Paraplegic Fishing Pole

Zak Rohde

Summary:

The final design was able to hold any type of pole and had the potential to cast them. The device still needs the addition of a motor to make the whole design self-casting. With some modifications and added features it would allow a paraplegic person to fish. In comparison to the other idea's design, its launching method takes more steps but its retrieval method is simple.

The complete design will allow a person that is paraplegic or otherwise physically handicapped to fish with only minor assistance and supervision. In order to achieve this, the pole must be able to cast and reel repeatedly only using switches. The design must be quick and simple to set up along with being portable. This project is focused on casting the line while making sure it is still flexible enough to accomplish the rest of the goals.

While brainstorming, most of the concepts imagined focused solely on casting the lure. They varied from using a bow and arrow approach to launching with compressed air. While most of the concepts where feasible to cast the lure they would require excessively complicated parts to return the lure back to the precast position. If the lure can't be returned to the casting position then, of course, it can't be cast again rendering the device useless. Of the designs still viable after this consideration, two: the back swimmer and compressible pole adjust weren't powerful enough.

The final prototype is a modified version of the catapult concept. While not as compact, it is compatible with most fishing poles. The project consists of a wooden base of (8 5/8 inches by 5 5/8 inches) with two wooden towers on either side of the base. A long screwed metal rod with a PVC pipe in it spans the interior. There are bolts on the interior to hold the pieces in place. The inside of the PVC pipe is lined with insulation which helps hold the pole in place. In the PVC there is also a groove for the trigger guard of the pole. A little above the level of the rod across the face of the tower is a piece of wood with the damper. The damper consists of a half of PVC pipe lined with insulation parallel to the pole holder. While the final design is meant to use a torsion spring, the model uses a giant rubber band which goes around the bottom of the pole then around to pegs on the back of the towers. Duct tape was put on the sharp corners to help reduce the wear on the rubber band. Another replacement is the release mechanism. Ideally it would be a solenoid or some other electrical-mechanical device to release the line at the correct time. In the prototype a tower comes up from the crossbar which the trigger on the pole hits, causing the line to release.

The device can get the pole to cast the lure. When released at the proper time the lure can be cast much farther than ten meters. However, with the current release mechanism, the pole is only able to cast about one meter. It is still successful in casting and with a little reworking will be successful in distance as well.