LOW-PROFILE FOLDING PUSH-POLE HOLDERS
A folding push-pole holder for recreational boats and the like has a flush-mounted body member, a foldable hook member and a detent mechanism. The flush-mounted body member has facilities for mounting on an associated boat surface, requiring only screw-diameter holes drilled in the boat surface. The foldable hook member lies flat when not in use, and upright when extended for holding a pole. A detent mechanism keeps the foldable hook member in either the extended or retracted position until it is changed by a force exerted on the foldable hook member.
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This application is related to U.S. patent application titled, “Low-profile folding chock,” attorney reference number 2620.22, inventor Bernd Czipri, filed even date here within.
FIELDThis invention relates to folding pole holders for boats and more particularly to low-profile folding pole holders for push-poles used with flat boats.
BACKGROUNDRetractable cleats and other similar devices are widely used within boats for securing mooring lines and the like thereto. These retractable cleats typically include a base member, and a retractable cleat member that is telescopingly received within the interior of the base.
Heretofore, these devices have generally been constructed such that the mounting post portion of the retractable cleat passes downwardly, requiring substantial holes to be drilled/cut into the surface (e.g. gunnels) of the boat. These holes create a larger area for water seepage into the hull of the boat, even though proper sealing (e.g. gaskets) precautions are taken. Further adding to this, the area where the cleat is stored when in the retracted position provides for a funnel into which water collects, requiring very good sealing between the shafts of these devices and the framework. Often, boat owners do not want to drill/cut such large holes into the gunnels of their boat in case they wish to relocate the device to a different location. One would appreciate that filling and finishing a few small screw holes in a fiberglass gunnel is easier to perform than one large hole and a few small screw holes.
What is needed is a low profile push-pole holder that requires minimal drilling into the gunnels of a boat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne aspect of the present invention is to provide a folding push-pole holder that includes a base member and a folding hook member. The base member has a bottom surface to be mounted on an associated boat surface, one or more screw holes for attachment to the boat and a cavity for accepting a hook member. The folding hook member hingedly attaches to the base member and swings upwardly into an extended position to hold a pole (e.g. push pole) and swings downwardly into a retracted position, substantially flush in the cavity.
In one embodiment, a folding pole holder for a boat is disclosed including a flush mounted body member with a hook member hingedly coupled to the flush mounted body member. A detent holds the hook member either in an extended position or in a retracted position until changed by an outside force.
In another embodiment, a folding pole holder for a boat is disclosed including a flush mounted body member that has a way to attach to a surface of a boat and a hook member for holding a pole. The hook member is hinged to the flush mounted body member such that the hook member does not require holes to be cut in the surface of the boat for allowing the hook member to extend and retract. The hook member in held by a device for holding, either an extended position or in a retracted position, until changed by an outside force.
In another embodiment, a folding pole holder for a boat is disclosed including a flush mounted body member that has a generally oval shaped central opening. One side of the central opening is substantially flat. The flush mounted body member has a hinge hole near one end of the substantially flat side and a hinge threaded hole near a distal end of the substantially flat side. A hook member has a linear edge for interfacing with the flush mounted body member and a longitudinal bore local to the linear edge. One or more longitudinal grooves are cut/formed in the hook member. A hinge pin passes through the hinge hole, through the longitudinal bore of the hook member and is held in the threaded hole. A detent mechanism has a detent member that is urged into one of the longitudinal grooves when the hook member is rotated about the hinge pin and one of the longitudinal grooves faces the detent mechanism.
The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.
Referring to
The longitudinal grooves 11 are described later.
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To maintain the hook member 12 in either the opened position (as shown in
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To maintain the chock member 32 in either the opened position (as shown in
In some embodiments, a drain opening or gap 40 is provided in the flush-mounted body member 38 to provide drainage and drying of any moisture, should moisture or water seep underneath the flush-mounted body member 38.
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Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result.
It is believed that the system and method of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.
Claims
1. A folding pole holder for a boat, the folding pole holder comprising:
- a flush mounted body member;
- a hook member hingedly coupled to the flush mounted body member; and
- a detent, the detent holding the hook member either in an extended position or in a retracted position until changed by an outside force.
2. The folding pole holder of claim 1, wherein the flush mounted body member is affixed to the boat by a plurality of screws, the screws passing through the flush mounted body and into a surface of the boat.
3. The folding pole holder of claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the flush mounted body member has a plurality of threaded studs and the flush mounted body member is affixed to the boat by the threaded studs passing through a surface of the boat and the threaded studs are held in place by a plurality of nuts.
4. The folding pole holder of claim 1, wherein the detent comprises one or more spring loaded balls, the spring loaded balls urged into longitudinal grooves formed in the hook member.
5. The folding pole holder of claim 4, wherein the one or more spring loaded balls are held within cavities of the flush mounted body member by cover plates that are held to a bottom surface of the flush mounted body member by screws.
6. The folding pole holder of claim 1, wherein the a hook member is hingedly coupled to the flush mounted body member by a pin, the pin passing through a first hole in the flush mounted body member, passing through a longitudinal bore in the hook member and held in a second hole in the flush mounted body member.
7. A folding pole holder for a boat, the folding pole holder comprising:
- a flush mounted body member having a means for attaching to a surface of a boat;
- a hook member;
- a means for hingedly interfacing the hook member to the flush mounted body member whereby the hook member does not require holes to be cut in the surface of the boat for allowing the hook member to extend and retract; and
- a means for holding the hook member in either an extended position or in a retracted position until changed by an outside force.
8. The folding pole holder of claim 7, further comprising a means for mounting the flush mounted body member to the surface of the boat.
9. The folding pole holder of claim 8, wherein the means for mounting is a plurality of screws, the screws passing through the flush mounted body and into a surface of the boat.
10. The folding pole holder of claim 8, wherein the means for mounting includes a plurality of threaded studs extending from a bottom surface of the flush mounted body member and the threaded studs pass through the surface of the boat and the threaded studs are held in place by a plurality of nuts.
11. The folding pole holder of claim 7, wherein the means for holding is a detent mechanism, the detent mechanism comprising one or more spring loaded balls, the spring loaded balls urged into longitudinal grooves formed in the hook member.
12. The folding pole holder of claim 11, wherein the one or more spring loaded balls are held within cavities of the flush mounted body member by cover plates that are held to a bottom surface of the flush mounted body member by screws.
13. The folding pole holder of claim 7, wherein the means for hingedly interfacing includes a pin passing through a first hole in the flush mounted body member, passing through a longitudinal bore in the hook member and held in a second hole in the flush mounted body member.
14. A folding pole holder for a boat, the folding pole holder comprising:
- a flush mounted body member having a generally oval shaped central opening, one side of the central opening being substantially flat, the flush mounted body member having a hinge hole near one end of the substantially flat side and a hinge threaded hole near a distal end of the substantially flat side;
- a hook member having a linear edge for interfacing with the flush mounted body member, the hook member has a longitudinal bore local to the linear edge and one or more longitudinal grooves;
- a hinge pin, the hinge pin going through the hinge hole, through the longitudinal bore of the hook member and held in the threaded hole; and
- a detent mechanism in the flush mounted body member, the detent mechanism having a detent member that is urged into one of the longitudinal grooves when the hook member is rotated about the hinge pin and the one of the longitudinal grooves faces the detent mechanism.
15. The folding pole holder of claim 14, wherein the flush mounted body member has a plurality of mounting holes and the flush mounted body member is affixed to the boat by a plurality of screws, the screws passing through the mounting holes and into a surface of the boat.
16. The folding pole holder of claim 14, wherein a bottom surface of the flush mounted body member has a plurality of threaded studs and the flush mounted body member is affixed to the boat by the threaded studs passing through a surface of the boat and the threaded studs are held in place by a plurality of nuts.
17. The folding pole holder of claim 14, wherein the detent mechanism comprises one or more balls, the balls being biased by springs, the balls urged into longitudinal grooves by the springs.
18. The folding pole holder of claim 17, wherein the one or balls and springs are held within cavities of the flush mounted body member by cover plates that are held to a bottom surface of the flush mounted body member by screws.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 29, 2009
Publication Date: Jun 30, 2011
Applicant: R & D SHED, L.L.C. (CLEARWATER, FL)
Inventor: John Czipri (Boone, NC)
Application Number: 12/648,882
International Classification: B63B 17/00 (20060101);