Fishing rod rack

Abstract

A rack for storing or displaying rod blanks, fishing rods and fishing rod-reel combinations in an upright vertical position or for a rod/tackle box combination. The rack is generally spherical in configuration and comprises top and bottom sections which may be separated in order to open the bottom section for insertion of ballast or other weights.

1 . A substantially spherical shaped rod rack for holding rod items for display or storage comprising in combination;
 upper and lower pivotally connected hemispherical body sections allowing access to the interior of said rack,   said lower body section including a contact area adapted for contacting a support surface,   at least one rod receptacle located in said upper body section and having a downwardly extending wall structure with a bottom wall for supporting a rod item in a substantially upright position.   
   
   
       2 . The rod rack of  claim 1  including a plurality of said rod receptacles spaced around the periphery of said upper body section. 
   
   
       3 . The rod rack of  claim 2  wherein;
 each said rod receptacles includes a receptacle opening located in the surface of said upper body section, said receptacle opening having a receptacle rim conforming to the surface configuration of said upper body section.   
   
   
       4 . The rod rack of  claim 3  wherein said upper body section and said rod receptacles comprise a monolithic structure. 
   
   
       5 . The rod rack of  claim 3  wherein said upper body section includes a plurality of spaced openings about the periphery thereof, said rod receptacles comprise separate structures received in said spaced openings. 
   
   
       6 . The rod rack of  claim 3  including a ballast compartment in said lower body section for stabilizing said rack on a support surface. 
   
   
       7 . A substantially spherical shaped rod rack for holding rod items for display or storage comprising;
 upper and lower pivotally connected hemispherical body sections allowing interior access, said sections including mating rim areas and latch means on said rim areas for selectively latching said sections,   at least one rod receptacle located in said upper body section and having a downwardly extending wall structure with a bottom wall for supporting a rod item in a substantially upright position.   
   
   
       8 . The rod rack of  claim 7  including a plurality of said rod receptacles spaced around the periphery of said upper body section. 
   
   
       9 . The rod rack of  claim 8  wherein;
 each said rod receptacles includes a receptacle opening located in the surface of said upper body section, said receptacle opening having a receptacle rim conforming to the surface configuration of said upper body section.   
   
   
       10 . The rod rack of  claim 8  wherein said upper body section and said rod receptacles comprise a monolithic structure. 
   
   
       11 . The rod rack of  claim 9  wherein said upper body section includes a plurality of spaced openings about the periphery thereof, said rod receptacles comprise separate structures received in said spaced openings. 
   
   
       12 . The rod rack of  claim 9  including a ballast compartment in said lower body section for stabilizing said rack on a support surface. 
   
   
       13 . A support rack for holding elongated rod items in a stationary substantially upright position for display or storage comprising;
 a substantially spherical shaped rack body,   said rack body including upper and lower hemispherical sections having mating rim areas and hinge means for pivotally connecting said sections for movement between a closed position and an open position for allowing access to the interior of said rack body,   latch means on said mating rim areas for selectively latching said sections when in the closed position,   said lower hemispherical section including a contact area on the bottom surface thereof for contacting a support surface to maintain said rack body in a supported position, and said upper hemispherical section including a lift handle structure for lifting the rack from the support surface,   at least one rod receptacle structure in the wall of said upper hemispherical section for receiving one end of a rod item and holding said item in a substantially upright position when said rack is in the supported position,   said rod receptacle extending downwardly from an opening in the wall of said upper hemispherical section a limited distance sufficient to permit said rack body sections to be moved to the open position, said rod receptacle including a bottom wall and tubular side walls,   whereby, an end of a rod item may be inserted into said receptacle, supported by the bottom wall thereof and held in a substantially upright position when said rack is in the closed position and supported on a support surface.   
   
   
       14 . The rod rack of  claim 13  including a plurality of said rod receptacles spaced around the periphery of said upper body section. 
   
   
       15 . The rod rack of  claim 14  wherein;
 each said rod receptacles includes a receptacle opening located in the surface of said upper body section, said receptacle opening having a receptacle rim conforming to the surface configuration of said upper body section.   
   
   
       16 . The rod rack of  claim 15  wherein said upper body section and said rod receptacles comprise a monolithic structure. 
   
   
       17 . The rod rack of  claim 15  wherein said upper body section includes a plurality of spaced openings about the periphery thereof, said rod receptacles comprise separate structures received in said spaced openings. 
   
   
       18 . The rod rack of  claim 15  including a ballast compartment in said lower body section for stabilizing said rack on a support surface.