Patent ID: 7472509

Claim:
A two-piece fishing rod, comprising: (a) a first rod section having a first distal end, a first proximal end, and a first internal cavity with a first cavity end, the first cavity extending to and through the first proximal end; (b) a second rod section having a second distal end, a second proximal end, and a second internal cavity with a second cavity end, the second cavity extending substantially through the second rod section including to and through the second distal end, wherein the first proximal end and the second distal end are structured to slidingly and telescopingly mate to join the first and second rod sections together in an end-to-end engaged configuration; (c) a latching mechanism structured to releasably latch the first proximal end to the second distal end in the engaged configuration, the latching mechanism including: (1) a first latch portion wherein the first proximal end is oval-shaped and has a first major axis and a first minor axis, and (2) a second latch portion wherein the second distal end is oval-shaped and has a second major axis and a second minor axis, and (3) wherein the first proximal end and the second distal end being minimally flexible with the first and second sections, when mated with each other, being axially rotatable to and from: (A) a latched configuration whereat the first major axis is aligned with the second minor axis, and (B) an unlatched configuration whereat the first major axis is aligned with the second major axis; (d) an indicating mechanism structured to indicate when the first and second rod sections, when mated, have been rotated to the latched configuration; (e) a retention member having a first member end secured to the first cavity end and a second member end secured to the second cavity end, the retention member being constructed of flexible resilient material and being structured and dimensioned to create a force between the first and second rod sections even when the first and second rod sections are matingly engaged; (f) gripping means including a first grip secured to the first rod section near the first proximal end thereof and a second grip secured to the second rod section near the second distal end thereof, the gripping means being structured to assist a user to displace the first and second rod sections to and from the latched and unlatched configurations and to overcome the force created by the retention member between the first and second rod sections when disengaging the first rod section from the second rod section; and (g) a connecting mechanism structured to releasably secure the first distal end to the second proximal end when the first proximal end is disengaged from the second distal end; and (h) the latching mechanism and the retention member are structured wherein the frictional forces created by the latching mechanism in combination with the force created by the retention member between the first and second rod sections prevent the first rod section from separating from the second rod section in a casting operation.