an existing straight elongated handle on a fishing rod, wherein the bent member with the continuously bending front side face between the first stem portion and the second stem portion, without the finger indentations is adaptable to allow a hand of a fisherman to have greater leverage and a comfortable fit when gripping the elongated handle on the fishing rod, and in the top view the first stem portion and the second stem portion overlap with the longitudinal center line between the first clamp and the second clamp, wherein the elongated bent member curves to one side away from the longitudinal center line.

2. The attachable handle of claim 1, further comprising first fasteners for attaching the first upper member and the first lower member of the first clamp to each other, and second fasteners for attaching the second upper member and the second lower member of the second clamp to each other, the first fasteners and the second fasteners being selected from screws and bolts.

3. The attachable handle of claim 2, wherein the upper member of the first clamp, the upper member of the second clamp, the first stem portion, the second stem portion, and the bent flat member are formed from a single piece of plastic.

4. The attachable handle of claim 1, wherein the first stem and the second stem each include a generally flat front face surface and a generally flat rear face surface.

5. The attachable handle of claim 1, wherein the second stem portion has a length longer than the first stem portion.

6. The attachable handle of claim 5, wherein the bent member has a first inner concave surface and a second inner concave surface with the lower smooth edge on the bent member attached therebetween.

7. The attachable handle of claim 1, further comprising: a first convex outer curved perimeter surface between the upper end of the first stem portion and the bent member; and a second convex curved perimeter surface between the upper end of the second stem portion and the bent member.

8. The attachable handle of claim 7, wherein the second convex curved perimeter surface has a larger angle than the first convex curved perimeter surface.

9. The attachable handle of claim 1, wherein attachable handle has a length of approximately 6.75 inches between the first clamp and the second clamp.

10. A method for using a handle with a fishing rod, comprising the steps of: providing a fishing rod with a reel attached to the rod, and a rearwardly extending straight handle; providing a first clamp with a first stem portion extending upward perpendicular from the first clamp, the first clamp having a first upper member attachable to a first lower member and forming a first vertical plane, with a first central axis formed between the first upper member and the first lower member, the first central axis being perpendicular to the first vertical plane; providing a second clamp with a second stem portion extending perpendicular upward from the second clamp, the second clamp having a second upper member attachable to a second lower member and forming a second vertical plane, with a second central axis formed between the second upper member and the second lower member, the second central axis being perpendicular to the second vertical plane, the first clamp and the second clamp being parallel to one another, and the first central axis and the second central axis are in a straight line with one another, the first stem portion and the second stem portion being in a straight line with one another, and in a top view the first clamp and the second clamp form a longitudinal center line with one another; providing an elongated bent member between an upper end of the first stem portion and an upper end of the second stem portion, the elongated bent member consisting of a lower smooth perimeter edge between the first stem portion and the second stem portion without any finger indentations, and the elongated bent member consisting of an upper smooth perimeter edge between the first stem portion and the second stem portion, the elongated bent member is bent sideways at a first angle to the perpendicular first stem portion and at a second angle to the perpendicular second stem portion so that the bent member is not directly over the straight line formed between the first stem portion and the second stem portion, the second angle being larger than the first angle; clamping the first clamp and the second clamp about the rearwardly extending straight handle of the fishing rod; and gripping a portion of the handle end of the fishing rod between the first clamp and the second clamp to increase leverage while fishing with the fishing rod; providing the bent member with a generally wide and smooth front side face surface and a generally wide and smooth rear side face surface; providing the bent member the bent member with a continuous bend in one direction along the front side face between the first stem portion and the second stem portion; attaching the first clamp and the second clamp about an existing straight elongated handle on a fishing rod, wherein the bent member with the continuously bending front side face between the first stem portion and the second stem portion, without the finger indentations is adaptable to allow a hand of a fisherman to have greater leverage and a comfortable fit when gripping the elongated handle on the fishing rod, and in the top view the first stem portion and the second stem portion overlap with the longitudinal center line between the first clamp and the second clamp, wherein the elongated bent member curves to one side away from the longitudinal center line.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the clamping step includes the steps of: providing the first clamp and the second clamp each with fasteners for attaching the first upper member to the first lower member, and for attaching the second upper member to the second lower member; and selecting the fasteners from screws and bolts.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of: providing the second stem portion with a longer length than the first stem portion.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of: providing the bent member with a first inner concave surface and a second inner concave surface with the lower smooth edge on the bent member attached therebetween.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of: providing a first convex outer curved perimeter surface between the upper end of the first stem portion and the flat bent member; and providing a second convex outer curved perimeter surface between the upper end of the second stem portion and the bent member.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of: providing the second convex outer curved perimeter surface with a larger angle than the first convex outer curved perimeter surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 is a front right perspective view of an assembled fishing rod handle.

(2) FIG. 2 is an upper front right perspective view of the fishing rod handle of FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is a lower front right perspective view of the fishing rod handle of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 4 is a rear right perspective view of the fishing rod handle of FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 5 is a front view of the fishing rod handle of FIG. 1.

(6) FIG. 6 is a rear view of the fishing rod handle of FIG. 1.

(7) FIG. 7 is a top view of the fishing rod handle of FIG. 1.

(8) FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the fishing rod handle of FIG. 1.

(9) FIG. 9 is a left side view of the fishing rod handle of FIG. 1.

(10) FIG. 10 is a right side view of the fishing rod handle of FIG. 1.

(11) FIG. 11 is another rear side view of the fishing rod handle of FIG. 6.

(12) FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the fishing rod handle of FIG. 11 along arrows A-A.

(13) FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the fishing rod handle of FIG. 11 along arrows B-B.

(14) FIG. 14 is cross-sectional view of the fishing rod handle of FIG. 11 along arrows C-C.

(15) FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the fishing rod handle of FIG. 11 along arrows D-D.

(16) FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the fishing rod handle of FIG. 11 along arrows E-E.

(17) FIG. 17 is an exploded view of the fishing rod handle of FIG. 1 about to be assembled to an existing elongated handle of a fishing rod.

(18) FIG. 18 is an assembled view of the fishing rod handle of FIG. 17 on the elongated handle of a fishing rod.

(19) FIG. 19 shows a left hand of a fisherman holding the existing elongated handle of the fishing rod within the clamp ends of the fishing rod handle of FIG. 18.

(20) FIG. 20 shows a right hand of a fisherman holding the existing elongated handle of the fishing rod within the clamp ends of the fishing rod handle of FIG. 18.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(21) Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

(22) In the Summary above and in the Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments and in the accompanying drawings, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification does not include all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally.

(23) In this section, some embodiments of the invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout, and prime notation is used to indicate similar elements in alternative embodiments.

(24) A list of components will now be described. 1 clampable fishing rod handle 10 first clamp 12 upper member of first clamp 13 fasteners (screws, bolts) 15 nuts 16 lower member of first clamp 17 counter-sunk opening(s) 20 second clamp 22 upper member of second clamp 23 fasteners (screws, bolts) 25 nuts 26 lower member of first clamp 27 counter-sunk opening(s) 30 first stem portion 32 inner concave surface 34 outer convex surface 40 second stem portion 42 inner concave surface 43 outer concave surface 44 outer convex surface 50 elongated bent member 51 generally smooth wide front face 52 first end of bent member 53 lower smooth edge perimeter surface 55 upper smooth edge perimeter surface 58 second end of bent member 59 generally smooth wide rear face 100 fishing rod 110 elongated handle end of rod 120 left hand 130 right hand

(25) FIG. 1 is a front right perspective view of an assembled fishing rod handle 1. FIG. 2 is an upper front right perspective view of the fishing rod handle 1 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a lower front right perspective view of the fishing rod handle 1 of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a rear right perspective view of the fishing rod handle of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a front view of the fishing rod handle 1 of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a rear view of the fishing rod handle 1 of FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a top view of the fishing rod handle 1 of FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the fishing rod handle 1 of FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is a left side view of the fishing rod handle 1 of FIG. 1. FIG. 10 is a right side view of the fishing rod handle 1 of FIG. 1.

(26) Referring to FIGS. 1-10, the clampable fishing rod handle 1 can include a first clamp 10 at one end with a first upwardly extending stem portion 30, and a second clamp 20 at an opposite end with a second upwardly extending stem portion 40. An elongated bent member 50 can be located between the first stem portion 30 and the second stem portion 40.

(27) Both the first clamp 10 and the second clamp 20 can include respective upper end portions 12, 22 that are attached to first end 52 and second end 58, respectively of the bent member 50. The first clamp 10 and the second clamp 20 can each include lower member(s) 16, 26 that can attach to respective upper end portions 12, 22 by fasteners 13, 23, such as but not limited to screws and bolts, with nuts 15, 25 (shown in FIG. 17. The heads of the respective fasteners 13, 23 can be counter-sunk in lower side openings 17, 27 of respective lower members 16 and 26.

(28) First stem portion 30 and second stem portion 40 can have generally flat front and flat rear faces that are parallel to longitudinal axes through respective clamps 10 and 20.

(29) Both first stem portion 30 and second stem portion 40 can each have upper inner concave smooth surfaces 32, 42 facing one another, and outer convex smooth surfaces 34 and 44. Second stem 40 can also include a concave outer curved surface edge 43 between the bottom of second stem portion 40 and convex curved outer perimeter surface 44.

(30) The elongated bent member 50 can include a generally smooth wide front face 51 and a generally smooth wide rear face 59. Elongated bent member 50 can have a lower smooth edge perimeter surface 53 and an upper smooth edge perimeter surface 55.

(31) FIG. 11 is another rear side view of the fishing rod handle 1 of FIG. 6 with cross sectional markings and dimensions. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the fishing rod handle 1 of FIG. 11 along arrows A-A. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the fishing rod handle 1 of FIG. 11 along arrows B-B. FIG. 14 is cross-sectional view of the fishing rod handle 1 of FIG. 11 along arrows C-C. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the fishing rod handle 1 of FIG. 11 along arrows D-D. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the fishing rod handle 1 of FIG. 11 along arrows E-E.

(32) Fishing rod handle 1 can have an overall length of approximately 6.75 inches, and a height along first stem portion 30 of H1, being approximately 2.06 inches, and a height along second stem portion 40 of H2, being approximately 2.55 inches.

(33) Elongated bent member 50 can have various width dimensions of WA being approximately 0.81 inches, WB being approximately 1.03 inches, WC being approximately 1.21 inches, WD being approximately 1.31 inches, and WE being approximately 1.15 inches.

(34) FIG. 17 is an exploded view of the fishing rod handle 1 of FIG. 1 about to be assembled to an existing elongated handle 110 of a fishing rod 100. Upper and lower members 12, 16, 22, 26 of first and second clamps 10, 20 can be clamped together about rod end 110 with fasteners 13, 23 and internal nuts 25, 25, where the fasteners can be counter-sunk into openings 17, 27 of the lower clamp members 16, 26.

(35) FIG. 18 is an assembled view of the fishing rod handle 1 of FIG. 17 clamped onto the existing elongated handle end 110 of a fishing rod 100.

(36) FIG. 19 shows a left hand 120 of a fisherman holding the existing elongated handle end 110 of the fishing rod 100 within the clamp ends 10, 20 of the fishing rod handle 1 of FIG. 18.

(37) FIG. 20 shows a right hand 130 of a fisherman holding the existing elongated handle end 110 of the fishing rod 100 within the clamp ends 10, 20 of the fishing rod handle 1 of FIG. 18.

(38) The shape and smooth surfaces of the fishing rod handle 1 allow for the fisherman to have greater leverage and a more comfortable fit while the fisherman is using the fishing rod. Additionally, the rod handle also allows for a better grip on the existing rod handle 110 to allow for the rod 100 to be easily carried and transported from place to place.

(39) The novel fishing rod handle 1 can be formed from molded plastic, injection molded plastic, and the like, as well as other materials, such as but not limited to fiberglass, metal, combinations thereof, and the like.

(40) The term “approximately” can be +/−10% of the amount referenced. Additionally, preferred amounts and ranges can include the amounts and ranges referenced without the prefix of being approximately.

(41) Although the invention is described in a preferred embodiment being clamped about the elongated handle end of fishing rod for increasing leverage for the fisherman, the novel clampable handle can be clamped about other devices, such as fishing poles, and/or handles on other sports equipment such as but not limited to tennis rackets, racquetball rackets, and the like.

(42) While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.