초록 ▼

A device is provided for securing against crime-of-opportunity theft at least one fishing rod and reel to be stored or transported in an outdoor, unsecured area or on an open, unsecured portion of a vehicle, such as an open bed of a pick-up truck, trailer, or boat. The device includes: (a) a flexibl

A device is provided for securing against crime-of-opportunity theft at least one fishing rod and reel to be stored or transported in an outdoor, unsecured area or on an open, unsecured portion of a vehicle, such as an open bed of a pick-up truck, trailer, or boat. The device includes: (a) a flexible webbing material, wherein the flexible webbing material has a generally bag-like shape with an open end; (b) a first cable and first lock operatively connected for closing and locking the open end of the flexible webbing material around a forward portion of a fishing rod protruding through the open end when at least the rear portion thereof is positioned inside the flexible webbing material, and (c) a second cable and second lock operatively connected for attaching and locking the flexible webbing material to a fixed structure in the open area or on the vehicle; wherein each of the flexible webbing material, the first cable for closing, and the second cable for attaching is resistant to cutting with a hand-held knife.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A device for securing against crime-of-opportunity theft of at least one fishing rod and reel to be stored or transported in an outdoor, unsecured area or on an open, unsecured portion of a vehicle, the device comprising: (a) a first flexible webbing material, (i) wherein the

What is claimed is: 1. A device for securing against crime-of-opportunity theft of at least one fishing rod and reel to be stored or transported in an outdoor, unsecured area or on an open, unsecured portion of a vehicle, the device comprising: (a) a first flexible webbing material, (i) wherein the first flexible webbing material, when opened, has a generally-tubular shape with an open upper end, the generally-tubular shape having a lower end opposing the open upper end, and a lower circumferential edge of the lower end including lower-end loops extending therefrom, and wherein the generally-tubular shape of the first flexible webbing material, when opened, has at least a sufficient internal cross-section and at least a sufficient internal length to receive at least a rear portion of at least one fishing rod and reel, wherein the rear portion comprises a handle, a reel seat, and an attached reel; (ii) wherein the first flexible webbing material is capable of retaining at least the rear portion of at least one fishing rod and reel positioned therein from being removed in any direction substantially perpendicular to the internal length of the generally-tubular shape of the first flexible webbing material; and (iii) wherein an upper end portion of the first flexible webbing material adjacent the open upper end can be folded and wrapped around a forward portion of a fishing rod; whereby the rear portion of at least one fishing rod and reel can be inserted or removed through the open upper end of the first flexible webbing material in a direction generally parallel to the internal length of the first flexible webbing material; (b) a second flexible webbing material, (i) wherein the second flexible webbing material forming a bottom-wall portion closing the lower end of the first flexible webbing material that is opposite to the open upper end, and an outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion including bottom-wall loops extending therefrom; (c) interconnecting means, (i) wherein the interconnecting means extending through the lower-end loops and the bottom-wall loops so as to connect the generally tubular shape and the bottom-wall portion, and a peripheral gap being defined between the lower circumferential edge and the outer peripheral edge which allows water to drain out of the device and for air to circulate into and out of the device; (d) a closure means for securing and locking the open upper end of the first flexible webbing material at least partially folded and wrapped around a forward portion of a fishing rod protruding through the open upper end when at least the rear portion thereof is positioned inside the first flexible webbing material, so that, when in such a substantially closed position, a largest cross-section of the rear portion of a fishing rod and reel cannot be removed through the open upper end of the first flexible webbing material, wherein the closure means comprises: (i) a first cable connected to the first flexible webbing material having a first loop end adjacent a first end of the first cable; (ii) a plurality of upper end loops in the first flexible webbing material adjacent to and spaced around the open upper end of the first flexible webbing material; and (iii) a lock; so that by threading the first cable through the plurality of upper-end loops, the open upper end of the first flexible webbing material can be cinched to a substantially closed position and the lock can lock the open upper end of the first flexible webbing material in the substantially closed position; and (e) an attaching means for securing and locking the first flexible webbing material to a fixed structure in the open area or on the vehicle; wherein each of the first flexible webbing material, the closure means, and the attaching means is resistant to cutting with a hand-held knife. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein an interior of the first flexible webbing material presents a substantially smooth surface, whereby the rear portion of at least one fishing rod can slide against the interior of the first webbing material forming an interior wall without catching thereon. 3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first flexible webbing material comprises a sheet of flexible plastic material that resists rain or water spray from penetrating therethrough. 4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the first flexible webbing material forming the generally-tubular shape is resistant to ultraviolet sunlight degradation for at least one year under outdoor conditions. 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first flexible webbing material is at least substantially opaque to visible light, whereby the particular nature of a fishing rod and reel positioned therein cannot be observed through the webbing material. 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second flexible webbing material is similar in material and structure to the first flexible webbing material forming the generally tubular shape. 7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second flexible webbing material forming the bottom-wall portion prevents a largest cross-section of the rear portion of a fishing rod and reel from passing therethrough. 8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the attaching means comprises: (a) a second cable connected to the first flexible webbing material having a second loop end adjacent a first end of the second cable; and (b) a lock; so that by threading the loop end of the second cable through at least one of the lower end loops, and by threading the loop end through or around any suitable fixture of the open area or vehicle, the device can be secured to the fixture. 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first cable has at least a sufficient length to be threaded and woven between and around the forward portions of a plurality of fishing rods to help secure the rods inside the device. 10. A device for securing against crime-of-opportunity theft of at least one fishing rod and reel to be stored in an outdoor, unsecured area or an open, unsecured portion of a vehicle, the device comprising: (a) a flexible webbing material, wherein the flexible webbing material has a generally bag-like shape with an open upper end, and wherein an upper end portion of the flexible webbing material adjacent the open end can be folded and wrapped around a forward portion of a fishing rod, wherein the flexible webbing material further comprises: (i) a first flexible webbing material, wherein the first flexible webbing material, when opened, has a generally-tubular shape with the open upper end, the generally-tubular shape having a lower end opposing the open upper end, and a lower circumferential edge of the lower end including lower-end loops extending therefrom; (ii) a second flexible webbing material forming a bottom-wall portion closing the lower end of the first flexible webbing material that is opposite to the open end, an outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion including bottom-wall loops extending therefrom; and (iii) interconnecting means extending through the lower-end loops and the bottom-wall loops so as to connect the generally tubular shape and the bottom-wall portion, and a peripheral gap being defined between the lower circumferential edge and the outer peripheral edge which allows water to drain out of the device and for air to circulate into and out of the device; (b) a first cable and first lock operatively connected to the flexible webbing material for closing and locking the open end of the flexible webbing material folded and wrapped around a forward portion of a fishing rod when at least a rear portion thereof is positioned inside the flexible webbing material, and (c) a second cable and second lock operatively connected to the flexible webbing material for attaching and locking the flexible webbing material to a fixed structure in the open area or on the vehicle; wherein each of the flexible webbing material, the first cable for closing, and the second cable for attaching is resistant to cutting with a hand-held knife. 11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the first flexible webbing material comprises a plastic sheet material capable of being repeatedly folded in any direction without rupture. 12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the plastic sheet material comprises a vinyl coated nylon material. 13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the plastic sheet material is reinforced with a metal. 14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the plastic sheet material is reinforced with metal in the form of metal wire. 15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the metal wire comprises a stranded or a braided metal wire. 16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the metal wire has a plastic coating. 17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the plastic coating is a vinyl plastic coating. 18. The device according to claim 14, wherein the metal wire is positioned to reinforce the plastic sheet material of the first webbing material in a criss-crossing pattern to the generally-tubular shape. 19. The device according to claim 14, wherein the metal comprises a rust-resistant steel. 20. In combination, the device according to claim 10 and at least one fishing rod having at least a rear portion of at least one fishing rod and reel positioned inside the device. 21. A device for securing against crime-of-opportunity theft of at least one fishing rod and reel to be stored or transported in an outdoor, unsecured area or on an open, unsecured portion of a vehicle, the device comprising: (a) a flexible webbing material, wherein the flexible webbing material, when opened, has a generally bag-like shape with an open end and has at least a sufficient internal cross section and at least a sufficient internal length to receive at least a rear portion of at least one fishing rod and reel, and wherein an upper end of the flexible webbing material adjacent the open end can be folded and wrapped around a forward portion of a fishing rod, wherein the flexible webbing material further comprises: (i) a first flexible webbing material, wherein the first flexible webbing material, when opened, has a generally-tubular shape with the open end, and wherein the generally-tubular shape of the first flexible webbing material, when opened, has at least a sufficient internal cross-section and at least a sufficient internal length to receive at least a rear portion of at least one fishing rod and reel, wherein the rear portion of the butt end comprises at least a handle, a reel seat, and an attached reel, the generally-tubular shape having a lower end opposing the open end, and a lower circumferential edge of the lower end including lower-end loops extending therefrom; (ii) a second flexible webbing material forming a bottom-wall portion closing the lower end of the first flexible webbing material that is opposite to the open end, and an outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion including bottom-wall loops extending therefrom; and (iii) interconnecting means extending through the lower-end loops and the bottom-wall loops so as to connect the generally tubular shape and the bottom-wall portion, and a peripheral gap being defined between the lower circumferential edge and the outer peripheral edge which allows water to drain out of the device and for air to circulate into and out of the device; (b) a first cable and first lock operatively connected to the open end of the flexible webbing material for closing and locking the open end of the flexible webbing material folded and wrapped around a forward portion of a fishing rod when at least the rear portion thereof is positioned inside the flexible webbing material, wherein when in such a closed position, a largest-cross section of the rear portion of a fishing rod and reel cannot be removed through the open end of the flexible webbing material; and (c) a second cable and second lock operatively connected to the flexible webbing material for attaching and locking the flexible webbing material to a fixed structure in the open area or on the vehicle; wherein each of the flexible webbing material, the first cable for closing, and the second cable for attaching is resistant to cutting with a hand-held knife.