WO2019221614A1

WO2019221614A1 - A joint for a modular fishing rod and a modular fishing rod

Info

Publication number: WO2019221614A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2019/050054
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas Leo JOHANSON
Original assignee: Composite Developments Nz Limited
Priority date: 2018-05-18
Filing date: 2019-05-17
Publication date: 2019-11-21

Abstract

Modular fishing rods comprise a number of sections of rod that are fitted together. Some form of keying is helpful to ensure that the sections of rod are each aligned correctly relative to one another. However, since the components of the rods are often made of composite material it is often difficult to form a robust keying feature. The invention provides a joint for a modular fishing rod that includes a robust and simple to align triangular keying feature, with the triangular feature having radiused corners. A butt end of a fishing rod is provided with a socket, with at least a part of the socket having a substantially triangular cross section, and a male end of a fishing rod end module also includes a complimentary substantially triangular keying feature configured to engage with the socket. The joint facilitates the assembly of modular fishing rods for a range of fishing styles.

Description

A Joint for a Modular Fishing Rod and a Modular Fishing Rod

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a joint for a modular fishing rod and to a modular fishing rod, and in particular, but not exclusively to a joint for joining the sections of a modular fishing rod that can be used in a range of modular fishing rod types.

BACKGROUND

As well as being a source of food for many, the art of fishing is also a rapidly growing pastime or sport. Many who practice fishing as a pastime or a sport use fishing rods of various types. The number of types of fishing rod is increasing also. Currently the range of fishing rod types includes; casting rods, surf rods, fly fishing rods, river and lake rods, spinning rods, jigging rods, game fishing rods, etc. And within each type of rod there are variations for example variations of weight, strength, rigidity or length to suit a specific fishing style, or fishing location. And within the various types of rods there are different methods of construction, including one-piece rods, and travel rods such as telescoping rods and rods made of a number of modules.

There is often a trade-off between the weight, feel and performance of a one-piece rod compared with the convenience and ease of storage of modular or telescoping rods. But in cases where travel and storage are important issues, for example if a person likes to fish in a range of locations and while on holiday, then a modular or telescoping rod is a significant advantage.

While telescoping rods can be very convenient from a storage and travelling perspective, the structural constraints of the rod components, that is, the need to allow one section to telescope within an adjacent section, limits the type of construction and therefore the performance as a fishing rod. Fishing rods are ideally light in weight, and highly flexible, but they must also be durable and resilient. The thin sidewalls of the telescoping sections give a structure that is often not ideal for fishing.

For this reason, where travel and storage is an issue, the optimal choice is often a modular rod that is constructed as close as possible to a one piece rod. The issues with modular rods are therefore often centred round the style of joints between the modular sections, and alignment issues.

Alignment has been addressed in some cases using keyways or similar features to ensure correct alignment. However, such features are not easy to incorporate into many fishing rod structures, particular composite rod structures that are commonly used today. The abrupt geometry changes around a keyway often lead to reduced structural strength at the joint areas where strength often needs to be optimised.

What is needed is an improved joint for modular fishing rods that ensures correct alignment between adjacent modules as well as allowing for ease of manufacture using composite materials and which does not produce undue stress concentrations, but which optimises the structural strength of the rod at the j oint.

What is also needed is an improved modular fishing rod which is more versatile, and which can be configured for use as a wider range of fishing rod types, or which can be reconfigured to modify its characteristics such as weight and stiffness to customise its performance within a specific fishing rod type. In this specification unless the contrary is expressly stated, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge; or known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned. OBJECT

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a joint for a modular fishing rod which will at least go some way towards overcoming one or more of the above mentioned problems, or at least provide the public with a useful choice. STATEMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a joint for a modular fishing rod, the joint comprising a socket within a first module of the fishing rod and a complimentary male portion of a second module of the fishing rod, a cross section of both the socket and the male portion having a substantially triangular shape in a plane at right angles to a principal axis of the first and second modules.

Preferably the substantially triangular shape is a triangular shape having rounded apexes.

Preferably the substantially triangular shape is defined substantially within an equilateral triangle shape. Preferably the substantially triangular shape is a substantially equilateral triangular shape having rounded apexes.

Preferably a radius of each of the rounded apexes is in the range of eighteen to twenty six percent of a height of a triangle defined by the substantially triangular shape.

More preferably the radius of each of the rounded apexes is in the range of twenty to twenty four percent of the height of the triangle defined by the substantially triangular shape.

Preferably the male portion of the second module includes two sections, a first section having a circular cross section, and a second section having the substantially triangular shape.

Preferably the second section of the male portion is at least partly made of metal. Preferably the socket of the first module includes two sections, a first section having a circular cross section, and a second section having the substantially triangular shape.

Preferably at least a part of the male portion of the second module has a construction that includes the use of a fabric, and has fibres of the fabric that are oriented in at least a partly circumferential direction about the male portion. Preferably at least the male portion of the second module is manufactured by wrapping fabric about a mandrel. Preferably at least the socket portion of the first module has a construction that includes the use of a fabric, and has fibres of the fabric that are oriented in at least a partly circumferential direction about the socket portion.

Preferably at least the socket portion of the first module is manufactured by wrapping fabric about a mandrel.

Preferably the fibres are impregnated with a thermo setting resin.

Preferably the fibres are carbon fibres.

Preferably the length of the socket is in the range of fifty to one hundred and fifty millimetres. Preferably an outer end of the socket includes a metal circumferential ring.

In a second aspect, the invention may broadly be said to consist in a modular fishing rod having at least one butt end module and at least one rod end module, and incorporating at least one joint for a modular fishing rod substantially as specified herein.

Preferably the fishing rod has a single butt end module and a plurality of rod end module components that can be used to assemble the rod end module.

Preferably the plurality of rod end module components includes one or more rod end module components that have different physical characteristics such as weight, strength, rigidity or length when compared to another of the rod end module components.

Preferably the at least one joint for a modular fishing rod forms a removable joint between the butt end module and one of the rod end modules.

The invention may also broadly be said to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of the parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents, such equivalents are incorporated herein as if they were individually set forth. DESCRIPTION

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of part of a fishing rod having a first example of a joint for a modular fishing rod according to the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a close up longitudinal cross sectional view of the first example of a joint for a modular fishing rod,

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view of a butt end module of the fishing rod, FIGURE 4 is a partial perspective view of the fishing rod defining an exploded perspective view B of the first example of a joint for a modular fishing rod,

FIGURE 5 is the exploded perspective view B of the first example of a joint for a modular fishing rod as defined in Figure 4, FIGURE 6 is an end view of a socket portion of the first example of a joint for a modular fishing rod on the butt end module,

FIGURE 7 is an isometric view of a second example of a joint configuration for a modular fishing rod according to the present invention, and

FIGURE 8 is an isometric view of a kit of parts for assembling a range of fishing rod types or styles.

First Example

With reference to Figures 1 to 6 and Figure 8, a first example of a joint for a modular fishing rod (11) according to the present invention will now be described. The joint for a modular fishing rod (11) has been designed for use in a fishing rod (13) having a single butt end module (15) and a plurality of rod end modules (17). The joint for a modular fishing rod (11) is illustrated in the figures forming a removable joint between the butt end module (15) and one of the rod end modules (17), but can also be used to form a removable joint between adjacent rod end modules (17).

In general terms, it can be said that the joint for a modular fishing rod (11) comprises a socket (19) within a first module of the fishing rod (13) and a complimentary male portion (21) of a second module of the fishing rod (13). And in the example shown, the butt end module (15) is the said first module, and the rod end module (17) is the said second module. The butt end module (15) includes handgrips and generally supports a fishing reel, and the rod end module (17) contains line guides (25) and may be formed as a single length of a resilient material, or multiple lengths that can be joined together. A joint similar to the joint for a modular fishing rod (11) can be used to assemble and join together each of the lengths or rod end module components that are used to form the rod end module (17).

An important aspect of the joint for a modular fishing rod (11) is that a cross section of both the socket (19) and the male portion (21) has a substantially triangular shape in a plane at right angles to a principal axis (23) of the butt end module (15) and of the rod end module (17). The substantially triangular shape is a triangular shape having rounded apexes, and a central point of the substantially triangular shape is aligned with the principal axis (23).

The triangular shape is important in that it allows the rod end module (17) of the fishing rod (13) to be aligned precisely with the butt end module (15) with ease. When assembling the fishing rod (13), the line guides (25) of the rod end module (17) are roughly aligned with a reel (not shown) fitted to the butt end module (15), and the engagement of the triangular shaped male portion (21) with the triangular shaped socket (19) causes the two modules to align perfectly.

In this example, the substantially triangular shape is defined substantially within an equilateral triangle shape. And the substantially triangular shape is essentially an equilateral triangle shape in which all three apexes (26) of the shape are rounded or are radiused.

In the example shown, the substantially triangular shape is defined within an equilateral triangle having three sides that are each approximately twenty six millimetres long, and the height of the equilateral triangle is approximately twenty two and a half millimetres. A radius of each of the rounded apexes (26) is approximately five millimetres.

The radius of each of the rounded apexes (26) is broadly within the range of eighteen to twenty six percent of a height of the defining equilateral triangle shape. And ideally the radius of each of the rounded apexes (26) is in the range of twenty to twenty four percent of the height of the triangle, and in the example shown, the radius of each of the rounded apexes (26) is approximately twenty two percent of the height.

An important aspect of the joint is the radiused or rounded apexes (26) as they facilitate manufacture or construction of the socket (19) and the male portion (21) from composite materials as an option. For example, a fabric such as a fibreglass fabric, or a carbon fibre fabric, can be wrapped around a mandrel and impregnated with a thermosetting resin and then cured, to form the socket (19) and the male portion (21). The radiused apexes (26) or corners of at least the socket portion and the male portion allows fibres of the fabric to be aligned or oriented in at least a partly circumferential direction about the male portion. The socket (19) and/or the male portion (21) can also be made of metal, in which case the radiused or rounded apexes (26) also assist by making machining operations simpler. Irrespective of the material type, the radiused or rounded apexes (26) help to minimise stress concentrations in the apexes of the triangular shape.

It is considered advantageous if the length or depth of the socket (19), and therefore the length of the male portion (21) also, is in the range of fifty to one hundred and fifty millimetres, and in the example shown the depth of the socket (19) is approximately one hundred millimetres.

In the example shown, the substantially triangular shaped cross section of the joint (11) is arranged in such a manner that one of the flat sides of the triangular shape is adjacent, or is substantially parallel to, a reel mounting face (29) of the fishing rod (13). The reel mounting face (29) being a face where a reel is mounted to the fishing rod (13).

The male portion (21) is inserted into the socket (19) to assemble the fishing rod (13). And since one of the flat sides of the triangular shaped joint (11) is adjacent the bottom surface (29), the compression loads that are produced by the bending in the fishing rod when a fish is caught, are carried and transferred largely by contact between two mating flat surfaces within the joint (11). This contact of flat surfaces helps to spread any loads being transferred and in this way helps to minimise local stresses in the joint (11).

An outer end (27) of the socket (19) includes a metal circumferential ring (31) to improve the durability of that end of the butt end module (17).

As noted above, the joint for a modular fishing rod (11) has been designed for use in a fishing rod (13) having a single butt end module (15) and a plurality of rod end modules (17). For example, the fishing rod (13) can be purchased as a set of parts as illustrated in Figure 8. The set shown in Figure 8 includes a number of interchangeable rod end modules (17) that can be formed to achieve a variety of different fishing rod types or styles, or rods with a range of different characteristics.

The rod end modules (17) can be made up using a range of rod end module components. The rod end module components include mid sections (33) and tip sections (35). Each of the mid sections (33) and tip sections (35) have a different physical characteristic such as weight, strength, rigidity or length, when compared to the other mid sections (33) or tip sections (35) in the set of parts. This feature provides a modular fishing rod (13) that can be customised by a fisherman or an angler, by selecting particular mid sections (33) and/or tip sections (35) to produce a desired fishing action, for example to suit the local conditions, fish type or to facilitate a particular fishing style.

Second Example

With reference to Figure 7, an alternative joint for a modular fishing rod (61) according to the present invention will now be described. This alternative, or second example of a joint for a modular fishing rod (61) has a socket (62) formed in two sections, and a complimentary male member (63) that is also formed in two sections.

The socket (62) includes a relatively short or shallow triangular keying feature (63) situated at the opening of a deeper circular bore (65) in a butt end module (66) of a modular fishing rod. In this way the socket (62) has a first section that comprises the circular bore (65) and a second section that comprises the triangular keying feature (63).

The alternative joint for a modular fishing rod (61) also includes a relatively short triangular keying member (67) which is fitted a distance from a free end of a circular male end portion (69) of a rod end module (71). In this way, a connection end (73) of the rod end module

(71) has a first section that comprises the circular male end portion (69) and a second section that comprises the triangular keying member (67).

Both the triangular keying feature (63) and the triangular keying member (67) have a cross section that is similar to the cross section of the socket (19) and the male portion (21) of the first example of a modular fishing rod (11) described herein. Similarly, a central point of the substantially triangular shape of both the triangular keying feature (63) and of the triangular keying member (67) are aligned with a principal axis (68) of the joint (61).

Only a short section of the modular fishing rod (61) is shown in Figure 7. The remainder of the modular fishing rod (61) is similar to that of the first example of a modular fishing rod (11) described herein.

An advantage of the alternative joint for a modular fishing rod (61) is primarily is its ease of manufacture. Since the rod end module (71) is typically made from carbon fibre its manufacture is simpler if the main rod portion is circular, since its construction typically involves wrapping carbon fibre threads or fabric around a mandrel. With this alternative configuration, the relatively short triangular keying member (67) can be made from metal, for example from an aluminium alloy, as a separate keying piece that is bonded to the composite material of which the rod end module (71) is constructed.

As with the first example, in this alternative example, the triangular shaped keying member (67) has an end profile or cross section that is defined substantially within an equilateral triangle shape, and the substantially triangular shape is essentially an equilateral triangle shape in which all three apexes (75) of the shape are rounded or radiused. The keying member (67) can be of any length, but is preferably in the range of five to twenty five millimetres in length. The triangular keying feature (63) in the butt end module (66) has a complimentary shape to the triangular shaped keying member (67) in that an end profile of the triangular keying feature (63) is also in the shape of an equilateral triangle in which all three apexes (75) of the shape are rounded or radiused. In the example shown the triangular keying feature (63) is only in the range of three to ten millimetres deep, this relatively shallow depth being sufficient to engage with the keying member (67) and thereby ensure correct alignment between the rod end module (71) and the butt end module (66), and preventing the rod end module (71) from rotating relative to the butt end module (66).

The circular bore (65) has a length in the range of fifty to one hundred and fifty millimetres, and has a shallow taper, as does the male end portion (69) of the rod end module (71). In this way, the rod end module (71) can be held securely within the butt end module (66) by inserting the male end portion (69) into the circular bore (65) until a taper lock occurs.

The triangular keying feature (63) in the butt end module (66) can be formed fully or partly of metal, and be in the form of a ring or sleeve that forms a front end of the butt end module (66). The metal ring or sleeve can be bonded to the composite material forming the main part of the butt end module (66).

VARIATIONS

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.

For example, in the example described herein, the triangular joint is used on a modular fishing rod. However, it is envisaged that an adapted version of the triangular joint could also be used on collapsible or telescopic fishing rods. In such a case, the collapsible sections of the fishing rod could all have a cross section with a substantially triangular shape. DEFINITIONS

Throughout this specification the word "comprise" and variations of that word, such as "comprises" and "comprising", are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

ADVANTAGES

Thus it can be seen that at least the preferred form of the invention provides a joint for a modular fishing rod which has one or more of the following advantages;

• the triangular shape of the two mating parts are easily and clearly seen by a person aligning the parts during rod assembly,

• the triangular profile of the mating parts provide positive alignment,

• the shape of the profiled parts, with the heavily radiused apexes, facilitates manufacture from composite materials including manufacture using wrapped fabrics or fibres, since there are no sharp corners that the fabric must be wound around,

• the radiused apexes of the triangular cross section of the mating parts help to minimise stress concentrations in the male and female parts when the fishing rods are in use,

• the design eliminates the need for any cut-outs or keyways to ensure positive alignment, and this eliminates the need to cut through any fibres in parts manufactured from composites, and eliminates or minimises the stress concentrations that are often incurred around keyways,

• the triangular cross section provides robust structural elements in the socket and the male portion that are able to resist the bending loads encountered when fishing, or • local pressure points in the joint when resisting bending loads can be minimised when compared to joints having purely circular cross sections, or a modular fishing rod which has the following advantages;

• a rod that can be assembled quickly and simply, ensuring accurate alignment between adjacent modules,

• a modular rod that can be made of composite materials and which has firm and robust joints between adjacent modules, or

• a rod that can be reconfigured by choosing rod end modules having desired physical characteristics to produce a desired fishing rod type or to customise a rod within a specific fishing rod type.

Claims

1. A joint for a modular fishing rod, the joint comprising a socket within a first module of the fishing rod and a complimentary male portion of a second module of the fishing rod, a cross section of both the socket and the male portion having a substantially triangular shape in a plane at right angles to a principal axis of the first and second modules.

2. A joint for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substantially triangular shape is a triangular shape having rounded apexes.

3. A joint for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the substantially triangular shape is defined substantially within an equilateral triangle shape.

4. A joint for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the substantially triangular shape is a substantially equilateral triangular shape having rounded apexes.

5. A joint for a modular fishing rod as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a radius of each of the rounded apexes is in the range of eighteen to twenty six percent of a height of a triangle defined by the substantially triangular shape.

6. A joint for a modular fishing rod as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the radius of each of the rounded apexes is in the range of twenty to twenty four percent of the height of the triangle defined by the substantially triangular shape.

7. A joint for a modular fishing rod as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the male portion of the second module includes two sections, a first section having a circular cross section, and a second section having the substantially triangular shape.

8. A joint for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second section of the male portion is at least partly made of metal.

9. A joint for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the socket of the first module includes two sections, a first section having a circular cross section, and a second section having the substantially triangular shape.

10. A joint for a modular fishing rod as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein at least a part of the male portion of the second module has a construction that includes the use of a fabric, and has fibres of the fabric that are oriented in at least a partly circumferential direction about the male portion.

11. A joint for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least the male portion of the second module is manufactured by wrapping fabric about a mandrel.

12. A joint for a modular fishing rod as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein at least the socket portion of the first module has a construction that includes the use of a fabric, and has fibres of the fabric that are oriented in at least a partly circumferential direction about the socket portion.

13. A joint for a modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least the socket portion of the first module is manufactured by wrapping fabric about a mandrel.

14. A joint for a modular fishing rod as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the fibres are impregnated with a thermo setting resin.

15. A joint for a modular fishing rod as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the fibres are carbon fibres.

16. A joint for a modular fishing rod as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the length of the socket is in the range of fifty to one hundred and fifty millimetres.

17. A joint for a modular fishing rod as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein an outer end of the socket includes a metal circumferential ring.

18. A modular fishing rod having at least one butt end module and at least one rod end module, and incorporating at least one joint for a modular fishing rod as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. A modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 18, wherein the fishing rod has a single butt end module and a plurality of rod end module components that can be used to assemble the rod end module.

20. A modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 19, wherein the plurality of rod end module components includes one or more rod end module components that have different physical characteristics such as weight, strength, rigidity or length when compared to another of the rod end module components.

21. A modular fishing rod as claimed in claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the at least one joint for a modular fishing rod forms a removable joint between the butt end module and one of the rod end modules.