阅读说明：本技术 钓鱼竿 (Fishing rod ) 是由 杰弗里·W·钱伯斯 布拉德利·T·钱伯斯 于 2020-02-19 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种钓鱼竿,该钓鱼竿包括包含形状记忆材料的竿主体。(The present invention relates to a fishing rod comprising a rod body comprising a shape memory material.)

1. A fishing rod comprising:

a rod body extending from a handle end to a tip end, wherein at least a portion of the rod body comprises a shape memory material configured to self-return to a normal shape upon removal of an applied load.

2. The fishing rod of claim 1, wherein the rod body includes a shaft and a shape memory member.

3. The fishing rod of claim 2, wherein the shape memory member is embedded within the thickness of the shaft.

4. The fishing rod of claim 2, wherein the shape memory member is attached to a surface of the shaft.

5. The fishing rod of claim 2, wherein the shaft is a coating applied to the shape memory member.

6. The fishing rod as claimed in claim 2, wherein the shape memory member is a wire braid fixed to the shaft.

7. A fishing rod as claimed in claim 2, wherein the shape memory member is a tubular body fixed on a tip region of the shaft.

8. A fishing rod as claimed in claim 7, wherein the length of the shape memory member is at least 30% of the working length of the rod body.

9. The fishing rod of claim 7, wherein the shape memory member is externally exposed along an exterior of the rod body.

10. A fishing rod as claimed in claim 7, wherein the outer diameter of the rod body at the tip end is defined by the shape memory member.

11. The fishing rod of claim 7, wherein the rod body is characterized by a uniformly tapered shape extending to the tip end, and further wherein the shape memory member defines a portion of the uniformly tapered shape.

12. A fishing rod as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a line guide secured directly to the exterior of the shape memory member.

13. The fishing rod of claim 2, wherein the shaft defines a longitudinal axis, and further wherein the shape memory member is configured and positioned relative to the shaft such that the rod body exhibits a first degree of flexibility in a first direction relative to the longitudinal axis and a second degree of flexibility in a second direction relative to the longitudinal axis, the first direction being opposite the second direction, and the first degree of flexibility being greater than the second degree of flexibility.

14. The fishing rod of claim 1, wherein the shape memory material comprises a shape memory metal alloy.

15. The fishing rod of claim 14, wherein the shape memory metal alloy is a nickel titanium alloy.

16. The fishing rod of claim 1, wherein the shape memory material comprises a shape memory polymer.

17. The fishing rod of claim 1, wherein the rod body is formed of a mixture of non-shape memory material fibers and shape memory material fibers.

18. The fishing rod of claim 17, wherein the non-shape-memory material fiber is a carbon fiber, and further wherein the shape-memory material fiber is a nitinol fiber.

19. The fishing rod as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rod body includes a shaft, a first shape memory member formed as a tube and assembled on the shaft, and a second shape memory member formed as a braid and fixed to the shaft.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to fishing rods. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a fishing rod having high strength and responsiveness and a method of manufacturing the same.

Background

Basic fishing rod and reel configurations have been known and used for quite some time by sport fishermen. As sports fishing becomes more complex, modifications to the equipment become increasingly important in order to optimize one's experience and ability to capture different types of fish under a variety of conditions.

Enthusiastic anglers strongly prefer fishing rods that are lightweight, durable, and exhibit a desired level of motion, stiffness, or flexibility (or "responsiveness"). For example, the rigidity or flexibility to be able to launch and place the bait in the desired location in the water, as well as the strength and structural robustness for lifting the catch out of the water. The term "action" is used to describe the degree to which a rod bends or deflects when a force is applied at the tip of the rod. Slow motion rods deflect less than the same type of fast motion or mid-motion rods. The responsiveness of a rod typically involves the ability of the entire rod to flex under load and then return to the original shape or state when the load is removed or released.

Fishing rods typically comprise one or more rod bodies carrying a line guide (e.g. a metal ring) or forming an internal line guide channel. In some cases, a single long rod body is provided; for other fishing rod designs, two or more rod bodies are provided and attached to each other. The rod body may be solid or hollow. In any event, a unitary or connected rod body extends from a handle or handle end (at which the fishing reel is attached) to a tip end, the diameter of which generally tapers from the handle end to the tip end. The rod body or bodies are typically formed from a reinforced fibre material, such as a sheet of glass fibre or carbon fibre. Although accepted, conventional fishing rod body constructions do not meet all of the performance characteristics required by experienced anglers.

Disclosure of Invention

The inventors of the present disclosure have recognized a need to address one or more of the above-mentioned problems.

Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to a fishing rod including a rod body. In some embodiments, the construction of the rod body comprises a shape memory material, such as a shape memory metal, metal alloy, shape memory polymer, or some combination of carbon fiber, glass fiber and metal, metal alloy, or polymer with shape memory properties.

Using some fishing rods, and in particular rod bodies, of the present disclosure, the shape memory material provides or exhibits the same performance characteristics as conventional (e.g., fiberglass) fishing rods, but has a lighter and/or smaller construction (e.g., by adding the shape memory material, the rod bodies of the present disclosure can be made smaller or lighter and exhibit the same performance characteristics as larger or heavier fishing rod bodies made from conventional or existing fishing rod body materials). Thus, a user will experience less fatigue using the fishing rod of the present disclosure compared to a conventional fishing rod, and advantageously be able to fish for a longer period of time.

Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, the fishing rods (and in particular the rod bodies) of the present disclosure may exhibit improved or longer throwing performance characteristics as compared to conventional fishing rods. For example, the shape memory material or materials incorporated into the rod body of the present disclosure will inherently act on their own to return to or towards a preset or fixed natural orientation or shape after removal of the applied load. For example, when the rod body is configured to naturally assume a linear or straight shape when not under load, the shape memory material will inherently self-restore to or towards a natural or normal shape when energy is applied to the rod body during the back casting motion, thus multiplying the force applied to the fishing rod line by the front casting motion. For example, these features may provide for a longer throw of fishing bait than conventional fishing rods.

Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, the fishing rods, particularly the rod bodies, of the present disclosure may exhibit more accurate casting characteristics than conventional fishing rods. For example, the increased force with the front casting motion as described above may allow a user to point the tip of the fishing rod at a desired location while the user requires less force to approach the desired location, thereby increasing the accuracy of bait delivery compared to conventional fishing rods.

Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, the fishing rods, particularly the rod bodies, of the present disclosure may provide enhanced ability to recover caught fish as compared to conventional fishing rods. For example, shape memory materials incorporated into the rod bodies of the present disclosure will inherently act on their own to return to or toward a preset or fixed natural position or shape after removal of an applied load, creating an additional counter force compared to conventional fishing rods. This additional counter force in turn reduces the level of force required by the user to retrieve the captured fish.

Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, the fishing rod, particularly the rod body, of the present disclosure may reduce the likelihood of a caught fish being released from the line as compared to conventional fishing rods. For reference, one of the difficulties in rolling up in caught fish is that fish tend to jump out of the water, a jiggling of the fishing rod, or a fast swimming towards the rod. These actions in turn temporarily release the force exerted on the hook by the fish and, therefore, the fish will be released from the hook before being caught in. The shape memory material or materials incorporated into the rod body of the present disclosure will inherently self-act to return to or towards a preset or fixed natural position or shape, thus exerting a continuous force on the line as the fish is drawn in, thereby reducing the likelihood that movement of the fish will cause the fish to release from the hook.

Some fishing rods of the present disclosure, and in particular rod bodies, provide significant improvements over conventional carbon fiber constructions that, while highly sensitive and responsive, are susceptible to breakage or breakage. The addition of metals, metal alloys or other shape memory materials according to some embodiments of the present invention allows small tube or rod shafts to maintain responsiveness and sensitivity, and have increased durability, which is significantly resistant to damage.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a simplified side view of a fishing rod according to the principles of the present disclosure;

fig. 2A is a simplified cross-sectional view of a rod body for the fishing rod of fig. 1, and in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2B is a simplified cross-sectional view of a rod body for the fishing rod of FIG. 1 and in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3A is a simplified cross-sectional view of a rod body for the fishing rod of FIG. 1 and in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3B is a simplified cross-sectional view of a rod body for the fishing rod of FIG. 1 and in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4A is a simplified cross-sectional view of a rod body for the fishing rod of FIG. 1 and in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4B is a simplified cross-sectional view of a rod body for the fishing rod of FIG. 1 and in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

fig. 5A is a simplified cross-sectional view of a rod body for the fishing rod of fig. 1, and in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5B is a simplified cross-sectional view of a rod body for the fishing rod of FIG. 1 and in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a simplified cross-sectional view of a rod body for the fishing rod of FIG. 1 and in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a simplified cross-sectional view of a rod body for the fishing rod of FIG. 1 and in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a simplified perspective view of a portion of a rod body for the fishing rod of FIG. 1 and in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9A is a simplified side exploded view of a rod body according to the principles of the present disclosure and for use with the fishing rod of FIG. 1;

figure 9B is a simplified cross-sectional view of the rod body of figure 9A at final assembly;

FIG. 10A is a simplified side exploded view of a rod body according to the principles of the present disclosure and for use with the fishing rod of FIG. 1;

figure 10B is a simplified side view of the rod body of figure 10A at final assembly;

figure 11A is a simplified cross-sectional view of a portion of the rod body of figure 10B;

FIG. 11B is a simplified cross-sectional view of a portion of a rod body for the fishing rod of FIG. 1 and in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a simplified cross-sectional view of a portion of a rod body for the fishing rod of FIG. 1 and in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

figure 13 is a simplified longitudinal cross-sectional view of a rod body according to the principles of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a simplified cross-sectional view of a fishing rod and in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure; and

fig. 15A and 15B are simplified side views of the fishing rod of fig. 14 in use.

Detailed Description

Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to fishing rods. One example of a fishing rod 10 according to the principles of the present disclosure is shown in fig. 1. The fishing rod 10 includes a rod body 20 and optionally one or more guides 22. The rod body 20 extends from a handle or gripping end 24 to a tip end 26. The handle or grip region 28 adjacent the handle end 24 is generally configured to receive a reel (not shown), as is known in the art. The rod body 20 may be provided as a single uninterrupted component, or may be composed of two (or more) rod body sections that are formed separately and subsequently assembled. In any event, the diameter of the rod body 20 (or the largest transverse dimension for embodiments in which the rod body 20 has a non-circular cross-sectional configuration) generally tapers from the handle region 28 towards the tip end 26, and a working length L is defined from the handle region 28 to the tip end 26. The wire guide 22 is of a type known in the art (e.g. a metal ring) which is attached to the rod body 20 and projects from the rod body 20. Any number of wire guides 22 may be provided. The line guides 22 may be spaced at different distances along the rod body 20 and generally aligned with each other at one "side" of the rod body 20. In some embodiments, the position of the line guide 22 is on the "forward" side of the rod body 20. When provided as part of a fishing rod and reel assembly, a reel (not shown) is attached to the handle area 28 and a fishing line (not shown) wound on the reel passes through the line guide 22. The leading end of the fishing line extends beyond the line guide 22 at the tip end 26 and is secured to a hook, lure or the like. In still other embodiments, the fishing rods of the present disclosure may have an internal wire guide form (e.g., at least a portion of the rod body 20 is hollow and the fishing wire is fed internally through the rod body 20 to the tip end 26); with these and similar embodiments, the wire guide 22 may be omitted. Further, the fishing rods of the present disclosure may incorporate various features known in the art as appropriate for a particular end use application (e.g., spinning rod (used with a spinning reel), casting rod (used with a casting reel), baiting rod (used with a baiting reel), etc.).

In view of the above, in some embodiments at least a portion of the rod body 20 comprises or includes a shape memory material, for example in the form of a shape memory member composed of a shape memory material. Various embodiments of shape memory members incorporated into the rod body 20 are described below. More generally, the shape memory member extends along at least a portion of the working length L, optionally along the entire working length L, and the shape memory member promotes a desired level of flexibility and responsiveness to the rod body 20, including the rod body 20 maintaining and returning more consistently to a desired longitudinal shape or bend as loads are applied and removed at the tip end 26, optionally in the presence of an external stimulus (e.g. heat). The shape memory members of the present disclosure are characterized as being capable of deflecting or changing from a preset natural or normal shape in response to an applied load, and capable of self-returning to or toward the preset natural or normal shape upon removal of the applied load. The shape memory materials of the present disclosure may include shape memory metals or metal alloys, such as titanium, titanium alloys, nickel-titanium alloys (e.g., NiTi)^TM(Nickel-titanium alloy) or Nitinol^TM(nitinol)), aluminum alloys, iron alloys, steel, chromium alloys, cobalt alloys, platinum alloys, copper-zinc-aluminum alloys, copper-aluminum-nickel alloys, iron-manganese-silicon alloys, and the like. Other shape memory materials of the present disclosure may include shape memory polymers (e.g., linear block copolymers, such as polyurethanes, etc.). The shape memory members of the present disclosure may be provided as a single structural component, or may be incorporated into a composite structure, such as a fiber reinforced polymer composite containing a thin shape memory member (metal, metal alloy, or thin shape memory polymer), a shape memory alloy embedded in a fibrous material such as carbon fiber or glass fiber, or the like. In yet other embodiments, the shape memory material may be combined with other materials to form the rod body 20 or a portion thereof (e.g., the rod body 20 or a section of the rod body 20 may be formed as a conventional fishing rod body fiber material (e.g., carbon fiber) anda mixture of shape memory material fibers (e.g., nitinol fibers). In the following description, reference to "shape memory member" includes any structure incorporating or including a shape memory material as described above. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the "shape memory member" need not comprise a material conventionally referred to as a "shape memory material," but rather a metal such as steel (e.g., spring steel) or titanium. For example, in some embodiments, the "shape memory member" is a metal, or a combination of carbon or glass fibers and a metal.

A portion of one embodiment of a rod body 20a according to the principles of the present disclosure is shown in cross-section (along line a-a in fig. 1) in fig. 2A. The rod body 20a comprises a shaft 40 and a shape memory member 42. The shaft 40 may be a tubular body as shown; in other embodiments, the shaft 40 is solid. The shaft 40 may have a construction similar to a conventional fishing rod body (such as a carbon fiber material, a glass fiber material, a polyurethane material, etc.). The shape memory member 42 may have a rod-like shape and be embedded in the thickness of the shaft 40. The shape memory member 42 may extend along a portion or the entire working length L (fig. 1).

A portion of another embodiment of a rod body 20B according to the principles of the present disclosure is shown in cross-section (along line a-a in fig. 1) in fig. 2B. The rod body 20b includes the shaft 40 and the shape memory member 42 as described above (e.g., the shape memory member 42 can have a rod-like shape). For the embodiment of fig. 2B, the shape memory member 42 is secured (e.g., adhered, bonded, molded, etc.) to the inner surface of the shaft 40. The shape memory member 42 may extend along a portion or the entire working length L (fig. 1).

A portion of another embodiment of a rod body 20c according to the principles of the present disclosure is shown in cross-section (along line a-a in fig. 1) in fig. 3A. The rod body 20c includes a shaft 40 and a plurality of shape memory members 42 as described above (e.g., the shape memory members 42 may have a rod-like shape). For the embodiment of FIG. 3A, each of the plurality of shape memory members 42 is embedded in the thickness of the shaft 40. The shape memory members 42 may each extend along a portion or the entire working length L (fig. 1); one or more of the shape memory members 42 may have different lengths. Although four shape memory members 42 are shown, any other number (more or less) is acceptable. Although the shape memory members 42 are shown as being equidistantly spaced from one another (about the circumference of the shaft 40), in other embodiments, the shape memory members 42 may be non-uniformly positioned relative to one another.

A portion of another embodiment of a rod body 20d according to the principles of the present disclosure is shown in cross-section (along line a-a in fig. 1) in fig. 3B. The rod body 20d includes a shaft 40 and a plurality of shape memory members 42 as described above (e.g., the shape memory members 42 may have a rod-like shape). For the embodiment of fig. 3B, each of the plurality of shape memory members 42 is secured (e.g., adhered, bonded, molded, etc.) to the inner surface of the shaft 40. The shape memory members 42 may each extend along a portion or the entire working length L (fig. 1); one or more of the shape memory members 42 may have different lengths. Although four shape memory members 42 are shown, any other number (more or less) is acceptable. Although the shape memory members 42 are shown as being equidistantly spaced from one another (about the circumference of the shaft 40), in other embodiments, the shape memory members 42 may be non-uniformly positioned relative to one another.

A portion of another embodiment of a rod body 20e according to the principles of the present disclosure is shown in cross-section (along line a-a in fig. 1) in fig. 4A. The rod body 20e comprises a shaft 40 and a shape memory member 44 as described above. The shape memory member 44 may have a ribbon-like shape (e.g., non-circular in cross-section) and is embedded in the thickness of the shaft 40. The shape memory member 44 may extend along a portion or the entire working length L (fig. 1).

A portion of another embodiment of a rod body 20f according to the principles of the present disclosure is shown in cross-section (along line a-a in fig. 1) in fig. 4B. The rod body 20f includes the shaft 40 and the shape memory member 44 as described above (e.g., the shape memory member 44 may have a ribbon-like shape). For the embodiment of fig. 4B, the shape memory member 44 is secured (e.g., adhered, bonded, molded, etc.) to the inner surface of the shaft 40. The shape memory member 44 may extend along a portion or the entire working length L (fig. 1).

A portion of another embodiment of a rod body 20g according to the principles of the present disclosure is shown in cross-section (along line a-a in fig. 1) in fig. 5A. The rod body 20g includes the shaft 40 and a plurality of shape memory members 44 as described above (e.g., the shape memory members 44 may have a ribbon-like shape). For the embodiment of FIG. 5A, each of the plurality of shape memory members 44 is embedded in the thickness of the shaft 40. The shape memory members 44 may each extend along a portion or the entire working length L (fig. 1); one or more of the shape memory members 44 may have different lengths. Although four shape memory members 44 are shown, any other number (more or less) is also acceptable. Although the shape memory members 44 are shown as being equidistantly spaced from one another (about the circumference of the shaft 40), in other embodiments, the shape memory members 44 may be non-uniformly positioned relative to one another.

A portion of another embodiment of a rod body 20h according to the principles of the present disclosure is shown in cross-section (along line a-a in fig. 1) in fig. 5B. The rod body 20h comprises a shaft 40 and a plurality of shape memory members 44 as described above (for example, the shape memory members 44 may have a ribbon-like shape). For the embodiment of fig. 5B, each of the plurality of shape memory members 44 is secured (e.g., adhered, bonded, molded, etc.) to the inner surface of the shaft 40. The shape memory members 44 may each extend along a portion or the entire working length L (fig. 1); one or more of the shape memory members 44 may have different lengths. Although four shape memory members 44 are shown, any other number (more or less) is also acceptable. Although the shape memory members 44 are shown as being equidistantly spaced from one another (about the circumference of the shaft 40), in other embodiments, the shape memory members 44 may be non-uniformly positioned relative to one another.

A portion of another embodiment of a rod body 20i according to the principles of the present disclosure is shown in cross-section (along line a-a in fig. 1) in fig. 6. The rod body 20i has a shape memory member 50, an inner coating 52 and an outer coating 54. Shape memory member 50 may be a woven or coiled (coiled) shape memory material (e.g., woven Nitinol)^TMOr coiling Nitinol^TM) And optionally formed into a tubular shape. Inner coating 52 and outerA coating 54 is applied to the shape memory member 50, and the inner coating 52 and the outer coating 54 may be a carbon fiber material, a glass fiber material, a polyurethane material, or the like. The coatings 52, 54 serve to protect the shape memory member 50 and to maintain the shape memory member 50 in a tubular form. In a related embodiment, the wall of the rod body 20i is made of a braided shape memory material or a braided shape memory material embedded within another material such as polyurethane. Alternatively, the wall may be made of only a braid without one or both of the inner coating 52 and/or outer coating 54. In yet other embodiments, the rod body 20i is formed from a plated or welded braided mesh and is fixed, for example, in an elongated conical shape. In yet other embodiments, the rod body 20i may have a more robust construction in cross-section (e.g., rather than a tube), where the shape memory member 50 is a braided or coiled shape memory material, which may or may not be covered by an outer coating 54.

Figure 7 shows in cross-section (along line a-a in figure 1) a portion of another embodiment of a rod body 20j according to the principles of the present disclosure. The rod body 20j has a shape memory member 60 and a coating 62. The shape memory member 60 serves as the core of the rod body 20j, and the shape memory member 60 may be a solid body of shape memory material extending along a portion or the entire working length L (fig. 1). Shape memory member 60 may have a generally cylindrical shape as reflected in fig. 7. Coating 62 is applied to the exterior of shape memory member 60, and coating 62 may be a carbon fiber material, a glass fiber material, a polyurethane material, or the like for protecting shape memory member 60. In some embodiments, the thickness of the coating 62 may taper in the direction of the tip end 26 (fig. 1). For example, the shape memory member 60 may have a constant or uniform diameter, with the thickness of the coating 62 tapering to mimic the tapered shape of a conventional fishing rod.

Figure 8 shows a portion of another embodiment of a rod body 20k according to the principles of the present disclosure. The rod body 20k includes a shaft 70 and a shape memory member 72 (collectively). The shaft 70 may be a tubular body; in other embodiments, the shaft 70 is solid. The shaft 70 may have a similar (e.g., carbon fiber material, glass fiber material, polyurethane material, etc.) design as the shaft) The construction of a conventional fishing rod body. Shape memory member 72 may be a wire or braid (e.g., Nitinol) in a wrap around (wound) or wound (wound) about axis 70^TMWire or braid) form memory material. The shape memory member 72 may be attached to the shaft 70 in various ways as the material employed involves (e.g., welding, adhering, bonding, mechanical attachment, etc.). The shape memory member 72 may be applied along the entire length of the shaft 70 (e.g., extending along the entire working length L (fig. 1)), or may be applied to one or more selected portions of the shaft 70. Although the shape memory member 72 is shown as having been applied to the exterior of the shaft 70, in other embodiments, the shape memory member 72 may be disposed along the shaft 70 or within the interior of the shaft 70.

A portion of another embodiment of a rod body 20l according to the principles of the present disclosure is shown in an exploded view in fig. 9A. The rod body 20l includes a shaft 80 and a shape memory member 82. The shaft 80 is a tubular body having a tapered shape as shown, for example, tapering in the direction of the tip end 26 (fig. 1). The shaft 80 may have a construction similar to a conventional fishing rod body (such as a carbon fiber material, a glass fiber material, a polyurethane material, etc.). The shape memory member 82 is a sheet or film of shape memory material (e.g., Nitinol)^TMTablet or Nitinol^TMA film) wrapped or wrapped around itself for insertion into the central passage of the shaft 80. Upon final assembly, and as shown in fig. 9B, a surrounding shape memory member 82 is disposed within the shaft 80. The shape memory member 82 may extend along a portion or the entire working length L (fig. 1). The shape memory member 82 can be secured to the shaft 80 in various manners (e.g., bonded, adhered, welded, mechanically attached, frictionally coupled, etc.) commensurate with the material employed.

A portion of another embodiment of a rod body 20m according to the principles of the present disclosure is shown in an exploded view in fig. 10A. The rod body 20m includes a shaft 90 and a shape memory member 92. The shaft 90 may be solid or tubular and may have a tapered shape as shown (e.g., tapered in the direction of the tip region 94). The shaft 90 may have a construction similar to a conventional fishing rod body (such as a carbon fiber material, a glass fiber material, a polyurethane material, etc.). The shape memory member 92 is a tubular body of shape memory material or other metal sized and shaped for mounting over at least a tip region 94 of the shaft 90. Upon final assembly, as shown in fig. 10B, the shape memory member 92 is disposed on the shaft 90. Shape memory member 92 may extend along at least a portion of tip region 94; in other embodiments, the shape memory member 92 can extend beyond the tip region 94, and optionally along the entire working length L (fig. 1). In some embodiments, the length of the shape memory member 92 may be greater than 25% of the working length L; for example, the length of the shape memory member 92 may be at least 30% of the working length L, alternatively at least 40% of the working length L, alternatively in the range of 30% -100% of the working length L. It has been surprisingly found that by forming the shape memory member 92 to have a length greater than 25% of the working length L, the performance characteristics involved in the present disclosure are improved. While shape memory member 92 is generally shown as a complete, uniform tube (e.g., a continuous sidewall having a uniform thickness over 360 degrees), in other embodiments, shape memory member 92 may be an incomplete or non-uniform tube (e.g., shape memory member 92 may be a tube having a non-uniform wall thickness; sections of the tubular shape of shape memory member 92 may be removed; etc.). The shape memory member 92 may be secured to the shaft 90 in various manners (e.g., bonded, adhered, welded, mechanically attached, frictionally coupled, etc.) commensurate with the material employed.

The shape memory member 92 may have a tapered shape or may resemble a right circular cylinder. As shown in fig. 11A, shaft 90 and shape memory member 92 may be configured such that upon final assembly, the entire shape memory member 92 nests or contacts a surface or structure of shaft 90 against a surface or structure of shaft 90. FIG. 11B shows an alternative embodiment of shape memory member 92 assembled to shaft 100. The shaft 100 may have any of the configurations described above (e.g., similar to a conventional fishing rod body such as a carbon fiber material, a glass fiber material, a polyurethane material, etc.), and the shaft 100 terminates at a shaft end 102. A receiving region 104 of the shaft 100 adjacent the shaft end 102 has a reduced outer diameter that is commensurate with the inner diameter of the shape memory member 92. Upon final assembly, the shape memory member 92 is mounted on the receiving area 104 with a portion of the shape memory member 92 extending beyond the shaft end 102. Thus, for these and other alternative configurations, at least a portion of the shape memory member 92 is not directly in contact with the shaft 100 or is directly supported by the shaft 100. In some related embodiments, the outer diameter of the shape memory member 92 may be commensurate with the outer diameter of the shaft 100 adjacent the receiving area 104.

A portion of a related embodiment rod body 20n is shown in figure 12, and rod body 20n comprises a shaft 110 and a shape memory member assembly 112. The shaft 110 may be solid or tubular, and the shaft 110 may have a tapered shape in the direction of the shaft end 114. The shaft 110 may have a construction similar to a conventional fishing rod body (such as a carbon fiber material, a glass fiber material, a polyurethane material, etc.). The shape memory member assembly 112 may include two or more shape memory members, such as shape memory members 116a, 116b, 116c, and the like. The first shape memory member 116a is assembled over the shaft end 114 as described above; the remaining shape memory members 116b, 116c are connected to each other in a telescopic manner (as indicated by the arrows in fig. 12). For these and related configurations, the user may select the overall length and/or responsiveness of the rod body 20n by manipulating the shape memory members 116a-116c relative to one another.

For the embodiment of fig. 10A to 12, the rod bodies 20m, 20n may be or include tips on thin internal carbon fibre shafts. The tip may be a nitinol tip, a metal tip, a nitinol tip with carbon fibers, or a metal tip with carbon fibers. The tip and/or shaft may have a tapered shape or may have a telescoping design.

In some embodiments, the rod body of the present disclosure is configured to exhibit different flexibility or stiffness characteristics along opposite sides thereof. For example, the rod bodies 20a (fig. 2A), 20B (fig. 2B), 20e (fig. 4A) and 20f (fig. 4B) may exhibit reduced flexibility (or increased stiffness) along the "side" on which the corresponding shape memory member 44 is located. Along these same lines, figure 13 shows a portion of another rod body 20o according to the principles of the present disclosure. The rod body 20o includes a shaft 120 and a shape memory member 122. The shaft 120 is a tubular or solid body having a tapered shape as shown (e.g., tapered in the direction of the tip end 124). The shaft 120 may have a construction similar to a conventional fishing rod body (such as a carbon fiber material, a glass fiber material, a polyurethane material, etc.). Shape memory member 122 may comprise any shape memory material of the present disclosure, and may be secured to shaft 120 in various ways (e.g., embedded in the thickness of shaft 120, adhered or bonded or welded to the surface of shaft 120, etc.). As indicated at 126, the section 126 of the rod body 20o is characterised by the absence of the shape memory member 122; in other embodiments, the section 126 may be defined by a shape memory member or shape memory material having different stiffness characteristics than other portions (or the entirety) of the shape memory member 122. In any event, the elongate shape of the shaft 120 (or the rod body 20o as a whole) defines a longitudinal axis a. Section 126 is located at a first "side" 130 of longitudinal axis a. The shape memory member 122 is present at a second, opposite "side" 132 of the longitudinal axis, relative to a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis a and passing through the section 126. With this and similar configurations, the shape memory member 122 is arranged and positioned relative to the shaft 120 such that the rod body 20o exhibits a first degree of flexibility in the direction of a first side 130 relative to the longitudinal axis a and a second degree of flexibility in the direction of a second side 132 relative to the longitudinal axis a. The first direction is opposite the second direction and the first flexibility is greater than the second flexibility.

For reference, some anglers may desire certain fishing rod performance attributes in the case of a normal casting motion. The throwing motion is generally considered to have an initial reverse motion in which the user applies a torque or moment force to the grip region 140 such that the tip end 124 moves in a reverse direction toward and then behind the user's body. At the end of the reverse motion, a forward motion is then achieved, wherein the user applies a torque or moment force in the reverse direction to the grip region 140, causing the tip end 124 to move forward in the forward (forward) direction of the user's body. As part of the forward motion, the reel (not shown) is operated to release the fishing line so that the hook, lure, bait, etc. is positively launched or thrown away from the tip end 124 (and thus away from the user). With respect to such throwing motion, the orientation of the user's hand when gripping the handle area 140 and the reel effectively defines which side 130, 132 primarily affects the backstroke and forethrow motions, and is determined by the position and arrangement of the reel (not shown) and thus the wire guide 22 (where provided). For example, in the case of a rod body 20o used with a spinning reel, the reel (and line guide 22) faces downward as the fishing rod is naturally held by the user in a normal, forward fishing rod position. In other words, the first side 130 is "below" the second side 132. When casting with a fishing rod and reel assembly so configured, during reverse motion (i.e. at the end of the back casting motion, the second side 132 defines a concave curve and the first side 130 defines a convex curve), the rod body 20o is forced to form a curved shape in the direction of the second side 132. The opposite curved shape results from the subsequent forward throw motion (i.e., at the end of the forward throw motion, the second side 132 defines a convex curve and the first side 130 defines a concave curve). Forming or positioning a section 126 with increased flexibility at the first side 130 may result in the rod body 20o being more easily flexed in a back casting motion as compared to a front casting motion. Where the opposite performance attributes are desired, sections 126 of increased flexibility (or reduced stiffness) (again where the rod body 20o is used with a rotary reel arranged at the first side 130) may instead be formed at the second side 132 of the rod body 20 o. It will be appreciated that the above description may be reversed in the case of other fishing rod and reel arrangements. For example, in the case of a rod body 20o used with a throwing reel, since the fishing rod is naturally held by the user in a normal forward fishing position, the reel (and line guide 22) faces upward. In other words, the first side 130 is "above" the second side 132.

In other related embodiments, the fishing rods of the present disclosure may include a locking feature or mechanism that prevents or limits bending of the rod body in one direction. Fly fishing, for example, typically requires the rod body to flex or bend significantly during the back casting motion, but it is preferred that the rod body flex or bend minimally during the subsequent front casting motion. Any of the rod bodies described above may format and/or position the corresponding shape memory members to promote the desired performance characteristics. Alternatively or additionally, a locking mechanism may be carried by or assembled to the rod body, which allows it to flex or bend in the back casting motion or direction and limits it to flex or bend in the front casting motion or direction. For example, two complementary strips of fastener material (e.g. similar to a cable tie or zip tie) may be applied to the side of the rod body that will assume the concave curvature during the back casting motion, the two complementary strips of fastener material may be arranged such that the strips slide easily relative to one another during the back casting motion, but become locked when the rod body is linear (e.g. the "top" of the front casting motion).

The locking feature or mechanism of the present disclosure may take other configurations, for example, as shown in the fishing rod 150 of fig. 14. The fishing rod 150 includes a rod body 152, an optional line guide 22 and a locking mechanism 154. The rod body 152 may take any of the forms described elsewhere in this disclosure (e.g. may include a shape memory member as described above) and is not limited to the form reflected in fig. 14. The locking mechanism 154 is on the desired "side" (e.g., the side opposite the line guide 22, where the fishing rod 150 is mounted as a rotary rod (having a rotary reel (not shown)) to the rod body 152, and may include a leading member 160 and a trailing member 162, the leading member 160 is attached to the rod body 152 near the tip end 164, and extends from the point of attachment to the locking body 166. the trailing member 162 is attached to the rod body 152 opposite the leading member 160 and carries or forms a receiving body 168. the leading member 160 extends through the passage of the receiving body 168, where the locking body 166 is larger in shape or size than the passage in the receiving body 168. with this configuration, the leading member 160/locking body 166 may slide freely in a first direction (e.g., downward with respect to the orientation of fig. 14) with respect to the trailing member 162/receiving body 168, in the opposite direction, the locking body 166 abuts against the receiving body 168 to prevent further movement.

During use, when the fishing rod 150 is subjected to a force (e.g. a back casting motion) which causes the rod body 152 to flex at the tip end 164 in the direction shown in fig. 15A, the locking mechanism 154 allows the required flexing, with the locking body 166 sliding away from the receiver 168. When the fishing rod 150 is subsequently subjected to a force which causes the rod body 152 to flex in the opposite direction at the tip end 164 (e.g. a front casting motion), the locking mechanism 154 resists excessive deflection of the rod body 152. More specifically, as shown in figure 15B, when the rod body 152 is restored from the back cast deflected shape of figure 15A with the force applied at the tip end 164 reflected by the arrow in figure 15B, the locking body 166 slides into abutment against the receiving body 168 and prevents the rod body 152 from deflecting or deflecting beyond the arrangement shown. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism 154 is configured to "hold" the rod body 152 in a nearly linear arrangement during the front casting motion.

Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. For example, two or more of the rod body features described above may be combined into a single rod body. By way of non-limiting example, a rod body of the present disclosure may comprise a combination of a shape memory member tube (e.g., the features of fig. 10A-11B) assembled on the tip region of the shaft and a shape memory member braid (e.g., the features of fig. 6-8) fixed to the outside or inside of the shaft; the two (or more) shape memory members may be disposed at different regions of the shaft or at the same region.