GB2175781A

GB2175781A - Light-emitting fishing rods

Info

Publication number: GB2175781A
Application number: GB08513850A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Crozier Moore; John James Carmichael
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-06-01
Filing date: 1985-06-01
Publication date: 1986-12-10
Also published as: GB8513850D0

Abstract

A fishing rod including at its butt end, a power source coupled to a source of light, and at its tip end, a light emitting region, the body of the rod between the butt end and tip end being adapted to transmit light from the source of light along the length of the rod to the light emitting region of the tip to light up the tip of the fishing rod. Preferably the butt end is at least partially hollow and the power source and light source are housed within the fishing rod itself. Preferably also the hollow interior of the rod is spray coated with a coating which reflects light rays from the light source. However, if the rod is solid a fibre optic is accommodated to transmit light from the source to the tip of the rod.

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in fishing rods Field of the Invention The invention relates to an improved fishing rod which can be used for fishing at night time.

A fishing rod typically comprises a rigid butt end to be held by the angler and an elongate rod extending from the butt end and tapering away from the butt to a tip of much smaller cross section. At the thinner end the rod is very flexible. In use a reel of fishing line is mounted on the butt end of the fishing rod and the fishing line is thread through an eye formed by a little loop mounted at the tip of the fishing rod. If the fish bites at the bait or fly the fishing line will be pulled and the flexible tip region of the fishing rod which is very sensitive will twitch slightly. This is a very effective message to the angler that he has a bite. This can cause great problems when the angler is fishing at dusk or night time since he can have difficulty in seeing the tip region of the fishing rod.With some fish this is the most productive time for fishing which can cause severe eye strain for the angler. It is also important that an angler can see where the tip of his fishing rod is, especially during casting because it is easy for the fishing rod to get caught up in branches of trees or other obstructions.

Hither to it has proved impossible to light up the fishing rod since the tip of the fishing rod is so slim no lighting equipment can be fitted there and also the tip is moved around in casting and so any lighting equipment would easily get broken.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention there is provided a fishing rod including at its butt end, a power source coupled to a source of light, and at its tip end, a light emitting region, the body of the rod between the butt end and tip end being adapted to transmit light from the source of light along the length of the rod to the light emitting region of the tip to light up the tip of the fishing rod.

Thus the fishing rod may be used in the dark or in half light.

Preferably the butt end is at least partially hollow and the power source and light source are housed within the fishing rod itself so that it is easily handled.

Many conventional rods have a hollow interior and in this case it is preferred that the hollow interior is spray coated with a coating which reflects light rays from the bulb and optimize the amount of light transmitted to the tip.

Where the rod is a solid rod it is preferred that a bore extends through the rod to accommodate at least one fibre optic. Preferably the optical fibre runs up the central axis of the rod. This will transmit light from the source of light to the tip no matter how much the rod flexes.

Preferably the power source is a series of dry batteries which can easily be housed within the butt end of the rod similar to the body of a conventional battery powered torch.

It is appreciated that most fishing rods are made of several pieces which fit together. In this case it is necessary that the opposite ends of each rod piece incorporate means whereby an optical transmission contact is made between mating-section ends when the rod is assembled.

The light emitting region may be a hollow transparent section but is preferably a solid translucent plastics piece.

In the case where the butt end is hollow and houses the power source and light source within it preferably the end of the rod is open but can be closed by a removable lid. Thus the power source in the form of batteries can be easily replaced when necessary.

Brief Description of the Drawings An example of the fishing rod in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the fishing rod; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the tip end of the fishing rod shown and circled in Fig. 1; and, Figure 3 is a large view of the butt end of the fishing rod shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Description of the Preferred Emodiment A fishing rod 1 includes a rigid butt end 2 which in use is held by the angler. The rod 1 tapers away from the butt end 2 towards the tip end 3 which is very flexible. The butt end 2 is hollow and houses a power source 4 consisting of three conventional circular cylindrical dry batteries. Also housed within the butt end 2 is a light bulb 5 and a bulb reflector 6 which is conical tapering inwards towards the bulb 5.

A switch 7 is an on/off reciprocating switch and closes the circuit between the batteries 4 and light bulb 5 to switch on the light source when necessary. A butt end cap 8 is screw fit on the end of the butt 2 to close off the portion. The cap may be removed to replace the batteries 4 when they run out.

The body of the rod 1 between the butt end 2 and tip region 3 is hollow and the inside is spray coated with a reflective coating which means that no light is transmitted out of this region but all the light is transmitted along the axis of the fishing rod from the bulb 5 to the tip 3.

At the tip 3 is a light emitting region 9 which comprises a solid translucent plastics circular cylindrical section forming part of the length of the rod. When light has reached this tip region 9 it is then free to be transmitted out of the axis of the rod to illuminate the end of the rod 3 so that it can be seen easily at night.

Claims

1. A fishing rod including at its butt end, a power source coupled to a source of light, and at its tip end, a light emitting region, the body of the rod between the butt end and tip end being adapted to transmit light from the source of light along the length of the rod to the light emitting region of the tip to light up the tip of the fishing rod.

2. A fishing rod according to Claim 1 and in which the butt end is at least partially hollow and the power source and light source are housed within the hollow portion.

3. A fishing rod according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 and in which the rod has a hollow interior which is coated in such a way as to reflect light rays readily.

4. A fishing rod according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 and in which the rod is a solid rod wherein a bore extends through the rod to accommodate at least one fibre optic to transmit light from the light source to the tip of the rod.

5. A fishing rod according to Claim 4 and in which the optical fibre runs up the central axis of the rod.

6. A fishing rod according to any of the preceding claims and in which the power source is a series of dry batteries housed within the butt end of the rod in a manner similar to the housing of such batteries within the body of a conventional battery-powered torch.

7. A fishing rod according to any of the preceding claims and in which the light emitting region of the rod comprises a solid translucent plastics piece.

8. A fishing rod substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.