Fishing rod handles and related components wear and deteriorate over time and with repeated use, or situations arise when a fisherman wishes to customize a fishing rod with a different handle. A drawback to known fishing rods is that handle components are fixed or bonded to an end of a pole. This conventional arrangement prevents handle replacement or requires extensive repair and replacement procedures to change a handle whether it is worn or broken or simply when the fisherman desires a different handle design.
What is needed in the fishing industry is a system that will permit removal and repair or replacement and reinstallation of handle components on a rod without cutting or adhesives.
The present disclosure is directed in general to fishing rod handle systems that permit repair or replacement of fishing rod components without tools or adhesives. The fishing rod handle systems are simple to make, easy to use, and offer greater selections to consumers to accommodate personal preferences and customization with respect to materials, color, styles, and overall handle configurations.
In an exemplary embodiment, a modular fishing rod and reel system may include a rod having a proximal end and a distal end with an aperture formed in the proximal end. A stop mechanism may be located on the rod between the proximal end and the distal end, and a reel seat with a first cavity may receive the rod in the first cavity. A handle may be included with a second cavity, and the rod can be inserted into or through the second cavity. A locking nut constructed for connection in the aperture can be used to secure the handle against the reel seat and the reel seat against the stop mechanism.
Furthermore, the stop mechanism in the foregoing example may be unitarily formed with the rod and may have a non-circularly shaped opening. The rod may be tapered and insertable through the opening until surface areas of the tapered rod press-fit against the non-circular opening. Still further, the rod also may have a non-circularly shaped surface and may include edges, tracks, teeth, and/or star-shaped ridges to mate with complementarily shaped apertures in other handle components. A locking cap may be positioned between the stop mechanism and the distal end. More particularly, a locator cap may be located between the stop mechanism and the distal end, and the locking cap may be located between the distal end and the locator cap, such that the locator cap and the locking nut cooperate with each other to secure the handle against the reel seat and the reel seat against the stop mechanism.
In a further embodiment according to the disclosure, a modular fishing rod and reel system may include a rod having a proximal end and a distal end, an aperture being formed within the proximal end; a stop mechanism formed on the rod between the proximal end and the distal end; a locking cap disposed between the stop mechanism and the distal end; a reel seat having a first cavity formed therein, the rod being insertable through the first cavity; a handle having a second cavity formed therein, the rod being insertable through the second cavity; and a locking nut configured for connection in the aperture to secure the handle against the reel seat and the reel seat against the stop mechanism.
The stop mechanism of the modular fishing rod and reel system may have a non-circular shaped opening formed therethrough, and the rod may be tapered and insertable through the opening until the tapered rod press-fits against the non-circular opening.
The modular fishing rod and reel system may further include a locator cap positioned between the stop mechanism and the distal end. The locking cap may be located between the distal end and the locator cap, and the locator cap may cooperate with the locking nut to secure the handle against the reel seat and the reel seat against the stop mechanism.
Additional objects and advantages of the present subject matter are set forth in, or will be apparent to, those of ordinary skill in the art from the description herein. Also, it should be further appreciated that modifications and variations to the specifically illustrated, referenced, and discussed features, processes, and elements hereof may be practiced in various embodiments and uses of the disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter. Variations may include, but are not limited to, substitution of equivalent means, features, or steps for those illustrated, referenced, or discussed, and the functional, operational, or positional reversal of various parts, features, steps, or the like. Those of ordinary skill in the art will better appreciate the features and aspects of the various embodiments, and others, upon review of the remainder of the specification.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present subject matter, including the best mode thereof directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which refers to the appended figures, wherein:
As required, detailed embodiments are disclosed herein; however, the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary and may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as their equivalents.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. In the event that there is a plurality of definitions for a term or acronym herein, those in this section prevail unless stated otherwise.
Wherever the phrase “for example,” “such as,” “including,” and the like are used herein, the phrase “and without limitation” is understood to follow unless explicitly stated otherwise. Similarly, “an example,” “exemplary” and the like are understood to be non-limiting.
The term “substantially” allows for deviations from the descriptor that do not negatively impact the intended purpose. Descriptive terms are understood to be modified by the term “substantially” even if the word “substantially” is not explicitly recited.
The term “about” when used in connection with a numerical value refers to the actual given value, and to the approximation to such given value that would reasonably be inferred by one of ordinary skill in the art, including approximations due to the experimental and or measurement conditions for such given value.
The terms “comprising” and “including” and “having” and “involving” (and similarly “comprises”, “includes,” “has,” and “involves”) and the like are used interchangeably and have the same meaning. Specifically, each of the terms is defined consistent with the common United States patent law definition of “comprising” and is therefore interpreted to be an open term meaning “at least the following,” and is also interpreted not to exclude additional features, limitations, aspects, etcetera. Thus, for example, “a device having components a, b, and c” means that the device includes at least components a, b, and c. Similarly, the phrase: “a method involving steps a, b, and c” means that the method includes at least steps a, b, and c.
Where a list of alternative component terms is used, e.g., “a structure such as ‘a’, ‘c’, ‘d’ or the like”, or “a or b”, such lists and alternative terms provide meaning and context for the sake of illustration, unless indicated otherwise. Also, relative terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” “front,” and “rear” are intended to identify or distinguish one component or feature from another similar component or feature, unless indicated otherwise herein.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise”, “comprising”, and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; in the sense of “including, but not limited to”.
The various embodiments of the disclosure and/or equivalents falling within the scope of present disclosure overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art or provide a useful alternative.
Detailed reference will now be made to the drawings in which examples embodying the present subject matter are shown. The detailed description uses numerical and letter designations to refer to features of the drawings. The drawings and detailed description provide a full and written description of the present subject matter, and of the manner and process of making and using various exemplary embodiments, so as to enable one skilled in the pertinent art to make and use them, as well as the best mode of carrying out the exemplary embodiments. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Thus, the examples set forth in the drawings and detailed descriptions are provided by way of explanation only and are not meant as limitations of the disclosure. The present subject matter thus includes any modifications and variations of the following examples as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Turning now to
As more particularly shown in
With reference now to
Turning to
In any of the foregoing embodiments, the knobs 18, 118, 218 can be removed or unscrewed to slide all components from the poles 12, 112, 212 in order to change or repair one or more of the components without having to cut or break the poles 12, 112, 212 or any component.
By way of example and not of limitation, embodiments of the disclosure may include:
A modular fishing rod and reel system, comprising a rod having a proximal end and a distal end, an aperture being formed within the proximal end; a stop mechanism disposed on the rod between the proximal end and the distal end; a reel seat having a first cavity formed therein, the rod being insertable through the first cavity; a handle having a second cavity formed therein, the rod being insertable through the second cavity; and a locking nut configured for connection in the aperture to secure the handle against the reel seat and the reel seat against the stop mechanism.
The modular fishing rod and reel system as in Embodiment 1, wherein the stop mechanism is unitarily formed with the rod.
The modular fishing rod and reel system as in Embodiment 1, wherein the stop mechanism includes a non-circular opening formed therethrough, the rod being tapered and insertable through the opening until the tapered rod press-fits against the non-circular opening.
The modular fishing rod and reel system as in Embodiment 1, further comprising a locking cap disposed between the stop mechanism and the distal end.
The modular fishing rod and reel system as in Embodiment 1, further comprising a locator cap disposed between the stop mechanism and the distal end and a locking cap disposed between the distal end and the locator cap, the locator cap configured to cooperate with the locking nut to secure the handle against the reel seat and the reel seat against the stop mechanism.
The modular fishing rod and reel system as in Embodiment 1, wherein the rod has a non-circular surface.
The modular fishing rod and reel system as in Embodiment 1, wherein the rod includes ridges.
A modular fishing rod and reel system comprising a rod having a proximal end and a distal end, an aperture being formed within the proximal end; a stop mechanism formed on the rod between the proximal end and the distal end; a locking cap disposed between the stop mechanism and the distal end; a reel seat having a first cavity formed therein, the rod being insertable through the first cavity; a handle having a second cavity formed therein, the rod being insertable through the second cavity; and a locking nut configured for connection in the aperture to secure the handle against the reel seat and the reel seat against the stop mechanism.
The modular fishing rod and reel system as in Embodiment 8, wherein the stop mechanism includes a non-circular shaped opening formed therethrough, the rod being tapered and insertable through the opening until the tapered rod press-fits against the non-circular opening.
The modular fishing rod and reel system as in Embodiments 8 or 9, further comprising a locator cap disposed between the stop mechanism and the distal end, the locking cap disposed between the distal end and the locator cap, the locator cap configured to cooperate with the locking nut to secure the handle against the reel seat and the reel seat against the stop mechanism.
While the present subject matter has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing may readily produce alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to such embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is by way of example rather than by way of limitation, and the subject disclosure does not preclude inclusion of such modifications, variations and/or additions to the present subject matter as would be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
This utility patent application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/879,519, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Jul. 28, 2019, and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/016,029, filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Apr. 27, 2020, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63016029 | Apr 2020 | US | |
62879519 | Jul 2019 | US |