GB2209913A

GB2209913A - A fishing rod

Info

Publication number: GB2209913A
Application number: GB8821756A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Isamu Tokuda
Original assignee: Shimano Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shimano Inc
Priority date: 1987-09-19
Filing date: 1988-09-16
Publication date: 1989-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 2008-09-16
Also published as: BE1002208A5; KR910006901Y1; IT221514Z2; IT8822001A0; ITMI910406V0; GB8821756D0; DE3831821C2; ITMI910406U1; KR890006038U; GB2209913B; DE3831821A1

Description

A FISHING ROD The present invention relates to a fishing rod, and more

particularly to a fishing rod comprising a hollow main rod portion having a gentle taper, a tip, a plurality of hollow intermediate rod portions each having a gentle taper, and an end plug, the intermediate rods and tip being containable in the main rod.

A conventional rod, comprising a larger diameter main. rod portion, a plurality of intermediate rod portions and a tip so that the intermediate rod portions and the tip can be housed in the main rod, is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Nc. Sho 60-94,071.

Such fishing rod, when not in use, houses a plurality of intermediate rod portions and a tip within the main rod, and when in use for fishing, the tip and intermediate rod portions are sequentially pulled out, and a larger diameter intermediate rod portion is coupled with the larger diameter main rod portion, a smaller diameter intermediate rod portion with the larger diameter intermediate rod portion, and the tip with the smaller diameter intermediate"rod portion.

Also, as disclosed in the Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 5932,274, the main rod portion and the larger diameter intermediate rod portion are formed to be uniform in diameter from the rear end to the front end. The fron- end of each rod.portion is tapered and reduced in diameter to form the coupling inner surface at the reduced diameter portion and is formed as a coupling surface in contact with the coupling inner surface. At the outer surface of each intermediate rod portion is formed a coupling outer surface in contact with the inner periphery of the reduced diameter portion at the larger diameter rod portion, so that the rod, when in use, is adjustable of length and maintains the adjusted length.

In the former construction, the main rod portion and intermediate rod portions each having a gentle taper is coupled at the lengthwise rear end (a larger diameter base) with the fore end portion (a smaller diameter fore end) by use of the tapered surface. Hence, when the tip and intermediate rod portions are all pulled out with respect to the r-ain rod for use, there is no problem, but, for example, when the larger diameter rod portions are left as contained in the main rod portion and other smaller diameter intermediate rod portions and tip are pulled out to use the fishing rod in an adjusted length, the larger diameter rod portions having no means of restraining movement may move in the pulling-out direction, thereby creating the problem in that the adjusted length cannot be maintained.

In construction, when prepreg is wound onto a mandrel and heated to be molded under pressure, a special mandrel is required and also it is difficult to extract the rod from the mandrel because each rod portion is uniform in diameter for the most part. Hence, it takes much time to use the mandrel for molding the rod, which is expensive to produce. Also, when the intermediate rod portions are housed or pulled out, the rear end coupling outer surface of each intermediate rod portion contacts with the inner surface of the adjacent larger diameter rod along its entire length of movement, and resistance against movement of rod is very large, thereby creating the problem in that it is hard to house or pull out the rod portions and the inner surface of larger diameter rod portions are liable to cause wearinz and failure.

Ar. object of the invention is to provide a fishing rod which may be adjustable in length for fishing, reliably maintaining the adjusted length, be produced by usual manufacturing methods, house and pull out each intermediate rod portion, and minimize wearing and consequent failure at the inner surfaces of the rod portions caused by housing and pulling-out the adjacent rod portions.

The invention provides a fishing rod comprising a main hollow rod portion having a gently tapering shape, a tip, a plurality of hollow intermediate rod portions which gently taper and are of differing diameters, and are positioned at an intermediate portion between said main rod portion and said tip, and an end plug provided at the rear of the larger diameter end of said main rod portion; wherein said intermediate rod portions and tip are adapted to be housed in and forwardly pulled out from said main rod portion, a padding portion being provided at the outer surface of the front at the smaller diameter end of at least one of the larger diameter intermediate rod portions, said padding portion being provided at the outer surface thereof with a fitting surface of a predetermined length and substantially uniform in diameter and in contact with the inner periphery of the front at the smaller diameter end of said main rod portion so as to restrain movement of said intermediate rod portion in the pulling-out direction with respect to said main rod portion, and wherein said end plug is provided with a retaining portion acting as a stop for the rear end of the larger diameter end of said larger diameter intermediate rod portion when housed, thereby impedinw radial movement thereof.

In a preferred example, there is provided a fishing rod which comprises a main rod portion, a plurality of intermediate rod portions and a tip so that the intermediate rod portions and tip are adapted to be housed in or pulled out of the main rod portion, the main rod portion and intermediate rod portions being hollow and of a gently tapering configuration, wherein a padding portion is provided at the fore end outer surface at the smaller diameter end of at least one of the larger diameter intermediate rod portions, at the outer surface of the padding portion is provided a fitting surface of a predetermined length and in contact with the inner surface of the fore end of the smaller diameter end of an adjacent rod portion so as to retain movement in the pulling-out direction with respect to the main rod portion, and at an end plug thereof, there is provided a retaining portion to receive the larger diameter rear ends of the intermediate rod portions when housed in the larger diameter intermediate rod portion.

Accordingly, in the present invention, the main rod portion and each intermediate rod portion are made in a gently tapering manner, thereby being simply manufactured by moulding, by use of the usual mandrel to lower the manufacturing cost to that extent. Also, the fore end inner periphery of the main rod portion engages with the rear end outer periphery of the larger diameter intermediate rod portion, the fore end inner surface of the larger diameter intermediate rod portion engages with the rear end outer periphery of the smaller diameter rod portion, and the fore end inner surface of the smaller diameter intermediate rod portion engages with the rear end outer periphery of the tip, thereby enabling the main rod portion, intermediate rod portions and tip to be coupled with each other for use. Moreover, the padding portion and fitting surface are provided at the smaller diameter side fore end outer surface of at least one of the larger diameter intermediate rod portions as above-mentioned, so that the larger diameter end intermediate rod portion is housed in the main rod portion and the tip and smaller diameter intermediate rod portions are pulled out, thereby enabling the fishing rod to be used in a smaller length than when it is entirely pulled out. Furthermore, the larger diameter intermediate rod portions are impeded at the rear ends by a retaining portion of the end plug from radial movement and, in the housing direction of the rod and the fitting portion, contacts with the coupling inner surface of the larger diameter rod portion to be impeded from movement in the pulling-out direction, thereby preventing the intermediate rod portions from movement in the pulling-out direction during the fishing. Also, the fittina surface of the larger diameter intermediate rod portio--. is of a predetermined length and uniform in diameter along its entire length, whereby, even when an error is found in the size, the intermediate rodport:bns are reliably impeded from movement in the pulling-out direction.

Furthermore, the main rod portion and intermediate rod portions are all gently tapered so as to be easy to mould and couple by use of the tapered surface so as to be easy to house and pull out and can minimize wearing and failures at the inner surface of the rod portions caused when the rod portions are housed or pulled-out.

In an example of the present invention there is provided, at the smaller diameter fore end of the larger diameter intermediate rod portion, an auxiliary fitting surface positioned at the larger diameter with respect to the fitting surface.

The auxiliary fitting surface improves stability of the housed intermediate rod portion to further fixedly hold them.

Also, for example, when an angler, gripping the main rod, exchanges a decoy for fishing a sweetfish or the like, he can lightly retain movement of intermediate rod by the auxiliary fitting surface at the base side, thereby further facilitating housing and pulling out of intermediate rod portions and, even when it is often housed or pulled out, wearing and failure of the inner surface thereof are minimized.

.Advantageously a lock member may be provided which is elastically deformed by forward screwing of the end plug to engage with the larger diameter side intermediate rod portions.

Accordingly, the engagement of larger diameter intermediate rod portions housed in the main rod portion impedes them from movement in the pullingout direction.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of a first embodiment of a fishing rod of the invention; Fig. 2 is a partially enlarged sectional side view thereof; Fig. 3 is an illustration of adjustment of length thereof; Fig. 4 is a partially cutaway side view of a second embodiment of the fishing rod of the invention; Fig. 5 is a partially enlarged sectional view of a third embodiment of the fishing rod of the invention; Fic. 6 is a partially enlarged sectional view thereof when an intermediate rod portion is pulled out; Fig. 7 is a partially sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the fishing rod of the invention; Fig. 8 is a partially sectional view of a fifth embodiment of the invention; Fig. 9 is a partially enlarged sectional vieW of a sixth embodiment of the invention; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a lock member only; and Fig. 11 is a partially sectional view of the sixth embodiment when the intermediate rod portion is pulled out.

Referring to Figs. 1 through 3, reference numeral 1 designates a hollow main rod portion having a gentle taper and having at the fore end a tapered inner periphery 11. Reference 2 designates a tip having at the rear end a tapered outer periphery 21; reference 3 designates a plurality of hollow intermediate rod portions each gentlytapering and having at the fore end a tapered inner periphery 32 and at the rear end a tapered outer periphery 31 and different in diameter and to be coupled with the main rod portion 1 and tip 2, and reference 4 designates an end plug mounted at the base of main rod portion 1.

The intermediate rod portions 3 and tip 2, which can be housed and pulled out in and from the main rod portion 1, abut against the end plug 4 to be impeded from inward movement when housed in the main rod portion 1. When the intermediate rod portions 3 and tip 2 are housed in or pulled out from the main rod portion 1, the rear end fitting outer surface 31 of the largest diameter intermediate rod portion is coupled with the fore end inner periphery 11 of the main rod portion 1, the rear end outer periphery 31 of each of other intermediate rod portions engages with the fore end inner periphery 32 of an adjacent larger diameter intermediate rod portion, and the rear end outer periphery 21 of the tip 2 engages with the fore end inner periphery 32 of the smallest diameter intermediate rod portion, thereby holding the fishing rod in a pulled-out length.

The main rod portion 1 and intermediate rod portions 3 are manufactured by winding prepreg onto a gently tapering conical mandrel and moulded by heating and under pressure as usual. In detail, the sheet-like-shaped prepreg of high strength fibre impregnated with synthetic resin is spirally wound onto the mandrel, a Cellophane (RTM) tape is spirally wound onto the prepreg and tightened under pressure, the wound prepreg under pressure is heated in a heating furnace to thereby harden the synthetic resin, and then the mandrel is pulled out and the cellophane is peeled out, thereby forming the main rod portion 1 and intermediate rod portions 3. In addition, the tip 2 also is manufactured by a usual method.

In the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1 through 3, five intermediate rod portions 3a through 3e sequentially reduced in diameter, the four intermediate rod portions 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d except for the smallest diameter intermediate one 3e, are provided at the fore end outer peripheries with padding portions 33 respectively, at the outer surface of each padding portion 33 is formed a fitting surface 34 of a predetermined length and extending in parallel to the lengthwise centre line X, that is, uniform in diameter, so as to contact with the inner periphery 11 or 2 of the larger diameter side intermediate rod portion radially adjacent to the respective rod portions 3a through 3e and retain lengthwise movement. Hence, even when each fitting surface 34 lengthwise shifts in position by a machining error, the fitting surface 34 is adapted to reliably contact with each inner periphery 11 or 32. The end plug 4 is provided with a conical retaining portion 41 for stopping the base of the respective intermediate rod portions 3a to 3d to impede the rod portions 3a to 3d from movement in the housing end pulling-out directions.

In the aforesaid construction, the respective intermediate rod portions 3a through 3d are painted thick at the fore end outer surface, thereby forming each padding portion 33. After the outer surface of padding portion 33 is polished, finish painting is applied thereto to form the fitting surface 34. In addition, the padding portions 33 may be integral with the intermediate rod portions 3a to 3d when manufactured. In other words, narrow prepreg impregnated with synthetic resin may be wound in layers on the one end outer surface of the aforesaid prepreg and heated and pressurised to form the padding portion 33, in which the padding portion 33 is polished and painted to form the fitting surface 34.

Each fitting surface 34 is of about 2 to 10 mm, preferably about 5 to 10 mm, in length. The main rod 1 and each intermediate rod 3 are cut in a predetermined length after being moulded, each of which are gently tapering in shape throughout their entire length so that the positional relationship between the adjacent rods may become wrong. Accordingly, it is preferable to form the fitting surface in the abovementioned length in order to eliminate an adverse effect from the above wrong positional relationship. Also, the fitting surfaces 34 each are made equal or slightly larger in diameter to or than the smallest diameter portion at the fore end inner periphery of the adjacent larger diameter rod end. Although the fitting surface 34 is preferable to be uniform in diameter, alternatively, it may be slightly larger in diameter lengthwise thereof.

It is preferable that at the fore end outer surface of the respective intermediate rod portions 3a through 3d is provided an auxiliary fitting surface 35 at the rear side with respect to the fitting surface 34 and spaced therefrom at a predetermined interval. Thus, when the intermediate rod portions 3a through 3d are housed in the main rod 1 to reduce the fishing rod in its entire length for use, the fitting surface 34 and auxiliary fitting surface 35 of each intermediate rod 3 can contact with the fore end inner periphery 11 or 32 at the adjacent larger diameter intermediate rod portion, thereby further improving stability of the housed intermediate rod portions 3 with respect to the adjacent larger diameter intermediate rod portion. When the fishing rod reduced in length is used for fishing, the auxiliary fitting surface 35 contacts with the fore end inner periphery 11 or 32, thereby impeding further movement of the intermediate rods 3 and holding them in the housed condition. Also, the intermediate rod portions when not used can fixedly be held in the housed condition.

In this case, each padding portion 33 extends from the fitting surface 34 rearwardly of the rod and an annular recess 36 is formed by cutting at a lengthwise intermediate portion of the padding portion 33 to form the fitting surface 34 at the front of padding portion 33 and the auxiliary fitting surface 35 at the rear of the same. Alternatively, the auxiliary fitting surface 35 may be continuous with the fitting surface 34. However both the fitting surfaces 34 and 35 are separate from each other as shown, whereby contact resistance between the fitting surfaces 34 and 35 and the fore end inner periphery 11 or 32 caused when the intermediate tod portions are housed or pulled out, can be reduced to facilitate the housing and pull-out of the rod portions to that extent and reduce wearing and failure at the inner peripery 11 or 32. Also, the padding portion for the auxiliary fitting surface may of course be separate from the padding portion 33. It is preferable to provide the auxiliary surface 35 in a range of 50 mm in length from the utmost end edge at each intermediate rod portion 3 and to provide the auxiliary surface 35 in parallel to the axis X. Alternatively, the auxiliary surface 35 may be curved radially outwardly of the rod,' portion 3.

The retaining portion 41 at the end plug 4 is preferable to be conical as shown. Alternatively, it may be for-med of stepped portions at the surface. The end plug 4 is formed of soft material, such as rubber, the nature of which is not particularly limited.

The fishing rod of the present invention constructed as above described, when the tip 2 and intermediate rod portions 3 are pulled out for fishing, is usable at a maximum length, in which, as the same as the conventional rod, the largest diameter intermediate rod portion 3d contacts at the rear end outer periphery 31 with the fore end inner periphery 11 of the main rod 1, the rear end outer periphery 31 of the respective intermediate rod portions 3b through 3e contact with the fore end inner periphery 32 of the adjacent larger diameter intermediate rod portion, and the rear.end outer periphery 21 of the tip 2 contacts with the fore end outer periphery 32 of the smallest diameter intermediate rod portion 3e, thereby reliably keeping the pulled-out length of the fishing rod.

On the other hand, when the fishing rod reduced in length is used for fishing, for example, as shown in Fig. 3, two larger diameter intermediate rod portions 3a. and 3b are housed in the main rod 1 and the tip 2 and three smaller diameter intermediate rod portions 3c through 3e are pulled out from the main rod 1 and used for fishing. In this case, the housed intermediate rod portions 3a. and 3b are stopped at the rear ends by the retaining portion 41 at the end plug 4, thereby being impeded from rearward and radial movements respectively. Also, the fitting surface 34 at the intermediate rod portion 3a contacts with the fore end inner periphery 11 at the main rod 1 and the fitting surface 34 of the intermediate rod 3b contacts with the fore end inner periphery 32 at the largest diameter intermediate rod portion 3a, thereby being impeded from movement in the pulling-out direction. Accordingly, when the angler fishes with the fishing rod adjusted in length, the housed intermediate rod portions are prevented from moving in the pulling-out direction and the adjusted length of the fishing rod can reliably be held. Also, when the fishing rod is adjusted in length for use, the number of the housed rod portions is selected to be desirably adjustable in length and the adjusted condition is reliably held.

Alternatively, the fitting surface 34, when provided at the larger diameter intermediate rod portion 3a only, may be formed at the outer periphery of the fore end including the portion extending rearwardly from the lengthwise centre of the larger diameter intermediate rod portion 3a, preferably, at the lengthwise central portion thereof. In this case, as shown in Fig. 4, the main rod 1 is shorter in length than the respective intermediate rod portions 3 and the auxiliary fitting surface 35 is provided in the vicinity of the fitting surface 34 at the rod portion 3a and at the rear end side with respect to the fittina surface 34, thereby enabling the fishing rod for a sweetfish to be formed. In other words, for fishing the sweetfish, when the angler exchanges a decoy while gripping the foot of the main rod 1 or takes a hooked fish into a tugboat, the larger diameter intermediate rod portion 3a is housed in the main rod 1. to reduce the entire length, or when the decoy is allowed to swim, the larger diameter intermediate rod portion 3a is pulled out to increase the entire length. Since the larger diameter intermediate rod portion 3a is often housed or pulled out into or from the main rod 1, the fishing rod is preferable to be constructed as shown in Fig. 4.

When the larger diameter intermediate rod portion 3a is housed in the main rod 1 to reduce the entire length of the fishing rod for fishing, the auxiliary fitting surface 35 is lightly brought into contact with the fore end inner periphery 11 of main rod 1 to enable the rod 3a to be retained from its movement, thereby further facilitating the pulling-out operation. Hence, the larger diameter intermediate rod portion 3a, even when often housed or pulled out, is reducible of fatigue caused thereby, and also of wearing and a flaw at the inner periphery of the rod portion 3a. When the pulled-out intermediate rod portions 3 and tip 2 are intended to be housed in the main rod 1 for changing a fishing place, the fitting surface 34 of the larger diameter intermediate rod portion 3a is fitted into the fore end inner periphery 11 of main rod 1 and the rear end of the rod portion 3a is retained to the retaining portion 41 at the end plug 4, thereby enabling the rod portion 3a to be prevented from movement.

In addition, in the aforesaid embodiment, the numbei of intermediate rod portions provided with the fitting surfaces 34 is not particularly limited. Moreover, it is considered that the tip 2 alone is not pulled out for fishing, whereby the fitting surface 34 is preferred not to be provided at the smallest diameter intermediate rod portion 3e. Also the number of the entire intermediate rod portions 3 is not particularly limited.

The end plug 4, as shown in Fig. 1, comprises a closing portion 4a having the retaining portion 41 and a cylindrical mounting portion 4b for mounting the closing portion 4a to the outer periphery of the rear end of main rod 1. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 4, an end plug may be composed of a closing portion 4a, a cylindrical mounting portion 4b and an inner ring 4c, the inner ring 4c being fixed to the inner periphery of the rear end of main rod 1, 1 the inner surface of the inner ring 4c serving as the retaining portion 41, and the larger diameter-intermediate rod portion 3a being brought at the outer periphery of the base into contact with the retaining portion at the inner periphery of inner ring 4c, thereby impeding the rod portion 3a from moving. In this case, it is preferable to provide at the closing portion 4a a retaining portion in contact with the inner periphery of the base of rod portion 3a, whereby the retaining portions at both the closing portion 4a and inner periphery of inner ring 4c impede the rod portion 3a from moving.

Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 5, first and second padding portions 36 and 37 may be provided at the smaller diameter side fore end outer periphery and at the larger diameter side rear end outer periphery respectively. At the outer surface of the first padding portion 36 may be provided a first fitting surface 38 in contact with the inner periphery 11 of the smaller diameter side fore end of the main rod 1 when the intermediate rod portions 3 are housed therein as shown in Fig. 5 to thereby retain movement of the rod portions 3 in the pulling-out direction with respect to the main rod 1. At the outer surface of the second padding portion 37 may be provided a second fitting surface 39 in contact with the fore end inner periphery 11 at the smaller diameter side of the main rod 1 as shown in Fig. 6 to thereby retain the rod portions 3 from movement in the pulling-out direction with respect to the main rod 1.

In addition, in a third embodiment shown in Fig. 5, a metallic snap ring 5 is fixed to the larger diameter side rear end of main rod 1, an end plug 6 being detachably mounted to the snap ring 5.

-t The end plug 6 comprises a body 60 provided with a fitting portion to be fitted into the snap ring 5 and a cylindrical retaining portion 62 for stopping the larger diameter side rear end of the intermediate rod portion 3, and a cap 63 coupled with the body 60, and at the fore ends of the fitting portion 61 and retaining portion 62 are mounted holders 64 and 65 formed mainly of rubber.

In the above construction, when the intermediate rod portion 3 is pulled out from the housed position as shown in Fig. 5 the second fitting surface 39 engages with the inner periphery 11 of main rod 1, thereby reliably holding the rod portion 3 in its pulled-out position.

When the intermediate rod portion 3 is rehoused as shown in Fig. 5, the first fitting surface 38 engages with the inner periphery 11, thereby reliably holding the rod portion 3 in its housed position.

Furthermore, the end plug 6 having the retaining portion 62 abutting against the rear end inner periphery of the intermediate rod portion 3 when housed, is mounted to the rear end of main rod 1, so that the intermediate rod portion 3 is fitted into the first fitting surface 38 and the retaining portion 62 at the end plug 6 engages with the rod portion 3, thereby fixedly holding the intermediate rod portion 3 without creating a backlash.

Alternatively, for preventing the backlash from occurring when the rod portion 3 is housed, as shown in Fig. 7, a lock ring 8 which contacts with the rear end outer periphery of the intermediate rod portion 3 when housed may be provided at the inner periphery of an end plug to be fitted into a snap ring 5 provided at the rear end of main rod 1. In this case, the lock ring 8 is formed of flexible material, such as synthetic resin. Also, in Fig. 7, the first fitting surface 38 is provided at the outer periphery of a ring 9 of synthetic resin separate from the rod portion 3.

Alternatively, the padding portion provided at the rear end outer surface at the larger diameter side of the intermediate rod portion 3, as shown in Fig. 8, may be formed on a cylinder 10 separate from the intermediate rod portion 3.

Also, in Fig. 8, an end plug 66 screws with the rear end of main rod 1 and a rubber cap 67 is mounted to the end plug 66.

Alternatively, a lock member 51 may be provided at an end plug 50 mounted to the rear end of main rod 1 as shown in Fig. 9.

In Fig. 9, a threaded ring 52 is mounted to the rear end of main rod 1, an end plug 50 screws with the threaded ring 52, an annular void 53 closed by a smaller diameter portion 52a at the threaded ring 52 and the inner surface of the end plug 50, is formed between the inner periphery of threaded ring 52 and the rear end outer periphery of the larger diameter intermediate rod portion 3, the lock member 51 being interposed in the void 63.

The lock member 51, as shown in Fig. 10, is cylindrical and provided at the front end with a plurality of slits extending axially of the lock member 51 and at the rear end with an outward flange 51b. The outside surface thereof abuts against the inside surface of the end plug 50, and the end plug 50 forwardly screws to forwardly move the lock member 51 toengage with the smaller diameter portion 52a at the threaded ring 52, whereby the front end of lock member 51 is elastically deformed to reduce its diameter and the inner surface at the front end side of lock member 51 comes into press-contact with the outer periphery of the intermediate rod portion 3.

The end plug 50 is provided with a closing member 50a of synthetic resin or rubber and a retaining plate 50b for stopping the intermediate rod portion 3, in which the closing member 50a and retaining plate 50b may alternatively be integral with each other.

In addition, in Fig. 9, reference numeral 54 designates a locking elastic ring for the end plug 50, and 50c and 50d designate air vents respectively.

When the fishing rod is reduced in length from the state where the intermediate rod portion 3 is pulled out as shown in Fig. 11, the rod portion 3 is retracted with respect to T 1 the main rod 1, whereby the fitting surfaces 34 and 35 thereof contact with the inner periphery 11 of main rod 1 and a backlash at the fore end side of rod portion 3 is prevented, and the lock member 51 is reduced in diameter at the front end as abovementioned, thereby coming into press- contact with the outer periphery of intermediate rod portion 3, thereby reliably preventing relative movement between the intermediate rod portion 3 and the main rod 1..

When the fishing rod is made larger in length, the end plug 50 backwardly screws to make the lock member 51 movable and the intermediate rod portion 3 forwardly moves with respect to the main rod 1.

As abovementioned, the lock member 51 is used to reliably hold the housed intermediate rod portion 3 without creating backlash.

In addition, in Figs. 5 through 11, only one intermediate rod portion 3 is shown and the tip is omitted, but a plurality of intermediate rod portions 3 and the tip are of course provided as the same as the first embodiment.

As seen from the above, the padding portion 33 is provided at the fore end outer surface of at least larger diameter intermediate rod portion, the fitting surface 34 of a predetermined length and uniform in diameter is provided at the outer surface of padding portion 33, and the end plug mounted to the rear end of main rod 1 is provided with the retaining portion for stopping the rear ends of intermediate rod portions 3, whereby the intermediate rod portions 3 are housed in the main rod 1 so as to adjust length of fishing rod for use and the adjusting condition can reliably be held by contact of the fitting surface 34 with the inner periphery 11 of main rod 1 and by the retaining portion 41 at the end plug 4, thereby allowing the angler to fish by reliably keeping the adjusted length of fishing rod.

Moreover, the main rod 1 and intermediate rod portions are hollow and of gently tapering shape, thereby being simply moulded by a usual manufacturing method to reduce the manufacturing cost to that extent.

Furthermore, although the rod is hollow and of gently tapering shape, the fitting surface 34 is parallel to the axis of rod, that is, about equal in diameter for a predetermined length, whereby even when an error is found in the size, the rod length adjusting condition can reliably be kept, thereby improving the yield to that extent and further reducing the manufacturing cost.

Furthermore, the tapered surface of gently tapering cone is utilised to couple the rod portions with each other when pulled out, thereby facilitating housing and pull-out of the intermediate rod portions and minimising wearing and failure caused thereby.

Also, the auxiliary surface 35 is provided to further improve stability of the housed intermediate rod portion 3 with respect to the adjacent larger-diameter rod, thereby fixedly holding the housed rods without the occurrence of backlash.

1 f m Although several embodiments have been described, they are merely exemplary of the invention and not to be constructed as limiting, the invention being defined solely by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A fishing rod comprising, a main hollow rod portion having a gently tapering shape, a tip, a plurality of hollow intermediate rod portions which gently taper and are of differing diameters, and are positioned at an intermediate portion between said main rod portion and said tip, and an end plug provided at the rear of the larger diameter end of said main rod portion; wherein said intermediate rod portions and tip are adapted to be housed in and forwardly pulled out from said main rod portion, a padding portion being provided at the outer surface of the front at the smaller diameter end of at least one of the larger diameter intermediate rod portions, said padding portion being provided at the outer surface thereof with a fitting surface of a predetermined length and substantially uniform in diameter and in contact with the inner periphery of the front at the smaller diameter end of said main rod portion so as to restrain movement of said intermediate rod portion in the pulling-out direction with respect to said main rod portion, and wherein said end plug is provided with a retaining portion acting as a stop for the rear end of the larger diameter end of said larger diameter intermediate rod portion when housed, thereby impeding radial movement thereof.

2. A fishing rod according to claim 1, wherein at the front of the smaller diameter end of said larger diameter intermediate rod portion is provided an auxiliary fitting surface r positioned at the larger diameter end with respect to said fitting surface and in contact with the inner periphery of said main rod portion and cooperating with said fitting surface to retain movement of said intermediate rod portion in the pulling-out direction with respect to said main rod portion.

3. A fishing rod according to claim 1, wherein each of said intermediate rod portions is provided at the outer surface of the front at the smaller diameter end with a padding portion, at the outer surface of said padding portion is provided a fitting surface of a predetermined length and in contact with the inner periphery of said larger diameter rod portion end radially adjacent to each of said intermediate rod portions so as to impede movement thereof in the pulling-out direction, and said end plug is provided with a retaining portion which, when each of said intermediate rod portions is housed in said main rod portion, stops against the rear end of the larger diameter end of each of said intermediate rod portions so as to impede radial movement thereof.

4. A fishing rod according to claim 1, wherein said larger diameter end intermediate rod portion is provided, at the outer surface of the front at the smaller diameter end and at the outer surface of the rear at the larger diameter end, with first and second padding portions respectively, said first padding portion being provided at the outer surface thereof with a first fitting surface which, when said inter- mediate rod portion is housed in said main rod portion, contacts with the inner periphery at the front end of the smaller diameter end of said main rod so as to retain movement of said intermediate rod portion in the pulling-out direction with respect to said main rod portion, said second padding portion being provided at the outer surface thereof with a second fitting surface which, when said intermediate rod portion is pulled out from said main rod portion contacts with the inner periphery of the front end of the smaller diameter end of said main rod portion so as to retain movement of said intermediate rod portion in the pulling-out direction with respect to said main rod portion.

5. A fishing rod according to claim 1, wherein said end plug is provided with a lock member which screws to the rear portion of said main rod portion and is radially inwardly elastically deformed to engage with said larger diameter end intermediate rod portion.

6. A fishing rod according to claim 5, wherein said main rod portion is provided with a threaded ring, said end plug screws to said threaded ring, an annular void formed by said threaded ring and end plug is provided between the inner periphery of said threaded ring and the outer periphery of the rear portion of said larger diameter end intermediate rod portion, an elastically deformable cylindrical lock member is interposed in said void, so that said end plug forwardly screws to elastically deform said lock member to c 9 5-1 j engage with the outer periphery of the rear portion of said larger diameter end intermediate rod portion.

7. A fishing rod as claimed in claim 1, and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1>ub',i-.he:l 1958 at The Patent Off,.ce. S:,vc Housc. 6671 Loidn WC1R 47P l4r:he:. ccpes ma.v be ObtaLn ff- ed Irc:-, 7r.e Paten Wice Sa3es Branch. St Mary Cray, Orpingmr- Kent BR5 3RD. Printed bY MultIP1ex techniques ltd, St Ma--y Cray. Kent. Con- 187.