Boat light

A pivotal boat light moves between an open use position extending upwardly from the deck of a boat and a closed non-use position retracted below the deck of a boat. The light includes a base plate mounted within a hole in the deck, and a light insert pivotably mounted in the base plate for movement between the open and closed positions. A spring normally biases the light insert to the open position, while a pawl or lock member retains the light insert in the closed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Boat lights often are mounted on the bow of the boat or on the hull or cabin of the boat so as to extend upwardly for visibility and projection of the light. These lights include conventional red and green navigation lights, as well as white lights. The raised position of such conventionally mounted lights presents a hazard, since the light projects upwardly or outwardly from the boat deck, whether or not the light is in use. Such raised lights may be tripped over, bumped into, or entangled by a rope. If mounted on the outside hull of the boat, such outwardly projecting lights may strike a dock, piling, or other structure and cause damage to the light or to the boat.

More recently, some boat lights have been pivotally mounted to the deck so as to be moveable between a flush position with the light recessed into the boat when not in use, and a raised or extending position above the deck surface when the light is in use. For example, see Applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,824 which shows a pivotally mounted light which can be manually moved between the flush lower position and the raised upper position. In the '824 patent, a pair of resilient fingers releasably engage a post on the pivotal light member to retain the light in either the raised or lowered positions. However, such movement of the light requires strength in the operator's fingers to overcome the tight, frictional engagement of the retention fingers, which is difficult for some people.

Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is a provision of an improved boat light which is quickly and easily moveable between a raised and lowered position.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved boat light which is spring biased toward a raised position.

Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of a spring biased boat light which is moveable between raised and lowered positions, and retained in the lowered position by a sliding lock member.

Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved boat light which is releasably retained in the lowered position by a spring biased pawl.

Another objective of the present invention is the provision of an improved boat light which is economical to manufacture and durable in use.

These and other objectives will become apparent from the following description of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The boat light assembly of the present invention includes a base plate adapted to be mounted in a hole in a boat bow, hull or cabin. The light assembly includes a base plate with an upper flange which overlies the hole and a lower portion extending into the hole. A spring-biased light insert is pivotally mounted in the base plate for movement between a retracted lower position and an extended upper position. A spring is provided on the axle of the light insert so as to normally bias the light insert to the raised upper position. A slidable lock member or pawl is provided on the light insert for movement between a locked position to hold the light insert in the lower position, and an unlocked position to allow the light to pivot to the upper position. The lock member is normally urged to the locked position by a spring. A cup extends downwardly from to the base plate so as to reside below the boat deck and surround the light insert when the light insert is in the lowered position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is directed towards a boat light10which is pivotal between a raised or extended upper position when in use and a retracted lower position when not in use. The light10is adapted to be mounted in the bow, hull, or cabin of a boat so as to be substantially flush with the boat deck12when in the lower position and project upwardly from the boat deck12when in the upper position. The light10is adapted to be installed through a hole in the boat deck12.

The light10generally comprises three components, including a base plate or mounting plate14, a light insert16, and a cup18. As best seen inFIG. 6, the base plate14includes an upper flange20which is adapted to overlay the hole in the boat deck12, and a downwardly extending frame22. The base plate14is preferably made of corrosion and weather resistant material, with at least the upper surface of the flange20being chrome plated. Mounting holes24are provided in the flange20so that the base plate14can be secured to the deck12using any convenient fastener, such as screws or bolts.

The light insert16includes a housing26with a face plate28and a curved body30. The housing26is hollow and open at the bottom32. A light bulb assembly34is mounted within the housing26. The curved body30of the housing26includes a pair of lenses36. The lenses36may be clear or colored. For example, if the light10is mounted on the bow of the boat, the starboard lens should be green and the port lens should be red. The lenses36may be any desired shape.

The light insert16is pivotally mounted to the base plate14for movement between a raised upper position when in use and a retracted lower position when not in use. An axle38extends through opposite side of the light insert16and opposite sides of the base plate frame22, as best seen inFIG. 3. The axle38may be secured in position in any convenient means. For example, one of the holes40in the frame22may be threaded, with the end of the axle38being threaded for mating receipt in the threaded hole40. Alternatively, the axle25may be a bolt secured with a nut, or a shaft secured with a pin or lock ring.

A spring42is mounted on the axle38, and has a first end44engaging the frame22of the base plate14, and a second end46engaging the light bulb support structure34. The spring42normally biases the light insert16to the raised or extended position for use.

The insert housing26further includes a spring loaded pawl or lock member48which is adapted to engage a lip50on the base plate flange20so as to retain the insert16in the retracted lower position. The lock member is slidably mounted in a track51in the housing26, with a spring (not shown) biasing the lock member48to the locked position. The lock member48can be slid inwardly along the track51from the locked position shown inFIG. 5to the unlocked position by a person's finger, so as to disengage the lip50and allow the insert16to pivot upwardly from the retracted or closed position to the raised open position. Since the lock member48is biased to the locked position, when the insert16is pushed to the closed or lowered position, the lock member48will automatically engage the lip50to retain the insert16in the lower position. The light insert16also includes a stop member52which engages the lip50to limit the pivotal movement of the light insert16to approximately 90° from the closed to the open position.

The cup18engages the base plate14and is retained by the perimeter of the boat deck hole, as seen inFIGS. 1 and 2. Alternatively, the cup18can be attached to the base plate14with adhesive, welding, or any other convenient attachment means. The cup surrounds the light insert16when the insert is moved to the lowered position. The cup18includes a drain opening54for drainage of water which may pass between the base plate14and the insert16. A hose (not shown) extends from the drain opening54to the bilge of the boat. Cup18also includes one or more holes through which electrical wires56extend for connecting the light bulb to a power source, such as a boat battery.