Enhanced laser fishing rod

Abstract

A fishing rod enables viewing of pole bending activity in daylight and at nighttime. The rod has a light-transmitting pole for supporting a fishing line and having a handle end and a tip end. A collimated beam producing unit is located towards the handle end aligned to transmit a collimated beam into the interior of the pole in a direction towards the tip end. A reflector at the tip end reflects light back towards the handle end after exiting the tip end.

1 . A fishing rod comprising:
 a light-transmitting pole for supporting a fishing line and having a handle end and a tip end;   a collimated beam producing unit located towards the handle end aligned to transmit a collimated beam into the interior of the pole in a direction towards the tip end; and   a reflector at the tip end which reflects light back towards the handle end after exiting the tip end.   
   
   
       2 . The fishing rod of  claim 1  wherein the reflector reflects light back towards the handle end after exiting the tip end when the pole is straight. 
   
   
       3 . The fishing rod of  claim 1  wherein the reflector does not reflect light back towards the handle end after exiting the tip end when the pole is straight, but does reflect light back towards the handle end when the pole is flexed. 
   
   
       4 . The fishing rod of  claim 1  wherein the pole is hollow. 
   
   
       5 . The fishing rod of  claim 1  wherein the pole is solid and has an internal reflecting surface. 
   
   
       6 . A fishing rod in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the hollow pole is made of a translucent material. 
   
   
       7 . A fishing rod in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the hollow pole is made of a transparent material. 
   
   
       8 . A fishing rod in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the hollow pole is made of a plastic material. 
   
   
       9 . A fishing rod in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the hollow pole is made of a fiberglass material. 
   
   
       10 . A fishing rod in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the handle comprises aluminum. 
   
   
       11 . A fishing rod in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the collimated beam is transmitted into the interior of the pole substantially in line with a longitudinal center axis of the pole. 
   
   
       12 . A fishing rod in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the collimated light beam producing unit is a laser beam producing unit including a laser diode for producing the laser beam. 
   
   
       13 . A fishing rod in accordance with  claim 12  wherein the laser beam is a beam of monochromatic visible light energy between 620 and 750 nanometers. 
   
   
       11 . A fishing rod comprising:
 a hollow cylindrical metal handle member;   a flexible hollow pole of translucent fiberglass material for supporting a fishing line and having an open handle end and a closed tip end, the open handle end being inserted a substantial distance into one end of the metal handle member and secured therein;   a laser beam producing unit located within the metal handle member with the beam-emitting end thereof adjacent the open end of the pole and aligned to transmit a laser beam into the hollow interior of the pole substantially in line with the longitudinal center axis of the pole;   an electric battery source located within the rearward end of the metal handle member for supplying electrical operating energy to the laser beam producing unit;   a switch mechanism located in the metal handle member for turning on and off the flow of electrical energy form the battery source to the laser beam producing unit and having a switch setting member located in a lateral passageway through the side of the handle member and exposed for actuation by a fisherman;   a removable end cap for closing the rearward end of the metal handle member; and   a reflector at the tip end which reflects light back towards the handle end after exiting the tip end.   
   
   
       12 . The fishing rod of  claim 11  wherein the reflector reflects light back towards the handle end after exiting the tip end when the pole is straight. 
   
   
       13 . The fishing rod of  claim 11  wherein the reflector does not reflect light back towards the handle end after exiting the tip end when the pole is straight, but does reflect light back towards the handle end when the pole is flexed. 
   
   
       14 . The fishing rod of  claim 11  wherein the pole is hollow.