Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A tension responsive fishing apparatus, comprising: a pole member having an interior; a variable viscosity fluid disposed in the interior, variable in response to an applied field, and effective for varying a flexibility of the pole member depending on the viscosity of the variable viscosity fluid; field applying means for applying the applied field to the variable viscosity fluid; and controlling means for controlling the field applied by the field applying means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
A tension responsive fishing apparatus, comprising: a pole member having an interior; a variable viscosity fluid disposed in the interior, variable in response to an applied field, and effective for varying a flexibility of the pole member depending on the viscosity of the variable viscosity fluid; field applying means for applying the applied field to the variable viscosity fluid; and controlling means for controlling the field applied by the field applying means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A tension responsive fishing apparatus according to claim 1; wherein the controlling means includes inputting means for inputting input signals; processing means receptive of the input signals for processing control signals in response thereto; and a control circuit receptive of the control signals for controlling the field applied to the variable viscosity fluid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
101 words
A tension responsive fishing apparatus according to claim 2; wherein the inputting means further includes sensing means for sensing at least one of a tension being applied to a fishing line and a flexure of the pole member, and for outputting the input signals in response thereto; and the control circuit includes means for controlling the field applied to the variable viscosity fluid dependent on at least one of the sensed tension and the sensed flexure; whereby the processing means automatically determine the flexibility of the pole member depending on at least one of the sensed tension and the sensed flexure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
A tension responsive fishing apparatus according to claim 2; wherein the inputting means further includes user operable inputting means receptive of predetermined input and for outputting the input signals in response thereto; and the control circuit includes means for controlling the field applied to the variable viscosity fluid dependent on the predetermined input.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
103 words
A tension responsive fishing apparatus according to claim 4; wherein the variable viscosity fluid is comprised of magnetically reactive material which varies in at least one of viscosity and stiffness dependent on an applied magnetic filed; the field applying means includes an electromagnetic field applying means, having the magnetically reactive material disposed therebetween, for applying a variable electromagnetic field to the magnetically reactive material and effective for varying at least one of the viscosity and the stiffness of the magnetically reactive material; and the controlling means includes an electric supply source effective for supplying a variable electric power to vary the electromagnetic field.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
A tension responsive fishing apparatus according to claim 1; wherein the variable viscosity fluid is comprised of an electrical rheological fluid; the field applying means includes at least a pair of electrodes, having the electrical rheological fluid disposed therebetween, for applying a variable electric field to the electrical rheological fluid and effective for varying the viscosity of the electrical rheological fluid; and the controlling means includes an electric field supply source for supplying the variable electric field.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A tension responsive fishing apparatus according to claim 6: wherein at least one electrode having a length is disposed longitudinally in the interior of the pole member and includes at least one resistor effective for varying the electric field applied to the electrical rheological fluid along the length of the electrode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
A tension responsive fishing apparatus according to claim 6; wherein at least one electrode having a length is disposed longitudinally in the interior of the pole member and includes a plurality of staggered electrode posts along the length of the electrode effective for varying the electric field applied to the electrical rheological fluid along the length of the electrode.