GB2215967A

GB2215967A - Fishing rod

Info

Publication number: GB2215967A
Application number: GB8903426A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nobuo Nodera
Original assignee: Daiwa Seiko Co Ltd
Current assignee: Globeride Inc
Priority date: 1988-02-18
Filing date: 1989-02-15
Publication date: 1989-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2009-02-15
Also published as: GB8903426D0; GB9113026D0; GB2244415B; GB2244415A; GB2215967B

Abstract

A fishing rod has a body (1) and a handle (2) with front and rear gripping portions (5, 6). A flat based notch (10) is formed on the underside of a mid portion (7) so that the handle can be rested on a horizontal rest without rolling sideways. rearwardly and downwardly inclined forearm support (15) is formed on the upper surface of the mid portion (7). In a modification, sideways rolling is prevented by forming the bottom of the handle with transverse grooves to receive a transverse member of a rod-rest. Alternatively the handle may contain a magnet or have a ferromagnetic part for attracting the handle to a ferromagnetic part or magnet in the rest. <IMAGE>

Description

DESCRIPTION FISHING ROD When angling for fish, it is commonplace to rest the handle, at the rear end of the fishing rod, on a rod rest at the waterside while waiting for fish to bite. When the upper surface of the rod rest, on which the rod handle is supported, is horizontal, the support is not stable. This is because the handle is usually generally cylindrical so that it tends to roll sideways. There is also a possibility of the handle sliding forwards or backwards on the rest.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a fishing rod has at its rear end a handle, the bottom of which is configured such that when supported with the bottom configuration on a horizontal, transversely extending rest, the handle is inhibited from rolling sideways.

Various bottom configurations are possible, but preferably the configuration enables the handle to be supported at a range of different positions along its length on the rest, at any one of which positions the handle is inhibited from rolling sideways. Thus the bottom configuration may comprise a substantially flat portion, formed, for example, by the base of a notch in a mid portion of the handle between front and rear portions of the handle. These front and rear portions may be substantially cylindrical gripping portions.

Alternatively, or additionally to the flat portion, the bottom configuration may comprise one or more transversely extending grooves for receiving the rest. The or each groove may be lined with a resilient material, such as rubber or a synthetic resin, for inhibiting relative movement between the handle and rest engaged in the groove, for example as a result of the resilient material gripping the top of the rest.

The configuration involving the notch and/or groove(s) enables the handle to be supported with its centre of gravity lower and closer to the rest, thereby further inhibiting rolling of the handle on the rest. The use of the groove also has the advantage that it inhibits longitudinal forward or rearward sliding movement of the handle over the rest.

Further stability can be obtained by providing the handle at or adjacent to its bottom configuration, for example along the flat surface or in the groove(s), with one or more magnets or ferromagnetic parts for attracting the handle to a ferromagnetic part or magnet, respectively of the rest. Such magnetic attraction will inhibit movement of the handle relatively to the rest in all directions.

A separate difficulty with conventional fishing rods is that, during reeling in, or sometimes while waiting for fish to bite, the rod is carried in one hand by the fisherman by grasping with his hand a front, usually generally cylindrical, gripping portion of the handle and with his forearm lying along the top of the handle. This can be tiring, particularly if the hand and forearm cannot be maintained at a comfortable attitude. US-A-4014129 discloses a fishing rod handle having a forearm rest but this slopes forwardly and downwardly and is uncomfortable.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, which may be used independently of the first aspect, a fishing rod has at its rear end a handle, the top of which is configured to provide a forearm rest which slopes rearwardly and downwardly with respect to a longitudinal centreline of a front gripping portion of the handle.

This enables the handle to be grasped one handedly, naturally, and in a comfortable attitude, relatively to the forearm supported by the rest.

The forearm rest may be provided by the substantially flat base of a notch of rearwardly increasing depth between the front gripping portion and a rear portion of the handle. The rear portion may be a substantially cylindrical gripping portion whereby the fisherman can grasp the rear gripping portion with his other hand for operations, such as casting.

Some examples of fishing rods constructed in accordance with the present invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of one rod; Figure 2 is a side elevation of a rod which is a modification of that of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a an enlarged side elevation of the handle of the Figure 1 rod; Figure 4 is an underneath plan of the Figure 3 handle; Figures 5 and 6 correspond to Figures 3 and 4 but show a different handle; Figure 7 corresponds to Figure 3 which shows a further handle; Figure 8 is a cross section through the handle of Figure 3 shown supported on a rest; Figure 9 is a plan of any one of the handles of Figures 3 to 8; and, Figure 10 side elevation showing a rod being held one handedly.

The illustrated rods have a stepped body 1 which extends into and is secured to a handle 2 made of a material such as natural synthetic cork, or synthetic resin. Tightenable members 3, 3' are provided on the underside near the front of the handle for attachment of a reel 4. The handle has front and rear substantially cylindrical gripping portions 5 and 6 interconnected by a mid portion 7.

In the rod shown in Figure 1, the common longitudinal centreline 8 of the portions 5 and 6 is colinear with the longitudinal centreline of the rod 1. In the Figure 2 modification it is oblique to the longitudinal centreline 9 of the rod 1.

In accordance with the first aspect of the invention, and as shown in Figures 1 to 6, 8 and 10, the underside of the mid portion 7 is chamfered to form a flat based notch 10. As shown in Figure 8, the rod can be rested by any portion of the notch on the upper horizontal bar or other part 11 of a rest 12, the flat inhibiting rolling the handle on the rest. Additionally, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the flat base of the notch may be provided with a series of transverse grooves 13. When the rod is supported with the bar 11 received in one of the grooves 13, not only is sideways rolling inhibited, but also longitudinal sliding movement of the handle over the rest. The grooves are shown with a substantially semi-circular cross section but other cross sections, e.g. of angular form, such as triangular or quadrangular section, would be possible.

As shown in Figure 7, the grooves 13 can be used without the notch 10.

The flat base of the notch 10, or the individual recesses 13, may be provided with an adhesively or otherwise attached magnetised material 14, as shown in Figure 8, to provide magnetic attraction with the bar 11, which will then be made of some ferromagnetic material, such as iron.

In all the illustrated examples, the upper surface of the mid portion 7 is provided with a flat based notch 15, the plane 16 of which, as shown in Figure 1, is inclined rearwardly and downwardly with respect to the longitudinal centreline 8 of the front gripping portion 5. Since the longitudinal centreline of the rear gripping portion 6 is colinear with that of the portion 5, the depth of the notch 15 increases, in the illustrated examples, in the rearward direction. This provides a convenient and comfortable forearm rest when the fisherman is carrying the rod one handedly with his hand gripping the front gripping portion 5, as shown in Figure 10.

The rear gripping portion 6 remains exposed for grasping by the other hand if two handed casting or other manipulation is to be undertaken.

As shown in Figure 9, the notch 15 may be carried right through the handle material adjacent to the rear end of the notch to provide a slot 17 in which the body 1 of the rod is exposed. This provides a fisherman with additional sensitivity at his elbow when a fish bites.

Claims

1. A fishing rod having at its rear end a handle, the bottom of which is configured such that when supported with the bottom configuration on a horizontal, transversely extending rest, the handle is inhibited from rolling sideways.

2. A rod according to claim 1, wherein the bottom configuration enables the handle to be supported at a range of different positions along its length on the rest, at any one of which positions the handle is inhibited from rolling sideways.

3. A rod according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the bottom configuration comprises a substantially flat portion.

4. A rod according to claim 3, wherein the flat is formed by the base of a notch in a mid portion of the handle between front and rear portions of the handle.

5. A rod according to claim 4, wherein the front and rear portions are substantially cylindrical gripping portions.

6. A rod according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom configuration comprises one or more transversely extending grooves for receiving the rest.

7. A rod according to claim 6, wherein the or each groove is lined with resilient material for inhibiting relative movement between the handle and the rest engaged in the groove.

8. A rod according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle is provided at or adjacent to its bottom configuration with one or more magnets or ferromagnetic parts for attracting the handle to a ferromagnetic part or magnet, respectively, of the rest.

9. A rod according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the top of the handle is configured to provide a forearm rest which slopes rearwardly towards the longitudinal centreline of a or the front gripping portion of the handle.

10. A fishing rod having at its rear end a handle, the top of which configured to provide a forearm rest which slopes rearwardly towards the longitudinal centreline of a front gripping portion of the handle.

11. A rod according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the forearm rest is provided by the substantially flat base of a notch of rearwardly increasing depth between the front gripping portion and a rear portion of the handle.

12. A rod according to claim 11, wherein the base of the notch is slotted adjacent to its rear end to expose a body of the rod which extends into the handle.

13. A rod according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the rear portion is a or the substantially cylindrical gripping portion.

14. A fishing rod, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.