Color-changing fishing equipment

• US 20050274055A1
• Filed: 06/09/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pure Fishing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pure Fishing Incorporated
• Inventors: Cook, Roger B., Azari, Arsalan D.
• Application Number:
  US10/863,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20050274055A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 43/44.980
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 85/00 Artificial bait for fishing
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 87/00 Fishing rods
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 91/00 Lines
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 1/06 Dyes
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 8/00 Conjugated, i.e. bi- or multicomponent, artificial filaments or the like; Manufacture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: D06P 1/004 Dyeing with phototropic dyes; Obtaining camouflage effects

Abstract

Fishing equipment incorporates one or more dyes that change or display colors upon exposure to light (photochromic), a change in temperature (thermochromic), or change in ambient moisture (solvatochromic). Products that include parts that are made of, or products which are wholly a polymer can benefit from the present invention and may include fishing lines, fishing rods, fishing reels, thread used to wrap line guides on a fishing rod, and fishing reel handles.

Claims

1. Fishing equipment according to the invention comprises a product useful in the sport of fishing and made of or having a composition comprising:

(a) at least one polymeric component; and

(b) at least one reversible color-changing agent comprising a dye, pigment, or formulation disposed within, on, or distributed throughout said polymeric component, wherein said reversible color-changing agent is selected from the group consisting of a photochromic, thermochromic, and solvatochromic material that changes its perceived color as a consequence of a change in ambient electromagnetic radiation, temperature, or moisture level, respectively.

2. Fishing equipment according to claim 1 wherein said product is a fishing line.

3. Fishing equipment according to claim 2 wherein said fishing line is made of polyamide, polyester, polyolefin, gel spun polyethylene or fluoropolymer.

4. Fishing equipment according to claim 3 wherein said fishing line is made of polyamide.

5. Fishing equipment according to claim 3 wherein said fishing line is made of polyolefin.

6. Fishing equipment according to claim 3 wherein said fishing line is made of gel spun polyethylene.

7. Fishing equipment according to claim 3 wherein said fishing line is made of fluoropolymer.

8. Fishing equipment according to claim 2 wherein said reversible color-changing agent is applied to said fishing line by surface coating or dipping said fishing line in a solution comprising said agent.

9. Fishing equipment according to claim 2 wherein said reversible color-changing agent is mixed with a compatible polymer and applied to said fishing line by co-extrusion in an outer layer around said fishing line.

10. Fishing equipment according to claim 2 wherein said reversible color-changing agent is incorporated into said fishing line by (a) adding said reversible color-changing agent to a molten mixture comprising monomer for said fishing line to make a spinnable mixture, (b) spinning said spinnable mixture to make an unoriented polymer line, and (c) drawing said polymer line orient polymers within said polymer line to a tenacity and denier suitable for use as a fishing line.

11. Fishing equipment according to claim 10 wherein said reversible color-changing agent is added to said molten mixture as a colorant concentrate.

12. Fishing equipment according to claim 10 wherein said colorant concentrate comprises a polymer, oil, water, wax, elastomer, or plasticizer.

13. Fishing equipment according to claim 1 wherein said composition further comprises an ultraviolet stabilizer or an antioxidant.

14. Fishing equipment according to claim 13 wherein said stabilizer is a hindered amine light stabilizer.

15. Fishing equipment according to claim 1 wherein said products comprises a fishing lure.

16. Fishing equipment according to claim 15 wherein said fishing lure has a soft body.

17. Fishing equipment according to claim 1 wherein said product comprises thread wrapped around a line guide foot on a fishing rod.

18. Fishing equipment according to claim 1 wherein said product comprises a fishing rod blank.

21. Fishing equipment according to claim 2 wherein said reversible color-changing agent is a photochromic material.

22. Fishing equipment according to claim 21 wherein the photochromic material has at least one activated absorption maxima within the range of between about 400 and 700 nanometers.

23. Fishing equipment according to claim 21 further comprising a stabilizing agent for said photochromic material.

24. Fishing equipment according to claim 23 wherein the photochromic material is selected from the group consisting of spiropyran compounds, spirooxazine compounds, pyran compounds and oxazine compounds.

19. Fishing equipment according to claim 19 wherein a reversible color-changing agent has been incorporated into prepreg used to form said fishing rod blank.

20. Fishing equipment according to claim 19 wherein a reversible color-changing agent has been incorporated into a protective fishing coat on said fishing rod blank.