| Author | Message | ||
     Hex |
08 Sept. 2009 US Pat. # 7,584,571 http://tinyurl.com/nhd7sf I started documenting my research on this project with the USPTO March 2004. That's over 5 years to its success. Ridiculously long and expensive process for an individual IMHO. Fish On! | ||
| Fast1075 |
Congrats Hex...now on to marketing and sales  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Awesome! I know you are pleased and proud! | ||
| Moxnix |
The trout are shaking in their scales as I write. | ||
| P_squared |
Too many words & not enough pretty pictures!  Congratulations Hex. | ||
| Swordsman |
Jeez, that took long enough! Glad it finally worked out! Now, go get rich n' stuff! ~SM | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
Not bad for a liberal... | ||
| Rocketsprink |
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| 86129squids |
Kewl! Congrats, and happy fishing! | ||
| Blake |
As a structural analyst with composites experience, I'm interested in your design. Are you saying the cross section is essentially six triangles joined to form a hexagon? And you have no circumferential fiber, only longitudinally oriented fiber? Like below, with all fibers running into the screen?  | ||
| Johnnymceldoo |
Congrats Hex. Go create wealth! | ||
| Firebolt32 |
Congrats... Get it made. I need a new rod! | ||
| Svh |
Sweet! Whats the Badweb discount? J/K hope to see these sold everywhere some day. Good luck. Shopping it to any major manufacturers? | ||
| Andyss1w |
congrats hex! i am an avid fishermen. hook me up with a prototype!i would love to have one in my fishing arsenal. i mainly fish for large and small mouth bass. i would love to try this rod out. what's it like? what does it compare too? | ||
| Skully |
Congratulations Eric! I know how much work it is. Even with the help of a lawyer, it took three years. Keith US Patent 7,023,401 | ||
| Slaughter |
Blake, Don't go too analytical. That cross-section you drew is EXACTLY how a bamboo pole is built. Patenting is a painful process and a difficult decision. I think that Hex's news IS good news and does give him the option to get royalties should somebody copy, and gives him the ability to have a court-ordered cease-and-desist. Heck, if NOTHING else, it adds more credibility for him. Heck, doing patent work FOR a company on a SALARY - is nothing compared to what he's done on his own. Major respect, Eric - my hat's off to you! Slaughter: US Pat. 10958961 US Pat. 6630095 US Pat. 6627142 | ||
| Hex |
Thanks all! Just thought I'd share some great news with y'all to make up for all the •••••• politics! Although I believe arguing politics may actually be the more important of the two! I am hesitant to explain to Blake the merits of my patent for a couple of reasons, one, I don't want to get in an argument with him about this. Two, I don't want to publicly limit myself or the patent itself. Three, I don't want to teach him a way to get around my patent so that he might patent his own variation of my design. It was very hard to acquire. I also recognize the necessity of public forum participation. So, with all due respect, I'll try my best: First off, would I do this process again? Hell yeah! And hopefully it will take less time the next time through. Slaughter is absolutly correct to say it validates my idea and design. I will never have to answer the question, isn't that a blahblahblah...No it's not, it's a HexAngler, it is unique, non-obvious, and non-trivial. See the patent. It is also vague by design. It allows me (and maybe licensed others) much design freedom. It is true I started making Bamboo fly rods, in the traditional method of combining six tapered, equilateral isosceles triangles. Those rods contain only liner fibers. Those rods are great, so don't think that it can't be done with only liner fibers, hollow too. This is really a cantilever beam problem, not unlike the I-beam, Box-section, round rod, etc. Euler-buckling being the structural failure point. For the interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantilever http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckling The main thing is that when you bend a rod section, the two spars, say one top and the other bottom, want to collapse together. Typically the 'bottom' spar collapses before the top stretches to failure, but that depends on the material used. The hollow round rod uses a plurality of hoop fibers to stop the top and bottom from collapsing together, mine uses an internal structure. This drawing and the corresponding text is only one variation that is specifically different than all others to date:  Moreover, it doesn't have to be a hex, it could be a triangle, square, or arguably even round (infinite sided polygon). With the internal structure at the apexes, mid spar, or even off center. Exciting times indeed! | ||
| Nevrenuf |
boy that's to much mumbo jumbo to read so congrats on the patent none the less. | ||
| Blake |
>>>Three, I don't want to teach him a way to get around my patent so that he might patent his own variation of my design. It was very hard to acquire. Wow. That sure is disappointing. My intent was to advise. I see potential serious issues and definite errors in your patent language. I'm just an old stress analyst. So much for free advice. | ||
| Hex |
Well then get over it and advise. Ignore my paranoia, I really am alone on this one. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
Hex, if you want or need testers, let me know. I'd love to give one of these a whirl on river-run Salmon, Browns and Steelhead here. Congrats on the patent and I for one don't blame you for being cautious over this. | ||
| Bjbauer |
Are you going to manufacture these or license this to someone? | ||
| Hex |
I've already made several prototypes, and have sold them or given them out. The only option I have right now is to manufacture more myself, which I am very interested in doing to slowly create a company around the patent. If you know of someone interested in licensing, let me or them know that I'm open to talks and arrangements. I'm getting several copies of the patent from the USPTO, and will probably send out an introduction report to a few choice rod manufacturers that I have made personal contact with over the last five years at trade shows. They ALL know me. We'll see if any interest comes back. I know the rods work great, I can make a complete rod 30% lighter than anything available, they are different, and with just the hexagon section, several different layup schedules are possible including some with fascinating properties unobtainable with any other technology (top secrete).  They have also been tested by a major golf shaft manufacturer, and we found out that for one specific test, my section can lift more weight and flex further before buckling than other standard sections, but maybe not more rigid. Flex is great for fly casting and fishing even better for big fish (ocean--marlin, tuna, etc.) So far rigid is what makes a golf shaft popular, and I'm not convinced that I can't beat them there as well but that will take some more development--I still have their number... | ||
| Xl1200r |
Hex - I don't know who you've spoken to, but rigid is not the key with golf shafts, especially with drivers and fairway woods. You want the shaft to flex when you start your swing so that as you follow through to the ball, the head is playing "catch up" and moving faster than your hands are. Just food for thought. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
XL, graphite golf club shafts are alot more rigid than fishing rod blanks, in large part because the're way shorter and don't have the taper a fishing rod does. Fishing rod blanks also have alot thinner walls than golf club shafts. So if Hex were to come up with a stronger, lighter, better flexing club shaft, he'd be a winner. Hex, if your rods have anything in common with St.Croix's IPC technology, holy balls I want one. | ||
| Delta_one |
+1 on club flex but it is the extent of flex that is different in comparison a club is far more rigid than a fishing pole and the design may not allow enough rigidity to be incorporated into it. but I wouldn't know without looking at it more but on the other hand I'll fly test it for you.  the season is ending here in Michigan but I can still squeeze some in and hit it next spring! | ||
| Hex |
Guess what just came in the mail today? A prefect-bound, official version of my patent! I'd never seen one before, here's what the cover looks like:  | ||
| Xl1200r |
XL, graphite golf club shafts are alot more rigid than fishing rod blanks, in large part because the're way shorter and don't have the taper a fishing rod does. Yes, obviously a club shaft is stiffer than a fishing rod. My point was more just that the goal in a club shaft is not absolute stiffness. | ||
| Zac4mac |
Congrats, Hex. Yeah takes 4-5 years for them to run their course. Mine took a little over 5 years to finalize... Z  | ||
| Hex |
Cool! Where'd you get the trophy? Did you have that made, or did it come in the mail. I don't expect such nice-i-ties! |
