Abstract:
Small boats operated for pleasure are typically transported to the water on a boat trailer, where the boat trailer is backed into the water and the boat is floated off the boat trailer. A removable boat trailer tail light lighting system and method is disclosed that preserves the integrity of the tail light when the rear of a boat trailer is immersed in the water during launching of the transported boat. The invention is in two parts, with metallic plates affixed to the boat trailer, each metallic plate having a mounting frame with three rims that accommodate a magnetic metallic plate backing on the trailer tail light. The trailer tail light is removed prior to the trailer entering the water and re-inserted into the mounting frames on exit from the water.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation In Part for previous U.S. non-provisional utility application Ser. No. 12/026,770, which was filed on Feb. 6, 2008 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,581,857. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
     N/A 
     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     N/A 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     N/A 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     Small boats operated for pleasure are typically transported on a trailer, often called a “boat trailer”, while hitched to a towing vehicle, to the location near the water where the boat will be placed in the water. At developed locations, there is a sloping, paved ramp into the water where the trailer, still hitched to the rear of the owner&#39;s vehicle, can be backed into the water and the boat released from the trailer to then float on the water at the base of the ramp. 
     During this process, the rear of the boat trailer is partially submerged in the water before the boat is released from the trailer. Since highway vehicle codes require that the boat trailer have tail lights and brake lights for the highway, the tail lights are typically submerged when the boat trailer is partially in the water. 
     Boat trailer lights run off direct current from the towing vehicle and the wires are typically not waterproof, nor is the connection to the lights, nor are the trailer lamps waterproofed. Thus, when an unaware vehicle operator backs into the water, and the backup lights are lit per the vehicle code, they oftentimes short circuit and blow out the lamps. 
     The present invention provides a convenient device and method to remove the boat tail light prior to being submerged and for convenient re-placement on exit from the water. Thus, the invention avoids short circuits and lamp blow-outs, while conforming with all applicable vehicle codes on the highway. 
     (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
     The problem referred to, above has had a number of patented solutions to enable the mounted tail lights to be waterproofed in some way. The principal problem solution has been to use a sealed boat trailer tail light unit that is submersible. U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,894 “Boat Trailer Light Assembly”, issued Apr. 16, 1996 is typical of the prior art where the unit is basically waterproofed such that it can be submerged and still survive for re-use. The disclosure for this patent shows a vehicular submersible lamp assembly with a sealed external housing protecting the internal lamp bulbs and connected with a sealed electrical connection. 
     Another submersible lamp is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,588, issued on Aug. 14, 2001, to Richard Arakelian. This patent discloses a sealed housing for the lamps with a waterproofed electrical connection. 
     There is also a removable light disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,980,073, “Boat Trailer Lighting System”, issued Nov. 9, 1999. This patent discloses a removable light with a special bracket, bolted onto an outboard motor when the boat and motor are on the boat trailer. The special bracket and the attached light can then be removed before the boat trailer is submerged in the water. The outboard bracket is then re-installed on exit from the water with the boat. This approach only works with outboard motors and the removable light would not be useable without the boat on the trailer. However, the boat trailer has standard wired tail/brake lights which are not removable and thus have the same problem that the present invention solves. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       Brief Description of the Several Views of the Drawing(s) 
       FIG.  1 —top view of removable trailer tail light inserted into mounting frame 
       FIG.  2 —horizontal view of trailer metal mounting plate with mounting frame 
       FIG.  3 —perspective view of boat trailer with mounting plates installed 
       FIG.  4 —top view of alternate removable trailer tail light inserted into mounting frame 
       FIG.  5 —horizontal view of alternate trailer metal mounting plate with mounting frame 
       FIG.  6 —side view of alternate removable trailer tail light with post for affixing to mounting frame 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference Numerals 
     
         
           7  boat trailer the trailer with the trailer tail light  10  mounted on each side of the rear of the boat trailer  7   
           10  trailer tail light comprises an enclosure  15 , light bulbs  60 , electrical connectors  52 , and a magnetic plate  20 . 
           12  alternate trailer tail light comprises a rectangular enclosure  15 , light bulbs  60 , electrical connectors  52 , a trailer tail light mounting plate  22   
           15  trailer tail light enclosure the enclosure will typically be red see-through material such as plastic or glass, it is shown in a wedge shape for better visibility, but this shape is not required. The enclosure  15  includes one or more probably incandescent bulbs  60  for the purpose of lighting in low light or darkness conditions, and lighting when the towing vehicle&#39;s brakes are engaged by the operator. Depending on convenience and other factors, the tail light enclosure  15  might also be in sections to allow for white/clear backup lighting 
           20  trailer tail light magnetic plate is the metal plate that the trailer tail light  10  enclosure  15  is mounted to. This trailer tail light magnetic plate  20  will be magnetized to assure that it stays anchored to the trailer metal mounting plate  30  when it is inserted into the mounting frame  40 . 
           22  trailer tail light mounting plate is the metal plate that the alternate trailer tail light  12  enclosure  15  is mounted to. This trailer tail light mounting plate  22  stays anchored to the trailer metal mounting plate  30  when it is inserted into the mounting frame access port  48  of the mounting frame bottom support side  47  by use of the post and wing nut  36  affixed to the bottom of the trailer tail light mounting plate  22 . 
           30  trailer metal mounting plate is the metal plate affixed to the rear of the boat trailer that holds the mounting frame  40  and makes contact with the trailer tail light magnetic plate  20 . It will be metal in order to “stick” to the magnetized trailer tail light magnetic plate  20  through magnetism, but in the alternate embodiment using a post and wing nut  36  affixed to the trailer tail light mounting plate  22 , it can be of other sturdy and rigid material. 
           35  mounting plate bolt holes are the openings on the trailer metal mounting plate  30  for insertion of probably threaded bolts to affix the trailer metal mounting plate  30  to the boat trailer  7  with angle brackets—or other means 
           36  post and wing nut where the post is affixed to the bottom center of the trailer tail light mounting plate  22  and the wing nut is used to anchor the trailer tail light mounting plate  22  to the mounting frame bottom support side  47  of the mounting frame  40   
           37  angle bracket is a standard “L” type angle bracket with bolts and nuts used to affix the trailer metal mounting plate  30  to the boat trailer  7   
           40  mounting frame is the three-sided frame following the general shape of a rectangle or a square designed to fit over the edges of the trailer tail light magnetic plate  20  when the trailer tail light  10  is inserted into the mounting frame  40 . In an alternate embodiment, there is a hole in the bottom of the mounting frame bottom support side  47  to accommodate the post and wing nut  36  as affixed to the trailer tail light mounting plate  22   
           45  mounting frame upright support side is one of the two support sides comprising the upright portion of the mounting frame  40 . These support sides are basically inverted “L” shaped with the top of the “L” facing sideways and inward, and thus forming a rim on each upright support side to insert the trailer tail light magnetic plate  20  to mount the trailer tail light  10  flush against the trailer metal mounting plate  30  with either the magnetism of the trailer tail light magnetic plate  20  or the post and wing nut  36  affixed to the trailer tail light mounting plate  22  to assure that the trailer tail light  10  doesn&#39;t bounce out of the mounting frame  40  due to road vibration when in use. 
           47  mounting frame bottom support side is the support side on the bottom of the mounting frame  40 . This support side is basically an inverted “L” shape with the top of the “L” facing upwardly and inward, and thus forming a rim on the bottom support side to allow insertion of either the trailer tail light magnetic plate  20  or the trailer tail light mounting plate  22  with a post and wing nut  36 . In the bottom center of the mounting frame bottom support side  47  is a mounting frame access port  48  to accept the post and wing nut  36  affixed to the bottom of the trailer tail light mounting plate  22 . 
           48  mounting frame access port is the opening in the bottom center of the mounting frame bottom support side  47  that allows the post  36  that is affixed to the bottom of the trailer tail light mounting plate  22  to pass through and then have the wing nut  36  manually threaded and tightened to the post  36  thus anchoring the trailer tail light mounting plate  22  to the bottom center of the mounting frame bottom support side  47   
           50  electrical connector opening is the access port or other type of opening in the trailer tail light  10  enclosure through which the electrical connectors  52  are inserted and connected to the trailer tail light bulb(s)  60   
           52  electrical connectors are typically copper wires sheathed in plastic or vinyl that conduct the electrical current from the boat trailer to the trailer tail light  10  to light the bulb(s)  60   
           60  tail light bulb is one or more incandescent bulbs mounted inside the trailer tail light  10  enclosure and connected by the electrical connectors  52  to the boat trailer source of electrical current to light the bulbs  60  for warning, backup, or braking purposes. 
       
    
     Preferred Embodiment 
     The present invention provides a convenient device and method to remove the boat trailer tail light  10  prior to being submerged along with the boat trailer  7  and for convenient re-placement on exit from the water. Thus, the invention avoids short circuits and lamp blow-outs, while conforming with all applicable vehicle codes on the highway. The boat trailer  7  is equipped with two trailer metal mounting plates  30 , one on each side of the rear of the boat trailer. These trailer metal mounting plates  30  will be steel or stainless steel so as to be capable of magnetic attraction, but in the alternate embodiment using a post and wing nut  36  affixed to the trailer tail light mounting plate  22 , it can be of other sturdy and rigid material. 
     In the preferred embodiment, each trailer metal mounting plate  30  is about 12 inches wide and 6 inches high. The two trailer metal mounting plates  30  are affixed to the rear of the boat trailer by ¼ inch by 4 inch screws. The screws are inserted into&#39; inch countersunk openings  35  in the steel where the openings are about ¼ inch from the outer edge of the trailer metal mounting plate  30 . The screw openings  35  are spaced equally along all four sides of the trailer metal mounting plates  30 , with 4 to 5 screws on each side. 
     Each trailer metal mounting plate  30  has a mounting frame  40  affixed to it, probably by welds, but it could be by nuts and bolts or other method. The mounting frame  40  is either square or rectangular in shape without a top side. The bottom side of the mounting plate  30  is about 4′A inches wide. The two sides of the mounting frame  40  are at right-angles to the bottom side and are about 3 inches in height. The mounting frame&#39;s  40  two upright support sides  45  and one bottom support side  47  are basically inverted “L” shaped with the top of the side  45 ,  47  about&#39; inch in width and the support portion being ¼ inch. The inside height from the plate  30  to the lower surface of the mounting frame side  45 ,  47  is ⅝ inch. Thus, the mounting frame  40  provides a rim on both upright sides  45  and the bottom side  47  such that the trailer tail light magnetic plate  20  can slide under the rims and the trailer tail light magnetic plate  20  will then adhere to the trailer metal mounting plate  30  and be held in place by both the magnetism and the mounting frame  40 . 
     The trailer tail light  10  comprises an enclosure  15 , light bulbs  60 , electrical connectors  52 , and a magnetic plate  20 . The trailer tail light enclosure  15  will typically be red transparent material such as plastic or glass. The trailer tail light enclosure  15  is shown ( FIG. 1 ) in a wedge shape for better visibility, but this shape is not required. The enclosure  15  includes one or more probably incandescent bulbs  60  for the purpose of lighting in low light or darkness conditions, and lighting when the towing vehicle&#39;s brakes are engaged by the operator. Depending on convenience and other factors, the trailer tail light enclosure  15  might also be in sections/partitions to allow for white/clear backup lighting 
     The trailer tail light  10  is removable from the trailer metal mounting plate&#39;s  30  mounting frame  40  prior to the rear of the boat trailer being immersed in the water when launching the boat. The trailer tail light  10  electrical connectors  52  are sufficiently long enough to allow the removed trailer tail light  10  to be stowed on the boat trailer above the water line even when the boat trailer is backed into the water. 
     Alternate Embodiment 
     The alternate embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6 , uses a different device and method for affixing the trailer tail light mounting plate  22  to the trailer metal mounting plate  30  and the mounting frame bottom support side  47  than the magnetism used in the Preferred Environment. 
     In the Preferred Embodiment, the trailer tail light magnetic plate  20  is used to anchor the trailer tail light  10  when it is inserted into the mounting frame  40 . However, the Alternate Embodiment uses the alternate trailer tail light  12 , with a trailer tail light mounting plate  22  and its associated post and wing nut  36  for insertion into a mounting frame access port  48  in the mounting frame bottom support side  47 . The wing nut  36  is then tightened on the post  36  for highway use. 
     DETAILED DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  provides a top view of the trailer metal mounting plate  30  with the removable trailer tail light  10  and its trailer tail light magnetic plate  20  inserted into the mounting frame  40 . The trailer tail light  10  is shown with the trailer tail light enclosure  15  in a wedge shape, enclosing a single tail light bulb  60  and the electrical connector opening  50  with electrical connectors  52  entering the enclosure for connection to the tail light bulb  60 . 
       FIG. 2  provides a horizontal view of the trailer metal mounting plate  30  with mounting frame  40 . The mounting frame  40  components are displayed, showing the two mounting frame upright support sides  45  and the single mounting frame bottom support side  47 . The trailer metal mounting plate  30  is anchored to a support, such as an angle bracket  37  ( FIG. 3 ), affixed to the boat trailer  7  ( FIG. 3 ). The means for affixing the trailer metal mounting plate  30  to the angle bracket  37  ( FIG. 3 ) is by inserting screws or bolts through the mounting plate bolt holes  35 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the boat trailer  7  with trailer metal mounting plates  30  installed using the angle brackets  37 . The trailer metal mounting brackets  30  along with two mounting plate bolt holes  35 , are shown with the mounting frame  40  components including the two mounting frame upright support sides  45  and the single mounting frame bottom support side  47 . 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the alternate removable trailer tail light  12  inserted into the mounting frame  40 , as mounted on the trailer metal mounting plate  30 . The trailer tail light enclosure  15  is square or rectangular in shape and encloses a tail light bulb  60 , with an electrical connector opening  50  for the electrical connectors  52 . 
       FIG. 5  is a horizontal side view of the alternate trailer metal mounting plate  22  with mounting frame  40 , the mounting plate bolt holes  35 , both mounting frame upright support sides  45  and the mounting frame bottom support side  47  with its mounting frame access port  48 . 
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the alternate trailer metal mounting plate  22  with the alternate removable trailer tail light  12  with post  36  and wing nut  36  combination for affixing the alternate trailer metal mounting plate  22  to the mounting frame  40  (not shown). The electrical connector opening  50  is shown on the side of the alternate removable trailer tail light  12  with electrical connectors  52  entering the enclosure for connection to the tail light bulb  60  (not shown).