Cover for fishing rod holders

Abstract

A cover is used in connection with a fishing rod holder. A flange is attached to the proximal end of a tube, and a transverse bar to the distal end. Fasteners pass through flange holes to attach the fishing rod holder to a boat deck. A flexible hinge connects a tube cap to a gasket. The cover comprises a plate having top and bottom surfaces, and an outer peripheral edge. The plate has a hole through it juxtaposed with the tube. The plate covers the flange and the fastener heads, with the plate bottom surface juxtaposed with the flange top surface. A skirt extends along the plate peripheral edge, and projects outward from the plate bottom surface. The skirt covers the flange peripheral edge. The skirt has a cutout to clear the hinge. Attaching means includes an adhesive between the plate and either the fastener heads or the flange top. Another attaching means is a hollow liner inserted through the plate hole and slideably received in the tube. The liner has a lip adapted to bear downward on the plate top surface. The liner has a transverse notch near the liner distal end to receive the tube bar. The liner has a toe projecting outward from the liner distal end to engage the tube distal end.

1 . A cover for use in connection with a fishing rod holder for a boat having a deck, the fishing rod holder having a tube extending between opposite proximal and distal ends, the fishing rod holder having a flange attached to the tube proximal end, the flange having opposite top and bottom surfaces, the flange having an outer peripheral edge, the flange having a plurality of holes therethrough, the holes being adapted to receive fasteners with heads for attaching the fishing rod holder to the deck, the cover comprising: 
 a plate having opposite top and bottom surfaces, the plate having an outer peripheral edge, the plate having a hole therethrough adapted for juxtaposition with the tube, the plate being adapted to cover the flange and the fastener heads, so that the plate bottom surface will be juxtaposed with the flange top surface;    a skirt extending along the plate peripheral edge, the skirt projecting outward from the plate bottom surface, the skirt being adapted to cover the flange peripheral edge; and    attaching means for attaching the cover to the fishing rod holder.    
   
   
       2 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the attaching means includes an adhesive adapted to be interposed between the plate bottom surface and the flange top surface.  
   
   
       3 . The cover of  claim 2 , wherein the fishing rod holder includes a cap adapted for insertion into the tube proximal end, a gasket adapted to be interposed between the flange bottom surface and the boat deck, and a flexible hinge connecting the cap and the gasket, wherein the skirt further comprises a skirt cutout adapted to clear the hinge.  
   
   
       4 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein the attaching means includes a hollow liner adapted to be inserted through the plate hole and adapted to be slideably received in the tube, the liner extending between opposite proximal and distal ends, the liner having a lip at the liner proximal end, the lip being adapted to bear downward on the plate top surface, the liner having at least one toe projecting outward from the liner distal end, the toe being adapted to engage the tube distal end.  
   
   
       5 . The cover of  claim 4 , wherein the liner is constructed from a flexible, resilient material, so that the toe will pass through the tube with bias and engage the tube distal end, whereby the liner will attach the cover to the fishing rod holder.  
   
   
       6 . A cover for use in connection with a fishing rod holder for a boat having a deck, the fishing rod holder having a tube extending between opposite proximal and distal ends, the tube having a transverse bar mounted inside the tube distal end, the fishing rod holder having a flange attached to the tube proximal end, the flange extending between opposite front and rear ends, the flange extending between opposite right and left edges, the flange having opposite top and bottom surfaces, the flange having a plurality of holes therethrough, the holes being adapted to receive fasteners with heads for attaching the fishing rod holder to the deck, the cover comprising: 
 a plate extending between opposite front and rear ends, the plate extending between opposite right and left edges, the plate having opposite top and bottom surfaces, the plate having a hole therethrough adapted for juxtaposition with the tube, the plate being adapted to cover the flange and the fastener heads, so that the plate front and rear ends will be juxtaposed with the flange front and rear ends respectively, the plate right and left edges will be juxtaposed with the flange right and left edges respectively, and the plate bottom surface will be juxtaposed with the flange top surface;    a skirt extending along the plate front and rear ends and along the plate right and left edges, the skirt projecting outward from the plate bottom surface, the skirt being adapted to cover the flange front and rear ends and the flange right and left edges; and    attaching means for attaching the cover to the fishing rod holder.    
   
   
       7 . The cover of  claim 6 , wherein the attaching means includes an adhesive adapted to be interposed between the plate bottom surface and the fastener heads.  
   
   
       8 . The cover of  claim 7 , wherein the fishing rod holder includes a cap adapted for insertion into the tube proximal end, a gasket adapted to be interposed between the flange bottom surface and the boat deck, and a flexible hinge connecting the cap and the gasket, wherein the skirt further comprises a skirt cutout adapted to clear the hinge.  
   
   
       9 . The cover of  claim 6 , wherein the attaching means includes a hollow liner adapted to be inserted through the plate hole and adapted to be slideably received in the tube, the liner extending between opposite proximal and distal ends, the liner having a lip at the liner proximal end, the lip being adapted to bear downward on the plate top surface, the liner having a notch extending transversely through the liner, the liner notch extending a predetermined distance from the liner distal end to an apex, the liner notch being adapted to receive the tube bar at the apex so as to preclude the liner from rotating in the tube, the liner having at least one toe projecting outward from the liner distal end, the toe being adapted to engage the tube distal end.  
   
   
       10 . The cover of  claim 9 , wherein the liner is constructed from a flexible, resilient material, so that the toe will pass through the tube with bias and engage the tube distal end.  
   
   
       11 . The cover of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the liner notch further comprises an inverted, U-shaped portion at the apex, the U-shaped portion having a width adapted to closely receive the tube bar, and an inverted, V-shaped portion extending downward from the apex to the liner distal end and increasing in width toward the liner distal end; and    the liner further comprises a pair of liner legs at the liner distal end defined by the V-shaped portion, and a toe projecting outward from each of the liner legs at the liner distal end, so that the cover will be juxtaposed with the tube flange, the liner toes will be manually pinched toward each other against a bias inherent in the flexible material, the liner will be inserted through the plate hole into the tube, the liner notch will engage the tube bar, and the toes will expand outward at the tube distal end, whereby the liner will attach the cover to the fishing rod holder.    
   
   
       12 . A method of covering a fishing rod holder for a boat having a deck, the fishing rod holder having a tube extending between opposite proximal and distal ends, the tube having a transverse bar mounted inside the tube distal end, the fishing rod holder having a flange attached to the tube proximal end, the flange extending between opposite front and rear ends, the flange extending between opposite right and left edges, the flange having opposite top and bottom surfaces, the flange having a plurality of holes therethrough, the holes being adapted to receive fasteners with heads for attaching the fishing rod holder to the deck, the method comprising the steps of: 
 extending a plate between opposite front and rear ends, between opposite right and left edges, and between opposite top and bottom surfaces;    forming a hole through the plate;    extending a skirt along the plate front and rear ends and along the plate right and left edges;    projecting the skirt outward from the plate bottom surface;    juxtaposing the plate front and rear ends with the flange front and rear ends respectively;    juxtaposing the plate right and left edges with the flange right and left edges respectively;    juxtaposing the plate bottom surface with the flange top surface; and    covering the flange front and rear ends and the flange right and left edges with the skirt.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of: 
 interposing an adhesive between the plate bottom surface and the flange top surface; and    attaching the cover to the fishing rod holder with the adhesive.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the fishing rod holder includes a cap adapted for insertion into the tube proximal end, a gasket adapted to be interposed between the flange bottom surface and the boat deck, and a flexible hinge connecting the cap and the gasket, the method further comprising the step of notching the skirt to clear the hinge.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a hollow liner;    extending the liner between opposite proximal and distal ends;    providing a lip at the liner proximal end;    extending a notch transversely through the liner adjacent the liner distal end;    extending the liner notch a predetermined distance from the liner distal end to an apex;    projecting at least one toe outward from the liner distal end;    inserting the liner through the plate hole;    receiving the liner slideably in the tube;    receiving the tube bar in the liner notch at the apex, so as to preclude the liner from rotating in the tube;    engaging the tube distal end with the toe; and    bearing downward on the plate top surface with the lip, thereby attaching the cover to the fishing rod holder.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of: 
 constructing the liner from a flexible, resilient material; and    passing the toe through the tube with bias to engage the tube distal end.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of: 
 forming an inverted, U-shaped notch portion at the liner notch apex;    forming an inverted, V-shaped notch portion extending downward from the liner notch apex to the liner distal end and increasing in width toward the liner distal end;    defining a pair of liner legs at the liner distal end by the V-shaped notch portion;    projecting a toe outward from each of the liner legs at the liner distal end;    juxtaposing the cover with the tube flange;    pinching the liner toes manually toward each other against a bias inherent in the flexible material;    inserting the liner through the plate hole and through the tube;    receiving the tube bar in the U-shaped portion; and    expanding the toes outward at the tube distal end, thereby attaching the cover to the fishing rod holder.