Patent Publication Number: US-2015068102-A1

Title: Fishing rod with built-in measuring devices

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/875,329, filed Sep. 9, 2013. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of fishing tackle and accessories and more particularly to a fishing rod with built-in measuring devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Most sport fishers can confirm that obtaining a quick weight and length measurement of a freshly caught fish, without being forced to put down the fishing rod, would be desirable. 
     A sport fisher may be in a location where putting down the fishing rod may present various problems, such as tall grass, or a steep, muddy riverbank where the rod might slide into the water. There is always a risk that the exposed fishing line on the rod may become entangled with objects on the ground. 
     A fishing rod with a built-in scale in the handle for weighing the fish, and numbered striations down the length of the rod itself so that it may be used as a measuring stick for the length, would satisfy this demand. 
     The rod may also feature a connection capability with the Internet via any one of several wireless data protocols, such as Bluetooth™, to facilitate the transfer of length and weight data to a computer or smartphone, and may also feature a port for the installation of a memory card. 
     As such, considering the foregoing, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for novel and improved devices and methods for extending the use of a fishing rod with a measuring device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention, wherein in aspects of this invention, enhancements are provided to the existing model of a fishing rod. 
     In an aspect, the invention is directed to a fishing rod with built-in devices to measure the length and weight of a fish. The rod features a built-in scale in the handle for weighing the fish, and numbered striations down the length of the rod itself so that it may be used as a measuring stick for the length. Measurements are provided in both English and metric systems. 
     The scale features a digital weight display, and a weighing hook at the end of a cord, which may be stored in a cavity within the handle, and extended when needed. 
     The rod may also feature a connection capability with the Internet via any one of several wireless data protocols, such as Bluetooth™, to facilitate the transfer of length and weight data to a computer or smartphone, and may also feature a port for the installation of a memory card. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a fishing rod according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating a part of fishing rod according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating a part of fishing rod according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram illustrating a system for measurement according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram illustrating a measuring control device according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating a part of fishing rod according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram illustrating a fishing rod according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram illustrating a part of fishing rod according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before describing the invention in detail, it should be observed that the present invention resides primarily in a novel and non-obvious combination of elements and process steps. So as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art, certain conventional elements and steps have been presented with lesser detail, while the drawings and specification describe in greater detail other elements and steps pertinent to understanding the invention. 
     The following embodiments are not intended to define limits as to the structure or method of the invention, but only to provide exemplary constructions. The embodiments are permissive rather than mandatory and illustrative rather than exhaustive. 
     In the following, we describe the structure of an embodiment of a fishing rod  100  with reference to  FIG. 1 , in such manner that like reference numerals refer to like components throughout; a convention that we shall employ for the remainder of this specification. 
     Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directed to a fishing rod  100  with built-in devices to measure the length and weight of a fish. 
     In a related embodiment, the fishing rod  100  can include:
         a. a scale  113  for weighing a fish;   b. a weight display  115 , which is connected to the scale  113 ;   c. a cord  114 , that is connected to the scale  113  at a first end of the cord  114 ;   d. and a weighing hook  116 , which is connected to a second end of the cord  114 .       

     In a related embodiment, the weighing hook  116  and the cord  114  can be stored in a cavity  118  within the handle  112 , and extended from the cavity  118  when needed to weigh a fish. 
     In a related embodiment, the fishing rod  100  can further include a cap  119 , such that the cap can close the cavity  118 , when the weighing hook  116  and the cord  114  are stored in the cavity  118 . 
     In a related embodiment, the cap  119  can be threaded. 
     In a related embodiment, the scale  113  can be placed inside the handle  112  of the fishing rod  100 , and the digital weight display  115  can be placed on a surface of the handle  112 . In  FIG. 1 , the scale  113  is shown in short dashed lines, to indicate it is inside the handle  112 . 
     In a related embodiment, the fishing rod  100  can further include length measurement markings  111 , which can be marked on an elongated member  110  of the rod  100 , such that it can be used as a measuring stick to measure the length of a fish. 
     In a further related embodiment, the length measurement markings  111  can further include number markings. 
       FIG. 2  Illustrates a partial close-up view of the fishing rod  100 , showing the handle  112 , the scale  113 , the weight display  115 , the cord  114 , and the weighing hook  116 . 
     A first example embodiment can include the handle  112  with the cavity  118  to store the weighing hook  116 , a cord  114 , a digital weight display  115 , a built-in scale in the handle for weighing a fish, and a threaded cap  119 . Further, the fishing rod  100  can include numbered markings  111  down the length of the elongated member  110  of the rod  100 , such that it can be used as a measuring stick to measure the length of the fish. Measurements can be provided in both English and metric systems. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a partial close-up view of the fishing rod  100 , showing the markings  111 , further comprising English system markings  302  and metric system markings  304 . 
     In a related embodiment, the English system markings  302  can have an appearance that is clearly different from the metric system markings  304 , to facilitate an accurate reading by the user. 
     In a further related example embodiment, the English system markings  302  can be in a first color, and the metric system markings  304  can be in a second color, such that the first color is contrasting to the second color. 
     In a second example embodiment, the fishing rod  100  can have a battery-powered scale with a digital weight display  115 , located in the handle  112 . The cavity  118 , containing the weighing hook  116 , is covered by a threaded cap  119  when the scale is not in use. To prevent loss, the threaded cap can be tethered to the handle with a short length of cord or light chain  202 . 
     In a related embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , an on/off switch  204  to activate and deactivate the scale  113  and the weight display  115  can be located on the handle  112 . 
     In related embodiments, the scale  113  and the weight display  115  can be:
         a. Mechanical, such that both the scale  113  and the weight display  115  are mechanical devices connected via a mechanical connection. In some related embodiments the scale  113  and the weight display  115  can be parts of one device;   b. Digital, such that the scale  113  is a digital scale, which is an electronic digital device, and the weight display  115 , is a digital weight display, such as an LCD screen.       

     In a further related embodiment, the digital weight display  115  can support touch functionality. 
     To use the first example embodiment, a user removes a freshly caught fish from a fishing hook, unscrews the threaded cap, and pulls the weighing hook  116  out of the cavity  118 . The user then hangs the fish from the weighing hook  116  and activates the on/off switch  204  to obtain the weight from the digital weight display  115 . In a related embodiment, the scale  113  and weight display  115  can be activated automatically when a force is applied to the scale  113 , via the cord  114 . 
     To use the second exemplary embodiment, the user removes the freshly caught fish from the fishing hook, measures the fish using the markings  111  on the rod  100 , removes the cap  119 , and pulls the weighing hook  116  out of the cavity  118 . The user then hangs the fish from the weighing hook  116  and activates the on/off switch  204  to obtain the weight from the digital weight display  115 . 
     The fishing rod  100  can be manufactured in a number of variants well known in the art of fishing rods.  FIG. 1 . shows the fishing rod  100  in the form of a spinning rod, with a spinning reel  120  mounted. In other variants, the fishing rod  100  can include a fly rod, an ice fishing rod, a deep sea fishing rod, a surf casting rod, a dapping rod, and any other type of fishing rod. 
     The fishing rod  100  can be manufactured in one piece, in two pieces, as shown in  FIG. 1 , or in a plurality of pieces. 
     The fishing rod  100  comprises a flexible elongated member  110 , sometimes called a blank, which can be a length of glass fiber, glass fiber composite, carbon fiber composite, carbon fiber, bamboo, split cane bamboo, Kevlar composite, or other suitable material. 
     The handle  112  can be manufactured of a flexible, durable material such as cork, foam rubber, silicone, rubber, plastic, or combination thereof. The handle  112  can partially or fully expose the elongated member/blank  110 , and can be in one piece, or in two or more pieces. 
     The weighing hook  116  can be manufactured from a rigid, durable material such as aluminum, steel, stainless steel, or plastic. 
     The cap  119  can for example be manufactured from a rigid, durable material such as aluminum, steel, stainless steel, or plastic. 
     The cord  114  can be manufactured from a flexible, durable fibrous material, such as plastic or nylon. 
     Components, component sizes, and materials listed above are preferable, but artisans will recognize that alternate components and materials could be selected without altering the scope of the invention. 
     In an embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the handle  112  can be detachable, such that the handle with the inbuilt weighing system can be attached with an attachment mechanism  702  to different elongated members  110  to form a fishing rod  100 . The attachment mechanism  702  can include a threaded attachment, such that the handle screws into or onto the elongated member  110 , or it can include different forms of ferrule or slide-in or slide-on attachment mechanisms, including a spigot ferrule as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     In another embodiment, the rod can also include a connection capability with a wireless connection, such as Bluetooth™, to facilitate the transfer of length and weight data to a computer or smartphone, and can also feature a port for the installation of a memory card. 
     In a related embodiment,  FIG. 4  illustrates a system for weight measurement  400 , further including:
         a. A digital display  115 ;   b. A scale  113 , in the form of a digital weight sensor/gauge;   c. A measuring control device  402 ; which is connected to the scale  113 , and can output weight measurement data and other information via a connection to the digital display  115 ;        Such that the measuring control device  402  can communicate with a mobile device  410 , such that the mobile device can receive input from the measuring control device  402  and can control functions on the measuring control device  402 .   

     In a related embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the measuring control device  402  can include:
         a. A processor  502 ;   b. A non-transitory memory  504 ;   c. An input/output  506 ;   d. A weighing manager  510 ; and   e. A communication manager  512 ; all connected via   f. A data bus  520 ;        Wherein the weighing manager  510  communicates with a digital scale  113  via the input/output  506 , and stores a measurement in the memory  504 , and the weighing manager communicates with the display via the input/output  506 , and the communication manager communicates with a mobile device  410 , to transmit measurements and receive commands from the mobile device  410 .   

     In related embodiments, the mobile device  410  can include configurations as:
         a. A mobile app, executing on a mobile device, such as for example an Android phone or iPhone, or any wearable mobile device;   b. A tablet app, executing on a tablet device, such as for example an Android or iOS tablet device;   c. A web application, executing in a Web browser;   d. A desktop application, executing on a personal computer, or similar device;   e. An embedded application, executing on a processing device, such as for example a smart TV, a game console or other system.       

     In a related embodiment, the on/off switch  204  can activate and deactivate the system for weight measurement  400  via a connection with the input/output  506  of the measuring control device  402 . 
     It shall be understood that an executing instance of an embodiment of the system for weight measurement  400 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , can include a plurality of mobile devices  410 , which are each tied to one or more measuring control devices  402 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of the handle  112  of the fishing rod  100 , such that the system for weight measurement  400  is a part of the handle  112 . 
       FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6  are block diagrams and flowcharts methods, devices, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. It shall be understood that each block or step of the block diagram, flowchart and control flow illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the block diagram, flowchart and control flow illustrations, can be implemented by computer program instructions or other means. Although computer program instructions are discussed, an apparatus or system according to the present invention can include other means, such as hardware or some combination of hardware and software, including one or more processors or controllers, for performing the disclosed functions. 
     In this regard,  FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6  depict the computer devices of various embodiments, each containing several of the key components of a general-purpose computer by which an embodiment of the present invention may be implemented. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that a computer can include many components. However, it is not necessary that all of these generally conventional components be shown in order to disclose an illustrative embodiment for practicing the invention. The general-purpose computer can include a processing unit and a system memory, which may include various forms of non-transitory storage media such as random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM). The computer also may include nonvolatile storage memory, such as a hard disk drive, where additional data can be stored. 
     It shall be understood that the above-mentioned components of the . . . system for weight measurement  400  and the measuring control device  402  are to be interpreted in the most general manner. 
     For example, the processor  502  can include a single physical microprocessor or microcontroller, a cluster of processors, a datacenter or a cluster of datacenters, a computing cloud service, and the like. 
     In a further example, the non-transitory memory  504  can include various forms of non-transitory storage media, including random access memory and other forms of dynamic storage, and hard disks, hard disk clusters, cloud storage services, and other forms of long-term storage. Similarly, the input/output  506  can include a plurality of well-known input/output devices, such as screens, keyboards, pointing devices, motion trackers, communication ports, and so forth. 
     Furthermore, it shall be understood that system for weight measurement  400  and the measuring control device  402  can each respectively include a number of other components that are well known in the art of general computer devices, and therefore shall not be further described herein. This can include system access to common functions and hardware, such as for example via operating system layers such as Windows, Linux, and similar operating system software, but can also include configurations wherein application services are executing directly on server hardware or via a hardware abstraction layer other than a complete operating system. 
     An embodiment of the present invention can also include one or more input or output components, such as a mouse, keyboard, monitor, and the like. A display can be provided for viewing text and graphical data, as well as a user interface to allow a user to request specific operations. Furthermore, an embodiment of the present invention may be connected to one or more remote computers via a network interface. The connection may be over a local area network (LAN) wide area network (WAN), and can include all of the necessary circuitry for such a connection. 
     In a related embodiment, the measuring control device  402  communicates with the digital display  115 , the scale  113 , and the mobile device  410  over at least one network, which can include a direct wired connection, the general Internet, a Wide Area Network or a Local Area Network, or another form of communication network, transmitted on wired or wireless connections. Wireless networks can for example include Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, and NFC. The communication can be transferred via a secure, encrypted communication protocol. 
     Typically, computer program instructions may be loaded onto the computer or other general-purpose programmable machine to produce a specialized machine, such that the instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable machine create means for implementing the functions specified in the block diagrams, schematic diagrams or flowcharts. Such computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable medium that when loaded into a computer or other programmable machine can direct the machine to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instruction means that implement the function specified in the block diagrams, schematic diagrams or flowcharts. 
     In addition, the computer program instructions may be loaded into a computer or other programmable machine to cause a series of operational steps to be performed by the computer or other programmable machine to produce a computer-implemented process, such that the instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable machine provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the block diagram, schematic diagram, flowchart block or step. 
     Accordingly, blocks or steps of the block diagram, flowchart or control flow illustrations support combinations of means for performing the specified functions, combinations of steps for performing the specified functions and program instruction means for performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that each block or step of the block diagrams, schematic diagrams or flowcharts, as well as combinations of blocks or steps, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based computer systems, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions, that perform the specified functions or steps. 
     As an example, provided for purposes of illustration only, a data input software tool of a search engine application can be a representative means for receiving a query including one or more search terms. Similar software tools of applications, or implementations of embodiments of the present invention, can be means for performing the specified functions. For example, an embodiment of the present invention may include computer software for interfacing a processing element with a user-controlled input device, such as a mouse, keyboard, touch screen display, scanner, or the like. Similarly, an output of an embodiment of the present invention may include, for example, a combination of display software, video card hardware, and display hardware. A processing element may include, for example, a controller or microprocessor, such as a central processing unit (CPU), arithmetic logic unit (ALU), or control unit. 
     The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention, which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 
     For example, alternative embodiments can reconfigure or combine the components of the system for weight measurement  400 , such that the measuring control device  402 , executes on the mobile device  410 , and communicated with the scale  113  via a wireless connection. 
     In a further related example embodiment, the display function may also be provided by the mobile device  410 , such that there is no digital display  115  in the handle  112 . 
     Many such alternative configurations are readily apparent, and should be considered fully included in this specification and the claims appended hereto. Accordingly, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and thus, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.