GB2216373A - Fishing rods - Google Patents

Abstract

A fishing rod 1 comprises a handle 2 on which a reel (not shown) may be mounted and a first rod section 3 slidable into and out of the handle so as to vary the overall length of the rod. Means are provided for retaining the first rod section 3 selectively at any axial position relative to the handle 2. Such means may, for example, comprise a boss 7 locating within the handle 2 and eccentrically mounted on the end of the rod section 3. <IMAGE>

Description

FISHING ROD The present invention relates to fishing rods and poles (hereinafter referred to simply as rods) as used by anglers.

Anglers in any one branch of the sport frequently require different length rods to cope with different conditions and environments. Thus, for example, a coarse angler may have several different length rods for use depending on the type of water being fished, weather conditions, and the type of fish he hopes to catch.

However, the individual rods can be expensive and the need to carry several different rods to the waters edge before selecting the one to be used is obviously an inconvenience.

It is therefore an object of the invention to obviate or mitigate the above mentioned disadvantage.

According to the present invention there is provided a fishing rod comprising a handle on which a reel may be mounted, a first rod section slidable into and out of the handle so as to vary the overall length of the rod, and means for retaining the first rod section at any axial position relative to the handle.

Preferably the means for retaining the first rod section at any axial position relative to the handle comprises a collar or the like eccentrically rotatable relative to the end of the section between a first position in which it is generally co-axial with said rod section (to allow axial sliding movement thereof) and a second position in which it projects laterally of the section and acts against the bore of the handle to retain the first section in position.

The invention will be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the handle end of one embodiment of fishing rod in accordance with the invention, and Figs.2A and 2B are details of Fig. 1 illustrating two different positions of the means for retaining the rod section axially relative to the handle.

The illustrated rod 1 comprises a tubular cork handle 2 (on which a reel - not shown - may be mounted) and a first rod section 3 which is slidable into and out of handle 2 (as described more fully below) so as to vary the overall length of the rod.

The rod 1 will for preference have a total of three sections connected together by conventional spigot and socket joints, and one such further section is illustrated as 4 in the drawing. The rod section may for example be of carbon fibre.

At its end within handle 2, rod section 3 has a circular metal plate 5 on which a pin 6 (with its axis offset from that of the rod section) is mounted. Positioned around this pin is a cylindrical boss or collar 7 (of the same diameter as plate 6) with an off-centre bore through which the pin locates with clearance so that collar 7 is eccentrically rotatable on the pin 6. A small screw at the free end of the pin 6 retains collar 7 thereon.

Provided around collar 7 is a layer 8 of elastomeric or other deformable material and a layer 9 of similar material is provided around the adjacent end of rod section 3.

Collar 7 may be rotated, about pin 6, relative to plate 5. In one rotational position (the "first" position) - see Fig 2B, the collar 7 and plate 5 are co-axial so that the outer peripheral surfaces of the layers 8 and 9 are coincident. However, rotation of collar 7 from this position relative to pin 6 causes the collar to move eccentrically and project outwardly of plate 5 (as viewed axially along rod section 3) - see Fig 2A.

The size of the bore of handle 2 in relation to the diameters of plate 5 and collar 7 is such that when the latter is in the first position the co-axial layers 8 and 9 of elastomeric material are a close sliding fit within the handle bore. However by twisting section 3 relative to handle 2, collar 7 moves eccentrically relative to plate 5. This causes collar 7 to project beyond plate 6, such that the two layers 8 and 9 are offset relative to each other such that they both engage with the interior surface of the handle.

It will thus be appreciated that an angler wishing to adjust the length by which rod section 3 projects beyond handle 2 (and thus the overall length of the rod) can twist section 3 until it is free to move axially of the handle 2, move section 3 into or out of handle 2 to adjust the length as necessary, and then twist the section 3 such that it is again "locked" in position.

A screw cap 10 is provided on the handle 2 as shown and houses a felt washer 11 which (with the cap screwed securely in position) locates in the slight annular clearance between the rod section 3 and handle 2. This is sufficient to avoid any play between the rod section and handle. Felt washer 11 may be replaced by a PTFE coated ring (a slip filmy ring).

A further feature of the illustrated rod lies in the two line guide rings 12 and 13 on rod section 4.

The lowermost 12 of these two rings is not lashed tightly to the rod but is free to move along rod section 4 between ring 13 and the adjacent end of rod section 3. Thus the position of ring 12 may be varied depending on the length which rod section 3 projects beyond handle 2 to ensure that there is no unnecessary sagging of the line (not shown) between the rod and the first ring.

In a modification of the illustrated rod (not shown) the sleeve 8 of elastomeric material may be replaced by two rings of similar material provided in annular recesses on the collar 7 such that the outer surfaces of these rings are flush with that of the collar.

It should be appreciated that the invention is applicable to all types of fishing rods, e.g. for coarse, sea or game fishing.

Claims (8)

1. A fishing rod comprising a handle on which a reel may be mounted, a first rod section slidable into and out of the handle so as to vary the overall length of the rod, amd means for retaining the first rod section selectively at any axial position relative to the handle.

2. A rod as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the first rod section is retained at said axial position by means of a wedginy action effected by twisting the rod section in one direction relative to the handle, the wedging action being released by twisting in the other direction.

3. A rod as claimed in Claim 2 wherein a boss is eccentrically mounted on the end of the rod section within the handle such that said twisting of the rod section in one direction causes the boss and the end of the rod section to effect said wedging action.

4. A rod as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the boss is mounted on a pin provided on the end of the rod section.

5. A rod as claimed in Claim 3 or 4 wherein the boss and the end of the rod section are each provided with deformable material for firm contact with the interior of the handle where the rod section is retained axially in position.

6. A rod as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the deformable material is an elastomeric material.

7. A rod as claimed in Claim 1 to 6 provided with at least one axially slidable line guiding ring.

8. A fishing rod substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.