Patent ID: 6061946
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: A01K

Abstract:
A lighted fishing rod comprising:a hollow shaft extending between an open tip end and an open base end;a tip on the tip end supporting an end eyelet off the shaft and having a body;a tubular reel seat assembly disposed telescoped on the shaft from the base end and slid up the shaft to leave a short extension of the base of the shaft exposed;a tubular handle assembly extending between a forward end and a butt end and disposed telescoped on the shaft from the base end such that the forward end is slid up generally to the reel seat assembly, and having a flexible membrane sealing the butt end;a lighting system mounted substantially waterproof inside interior spaces of the lighted fishing rod, and comprising an LED lamp, a battery and battery holder, a push-to-ON/push-to-OFF switch, and conductors arranged to complete a circuit thereamong;wherein the body of the tip is formed with a socket for telescoping over the tip end of the shaft, the body also being formed with a compartment in communication with the socket and in which is potted the LED such that terminals of the LED extend toward the socket to allow conductors passing out the tip end of the shaft to connect to said terminals;wherein the switch is mounted in the handle assembly in such close proximity to the flexible membrane such that a user actuates the switch by digitally flexing the membrane whereby illumination of the LED gives an observer visual feedback of the absence or presence of movement of the tip including during low light levels or darkness.