Patent ID: 8172437
Filing Date: 2012-05-08
Classification: B63B,F21W,F21Y,G02B

Abstract:
1. A bow light system for a boat comprising discrete port and starboard side light units, each said unit comprising: a base mounted to or within a boat structure or component, an integral socket recessed into the base, said recessed socket directly coupling to a proximal end portion of the removable light conduit and comprising a shape corresponding to the structural shape of the light conduit, said socket shape operable to orient the light conduit for the appropriate bow side light emission pattern, said direct coupling comprising a slip-fit of the recessed socket to said light conduit, an enclosing of a proximal portion of said light conduit and a socket recess depth into the base such that a minimal gap is formed between the socket proximal end and the light source; a connection to an electrical power source; a combination driver device and light source, said combination enclosed within the base but external to the recessed socket of the base, the light driver device operably connected to the electrical power source and comprising voltage conversion, low power dissipation and accurate control of light source current, the light source operably connected to the light driver and abutting the proximal end of the base recessed socket with a minimal gap, the light source operable to project light across said minimal gap and into the light conduit proximal end, when said light conduit is installed in the recessed base socket; a removable light conduit, said light conduit having the structure of a longitudinal section of a monolithic non-tapering solid rod, the rod material comprising transparency and a higher refractive index than the surrounding media, a proximal end portion directly coupling with the recessed socket of the base, the direct coupling comprising a slip-fit of the rod longitudinal section to the recessed socket of the base, a proximal portion for enclosure by said socket and a light coupling surface area, the light coupling surface area comprising the proximal end surface area of the rod longitudinal section, and a middle portion whose combination of structure and material make it operable to efficiently conduit and confine the conduit light to the distal end; and a mechanism to redirect and emit the light conducted within the light conduit out of the distal end in the desired emission pattern, said mechanism encompassed within the distal end structure, said structure a continuity of the non tapering rod longitudinal section of the light conduit, said mechanism a reflective surface near the distal end, said reflective surface having an angle-of-incidence to the conduit light operable to redirect and emit conduit light and a shape operable to emit light in the desired emission pattern from the distal end.