AU2006100556A4 - Fishing rod illumination system - Google Patents

Description

Complete Innovation Patent Specification FISHING RODS

FOR

NIGHT FISHING The following statement is a full description of the invention, including possible methods of implementation FISHING RODS FOR NIGHT FISHING Night fishing with the aid of fishing rods is made difficult due to the lack of an ability to observe the tip of the rod during the inherent low-level light conditions. Handling of the rod is also made more cumbersome and the current design of fishing rods does not provide for illumination.

This application describes designs that when applied to fishing rods facilitate sufficient illumination of the tip of the fishing rod and, or other parts of the fishing rod. This facility enables the user to observe the movement of the tip of the rod so as to determine if fish are biting or in general to be able to locate, orient or handle the rod in low level light conditions.

The principle of the improvement is based on providing a system of lighting for the fishing rod. The field of lighting is a fast evolving area of technology and the patent application only deals with the known devices that are available at this time. It is envisaged that as new devices become available they can substitute for the named sources of light.

There are two incarnations of the lighting system 1. External lighting arrangement 2. Internal lighting With either internal or external lighting it is envisaged that the system would minimally comprise, 1. battery, 2. switching mechanism for on/off control, and 3. light source The properties of the light channel and rod material are important. If the fibre is an optically lossy material in a manner such that light is emitted all along the fibre and if this is combined with a rod material that is transparent to any degree, then the whole of the rod along its length will appear to glow.

If the fibre is not optically lossy in this manner then the light will be transported to the end of the fibre that is located either in or near the tip of the rod and it will then illuminate only the end of the rod.

Some combination of these effects may be designed into the rod so that it appears to emit light at points along its length.

Applicant Date 3, 6 6 The invention may be better understood with reference to the attached diagrams.

0 The elements that comprise the invention depend on the nature of its implementation.

With reference to Figure 1 diagram and these show possible arrangements for implementations involving retrofits. There is a battery holder and switch arrangement contained in a clip that sits close to the base of the rod. A current carrying wire leaves the battery and is run up the rod to an electric light emitting device near the tip of the rod. In S an alternate configuration the battery containing section at the base of the rod also V contains the light source. In this arrangement a light carrying fibre replaces the current carrying wire and at the tip a passive light distributing device or mechanism is used. A cleaved or cut fibre may distribute enough light on its own so as to not require a dedicated device at the tip to disperse light out of the fibre.

N To aid in installing a retrofitted system a set of clips that support and hold the wire or fibre in place are required. These may be of the design below although this is highly dependant on the final nature of materials and economics used for manufacture.

In such instances a set of clips that aid in routing and holding the wire or fibre in place a required and may be of a design similar to those shown in Figure 2, 3, 4 Figure 2 and Figure 3 show a large clip of two different profiles that contain the battery holder and switching device. Intended for the thickest part of the rod near the base.

Figure 4 and Figure 5 show two possible designs for the optical fibre holding clips that hold the clip either against the body of the rod or held off the body the rod. The design in Figure 5 requires the optical fibre to be threaded through the hole in the body of the clip.

With reference to Figure 1, and these are designs that would most easily be applied to the rod during manufacture. This is because in this arrangement the elements are internal to the fishing rod. In this instance the battery holder and light source are contained in the body of the rod. The light channel or fibre is also contained within the rod and light exits the rods at points along any combination of the rod, tip or at intervals along the rod.

In both arrangements a scheme of continuing either the circuit or lighting system must be included for fishing rods that are able to separated into segments for transport. In the external system of Figure 1(a) and this is achieved by the use of a connector designed to work with either electric or light systems as required, nominally placed at the joint. With the internal system of Figure 1 and a means of continuing the light path is required to be built into each joint at time of manufacture of the rod.

Applicant Date The source of the light may be a Light Emitting Diode (LED) of any type or variant, an electro-luminescent device or a light bulb. Not withstanding this the source of the light in this application can be any device.

A variation of the internal design would be to make the construction of the rod eliminate the need for a dedicated fibre. Coatings on, or finish of the inside of the hollow internal void of the rod could achieve this. Such augmentation would in practical terms replace the need for a dedicated optic fibre. In solid core rods a central core of resin or plastic could also be used. Alternatively the whole body of the rod could be fashioned in such a manner such that a light source in the handle of the rod could light up the whole of the rod through light dispersion. The dispersion could be controlled to allow for many different desirable lighting effects for practical or marketing purposes.

Applicant D Date -F5, 199, e9(!

Claims (3)

1. A system of electric illumination for fishing rods.

2. A system of electric illumination for fishing rods in claim 1 where the internal arrangement of lighting elements incorporates a battery compartment in the fishing rod handle or surrounds, such that it does not interfere with normal look and use of a fishing rod.

3. A system of electric illumination for fishing rods in claim 1 where an external arrangement of power supply, lighting elements and fittings allows for retrofit to existing fishing rods. Applicant Date ,6 Date R, 0