Fishing rod holder apparatus and method

Abstract

A method of retaining a fishing rod in retention to have a J-hook member rotate about a slotted region so when the fishing rod is in a stored location it is substantially retained therein and the fisherman with ease can remove the rod from a stored location to a removed position.

1 . A method of providing a fishing rod retention assembly having a longitudinal axis and a lateral axis and adapted to be attached to a stationary platform or a boat and mount a reel seat area of a fishing rod therein, the fishing rod having a forward region that occasionally has a load exerted thereon such as the load exerted from a fish on the line of the fishing rod, the fishing rod retention member comprising:
 a. providing a retention member and adjustably attaching retention member to the stationary platform or boat and comprising a longitudinally forward and a rearward surface that partially defines a receiving slot,   b. providing a J-member having a curve attachment fixedly attached to the retention bracket, the curved attachment having a longitudinally rearward surface and a longitudinally forward surface, and further having first and second surfaces that are curved about a longitudinal axis, the center of curvature of the first and second surfaces arranged to have center of curvatures in a first lateral area of the curve attachment,   c. attaching the J-member in the receiving slot of the retention member and have an open position whereby the elongated chamber region provides for access therein, and the J-member is operatively configured to be repositioned downwardly and laterally with the curve attachment extending through the receiving slot in a closed position to retain a fishing rod therein, whereby a frictional force between either the longitudinally rearward surface or the longitudinally forward surface of the curve attachment with the longitudinally forward and rearward surfaces of the retention member sufficiently locks the fishing rod therein when a load is placed on the forward portion of the fishing rod comprising a retention bracket comprising a lower retention member and an upper retention member and having a central elongated chamber region adapted to mount the reel seat area of a fishing rod therein,   d. providing a locking mechanism operatively configured to restrict movement of the J-member with respect to the retention member,   e. utilizing the J-member having an adjustment slot and repositioning the locking member that is slidably attached to the retention member and adapted to extend through the adjustment slot so as to adjust the position of the J-member with respect to the retention member.   
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1  whereby the retention member is connected to a base mount by a slot and key means and the base mount is fixedly attached to the stationary platform or boat. 
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 1  where the locking mechanism comprises an annular groove member configured to be grasped by two fingers of a person. 
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 1  whereby the retention member is connected to a base mount by a slot and key system and the base mount is fixedly attached to the stationary platform or boat. 
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 1  whereby the J-member has a surface comprising a pocket that is adapted to have an extension in the reel seat area of the fishing rod extend therein. 
   
   
       6 . The method as recited in  claim 2  whereby the contracting mechanism is slidably attached to the retention member and is configured to remain in engagement with the curve attachment. 
   
   
       7 . The method as recited in  claim 1  whereby an upper portion of the surface defining the adjustment slot defines an open region that has sufficient longitudinal width to allow the contracting mechanism to freely pass therethrough. 
   
   
       8 . The method as recited in  claim 1  whereby the adjustment slot has a longitudinal width that is smaller than the diameter of the contracting mechanism. 
   
   
       9 . The method as recited in  claim 1  whereby the retention member comprises a mount extension that is rotatably and fixedly attached to a mount extension that is fixedly attached to a boat or stationary object. 
   
   
       10 . The method as recited in  claim 9  whereby the mount extension comprises a plurality of slots aligned about a centerpoint and the mount extension comprises a plurality of extensions that are adapted to engage the slots of the mount extension, and a laterally extending tension member maintains the extensions fixedly attached to the slots. 
   
   
       11 . The method as described in  claim 10  whereby the laterally extending tension member is repositioned to allow rotation thereabout between the mount extension and the base mount, whereby the pitch of the retention member is adjusted with respect to the boat or stationary location. 
   
   
       12 . The method as described in  claim 1  whereby the J-member is rotated about a pivot location that is not a structural portion of the fishing rod retention assembly. 
   
   
       13 . The method as recited in  claim 1  whereby the curve attachment is rotated about a virtual point positioned away from the fishing rod retention assembly. 
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 1  whereby the first and second surfaces of the J-member have a radius of curvature that is greater than 1.5 inches. 
   
   
       15 . The method as recited in  claim 1  whereby the retention member and J-member are manufactured by an injection molding process. 
   
   
       16 . The method as recited in  claim 1  whereby the contracting mechanism has a laterally inward surface to allow extraction thereof in a laterally outward direction. 
   
   
       17 . A method of retaining a fishing rod having a reel seat area and a forward region to a stationary platform or boat comprising the steps of:
 a. fixedly attaching a retention member to a stationary platform or boat where the retention member comprises a longitudinally forward surface and a longitudinally rearward surface which partially defines a receiving slot, the retention member positioned in an orientation having a desirable angle of pitch of the fishing rod,   b. positioning a J-member having a curve attachment that has first and second surfaces having a radius of curvature with a centerpoint and a first lateral region with respect to the curve attachment, and positioning the curve attachment within the receiving slot of the retention member,   c. positioning the reel seat area of the fishing rod within a retention bracket of the J-member and utilizing the confined movement between the curve attachment of the J-member and the receiving slot to reposition the reel seat area downwardly and laterally so the reel seat area is securely locked therein, whereby frictional engagement between the longitudinally forward and rearward surfaces and the curve attachment retain the J-member in a secure position when a downward force is exerted upon the forward region of the fishing rod,   d. retrieving the fishing rod from the locked position whereby providing an upward force forward of the reel seat area allows for a vertical and lateral repositioning of the J-member so the J-member is positioned in an open orientation with respect to the retention member and the fishing rod is extracted therefrom.   
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 17  whereby the J-member comprises a surface defining an adjustment slot and a contracting mechanism that is slidably attached to the retention member extending therethrough and when the J-member is in a closed position with respect to the retention member, the contracting mechanism extends through an upper open portion of the adjustment slot, therefore locking the J-member in a closed position with respect to the retention member. 
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 18  whereby the retention slot has a lowermost surface that is adapted to engage a laterally extending member attached to the retention member to prevent the J-member from being fully extracted from the receiving slot.