Abstract:
A casting device, such as a fishing rod. The present casting device includes a rod, a spool disposed on the rod, a clamp disposed at the distal end of the rod, and a trigger operably connected to the clamp. The rod is configured to support a primary line having a secondary line extending therefrom. The secondary line further includes a stop configured to be gripped by the clamp. When the stop is gripped by the clamp, the primary line is tethered to the distal end of the rod via the secondary line. In one embodiment, the clamp includes a pair of clamp members connected by an articulated, pivotable connection. The casting device allows a user to precisely control the moment at which the primary line is cast because the primary line remains tethered to the rod until the clamp is opened.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to devices configured to cast and reel in a line, e.g. fishing poles. More specifically, the present invention relates devices used to cast a line with increased speed, distance, and efficiency. 
         [0002]    Current casting devices, e.g. fishing poles, do not provide users with the desired degree of control over when the line is released when the device is brought forward in a casting motion. Therefore, there is a need in the prior art for a casting device that provides users with the means to precisely control when the line is released during the casting motion. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of casting devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a casting device configured to function with a line that can be reversibly tethered to the end of the rod in order to assist in casting the line at the appropriate time. The present casting device includes a rod, a spool disposed on the rod, a clamp disposed at the distal end of the rod, and a trigger operably connected to the clamp. The rod is configured to support a primary line having a secondary line extending therefrom. The secondary line further includes a stop configured to be gripped by the clamp. When the stop is gripped by the clamp, the primary line is tethered to the distal end of the rod via the secondary line. In one embodiment, the clamp includes a pair of clamp members connected by an articulated, pivotable connection. The casting device allows a user to precisely control the moment at which the primary line is cast because the primary line remains tethered to the rod until the clamp is opened. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the casting device. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the casting device. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3A  shows an enlarged cutaway view of the distal end of the casting device with the clamp in a closed position. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3B  shows an enlarged cutaway view of the distal end of the casting device with the clamp in an open position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the present casting device. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
         [0010]    An illustrative embodiment of the present invention is herein described as a fishing rod; however, the principles of the illustrative embodiment are equally applicable to devices configured to cast rope, life preservers, or other objects for use by law enforcement personnel, lifeguards, and other such individuals. The embodiment or embodiments of the casting device discussed herein are intended solely to be illustrative. 
         [0011]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there are shown a perspective view and an exploded view of an embodiment of the casting device. The depicted embodiment of the casting device includes an elongated rod  101  supporting a reel  102  and a clamp  150  disposed at the distal end of the rod  101 . The reel  102  in the depicted embodiment of the casting device includes at least a spool  105  rotatably controlled by a crank  104 . The clamp  150  is operably connected by a cable  154  to a trigger  103  disposed on the rod  101 . The trigger  103  can be transitioned between at least a first position in which the cable  154  is held in tension and a second position in which the cable  154  is slack or otherwise not in tension. In an illustrative embodiment of the casting device, the reel  102  includes any fishing reel known in the prior art. 
         [0012]    The depicted embodiment of the casting device further includes a line  201  that can be reversibly wound about the spool  105  for casting and reeling in the line  201 . The line  201  further includes a secondary line  202  extending therefrom. In an illustrative embodiment of the casting device, the secondary line  202  extends from the line  201  near the distal end thereof. The secondary line  202  further comprises a stop  203  that is configured to be grasped by the clamp  150  and held securely thereby. In an illustrative embodiment of the casting device, the stop  203  is depicted as having a roughly ovoidal shape; however, the stop  203  includes any shape or structure disposed at the end of the secondary line  202  that is configured to be gripped by the clamp  150 . When the stop  203  is held by the clamp  150 , the line  201  is prevented from being cast when the casting device is brought forward in a casting motion because the line  201  is tethered to the clamp  150  via the secondary line  202 . Using the combination of the clamp  150 , as controlled by the trigger  103 , and the secondary line  202  with the stop  203 , a user can thereby control whether the line  201  is cast or not. 
         [0013]    In an illustrative embodiment of the present casting device, the rod  101  is constructed from graphite or carbon fiber, fiberglass, bamboo, or any other material known in the prior art for fishing rods. The line  201  is additionally threadable along one or more guides  106  extending along the length of the rod  101 . Additionally, in an embodiment of the casting device, the rod  101  tapers in diameter from the end proximal to the reel  102  to the distal end. 
         [0014]    The depicted embodiment of the present casting device is a fishing rod having a reel. However, this should not be interpreted as limiting in any way. Alternative embodiments of the present casting device that are intended for use in fishing applications that lack reels, e.g. tenkara-style fishing rods, are contemplated by the present disclosure. Furthermore, embodiments of the present casting device that are utilized for non-fishing applications, such as to a casting device intended to be used to cast life preservers, that lacks reels are also contemplated by the present disclosure. 
         [0015]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , there are shown enlarged cutaway views of the distal end of the casting device with the clamp in a closed position and an open position, respectively. In an illustrative embodiment of the casting device, the clamp includes a first clamp member  152  and a second clamp member  153  disposed at the distal end  151  of the rod. A portion of each of the first clamp member  152  and the second clamp member  153  are internal to the distal end  151  of the rod. The first clamp member  152  and the second clamp member  153  are pivotably connected  155 , which allows for the clamp to transition between a closed position, as shown in  FIG. 3A , and an open position, as shown in  FIG. 3B . When in its open position, the clamp is configured to receive the stop  203  at the distal extend of the secondary line  202  extending from the primary line. When in its closed position, the clamp is configured to securely grip or hold the stop  203  in order to hold the primary line tethered to the distal end  151  of the rod via the secondary line  202 . Whether the clamp is in a closed position or an open position is controlled by the trigger via a cable  154  that extends from the trigger and is operably connected to the clamp. 
         [0016]    In an illustrative embodiment of the clamp, the first clamp member  152  includes a recess  157  configured to receive a flange  156  extending from the second clamp member  153 . The flange  156  includes a projection  160  configured to bear against the interior edge  159  of the recess  157  when the clamp is in both its open and closed positions. The projection  160  thereby prevents the second clamp member  153  from disconnecting from the first clamp member  152 . The flange  156  further includes an angled surface  161  extending rearward from the projection  160 . The angled surface  161  is configured to rest flush against the interior surface of the recess  157  when the clamp is in its open position in order to assist in stabilizing the second clamp member  153  against the first clamp member  152 . 
         [0017]    In an illustrative embodiment of the clamp, the second clamp member  153  further includes a raised surface or a projection, e.g. a ledge  158  as depicted, disposed on the side of the second clamp member  153  opposite to the flange  156 . The ledge  158  is a raised surface configured to bear against the edge of the distal end  151  of the rod and prevent the second clamp member  153  from being drawn therethrough when the clamp is closed. 
         [0018]    The clamp is includes a cutout, recess, or other such structure configured to receive and hold the stop  203 . In an illustrative embodiment of the clamp, the first clamp member  152  includes a first cutout  171  and the second clamp member  153  includes a second cutout  172 . The first cutout  171  and the second cutout  172  are positioned so that they are aligned with each other when the clamp is in its closed position. Furthermore, the first cutout  171  and the second cutout  172  are together dimensioned to be equal to or greater than the dimensions of the stop  203 . The first clamp member  152  and the second clamp member  153  rest flush against each other when the clamp is closed, thereby allowing the first cutout  171  and the second cutout  172  to receive and enclose the stop  203  therein. 
         [0019]    In an illustrative embodiment of the casting device, the cable  154  is connected to the first clamp member  152 . When the trigger is actuated, the cable  154  is tensioned, which in turn causes the cable  154  to exert a longitudinal force on the first clamp member  152 . This longitudinal force pulls the first clamp member  152  into the distal end  151  of the rod. When the first clamp member  152  is pulled into the distal end  151  of the rod, the interior edge  159  of the recess  157  bears against the flange  156  of the second clamp member  153 , pulling the second clamp member  153  therewith. Further longitudinal movement of the second clamp member  153  is limited by the ledge  158 . When the ledge  158  of the second clamp member  153  contacts the distal end  151  of the rod and is prevented from moving further, the first clamp member  152  is likewise prevented from moving further into the rod because the flange  156  bears against the interior edge  159  of the recess  157  and acts as an obstruction to the first clamp member  152 . The first clamp member  152  and the second clamp member  153  rest tightly and flushly against each other in the clamp&#39;s closed position. 
         [0020]    When the trigger is released, the tension in the cable  154  is in turn released, which creates slack in the cable  154 . The slack in the cable  154  allows the first and second clamp members  152 ,  153  a degree of longitudinal movement. When the trigger is released and the casting device is brought forward in a casting motion, the centrifugal force of the casting motion causes the first and second clamp members  152 ,  153  to move outwardly from the distal end  151  of the rod. The length to which the first clamp member  152  can extend is limited by the ultimate length of the cable  154 . The length to which the second clamp member  153  can extend is limited by the projection  160  bearing against the interior edge  159  of the recess  157 . The first and second clamp members  152 ,  153  therefore remain connected despite the tension being removed from the first clamp member  152 . The gap between the angled surface  161  and the interior surface of the recess  157  allows the second clamp member  153  to rotate away from the first clamp member  152  into an open position for the clamp. When the second clamp member  153  is rotated fully away from the first clamp member  152 , the angled surface  161  rests flush against the interior surface of the recess  157 . 
         [0021]    It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
         [0022]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.