Active fishing rod

• US 20080000138A1
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Duane E. Cummings
• Original Assignee: Duane E. Cummings
• Inventors: Cummings, Duane E.
• Application Number:
  US11/478,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20080000138A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 43/18.1R
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 87/007 with built-in accessories, e.g. lighting means or measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 97/125 using electronic components

Abstract

A fishing rod is electronically enhanced to improve sensitivity and transmit to the user information related to conditions below the water surface in at or near real time.

Claims

1. An active fishing rod comprising a blank, a handle attached to the end of the blank opposite the rod tip, at least one sensor capable of sensing deflection of said blank, and generating signals representative of said deflection, a logic circuit which processes signals generated by said at least one sensor and controls a device which provides a mechanical or electrical indication representative of said deflection through the handle to a user of the fishing rod.

2. The active fishing rod of claim 1 further comprising a filter for filtering signals generated by said at least one sensor.

3. The active fishing rod of claim 1 wherein said device which provides a mechanical or electrical indication is a vibrating motor.

4. The active fishing rod of claim 1 wherein said device which provides a mechanical or electrical indication is a solenoid.

5. The active fishing rod of claim 3 wherein said vibrating motor causes the handle to move in a way that emulates in an accentuated fashion movement of the rod tip.

6. The active fishing rod of claim 4 wherein said solenoid causes the handle to move in a way that emulates in an accentuated fashion movement of the rod tip.

7. The active fishing rod of claim 1 wherein said at least one sensor is a strain gauge.

8. The active fishing rod of claim 1 wherein said at least one sensor is a bend sensor.

9. The active fishing rod of claim 1 wherein said at least one sensor is a piezo-electric sensor.

10. The active fishing rod of claim 1 having a plurality of sensors, one of said sensors indicating deflection of said blank with respect to a first axis and another of said sensors indicating deflection of said blank with respect to a second axis.

11. The active fishing rod of claim 1 comprising a plurality of sensors each associated with a separate channel.

12. The active fishing rod of claim 1 wherein at least some of said plurality of channels are coupled to a summing circuit which adds the output of said channels.