Self securing socket for fishing rod

Claim 1

A socket for holding a fishing rod comprising a cylindrical tube of predetermined diameter and length including clamp means on the outside thereof adapted and constructed to secure said tube to a substantially vertical surface, said tube having the upper portion thereof flared into a uniform divergent conical shape at a predetermined angle with respect to the axis of said tube, a fishing rod having a handle means of predetermined length with a portion thereof of uniform cylindrical diameter, a transverse stop means in the lower end portion of said tube for supporting a fishing rod in said tube by the lower end of the handle thereof, a conical wedge of resilient plastic material having an included angle substantially equal to the said angle of said conical shape of said tube and a large diameter greater than the diameter of said tube and a small diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said tube, said conical wedge having a coaxial bore therethrough for free longitudinal slidable movement on said uniform diameter of said handle, a bumper member secured around said handle a predetermined distance from the end thereof with an elastomer positioned against the upper end thereof whereby the upward movement of said rod secured in said socket will move said bumper member to strike the lower end of said conical wedge and release same from its frictional engagement with said tube and permit the free removal of said rod from said socket.