Safety fishing pole

A fishing pole comprising: (a) a substantially hollow handle having a light transmissive portion near one extremity, a handle light source inside the handle that illuminates the light transmissive portion when energized, an electric power source, and a manually operated main electric switch; (b) a rod extending from the extremity of the handle adjacent to the light transmissive portion, the rod having a rod light source at the extremity of the rod remote from the handle; and (c) the main electric switch selectively energizing the handle light source and the rod light source from the electric power source. Preferably, the fishing pole includes a red light transmissive overlay mounted for longitudinal movement along the handle between an inactive position, where the overlay is not overlapping any part of the light transmissive portion, and an active position, where the overlay overlaps the light transmissive portion. Preferably the overlay controls a switch that, when inactive, causes any energized lamps to emit a steady light and, when active, causes the energized lamps to emit a pulsed light at a predetermined rate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to fishing poles, and more particularly, to fishing 
poles that are adapted to provide illumination and emergency signaling. 
2. The Prior Art 
There are a variety of U.S. patents whose subject matter is illuminated 
fishing poles. The purpose of these prior art fishing poles is to provide 
illumination for the person fishing during dusk, night, and dawn hours. A 
sample of illuminated fishing poles includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,347,741 
issued to Konrad and 5,172,508 issued to Schmidt et al. 
The typical illuminated pole has a hollow handle in which a lamp and power 
source is located and a transparent or translucent rod through which the 
light from the energized lamp is directed. In some poles, such as that of 
Konrad, the rod is illuminated by directing the light into the hollow 
center of the rod. In other poles, such as that of Schmidt, the rod is 
illuminated by directing the light into optical fibers of varying lengths 
that carry the light through the rod to various locations within the rod. 
The illuminated fishing poles of the prior art are adequate if one only 
needs illumination to see what he or she is doing. Where they are 
deficient is in their ability to signal an emergency. Even with 
illumination at the tip of the rod, a white light can be mistaken for or 
be covered up by background light, especially if it is a steady light, 
rather than flashing. 
Thus, there exists a need for a fishing pole that can be used to illuminate 
the work area and for signalling in the event of an emergency or to warn 
others. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the present invention is to provide a fishing pole that can be 
used to signal others in the event of an emergency. 
The safety fishing pole of the present invention comprises: (a) a 
substantially hollow handle having a light transmissive portion near a 
front extremity, a handle light source inside the handle that illuminates 
the light transmissive portion when energized, an electric power source, 
and a manually operated main electric switch; (b) a rod extending from the 
front extremity, the rod having a rod light source at the extremity of the 
rod remote from the handle; and (c) the main electric switch selectively 
energizing the handle light source and the rod light source from the 
electric power source. 
The power source includes at least one electric cell that is located in a 
compartment at a rear extremity of the handle The compartment is closed by 
a cap that is preferably composed of or coated with a fluorescent 
material. When the cap is installed, a substantially watertight seal is 
created. 
The main electric switch has four operational states, an off state where 
the handle light source and the rod light source are both not energized, 
an illumination state where the handle light source is energized to emit a 
steady light and the rod light source is not energized, a signalling state 
where the handle light source is not energized and the rod light source is 
energized to emit a steady light, and a combination state where the handle 
light source and the rod light source are both energized to emit a steady 
light. 
Preferably, the handle includes a red substantially transparent light 
transmissive overlay mounted for longitudinal movement along the handle 
between an inactive position and an active position. In the inactive 
position, the overlay is not overlapping any part of the light 
transmissive portion. In the active position, in one embodiment, the 
overlay substantially completely overlaps the light transmissive portion, 
and in another embodiment, the overlay overlaps the complete length and 
only part (preferably half) of the circumference of the light transmissive 
portion. 
The handle includes an overlay electric switch that activates to change any 
energized light source from a steady light to a pulsed light at a 
predetermined rate when the overlay is in its active position. The overlay 
switch deactivates when the overlay is not in its active position. 
The overlay inner surface includes a shallow annular groove and the outer 
surface of the handle includes two annular ridges that are adapted to mate 
with the overlay annular groove. The outer diameter of the annular ridges 
are larger than the diameter of the overlay inner surface so that there is 
friction between the handle and the overlay. One of the annular ridges is 
located such that when it is mated with the overlay annular groove, the 
overlay is in its inactive position. The other annular ridge is located 
such that when it is mated with the overlay annular groove, the overlay is 
in its active position. 
Optionally, the handle includes a removable, fluorescent or reflective 
floatation sleeve. 
The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art in part 
by providing a flashing red light at the tip of the rod. This light 
provides an easily visible signal to others that can be augmented by 
waving the rod back and forth. If the user should fall in the water, the 
tip of the rod can still be extended a considerable distance above the 
water providing a much greater chance of being seen. The waterproof seal 
on the power source compartment keeps the power source safe and available 
in the event of an emergency if the pole should happen to get wet. 
By necessity, the light at the tip of the rod is small, but the light 
mounted in the handle can be much larger and brighter. The red overlay, 
when overlapping the light transmissive portion of the handle, provides a 
large red light for visibility in an emergency. 
An additional advantage to the flashing light at the end of the rod is that 
it can be used to signal for help in situations that are not emergencies. 
For example, on a party fishing boat, where there are a large number of 
people fishing in close proximity to each other, a person can get the 
attention of one of the boat's assistants by energizing the flashing 
light. 
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that if one lamp should 
burn out during an emergency, the safety fishing pole still provides 
illumination and signalling capability via the other lamp.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
The safety fishing pole of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, and 
includes a handle 12, a reel 14, a rod 16, and two sources of 
illumination, a lamp 86 within the handle 12 and a lamp 114, 130 at the 
tip of the rod 16. 
Preferably, the handle 12 is approximately cylindrical. The reel 14 is a 
conventional fishing reel and is conventionally mounted to the outside of 
the handle 12. Optionally, the handle 12 includes a removable, fluorescent 
or reflective floatation sleeve 22 that has sufficient buoyancy to float 
the safety fishing pole. 
Extending into the rear extremity 154 of the handle 12, as in FIG. 2, is a 
substantially cylindrical compartment 24. The compartment 24 is closed by 
an end cap 26, which is secured to the handle 12 by internal threads in 
the handle 28 and mating external threads on the cap 30. When the cap 26 
is secured to the handle 12 via the mating threads 28, 30, a substantially 
watertight seal is created by compressing a rubber O-ring 32 between the 
shoulder of the cap 34 and the end surface of the handle 36. In an 
alternate embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, the cap 50 is secured to the handle 
12 by external threads on the handle 52 and mating internal threads on the 
cap 54. A substantially watertight seal is created by compressing a rubber 
O-ring 56 between the shoulder of the handle 58 and the end surface of the 
cap 60. 
Preferably, the cap 26, 50 includes a fluorescent material in its 
composition. In one embodiment, the fluorescent material is a coating, 
such as a fluorescent paint. In another embodiment, the material of which 
the cap 26, 50 is composed includes an imbedded fluorescent material, such 
as fluorescent flecks that are visible at the surface of the cap 26, 50. 
Located within the compartment 24 is at least one electric power cell 38 
forming the power source for the present invention 10. On the inner 
surface of the cap 40 is an electrically conductive spring 42 for pushing 
the cells together and to the inner wall of the compartment 44, and for 
making electrical contact with the rear electrode of the power cell 48. On 
the inner wall of the compartment 44 is an electrical contact 46 against 
which the cells 38 are pushed by the spring 42. 
A main electric switch 70 is mounted in the handle 12 in front of the reel 
14 so as not to interfere with the operation of the reel 14. 
Alternatively, the main electric switch 70 is mounted under the floatation 
sleeve. The main electric switch 70 is externally controllable in both 
configurations. The main electric switch 70 has four operational 
positions, as described below. 
As seen in FIG. 4, the handle 12 has a light transmissive portion 74 at the 
front end. This portion 74 is preferably either clear transparent or clear 
translucent. The outer surface of the light transmissive portion 74 is 
contiguous with the adjacent outer surface of the handle 12. The light 
transmissive portion 74 is attached to the handle 12 by external threads 
on the handle 94 and mating internal threads on the handle lens 96. A 
watertight seal is created by compressing a rubber O-ring 98 between the 
shoulder of the handle 12 and the end surface of the light transmissive 
portion 74. 
In one embodiment, a transparent or translucent overlay 76 that is 
preferably red in color encircles the handle 12 adjacent to the light 
transmissive portion 74. The overlay 76 is mounted for longitudinal 
movement along the handle 12 where, in its inactive position, shown in 
FIG. 4, it is not overlapping any part of the light transmissive portion 
74 and, in its active position, it is substantially completely overlapping 
the light transmissive portion 74. 
In another embodiment, shown in FIG. 5, the red transparent overlay 62 only 
partially encircles the handle 12 adjacent to the light transmissive 
portion 74. Preferably, the overlay 62 encircles half of the circumference 
of the handle 12. The overlay 62 is mounted for longitudinal movement 
along the handle 12 where, in its inactive position, it is not overlapping 
any part of the light transmissive portion 74 and, in its active position, 
it overlaps a portion of the light transmissive portion 74. The overlay 62 
is held to the handle 12 by longitudinal flanges 64 that extend inwardly 
from the long overlay edge 66, where the flanges 64 ride in longitudinal 
grooves 68 in the surface of the handle 12. 
An additional embodiment contemplated by the present invention, but not 
shown, has a partially encircling first overlay attached to the handle as 
described above, but also includes a second overlay that removably 
attaches to the first overlay, where the combination of the two overlays 
completely encircles the handle. Thus, the light transmissive portion can 
be completely overlapped by the combination of the two overlays or 
partially overlaid by the first overlay, at the user's option. 
The overlay 62, 76 is held in either the inactive position or active 
position by a shallow annular groove 78 in the inner surface of the 
overlay 62, 76 mating with one of two annular ridges 80, 82 on the surface 
of the handle 12. The inner diameter of the overlay 62, 76 is slightly 
smaller than the outer diameter of the ridges 80, 82 so that, as the 
overlay 62, 76 passes over the handle 12 surface, the annular ridges 80, 
82 impart a small amount of friction to the inner surface of the overlay 
62, 76 except when the annular groove 78 is coincident with one of the 
annular ridges 80, 82. The snap action of one of the annular ridges 80, 82 
into the annular groove holds the overlay 62, 76 in position. When the 
overlay 62, 76 is in its active position, an overlay electric switch 92 is 
active, otherwise the overlay electric switch 92 is inactive. The function 
of the overlay electric switch 92 is described below. 
Mounted inside the handle 12 in an electric socket 84 is a lamp 86. 
Preferably, the socket 84 is a screw or bayonet type socket. Two 
electrical contacts within the socket 88 mate with matching contacts on 
the handle lamp 90. The handle lamp 90 is accessed by unscrewing the light 
transmissive portion 74 from the rear portion of the handle 12 at the 
threads 94, 96. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the rod 16 is an elongated member extending 
longitudinally from the front extremity 152 of the handle 12 and that 
tapers toward the tip away from the handle 100. The rod 16 has a plurality 
of line guides 18 mounted to its surface. The rod 16 may be solid or 
hollow and is preferably composed of fiberglass. 
As shown in FIG. 6, attached to the rod tip 100 is a red transparent or 
translucent lens 102. Preferably, the rod lens 102 is attached to the tip 
100 by external threads on the rod surface 104 and mating internal threads 
in the rod lens 106. When the rod lens 102 is attached via the threads 
104, 106 to the rod tip 100, a substantially watertight seal is created by 
compressing a rubber O-ring 108 between the shoulder of the rod 110 and 
the end surface of the rod lens 112. 
A lamp 114 is located at the rod tip 100. Formed or fitted into an opening 
on the rod tip 100 is an electric socket 116 into which the rod lamp 114 
attaches. The socket 116 is preferably a screw or a bayonet type socket. 
Two electrical contacts within the socket 118 mate with matching contacts 
on the rod lamp 120. If the rod 16 is hollow, two electric wires 122 that 
are electrically connected to the socket contacts 118 extend through the 
hollow to the handle 12. If the rod 16 is solid, two electric conductors 
electrically connected to the socket contacts 118 are embedded in the rod 
16 from the socket 116 to the handle 12. 
In an alternate embodiment, shown in FIG. 7, there is no separate lens; the 
rod lamp 130 is mounted at the rod tip 100. The rod lamp 130 has external 
threads 132 that mate with the internal threads 134 of a socket 136 that 
is formed in or fitted into the rod tip 100. When the rod lamp 130 is 
mounted into the socket 136, a substantially watertight seal is created by 
compressing a rubber O-ring 138 between the shoulder of the rod lamp 140 
and the end surface of the rod tip 142. Two electrical contacts within the 
socket 144 mate with matching contacts on the rod lamp 146. If the rod 16 
is hollow, two electric wires 148 that are electrically connected to the 
socket contacts 144 extend through the hollow to the handle 12. If the rod 
16 is solid, two electric conductors electrically connected to the socket 
contacts 144 are embedded in the rod 16 from the socket 136 to the handle 
12. 
An electrical diagram of the present invention 10 is shown in FIG. 8. The 
power cells 38 are connected to the circuit through the spring 42 on the 
cap 26, 50 and through the electrical contact 46 at the inner extremity of 
the handle compartment 24. 
The main electric switch 70 has four operational positions or states. In 
the first position 70a, the off state, both the handle lamp 86 and the rod 
lamp 114, 130 are deenergized. In the second position 70b, the 
illumination state, the handle lamp 86 is energized and the rod lamp 114, 
130 is deenergized. In the third position 70c, the signalling state, the 
handle lamp 86 is deenergized and the rod lamp 114, 130 is energized. In 
the fourth position 70d, the combination state, both the handle lamp 86 
and the rod lamp 114, 130 are energized. 
When the overlay electric switch 92 is inactive, any energized lamp emits a 
steady light. When the overlay switch 92 is active, a flasher module 150 
is switched into series with the power cells 38. This causes any energized 
lamp to emit pulses of light at a predetermined rate. The pulse rate is 
preferably between 1 and 5 times per second. The flasher module 150 is 
located within the handle 12. 
OPERATION 
The safety fishing pole of the present invention 10 is, for the most part, 
used in the same manner as any standard fishing pole. The reel 14 is 
attached to the handle 12 and the line 20 is strung through the line 
guides 18. 
Power is supplied to the handle lamp 86 and rod lamp 114, 130 but electric 
cells 38 installed in a compartment 24 in the end of the handle 12. The 
compartment 24 is accessed by unscrewing the cap 34, 50 from the handle 
12. The cells 38 are installed sequentially into the compartment 24 and 
the cap 34, 50 is reinstalled by screwing it back onto the handle 12. 
If the handle lamp 86 needs to be replaced, the light transmissive portion 
74 is unscrewed from the handle 12, the handle lamp 86 is removed from the 
handle socket 84, a new handle lamp 86 is installed in the handle socket 
84, and the light transmissive portion 74 is screwed back onto the handle 
12. If the rod lamp 114 of the first embodiment needs to be replaced, the 
lens 102 is unscrewed from the rod tip 100, the rod lamp 114 is removed 
from the rod socket 116, a new rod lamp 114 is installed in the rod socket 
116, and the lens 102 is screwed back onto the rod tip 100. If the rod 
lamp 130 if the second embodiment needs to be replaced, it is removed from 
the rod socket 136 and a new rod lamp 130 is installed in the rod socket 
136. 
When the person using the safety fishing pole needs illumination, he or she 
can move the main switch 70 from the off state to the illumination, 
signalling, or combination state. This energizes either the handle lamp 86 
only or the handle lamp 86 and the rod lamp 114, 130 to emit a steady 
light. In any state, moving the overlay 62, 76 from its inactive position 
to its active position causes any energized lamp to emit pulses of light 
at a predetermined rate.