GB2264029A

GB2264029A - Handles for fishing rods

Info

Publication number: GB2264029A
Application number: GB9202278A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Stephen Orme
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-02-04
Filing date: 1992-02-04
Publication date: 1993-08-18
Anticipated expiration: 2012-02-04
Also published as: GB9202278D0; GB2264029B

Abstract

A fishing rod handle is made up of alternate cork (1) and carbon (2) rings threaded onto and glued to a stem (3) at the end of the rod. These are sanded to the required shape of the handle. The cork enables the angler to maintain a comfortable manual grip while the carbon transmits tactile information concerning vibrations in the rod. <IMAGE>

Description

HANDLES FOR FISHING RODS This invention relates to fishing rods and, in particular, to fishing rod handles.

Traditional fishing rod handles are constructed from soft materials that are pleasant to hold and flexible. Examples of such materials are cork and foamed plastics materials (e.g. Duplon).

Traditional cork handles are constructed from small rings glued together in alignment. Foam handles are in the form of tubes. The normal method of construction is to bore a hole axially in the handle material and then slip the material over the fishing rod blank or stem, the handle being glued to the stem.

Anglers rely on vibrations transmitted along the rod stem to inform them of a fish biting, the nature of the river bed, the activity of the fly or lure and the extent of the pull from a fighting fish. It has been found that the aforesaid soft materials do not transmit such vibrations in an efficient way. By their very nature these materials insulate the angler's hand from the rod stem over which they are glued. A primary object of the present invention is to provide a form of fishing rod handle in which this disadvantage is eliminated to a substantial extent.

To achieve the aforesaid object there is provided, according to the present invention, a fishing rod handle in which the area to be gripped by an angler's hand is composed of comparatively flexible material and comparatively unyielding material so mounted in relation to one another that the flexible material will enable the angler to retain a comfortable grip on the rod while the unyielding material will enable the angler to receive tactile information of vibrations transmitted through the rod.

Advantageously the comparatively flexible material and comparatively unyielding material are respectively formed into rings fixed coaxially adjacent one another around a stem forming part of the fishing rod.

Very conveniently the flexible material may be one of the traditional soft materials used in combination with a hard, unyielding material such as carbon, a hard wood, or a hard plastics material.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, fishing rod handles in accordance therewith will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan of a fishing rod handle in course of construction; Figs. 2 and 3 respectively show items used in the structure of the handle of Fig. 1; and Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are plans of four further forms of handle when complete.

Referring to Fig. 1, four cork rings 1 as shown in Fig. 2 and three carbon rings 2 as shown in Fig. 3 are threaded in alternation on the stem 3 of a fishing rod.

Other rings may be added and all the rings are glued to the stem. Subsequently the handle is sanded into a convenient shape such as that of the handles shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

In the handle of Fig. 4 there is a comparatively long row of cork rings divided fairly near the rod end of the handle by a carbon ring 2. Fig. 5 shows a similar handle but with the carbon ring divided by a short cork ring.

The handles of Figs. 6 and 7 have each been sanded to form a parallel tube. This permits the use of reel fittings with which to attach a fishing reel. The fittings can be slid over the handle and the reel attached at the position of the hard inflexible rings 2.

The outside surfaces of the rings 2 may be at least partially roughened for this attachment.

The hard inflexible or unyielding rings 2 transmit vibrations to an angler's hand to a greater extent than the softer rings 1, providing the angler with more tactile information with which to fish effectively. The use of alternate rings of hard and soft material still permits the rod blank or stem to flex in response to the pull of a fish or casting activity of the angler, who is better able to feel the flexion due to the handle being composed of the two types of material.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A fishing rod handle in which the area to be gripped by an angler's hand is composed of comparatively flexible material and comparatively unyielding material so mounted in relation to one another that the flexible material will enable the angler to retain a comfortable grip on the rod while the unyielding material will enable the angler to receive tactile information of vibrations transmitted through the rod

2. A fishing rod handle according to Claim 1, in which the comparatively flexible material and comparatively unyielding material are respectively formed into rings fixed coaxially adjacent one another around a stem forming part of the fishing rod.

3. A fishing rod handle according to Claim S or Claim 2, in which the comparatively flexible material is cork or a foamed plastics material and the comparatively unyielding material is carbon, a hard wood or a hard plastics material.

4. A fishing rod handle according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the flexible and unyielding materials are arranged so that, when the rod is in use, the power exerted by the angler to the rod is more positively applied to the rod through the inflexible material than to the unyielding material.

5. A fishing rod handle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.