Fishing – trapping – and vermin destroying – Fishing – Rod
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-01
2001-07-24
Rowan, Kurt (Department: 3643)
Fishing, trapping, and vermin destroying
Fishing
Rod
C043S004500, C043S026000, C043S024000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06263609
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a fishing rod attachment apparatus and a method for installing the rod attachment to the fishing rod, and more particularly to an adapter apparatus for an offset and parallel rod coupling that attaches to a conventional fishing rod.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fishing rods typically include structural attachments for many purposes. For example, fishing line guides are usually mounted to the rod at short intervals. Another type of attachment structure is utilized to attach a reel to the fishing rod. The reel attachment typically includes a pair of bushings that have threaded washers on the rod to tighten the bushings and secure the reel to the rod. Additional structures include end ferrules or bushings for the end-to-end connection of multiple rod sections. These end ferrules typically mount to the ends of fishing rod sections and usually include a receptacle base that receives a rod end extension from the adjoining rod. This end-to end ferrule connector can also be called a co-axial connector, because the two rod sections share the same axis when joined.
The present invention relates to an improved off-axis adapter as opposed to the co-axial adapter discussed above. Off-axis adapters align two rod sections in an off-axis, yet substantially parallel relation to each other. Such off-axis adapters can be employed where a rod or device must be joined parallel to a fishing rod. Examples of fishing rods with off-axis adapters include “Compound Fishing Rods™,” which are manufactured by Sisters Compound Rods of Sisters, Oregon, which are side-by side telescoping rods and rods that comprise an auxiliary device such as a spring bobber or a strike indicator.
A typical off-axis adapter for joining rods comprises an elongated housing with two bushings or ferrules, each off-axis to the other. One bushing acts as the base of the adapter, which attaches to a first rod and the second bushing acts as a receptacle for a second rod. The base is joined with the first, or host rod by inserting one end of the host rod into the base bushing. The second, or guest rod is attached to the adapter receptacle by inserting one end of the guest rod into the receptacle bushing. This adapter attachment joins the guest and host rods in an off-axis relationship to each other.
These adapters with pairs of bushings have substantial structures connecting the first bushing to the second bushing. Therefore these bushing pairs include thick cross-sectional areas parallel to the bushing axis. Consequently, the adapters are substantially rigid and stiff and are heavier than neighboring fishing rod attachments, such as line guides.
The paired bushing adapter constrains and stiffens the fishing rod over the length of the base bushing. This stiffening impairs the flexibility and action of the host fishing rod, including the flex of the rod along the length of the bushing. Also, the added weight of the paired bushing adapter further impairs the action of the rod because of a resultant increase in inertia. Additionally, when the host fishing rod bends in reaction to a force, a high stress develops in the rod near the ends of the bushing. The stress can cause the host rod to fracture from a smaller bending force than that at which it would fracture without a bushing. The dimensions of the base bushing and host rod must be closely matched when installing such an adapter. The need to compensate for bushing stiffness and precisely match the diameter of the base bushing with the diameter of the host rod makes the building of a fishing rod with off-axis adapters more difficult than building conventional co-axial rods. A bushing adapter is needed that allows the rod to maintain its normal and existing rod flex, which is by design, unconstrained by a sleeved bushing.
Further, it is sometimes desired to install an adapter on a fishing rod that has already been built. Such a retrofit installation is even more difficult with a bushing because of a need to first remove rod components before the host rod can be inserted into the bushing. Additional problems can occur when the off-axis adapter is desired on the same side of the fishing rod as that to which line guides are attached. An adapter that is co-linear with the line guides can interfere with a fishing line when in use.
Consequently, building fishing rods that comprise conventional off-axis adapters with conventional base bushings is difficult. Further, the action and strength of fishing rods having such adapters are substantially impaired because of the bushing.
There is, therefore, a need for an adapter that is easier to install, and that can be installed on a fishing rod without the need to first remove fishing rod components.
There is also a need for a lighter weight adapter that, when attached to a fishing rod, is substantially rigid and strong but does not impair the flexibility and strength of, or add undesirable weight and inertia, to the fishing rod.
Furthermore, there is a need for an adapter for off-axis joining that, when installed co-linear with line guides, does not interfere with the fishing line when in use.
Prior patents that relate to various types of off-axis adapters for fishing rods include French Patent 2,723,511 to Poullain (1996), and the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: Des. 301,514 to Eccles(1987); 4,768,303 to Baylink (1987); and 3,992,799 to Oakes (1975). However, none of these patents describe or suggest solutions to the combination of disadvantages described in the foregoing paragraphs. For example, all show an adapter base that comprises a ferrule or bushing into which a rod must be inserted for joining. Other patents show a variety of co-axial adapters with ferrules for joining rod sections end-to-end. However, such co-axial adapters with end-to-end joining ferrules inherently teach away from off-axis rod joining.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention provides an off-axis adapter for a parallel, offset fishing rod coupling. The adapter includes a ferrule having a first end and a second end. The first end of the ferrule is attached to a first support. The first support has a first rod mount and a first ferrule connection. The first rod mount is attachable to a primary rod at a first mounting point, and the first ferrule connection is attached to the ferrule proximate to the first end of the ferrule. The second end of the ferrule is attached to a second support. The second support has a second rod mount and a second ferrule connection. The second rod mount is attachable to a primary rod at a second mounting point, and the second ferrule connection is attached proximate the second end of the ferrule. The ferrule receives and maintains a secondary rod in a substantially parallel configuration in relation to the primary rod.
The method of the invention includes attaching the first rod mount of the ferrule to the primary rod at the first mounting point, and attaching the second rod mount of the ferrule to the primary rod at the second mounting point. A secondary rod is then inserted into the ferrule, the ferrule for maintaining the secondary rod in a substantially parallel configuration in relation to the primary rod.
According to one aspect of the invention, because the adapter is attached from the length or side of the host or primary rod, the installation of the adapter does not require matching dimensions of a host rod and a bushing, thereby easing the installation.
According to another aspect of the invention, an apparatus is provided for installation onto a side portion of a fishing rod that has already been built and does not require removal of fishing rod components, thereby further easing the installation.
According to another aspect of the invention an apparatus is provided that, when installed on a rod, is flexible to the natural and bending action of the rod, as designed. This flexibility of the adapter substantially eliminates the stiffening and additional stress on the fishing rod that are introduced by conventional off-axis adapters.
According to yet another aspect of the invention an apparatus is prov
Kollodge Deborah
Kollodge Jerome
Rowan Kurt
Stratton Ballew PLLC
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