GB2419267A

GB2419267A - Fishing rod with light

Info

Publication number: GB2419267A
Application number: GB0521033A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter John Nichols
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-10-20
Filing date: 2005-10-17
Publication date: 2006-04-26
Also published as: GB0521033D0; GB0423241D0

Abstract

A fishing rod (10) is provided to aid an angler when fishing at night or in other conditions of poor visibility The rod (10) has a first handle end (32) and a second distal end which houses light emitting means (20). The light emitting means (20) is connected to a power source (11) located in the handle end (32) with actuation means (21) being provided to enable a user to switch the light emitting means on and off. The light emitting means (20) can be a light emitting diode or a conventional filament bulb. Alternatively, the emitting means can comprise of a fibre optic cable. Although the power source and actuation means can be included within a separate case, insertable into a rod, the elements can be in built into a rod.

Description

24 1 9267

AN IMPROVED FISHING ROD

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an improved fishing rod for use by an angler when either fresh water or sea fishing The improvement is particularly for use during night-time fishing ..

Backeround to the Invention When fishing at night-time or in poor light, for example when fishing for carp7 it lo: is often difficult for a fisherman to determine when he has caught a fish The normal indicator consisting of movement of the end of the rod is not available due to the lower visibility In order to assist the angler m this matter, the prior art discloses the use of audio devices However7 these are often expensive and also represent an unwanted intrusion in what is often a tranquil environment A fisherman must therefore normally remain in contact with the rod so that he can feel movement on the rod when a fish is caught This is obviously not always convenient It is an object of the current invention to provide an improved means of alerting an angler to movement of the fishing rod

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Summarv of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a fishing rod having a first handle end and a second distal end, the rod mcludmg a light source in the region of said distal end to provide an indication of the location and movement of the distal end, the light source being connected to a power source located withm the handle end and actuation means allowing a use to switch the light on and off The angler is provided with an improved means of detecting movement at the end ofthe rod, without disturbing the fish or other anglers in the vicinity The light source is preferably a light emitting diode (LED) or a conventional filament bulb The light source and power source are advantageously connected by wires passing ë :.: . along the inside of the body of the rod ë .

Optionally, the actuation means is a contact screw moveable between a circuit ...

breaking and a circuit forming configuration The screw allows the hght source . ee.

20to be activated easily and quietly, and can be worked when the user's fingers are cold or he is wearing gloves ..

Optionally, the body of the rod functions as part of the circuit 25Alternatively, the power source and actuation means are included m a case assembly, said case assembly being insertable into the handle end of the rod Brief Descrintion of the Drawinas The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show by way of example only two embodiments of a fishing rod. In the drawings Figure 1 is a side view of a battery case and light assembly for Incorporation mto a rod and Figure 2 is an illustration of a rod ncludmg m-built battery retention means

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figure I Illustrates a battery case and hght assembly for use with conventional rods and also for use with rods specifically designed to accommodate said assembly The assembly is therefore of a size suitable for insertion into a conventional rod The assembly provides a power source hght and means : .. connecting same to allow an angler to activate the light when fishing at nightfall ë e . The design of the assembly Is such that the user can still use the rod in a ëe conventional fashion if he so desires It will be appreciated by the reader that the IS light emitted does not need to be sufficient to illuminate the area surrounding the : alp: end of the rod but merely to highh; ht the location of the end of the rod : The case generally referenced 10 as illustrated is designed to contain AA size ..

batteries 11 but the assembly can be so configured to run from alternative battery sizes In order to secure the case in position withm a rod the case 10 is inserted into the handle of the rod and secured in position by for example expanding foam The batteries 11 are retained in a brass tube 12 approximately]9 /32" (approximately I 5cm) in diameter The tube 12 has a weight of approximately 28g and is sufficiently light not to unduly effect the balance of the rod in to which it is fitted At a first end of the tube 12 the batteries 11 are retained by a knurled brass end cap 13 held in position by means of a two pin bayonet fitting 14 The brass end cap 13 is removably secured mto the tube allowing access to the batteries 11 At the second end of the tube 12 an insulator bush 15 both retains the batteries 11 and houses conducting wiresl6 A B and a contact point 17 The bush IS can be secured to the tube 12 by adhesive means or by swaying the tube to the bush As can be seen from Figure 1, the conducting wire 16A is soldered to the contact point 17 Furthermore, the conducting wire 16B is soldered to the tube 12 In order for the batteries to maintain permanent engagement with the contact point 17, springs 18 bias the batteries 11 towards the second end of the tube 12 The springs 18 themselves are supported on a insulating bush mounting 19 The required light to illuminate the position of the end of the rod is provided by a hght emitting diode (LED) 20 mounted to the end of the rod (not illustrated) The LED 20 Is connected to the batteries I I by the conducting wires 16 A,B which are retained within the hollow structure of the rod body In order to complete the circuit, a knurled brass contact screw 21 is moveably housed withm the end cap 13 and the bush mounting 19 ë In order to activate the LED 20 therefore, the contact screw 21 is pushed or . screwed until it engages the first of the batteries 11 A circuit is thereby formed incorporating the tube 12, the end cap 13 and the screw 21, thereby lighting the . LED 20 and enabling the angler to see the end of the rod When the light source . no longer needs to be used, the contact screw 21 is withdrawn thereby breaking . : the circuit It will be appreciated that alternative light sources to an LED, such as filament light bulbs can be used A second embodiment of a rod Is shown m Figure 2 m which the lighting assembly is incorporated into the body of a rod 30 with the body of the rod 30 functioning as the tube 12 The rod 30 is mainly of conventional design, typical for a carp rod and has a carbon fibre body 31 The handle portion 32 is securable to the body 31, and includes a spring 33 to bias batteries 34 retained within the body 31 away from the handle portions 32 In principle, the invention functions in a similar manner to that described with respect to the first embodiment shown in Figure 1 An LED 35 is located on the end of the rod 30 and secured by means of fitments passing through holes drilled -s - through the ",d ring 36 The LED 35 is connected to the batteries by means of wires which Ion along the mside of the rod body The wires pass through insulated C ul.tcts 37 within the body of the rod 30 The contact 37 is located such that the lotteries 34 are pushed against the contact 37 by the spring 33 A circuit is C illleted In the same manner as shown for Figure 1, through the use of a contact scl '\\ (not illustrated) on the end of the handle portion 32 In an altern;ill\e embodiment (not Illustrated), the light source is included m the handle of tilt' loaf, the light being transmitted to the distal end of the rod along fibre optic Collies to provide a visual indicator If necessary a light amplification unit may be Included at the distal end to increase the brightness of the light . perceived b\ the viewer The intention as exemplified IS for use with ë a. conventional \A size batteries other battery sizes can be used such as AAA, with .e suitable adaPI.tlon to ensure formation of a circuit For example, the length of :: 15 the contact 8t'lcw can be longer or shorter to suit, or the internal diameter of the tube made appropriate : The power t' hght transmission elements may be connected to ferrules situated along the le'. th of the rod, the ferrules being connectable together and allowing assembly anti disassembly of the rod into one or more sections for transportation and storage It will Of C l''se be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details deSCi'I,cd herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various m tllications and alterations are possible within the scope of the invention

Claims

Claims I A fishing rod having a first handle end and a second distal end,

the rod including a light emitting means nil the region of said distal end to provide an indication of the location and movement of the distal end, the light emitting means bemg connected to a power source located within the handle end and actuation means allowing a user to switch the light emitting means on and off 2 A fishing rod according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting means is a light emitting diode (LED) or a conventional filament bulb . 3 A fishing rod according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting means Is a fibre optic cable .

:: 4. A fishing rod according to claim I or claim 2, wherein the light emitting :. 15 means and power source are connected by wires passing along the inside of the body of the rod 5. A fishing rod according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuation means is a contact screw moveable between a circuit breaking and a circuit forming configuration 6 A fishing rod according to any preceding claim wherein the body of the rod functions as part of the circuit 7 A fishing rod according to claims 1-5, wherein the power source and actuation means are included in a case assembly, said case assembly being insertable into the handle end of the rod 8 A fishing rod substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings .e ë : A: : . . e.