GB2518285A

GB2518285A - A line guiding device for a fishing pole

Info

Publication number: GB2518285A
Application number: GB1412625.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Rogers
Original assignee: Preston Innovations Ltd
Current assignee: Preston Innovations Ltd
Priority date: 2013-09-13
Filing date: 2014-07-16
Publication date: 2015-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 2034-07-16
Also published as: GB201412625D0; GB201316300D0; GB2518285B

Abstract

A line guiding device 50 for a fishing pole having a hollow portion along its length and a through-hole in a wall of said hollow portion. The device comprising a first bush 51 having upper and lower surfaces and defining an opening (52, fig 8d), and a support member 53, 54 which extends below said lower surface of said bush and is configured, in use, to be inserted into said hollow portion of said fishing pole via said through-hole such that said first bush lines said through-hole. The support member having an axle 55 rotatably mounted thereon over which elastic line within the fishing pole can run. A second bush 57 may be provided over the opening in the first bush.

Description

A LINE GUIDING DEVICE FOR A FISHING POLE

This invention relates to a line guiding device for a fishing pole and, more particularly, to a line guiding device that enables a user to vary the elastic tension of a fishing pole, in use.

Modern day anglers increasingly use fishing poles constructed from carbon fibre, which allow very accurate positioning of the angler's float. Such fishing poles generally consist of a number of hollow tapered tubular elements that fit together. Thus, referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a typical fishing pole 100 comprises a plurality of hollow tubular elements (numbered ito lOin Figure 1), which become smaller in diameter along the length of the pole by means of a gradual taper toward the terminal end, having the fishing line 11 and float ha attached.

Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, a length of rubber thread 12 is often provided, which runs along the inside of the fishing pole, through the first two or three tubular elements 1, 2, 3, which acts as a shock absorber when retrieving a hooked fish. The elastic 12 is normally anchored inside these sections by means of a bung-shaped accessory 13 to which the end of the elastic 12 is tied, and the bung 13 is typically trapped within the fishing pole by the taper of the internal wall of the last tubular element (3, in this case).

In general, the conventional technique for landing a fish, once it is hooked, comprises passing the pole 100 backwards through the angler's hands, keeping the pole 100, substantially horizontal, until the last two or three elasticated sections 1, 2, 3 are reached. These sections are then separated from the rest of the pole, and the fish is guided into the landing net by raising these sections to an upright position, as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings.

Referring to Figure 4 of the drawings, an increasingly popular alternative to the above-described configuration, rather than anchoring the elastic 12 to a bung 13 trapped inside the fishing pole, is to pass the elastic thread 12 through a hole 14 drilled in the side of the fishing pole 100. This method enables the angler to increase and vary the elastic tension while landing a fish, by manually pulling the accessible thread portion 12a through the hole 14 in the side wall of the pole section 2. A bead 15 is provided at the end of the accessible thread portion 12a, to prevent the end from being pulled into the fishing pole, and the hole 14 in the side wall of the pole section 2 is typically fitted with a plastic moulded or PTFE bush (not shown), in order to protect the elastic thread 12 passing through from any sharp edges that might be present in the drilled hole 14.

Although the fitting of such a bush in the side hole 14 of the pole section 2 protects the eleastic thread 12 and offers a smoother passage for it than it would otherwise have as it is pulled at a relatively steep angle under tension, there is still the possibility of increased friction and, therefore, excessive wear on the elastic thread at that point.

The present invention seeks to address at least some of these issues and provides, in accordance with a first aspect, A line guiding device for a fishing pole having a hollow portion along its length and a through-hole in a wall of said hollow portion, the device comprising a first bush having upper and lower surfaces and defining an opening, and a support member which extends below said lower surface of said bush and is configured, in use, to be inserted into said hollow portion of said fishing pole via said through-hole such that said first bush lines said through-hole, said support member having an axle rotatably mounted thereon.

The support member may comprise a pair of opposing side walls extending substantially orthogonally from the periphery of said first bush. Each of said side walls may comprise a pair of contoured side edges, having distal ends projecting toward a rear end of said device. The axle may be rotatably mounted at or adjacent to the distal ends of said side walls.

In one exemplary embodiment, the elongate walls may be substantially equal in length, and said axle is rotationally mounted therebetween such that its axis of rotation is substantially parallel to the principal plane defined by said upper and lower surfaces of said first bush.

The upper and lower surfaces of said first bush may be contoured to substantially match the contour of an outer surface of said fishing pole. The axle axle may be rotatably mounted on said support member spaced apart from, and generally off-centre, relative to, said opening in said first bush.

In one exemplary embodiment, a second bush defining an opening may be provided, and configured, in use, to be inserted into or onto, or formed integrally with, said first bush, so as to line said opening of said first bush. The second bush may be generally cylindrical.

In one exemplary embodiment, the first bush and said support member may be integrally injection moulded of PIFE or plastics material. The second bush may be formed of PTFE.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a fishing pole having a hollow portion along its length and a through-hole in a wall of said hollow portion, and comprising a line guiding device as defined above mounted within said through-hole, such that said first bush lines said through-hole and said support member extends into said hollow portion of said fishing pole such that said rotatable axle is mounted within said hollow portion with its axis of rotation extending across a portion of the diameter of said hollow portion.

The fishing pole may further comprise a length of elastic material which extends along said fishing pole from a distal end thereof and into said hollow portion, said length of elastic material being wound over said axle and an end thereof extending out of said fishing pole through said opening in said first bush, said length of elastic material being secured or securable externally of said hollow portion.

These and other aspects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, in which embodiments of the invention are described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a conventional fishing pole, in use; Figure 2 is a schematic partial see-through side view of three sections of a conventional fishing pole; Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the fishing pole of Figure 2, in use; Figure 4 is a schematic partial see-through side view of two sections of a conventional fishing pole;

S

Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a line guiding device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a portion of a fishing pole, with the device of Figure 5 fitted; Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a line guiding device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Figure Ba is a schematic front view of a line guiding device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8b is a schematic side view of the line guiding device of Figure 8a; Figure 8c is a schematic rear view of the line guiding device of Figure 8a; and Figure 8d is a schematic plan view of the line guiding device of Figure 8a.

Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings, a line guiding device 30 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a generally circular, plastic injection moulded bush 31 defining a generally central opening 32. A pair of opposing side walls 33, 34 extend, substantially orthogonally to the principal plane of the bush 31, from diametrically opposite edges of the bush 31 defining a gap therebetween. An elongate axle 35 is rotatably mounted across the gap between the distal ends of the side walls 33, 34 by means of pins 36 or the like, such that the axis A -A of rotation of the axle 35 is substantially parallel to, and spaced apart from, the principal plane defined by the lower surface of the bush 31.

In use, and referring additionally to Figure 6 of the drawings, the device is inserted into a through-hole 14 formed in the side wall of a section 2 of a fishing pole, such that the peripheral edge of the bush 31 fits tightly in the hole 14 to line it. The side walls 33, 34 extend into the channel defined through the fishing pole section 2 such that the roller or axle 35 extends diametrically across the channel. The elastic thread 12 extending from the terminal end of the fishing pole, passes over the roller 35 and passes out of the fishing pole section 2 through the opening 32 in the bush 31. A bead 15, or similar holding device, may be provided at the free end of the accessible elastic thread portion 12a for ease of use and to prevent the thread from disappearing into the fishing pole channel.

When an angler pulls the accessible thread portion 12a to vary the elastic tension during landing of a fish, the friction between the elastic thread 12 and the roller 35 causes the roller to rotate, thereby smoothing the passage of the elastic thread 12 and eliminating, or at least greatly reducing, friction thereon when it is in use and under tension.

Referring to Figure 7 of the drawings, in another exemplary embodiment of the line guiding device 40 of the invention, there is once again provided a generally circular, plastic injection moulded bush 41 defining a generally central opening 42. A pair of opposing side walls 43, 44 extend, substantially orthogonally to the principal plane of the bush 41, from diametrically opposite edges of the bush 41 defining a gap therebetween. An elongate axle 45 is rotatably mounted across the gap between the distal ends of the side walls 43, 44 by means of pins 46 or the like, such that the axis A -A of rotation of the axle is substantially parallel to, and spaced apart from, the principal plane defined by the lower surface of the bush 41. In this case, however, the opening 42 in the bush 41 has therein a second bush 47, of PIFE or other material, that offers further increased friction resistance compared with normal injection moulded plastics.

Referring to Figures Ba to 8d of the drawings, in yet another exemplary embodiment of a line guiding device 50 of the present invention, there is once again provided a generally circular, plastic injection moulded bush 51 defining a generally central opening 52. In this case, the profile of the bush is contoured to match the contour of the outer wall of the fishing pole to which it is to be fitted. A pair of opposing side walls 53, 54 extend, substantially orthogonally, to the principal plane of the bush 51, from diametrically opposite edges of the bush 51 defining a gap therebetween. An elongate axle 55 is rotatably mounted across the gap between the distal ends of the side walls 53, 54 by means of pins 56 or the like, such that the axis A -A of rotation of the axle 55 is substantially parallel to, and spaced apart from, the principal plane defined by the lower surface of the bush 51. It can be seen from the figures, that the side walls 53, 54 in this case are more contoured than those of the previously described embodiments, such that they projects towards the terminal end of the fishing pole, in use, and hold the roller 55 in an off-centre position relative to the bush 51, nearer the rear end of the device. In this case, the a second bush 57, of PTFE or other material, that offers further increased friction resistance compared with normal injection moulded plastics, is provided over the opening 52 in the bush 51, such that it projects above the surface of the first bush 51.

Thus, exemplary embodiments of the present invention offer an improved arrangement for fishing pole elastication by providing a protective bush that can be fitted to the side wall hole of a fishing pole section, the bush incorporating a roller mechanism within its form. The elastic thread passes over the roller, which is located within the pole section, in use, and passes out of the pole section through the opening in the bush. The roller allows reduced friction on the elastic, for far smoother operation of the elastication system, in use. The bush protects the elastic thread that has been passed through it from any sharp edges of the hole in the pole section wall, and allows greatly reduced friction on the pole elastic while in use under tension.

It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art from the foregoing description that modifications and variations can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A line guiding device for a fishing pole having a hollow portion along its length and a through-hole in a wall of said hollow portion, the device comprising a first bush having upper and lower surfaces and defining an opening, and a support member which extends below said lower surface of said bush and is configured, in use, to be inserted into said hollow portion of said fishing pole via said through-hole such that said first bush lines said through-hole, said support member having an axle rotatably mounted thereon.
2. A line guiding device according to claim 1, wherein said support member comprises a pair of opposing side walls extending substantially orthogonally from the periphery of said first bush.
3. A line guiding device according to claim 2, wherein each of said side walls comprises a pair of contoured side edges, having distal ends projecting toward a rear end of said device.
4. A line guiding device according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said axle is rotatably mounted at or adjacent to the distal ends of said side walls.
5. A line guiding device according to claim 5, wherein said elongate walls are substantially equal in length, and said axle is rotationally mounted therebetween such that its axis of rotation is substantially parallel to the principal plane defined by said upper and lower surfaces of said first bush.
6. A line guiding device according to any preceding claim, wherein said upper and lower surfaces of said first bush are contoured to substantially match the contour of an outer surface of said fishing pole
7. A line guiding device according to any preceding claim, wherein said axle is rotatably mounted on said support member spaced apart from, and generally off-centre, relative to, said opening in said first bush.
8. A line guiding device according to any preceding claim, comprising a second bush defining an opening, formed integrally with, or configured, in use, to be inserted into or onto, said first bush, so as to line said opening of said first bush.
9. A line guiding device according to claim 8, wherein said second bush is generally cylindrical.
10.A line guiding device according to any preceding claim, wherein said first bush and said support member are integrally injection moulded of PTFE or plastics material.
11. A line guiding device according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein said second bush is formed of PTFE.
12.A line guiding device substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 5 to 8 of the drawings.
13.A fishing pole having a hollow portion along its length and a through-hole in a wall of said hollow portion, and comprising a line guiding device according to any of the preceding claims mounted within said through-hole, such that said first bush lines said through-hole and said support member extends into said hollow portion of said fishing pole such that said rotatable axle is mounted within said hollow portion with its axis of rotation extending across a portion of the diameter of said hollow portion.
14.A fishing pole according to claim 13, further comprising a length of elastic material which extends along said fishing pole from a distal end thereof and into said hollow portion, said length of elastic material being wound over said axle and an end thereof extending out of said fishing pole through said opening in said first bush, said length of elastic material being secured or securable externally of said hollow portion.
15.A fishing pole substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 5 to 8 of the drawings.