GB2458008A - A three piece fishing rod - Google Patents

Abstract

A fishing rod comprises first 20, second 30 and third 40 rod pieces which are separable to allow transportation of the fishing rod in a folded condition. The first rod piece comprises a handle portion 22 and a reel seat 34 is positioned partway along the second rod piece. The second and third rod pieces are substantially longer than the first rod piece. Preferably, the fishing rod is 3.81m to 4.11m in length, whilst the second and third rod pieces may be 1.85m to 1.90m in length. The distance between the reel seat and the end of the second piece which connects to the first piece can be 7cm to 15cm.

Description

Fishing Rod The present invention relates to a fishing rod.

In recent years, it has become commonplace to leave the reel and terminal tackle made up on the rod.

Rods of length 3.66m (12ft) and 3.96m (13ft) are equally popular with anglers. Although they differ by only 0.3m (ift) in length, their very dIfferent feel in use means that they are regarded as being quite distinct by anglers. Both rod lengths are too long to be readily transported in one piece. Accordingly, 3.66m (12ft) rods are normally constructed as a two-piece rod joined at a ferrule midway along the rod. Taking the ferrule length into account, the rod comprises two equal lengths of approximately 1.87m (6ft 1.5 inches). When a 3.66m (12ft) rod is being used as a permanent tackle set-up, the practice is to either mount the terminal tackle on a winder or to tighten the tackle such that it is taut against the rod. The rod, having been taken apart at the ferrule, Is then folded in two in a tip-to-butt configuration and securely bundled for transportation.

Experience has shown that the above-mentioned length of 1.87m (6ft 1.5 inches) represents the maximum practical length for transportation.

Beyond this length, rods do not fit into many saloon cars and so, solely for ease of transportation, 3.96m (13ft) rods are very often constructed from three pieces, rather than two pieces of 2.02m (6ft 7.5 inches) in length. In the standard construction, each of the rod pieces is approximately the same length. Without considerable skill, these three-piece rods are difficult to fold up with the reel and terminal tackle still in place on the rod and, accordingly, 3.96m (13ft) rods are not commonly left made up ready for use.

With this in mind, the present invention has a general aim of providing a three-piece rod (non-telescopic) construction which is more manageable in transportation.

According to a first aspect, the present invention may provide a fishing rod comprising first, second and third rod pieces separable to allow transportation of the fishing rod in a folded, made-up condition, the first rod piece comprising a handle portion, wherein the reel seat is positioned partway along the second rod piece and the second and third rod pieces are substantially longer than the first rod piece to facilitate said transportation.

The construction of a fishing rod in accordance with the first aspect of the Invention has been adapted from that of a standard three-piece rod by (I) changing the relative lengths of the constituent rod pieces, and (ii) re-positioning the reel seat from the first rod piece to the second (middle) rod piece.

Repositioning the reel seat from the first rod piece to the second rod piece has the effect of leaving only the second and third rod pieces in a line-carrying role which keeps the operation of folding the rod in a made-up condition for transportation less prone to tangling. In addition, having only one joint above the reel seat has a beneficial impact on the action of the rod during casting and fish play.

Arranging that the second and third rod pieces are substantially longer than the first rod piece results in a third rod piece which is relatively long and thus can be used to store a relatively long length of terminal tackle along its length.

Preferably, the second and third rod pieces are of approximately equal length.

In a preferred embodiment, the fishing rod is of a length of 3.81m (12ft 6 inches) to 4.llm (13ft 6 inches), preferably 3.96m (13ft). Preferably, the maximum length of the second and third rod pieces is 1.85m to 1.90m, preferably 1.87m (6ft 1.5 inches). Second and third rod pieces of these lengths lend themselves to convenient transportation, for example, in conjunction with two-piece 3.66m (12ft) rods. In addition, a third rod piece of these lengths is well matched in length to the 1.22m (4ft) to 1.83m (6ft) depth of typical commercial fisheries, thereby allowing the terminal tackle and fishing float to be permanently set to a fishable depth. In this way, unwanted assembling at the waterside of the terminal tackle and fishing float arrangement can be avoided.

In one embodiment, the portion of the said rod piece between the reel seat and the separable handle portion may comprise a stub handle portion made from the same material as the separable handle portion. The handle portions may comprise cork or DuplonTh. In other embodiments, the portion of the rod between the reel seat and the separable handle portion may comprise the same material as that from which the main length of the rod is made. Typically, this may be carbon and/or glass fibre. Preferably, the portion of the rod between the reel seat and the separable handle portion is sufficiently long, namely 7 cm (3 inches) to 15 cm (6 inches), to provide compatibility with existing holdalls designed for 3.66 (12ft) two-piece rods as described herein after.

According to a second aspect, the present invention may provide a fishing rod in a made-up condition comprising first, second and third separable rod pieces separated and folded for transportation, the first rod piece comprising a handle portion, wherein the reel seat Is positioned partway along the second rod piece and the second and third rod pieces are substantially longer than the first rod piece to facilitate said transportation.

According to a third aspect, the present invention may provide a fishing rod having a butt end, a tip end, and a reel seat located towards the butt end, the fishing rod comprising a separable handle portion extending from the butt end only partway to the reel seat.

This aspect of the present invention, by providing for the separation of a handle portion at a point below (i.e. towards the butt end) the reel seat, enables a multi-piece rod to be reduced in effective length prior to folding in a still made up condition. In addition, this aspect of the present invention, for a given number of piece rod, reduces the number of joints above (i.e. towards the tip end) the reel seat which has a beneficial impact on the balance and action of the rod.

According to a fourth aspect, the present invention may comprise a holdall having a quiver section and a fishing rod according to the second aspect carried in the quiver section.

In the context of the present specification, references to three-piece rods' and the dimensions of the rod exclude any removable quiver tip. A removable tip may be, of course, used with a fishing rod in accordance with the present invention.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an exploded view of an unfolded, fishing rod in a non-made-up condition in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2a shows a view of the fishing rod of Figure 1 in a folded, made-up condition in a feeder set-up; Figure 2b shows a view of the fishing rod of Figure 1 in a folded, made-up condition in a float set-up; and Figure 3 shows a view of a fishing rod in accordance with the present invention loaded into a quiver section of a holdall ready for transportation.

Referring to Figure 1, a non-telescopic fishing rod 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the Invention comprises three separable rod pieces 20, 30, 40 assemblable to form a rod 3.96m (13ft) from butt end to tip end.

A first butt-end rod piece 20 comprises a separable handle portion 22 to having an elongate tubular element 24 projecting therefrom, the element 24 having a short threaded brass ring (not shown) fitted to its proximal end, The first rod piece Is 0.3m (ift) in length (excluding the element 24).

The separable handle portion 22 is made from cork or Duplonm.

A second middle rod piece 30 Is 1.87m (6ft 1.5 Inches) in length. It comprises a stub handle portion 32 made from the same material as the separable handle portion 22; a reel seat 34 to which a reel 35 is mounted; and a main rod portion 36 made from carbon and/or glass fibre along which the eyelets for the fishing line are arranged at spaced intervals. The stub handle portion 32 includes an axial recess (not shown) having a nut (not shown) located in the mouth of the recess. The first and second rod pieces 30, 40 can be fitted together by inserting the element 24 into the axial recess of the stub handle portion 32 and screwing the brass ring into engagement with the nut. When the first and second rod pieces 20, 30 are fully screwed together the separable handle portion 22 and the stub handle portion 32 form an almost seamless handle for the angler. In other embodiments, the male fitting can be provided on the second rod piece 40.

A third tip-end rod piece 40 made from carbon and/or glass fibre is 1.87m (6ft 1.5 inches) in length and has eyelets for the fishing line are arranged at spaced intervals along its whole length. The second and third rod pieces 30, 40 are connected together by a ferrule (not shown) in a conventional manner.

The assembled rod 10 may be made up into a feeder set-up or float set-up.

Whilst fishing, the rod 10 having only one joint above the reel seat 34 compares favourably with conventional three-piece rods in the natural feel it provides to the angler during casting and fish play.

Figures 2(a) and 2(b) show examples of both set-ups in the process of being folded while in a made-up condition. In both cases, the separable handle portion 22 is unscrewed from the second rod piece 30 thereby reducing the effective length of the rod to be folded, the second and third rod pieces 30, 40 are separated at their joining ferrule and folded tip to butt, while keeping the fishing line taut, and then the pieces bundled together with elastic bands or Veicrom ties for transportation. Terminal tackle and fishing float arrangements set for fishing depths up to the length of the third tip-end rod piece 40 can be conveniently stored therealong.

Since the third rod piece is 1.87m (6ft 1.5 inches) in length, and the typical depth of commercial fisheries Is 1.22m (4ft) to 1.83 (6ft), adjustment of the terminal tackle and fishing float arrangement can be avoided, which is a significant advantage at waterside.

It is a significant further advantage of the above described preferred embodiment of the invention that it may be transported using a holdall 50 designed for two-piece 3.66m (l2ft) rods. As shown in Figure 3, the presence of the stub handle portion 32 enables the rod 10 to be accommodated in the same size removable quiver section 55 as a conventional 3.66m (12ft) rod with the reel 35 sitting in the reel pouch region 57 near the base of the quiver section 55. It will be appreciated that this backward compatibility is very attractive for an angler as it allows him to upgrade from a 3.66m (lZft) rod to a 3.96m (13ft) rod while not requiring the additional expense of a new holdalt and without causing additional transportation difficulties. To achieve this backward compatibility, the stub handle portion 34 is preferably 7 cm (3 inches) to 15 cm (6 inches) in length.

Claims (5)

1. CLAIMS1. A fishing rod comprising first, second and third rod pieces separable to allow transportation of the fishing rod in a folded, made-up condition, the first rod piece comprising a handle portion, wherein the reel seat is positioned partway along the second rod piece and the second and third rod pieces are substantially longer than the first rod piece to facilitate said transportation.
2. 2. A fishing rod as in Claim 1, comprising a rod of length 3.81m (12ft 6 inches) to 4.llm (13ft 6 inches), preferably 3.96m (13ft), in which the length of said second and third rod pieces is 1.85m to 1.90m, preferably 1.87m (6ft 1.5 inches).
3. 3. A fishing rod as in Claims 1 or 2, wherein the distance between the reel seat and the end of the second rod piece for connection to the first rod piece is between 7 cm (3 inches) and 15 cm (6 inches).
4. 4. A fishing rod In a made-up condition comprising first, second and third separable rod pieces separated and folded for transportation, the first rod piece comprising a handle portion, wherein the reel seat is positioned partway along the second rod piece and the second and third rod pieces are substantially longer than the first rod piece to facilitate said transportation.
5. 5. A fishing rod constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereindescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.Amendments to the claims have been filed as followsCLAIMS1. A three-piece non-telescopic fishing rod having a rod length in the range 3.81m (12ft 6inches) to 4.llm (13ft 6inches) comprising first, second and third rod pieces which are separable so as to permit transportation of the fishing rod in a folded condition, the first rod piece comprising a handle portion, the second rod piece comprising a middle rod piece having a length in the range 1.85m to 1.90m and having a reel seat positioned part way along its length, and the third rod piece comprising a tip-end rod piece having a length in the range 1.85m to 1.90m, the middle rod piece and tip end rod piece being of substantially similar lengths so, in the folded condition, the rod has a length in the range 1.85m to 1.90m and can be foided in a made-up condition (with reel and terminal tackle remaining in place to reduce the risk of tangling).2. A fishing rod as in Claims. 1 or 2, wherein the distance between the reel seat and the end of the second rod piece for connection to the first rod piece is between 7 cm (3 inches) and 15 cm (6 inches).3. A fishing rod as claimed in claim 1 or 2 having a rod length of substantially 3.96m (13ft).4. A fishing rod as claimed in claim 3 wherein the second and third rod pieces each have a length of substantially 1.87m (6ft 1.Sinches) including male and female fittings at the ends thereof.5. A fishing rod as claimed in any preceding claim in a folded and made-up condition comprising first, second and third separable rod pieces separated and folded for transportation. 0t6. A fishing rod as claimed in claim 4 when in a folded and made-up condition as claimed in claim 5, housed within a holdall designed to accommodate a 3.66m (12ft) rod comprising two rod-pieces of substantially length in a folded condition.7. A fishing rod as claimed In any preceding claim in which the second and third rod pieces are made from carbon and/or glass fibre.8. A fishing rod constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereindescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. s * S. S. * * .S *5I5 *. * *5* *e * * S. * I. S. S * *-S **