GB2436274A - A fishing rod with an illuminated tip section - Google Patents

Abstract

A fishing rod with an illuminated tip section which acts as a bite indicator whilst fishing at night. The tip may be illuminated by a battery powered light source set in the butt or handle end of the rod, the light being projected along the body of the rod. The rod blank may incorporate an element such as a fibre optic device to conduct the light along the rod to the tip. Alternately a bulb or LED (light emitting diode) device set in the tip may be powered by batteries positioned in the rod handle, and connected by electrical conducting means such as wires running the length of the rod.

Description

<p>The Description I. 2436274</p>

<p>Fishing Rod The invention relates to a fishing rod of the type, which includes a tapered hollow body, or rod blank, of single or multiple sections. It has a handle at one end with the provision of a seat to accept a fishing reel, a tip at the other end and line guides affixed to the body at intervals along its length.</p>

<p>Such fishing rods are well known but suffer from the disadvantage that at night or in low light levels they do not provide an efficient visual method of detecting bites from fish The object of this invention is to provide a fishing rod that incorporates a device by which the detection of bites from fish is made easier during low light levels.</p>

<p>Accordingly this invention includes a tip that maybe fixed or attached to the fishing rod and a light source that projects light up the body of the fishing rod so causing the tip to illuminate. This tip then being visible during low light and at night, enables the angler to detect a bite from a fish by means of its movement.</p>

<p>Preferably the rod is made of hollow carbon fibre, fibreglass, plastics or other suitable matenal.</p>

<p>The light source being a waterproof battery powered device that is mounted in the rod handle, real seat or the fishing rod body and maybe removable or fixed.</p>

<p>A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 -shows a side view of the fishing rod.</p>

<p>FIGURE 2 -shows a detail of a tip (g) and optional lens element (e) FIGURE 3-shows a detail of an optional cap (i) FIGURE 4 -shows a ferrule joint incorporating a light conductive element (f) and lenses (e) FIGURE 5-shows an overlap rod joint with light conductive element (f) and lenses (e) FIGURE 6-shows a section through the fishing rod blank incorporating light conductive elements. (f) FIGURE 7 -shows a section through a fishing rod blank incorporating electrical conductive elements. (m) FIGURE 8 -shows a detail of the light source.</p>

<p>As Figure 1 shows the fishing rod comprises a hollow tapered body (a) that has a handle with reel seat at one end (b) and a tip (d) at the other. Within the handle area of the rod is the provision of a light source (C) that transmits light up the rod blank This light then strikes the tip section (d) so causing it to illuminate, thus providing a visual indication of a fish taking the anglers bait or lure.</p>

<p>The fishing rod blank might have a reflective internal coating or surface to aid light transmission.</p>

<p>The fishing rod blank may incorporate an element or elements that carry the light up the rod to the tip, such as a fibre optic device and lenses as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6. These elements might be independent of the fishing rod blank or be made from a material that is incorporated into the fishing rod during manufacture.</p>

<p>The ability to provide different coloured light through the use of coloured lenses, reflectors and/or coloured materials maybe incorporated The fishing rod blank may incorporate conductive elements that carry the power from the batteries up the rod to a lamp, LED or similar housed within the tip as shown on figure 7.</p>

<p>The tip Figure 2 (g) maybe flexible or rigid and take the form of a push-in, push-over, screw in or fixed section, that illuminates either along its entire length or part of its length. This may incorporate a lens element or similar device at any point in its length, to amplify the light as shown in Figure 2 (e).</p>

<p>A push over, push in or screw in cap maybe used that focuses the light at the end of the tip or rod as shown in Figure 3 (i). This maybe manufactured from a clear or coloured material As figure 8 shows the light source in the form of a battery (j) powered element incorporating a bulb LED or similar (i) and a reflector (h) arrangement, similar to a torch This may use filament, gas filled, neon, LED, laser or other type lamp Flight source. It may be a fixed element incorporated into the fishing rod during manufacture or be removable via a threaded collar (k) or other mechanical device that enables its attachment and removal to provide a stand-alone torch. 3.</p>

Claims (6)

1. <p>The Claims Claim I A fishing rod including a light source that projects

   light up the rod blank to illuminate a tip section.</p>

   <p>Claim
2. 2. A fishing rod as claimed in claim 1 that incorporates a tip section that maybe fixed or removable that responds to the light source by illuminating Claim
3. 3. A fishing rod as claimed in claim I that incorporates a battery powered light source that maybe fixed or removable and operate as a stand alone torch type device.</p>

   <p>Claim
4. 4. A fishing rod as claimed in claim 1 that incorporates a device / devices that maybe housed within the body/blank or incorporated into its construction during manufacture that carry light up the rod and may amplify or focus the light.</p>

   <p>Claim
5. 5. A fishing rod as claimed in claim I that incorporates conductive elements that maybe housed within the body/blank or incorporated into its construction during manufacture and carry power up the rod blank from batteries to a lamp type device house in the tip that illuminates.</p>

   <p>Claim
6. 6. A fishing rod substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.</p>