The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 12, 1999
Filed:
Apr. 24, 1997
Steven L Grice, Spirit Lake, IA (US);
Berkley Inc., Spirit Lake, IA (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides an improved fishing rod blank having increased hoop strength and a visually unique and appealing appearance. The rod blank of the instant invention incorporates non-woven materials to achieve increased flexibility hoop strength and improved visual appearance. In particular, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, non-woven materials are applied to unidirectional prepreg materials during the prepregging process to form a co-plied unidirectional and non-woven preimpregnated fibrous composite material that is used to form the fishing rod blank. In another embodiment, the non-woven material is applied to the outermost layer of the rod in a finishing step to enhance the appearance of the rod. The appearance is further enhanced when the underlying material and a woven outer layer of the blank have contrasting colors. In an alternative embodiment, the innermost layer of the rod blank is formed of a non-woven material. The preferred fibers that make up the non-woven material include kevlar, glass, aramid, polyester and carbon fibers.