GB2052231A - Fishing rod - Google Patents

Abstract

A fishing rod (9) having a bore formed therethrough has a battery holder mounted in the bore and a light- emitting diode (13) mounted in the region of the tip of the rod. During darkness, the light-emitting diode enables the movement of the tip of the rod to be seen. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in fishing rods The present invention relates to improvements in fishing rods to enable the movement of the tip of the rod to be seen when this might otherwise be difficult.

There are many known devices for indicating whether or not a fish has taken the bait, but these devices tend to be ineffective in darkness.

According to the present invention there is provided a fishing rod including a light-emitting diode positioned in the region of the tip of the rod, and means for illuminating the diode.

Preferably, the rod is hollow and the illuminating means comprises a battery holder provided in the hollow rod and connected with the light-emitting diode by means of wires passing along the hollow bore of the rod.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying single figure which shows diagrammatically and partly in section a part of a fishing rod according to the present invention incorporating a rod tip indicating device.

A rod tip indicating device shown in the figure comprises a battery holder in the form of a tube 1 of non-conducting, for example plastics, material provided at one end with an end member 2 of electrically conducting material and at the other end with a collar 3 also of electrically conducting material. The end member 2 and the collar 3 may be made, for example, of a metal such as brass and may be secured to the tube 1 by any convenient means such as a push-fit or glue. Provided internally of the battery holder and secured to one face of the end member 2 is a spring 4 of electrically conducting material. The collar 3 is threaded internally to receive an externally threaded closure member 5 of electrically conducting material such as metal which is provided with a recess 6 to facilitate screwing the closure member 5 into and out of the collar 3.

Provided within the battery holder is a suitable battery; in this case two batteries 7, 8 which may be, for example, of the U16 type. The batteries make electrical contact with the end member 2 by way of the spring 4 and with the collar 3 by way of the closure member 5. The batteries 7, 8 may be inserted into and taken out of the battery holder by unscrewing the closure member, inserting or removing the batteries, and replacing the closure member, electrical contact with the end member 2 and with the collar 3 being established when the closure member has been screwed into the collar by a sufficient distance.

The battery holder is inserted into a convenient section of a conventional hollow glass-fibre fishing rod 9, part only of the rod being shown in the figure.

The battery holder may be a push fit in the hollow bore of the fishing rod or it may be fitted more securely, for example by means of glue. Extending through the hollow bore of the fishing rod from the tip to the battery holder are two insulated wires 10, 11. One of the wires, 10, is secured, for example by soldering, to the end member 2, while the other wire, 11, passes between the battery holder and the internal surface of the rod and is secured to the collar 3, for example by means of soldering. One wire, 11, is secured, e.g. by soldering, to the metallic top ring 12 of the fishing rod, whereas the other wire, 10, passes through an aperture formed through the wall of the rod and is connected, e.g. by soldering to one terminal of a light-emitting diode 13. The other terminal of the light-emiting diode is secured, e.g. by soldering, to the top ring of the rod.In this embodiment, the diode may be any convenient diode which strikes at 3 volts.

In use, when the fisherman wishes to be able to view the movement of the tip of his rod when this would otherwise be difficult, e.g. during the hours of darkness, he will unscrew the cover member 5, insert the batteries 7, 8, and screw back the cover member until the light-emitting diode luminesces.

The fisherman can then determine the movement of the tip of the rod quite easily, even when he is at a considerable distance from the rod. The iightemitting diode will, of course, remain illuminated until the batteries are removed. The low current consumption of the diode ensures that the batteries remain effective for a considerable time.

Whilst the battery holder is shown in the drawing as being disposed at one end of one section of the rod, the holder may in practice be located at any convenient position along the rod, and while the number of batteries shown in the drawing is two, the number and voltage of the batteries may be varied as desired provided that a compatible light-emitting diode is employed.

1. Afishing rod including a light-emitting diode positioned in the region of the tip of the rod, and means for illuminating the diode.

2. A fishing rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rod is hollow and the illuminating means comprises a battery holder provided in the hollow rod and connected with the light-emitting diode by means of wires passing along the hollow bore of the rod.

3. Afishing rod as claimed in claim 2, wherein the battery holder comprises a non-conducting tube provided at one end with an electrically conducting end member and at the other end with an electrically conducting collar, a conducting spring being provided internally of the battery holder at one face of the end member and the collar being internally threaded and receiving an externally threaded conducting closure member.

4. A fishing rod as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein one terminal of light-emitting diode is connected to the top ring of the rod, the top ring being in electrical contact with the illuminating means, and the other terminal of the diode is connected with the illuminating means by way of an aperture formed through the wall of the rod.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in fishing rods The present invention relates to improvements in fishing rods to enable the movement of the tip of the rod to be seen when this might otherwise be difficult. There are many known devices for indicating whether or not a fish has taken the bait, but these devices tend to be ineffective in darkness. According to the present invention there is provided a fishing rod including a light-emitting diode positioned in the region of the tip of the rod, and means for illuminating the diode. Preferably, the rod is hollow and the illuminating means comprises a battery holder provided in the hollow rod and connected with the light-emitting diode by means of wires passing along the hollow bore of the rod. For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying single figure which shows diagrammatically and partly in section a part of a fishing rod according to the present invention incorporating a rod tip indicating device. A rod tip indicating device shown in the figure comprises a battery holder in the form of a tube 1 of non-conducting, for example plastics, material provided at one end with an end member 2 of electrically conducting material and at the other end with a collar 3 also of electrically conducting material. The end member 2 and the collar 3 may be made, for example, of a metal such as brass and may be secured to the tube 1 by any convenient means such as a push-fit or glue. Provided internally of the battery holder and secured to one face of the end member 2 is a spring 4 of electrically conducting material. The collar 3 is threaded internally to receive an externally threaded closure member 5 of electrically conducting material such as metal which is provided with a recess 6 to facilitate screwing the closure member 5 into and out of the collar 3. Provided within the battery holder is a suitable battery; in this case two batteries 7, 8 which may be, for example, of the U16 type. The batteries make electrical contact with the end member 2 by way of the spring 4 and with the collar 3 by way of the closure member 5. The batteries 7, 8 may be inserted into and taken out of the battery holder by unscrewing the closure member, inserting or removing the batteries, and replacing the closure member, electrical contact with the end member 2 and with the collar 3 being established when the closure member has been screwed into the collar by a sufficient distance. The battery holder is inserted into a convenient section of a conventional hollow glass-fibre fishing rod 9, part only of the rod being shown in the figure. The battery holder may be a push fit in the hollow bore of the fishing rod or it may be fitted more securely, for example by means of glue. Extending through the hollow bore of the fishing rod from the tip to the battery holder are two insulated wires 10, 11. One of the wires, 10, is secured, for example by soldering, to the end member 2, while the other wire, 11, passes between the battery holder and the internal surface of the rod and is secured to the collar 3, for example by means of soldering. One wire, 11, is secured, e.g. by soldering, to the metallic top ring 12 of the fishing rod, whereas the other wire, 10, passes through an aperture formed through the wall of the rod and is connected, e.g. by soldering to one terminal of a light-emitting diode 13. The other terminal of the light-emiting diode is secured, e.g. by soldering, to the top ring of the rod.In this embodiment, the diode may be any convenient diode which strikes at 3 volts. In use, when the fisherman wishes to be able to view the movement of the tip of his rod when this would otherwise be difficult, e.g. during the hours of darkness, he will unscrew the cover member 5, insert the batteries 7, 8, and screw back the cover member until the light-emitting diode luminesces. The fisherman can then determine the movement of the tip of the rod quite easily, even when he is at a considerable distance from the rod. The iightemitting diode will, of course, remain illuminated until the batteries are removed. The low current consumption of the diode ensures that the batteries remain effective for a considerable time. Whilst the battery holder is shown in the drawing as being disposed at one end of one section of the rod, the holder may in practice be located at any convenient position along the rod, and while the number of batteries shown in the drawing is two, the number and voltage of the batteries may be varied as desired provided that a compatible light-emitting diode is employed. CLAIMS

1. Afishing rod including a light-emitting diode positioned in the region of the tip of the rod, and means for illuminating the diode.

2. A fishing rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rod is hollow and the illuminating means comprises a battery holder provided in the hollow rod and connected with the light-emitting diode by means of wires passing along the hollow bore of the rod.

3. Afishing rod as claimed in claim 2, wherein the battery holder comprises a non-conducting tube provided at one end with an electrically conducting end member and at the other end with an electrically conducting collar, a conducting spring being provided internally of the battery holder at one face of the end member and the collar being internally threaded and receiving an externally threaded conducting closure member.

4. A fishing rod as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein one terminal of light-emitting diode is connected to the top ring of the rod, the top ring being in electrical contact with the illuminating means, and the other terminal of the diode is connected with the illuminating means by way of an aperture formed through the wall of the rod.

5. Afishing rod substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawing.