Abstract:
Disclosed is a multidirectional docking light where the direction of the light beam may be adjusted even after installation, and where the light may be simultaneously aimed in more than one direction. The docking light of the invention will assist boaters in viewing more areas surrounding the boat during docking that with conventional boat docking lights

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/180,545, filed on Feb. 2, 2000. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to marine lights and, move specifically to aiming and side illumination of mounted marine lights.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Many boats have lights mounted in the hull to illuminate in front of the boat and to illuminate a dock or pier as a boat is approaching. Often, these lights are similar to searchlights or floodlights, and the beam of light is often narrow and very bright. Accordingly, the brightness of such docking lights will cause areas that are not illuminated to appear very dark by contrast. This effect often obscures obstructions that may be near the boat but not in the path of the docking light, such as logs, small craft or even people.  
           [0004]    These lights can be configured in canisters that are installed into the side of the boat&#39;s hull. Conventional canister units are hard-mounted into the hull, and if mounted incorrectly, are very difficult to change. These lights most often use sealed beam lights, which are designed to point in only one direction, in a straight line in front of the light. Thus, if illumination of more than one area is desired, more than one light must be installed, creating additional expense and maintenance for the boater. In addition, conventional lights are generally configured so that once they are installed it is very difficult, if not impossible, to adjust the direction of the light—if mounted incorrectly, the light shines in a direction other than as intended. In addition, currently available lights do not allow the reflector to be aimed after installation.  
           [0005]    Because of the types of lights used as docking lights, such as sealed beam lights, and the way in which they are installed onto the boat, it is expensive to remount and replace prior art conventional boat docking lights.  
           [0006]    There is a need, therefore, for a boat docking light in which the direction of the beam may be adjusted. There is a further need for a boat docking light assembly in which the light may be easily replaced as compared to prior art sealed beam docking lights. Lastly, there is a need for a boat docking light that is multidirectional, and can illuminate in directions other than a narrow beam extending outward from the bulb face, thus minimizing the number of lights that must be installed and maintained.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    It is an object of the invention to provide a boat docking light in which the direction of the beam may be adjusted.  
           [0008]    It is also an object of the invention to provide a boat docking light assembly in which the light may be easily replaced.  
           [0009]    It is yet another object of the invention to provide a multi-directional boat docking light.  
           [0010]    The invention provides a novel multidirectional boat docking light whereby the direction of the light beam may be adjusted even after installation, and where the light may be aimed in more than one direction. The docking light of the invention will assist boaters in viewing more areas surrounding the boat during docking that with conventional boat docking lights. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of the boat docking light of the invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the boat docking light of the invention; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the light assembly of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]    The description herein of the preferred embodiments are for illustration purposes only. As those skilled in the art will understand, there are many variations and modifications of the device that will retain the spirit of the invention, and it is intended that such modifications and variations are within the scope of the multidirectional docking light described herein and in the appended claims. For instance, the invention illustrated herein is also suitable outside of the marine field where similar drawbacks are sought to be overcome, but the marine field is particularly suitable to the invention.  
         [0016]    As illustrated in FIG. 1, the multidirectional docking light  10  of the present invention includes a generally tubular housing  8  that comprises a first end  12  generally shaped in the form of a canister, attached to a second outer mounting end  14 . The mounting end  14  of housing  8  may be at least partly angled to correspond approximately to the shape of the side of the boat on which the docking light  10  is mounted, and is generally ovoid in shape and may optionally be of a larger outer diameter than the outer diameter of the canister end  12 . The first canister end  12  and mounting end  14  may be constructed of metal, plastic or any other material suitably durable and heat resistant for use in a boat docking light, and those skilled in the art will be aware of a number of commercially available materials for such purpose. The light  10  is installed into a receptacle formed in the hull of a boat in accordance with methods well known in the art.  
         [0017]    As shown in FIG. 2, a gasket  16  and one or more mounting rings  17  can be used to assist in fastening the mounting end  14  to the boat. The gasket  16  and mounting rings  17  may be made of any material suitable for this purpose such as but not limited to rubber, plastics, foams, or a combination of these, and a wide variety of commercially available gaskets are known to those skilled in the art. The mounting end  14 , gasket  16  and mounting rings  17  are pre-configured with a plurality of aligned fastener openings  40  to aid in mounting the docking light to the boat. A lens  18  designed to fit over the opening in the outer mounting end  14  of the housing  8  is removably fastened to the outer mounting end  14 . The lens  18  protects the internal components of the light  10  and allows for access into the housing  8  so that components can be replaced and repaired, and the reflectors adjusted. The lens  18  is also preconfigured with fastener openings to assist in mounting the lens  18  to the outer mounting end  14 . The lens  18  is transparent and permits light from the bulb to shine through. The lens may be made of any material that is waterproof and sufficiently transparent for the purpose, and includes but is not limited to plastic, acrylic polymers and glasses. A number of suitable lens materials are commercially available and are generally known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0018]    As depicted in FIG. 2, along the inner surface  20  of the mounting end  14  of housing  8 , a rim  22  is positioned that extends into the center of the housing  8 . The rim  22  is positioned between the outer mounting end  14  and the opposing distal end  24  of the canister end  12  of housing  8 . A light assembly  26  can be removably attached to the rim  22  so that the light assembly  26  is contained within the housing  8  and protected by the lens  18 .  
         [0019]    The light assembly  26 , as illustrated in FIG. 3, includes a reflecting bulb receptacle  28 , which may be conically or cup-shaped for optimal illumination. At the vortex  30  of the bulb receptacle  28 , a bulb  34  is placed. A variety of suitable bulbs are commercially available, and are generally known to boat operators. Such bulbs include but are not limited to incandescent bulbs, fluorescent bulbs and halogen bulbs. Through the vortex  30 , the necessary electrical components  32  to illuminate the bulb  34 , which are known in the art, are configured. The reflecting bulb receptacle  28  is connected to the mounting ring  38  by a plurality of commercially available adjustment screws  36 , as shown in FIG. 3.  
         [0020]    The configuration of the receptacle  28 , the mounting rim  38  and the housing&#39;s rim  22  allow the position of the light to be adjusted approximately ±10° in the X and Y axis. As the adjustment screws  36  are turned the receptacle  28  is adjusted in the appropriate X or Y axis in a known manner. In this way, a direction of the light beam can be adjusted to the desired direction once the assembly of the present invention is installed over the hull.  
         [0021]    In a further embodiment of the present invention also illustrated in FIG. 2, a reflector  40  is attached to the inner surface  20  of the mounting end  12 . The reflector  40  is attached between the outer mounting end  12  of the housing  8 , which is angled because of the shape of the hull, and the rim  22 . Due to the shape of the outer mounting end  12  and the position of the reflector  40 , the light emitted by the bulb  34  can be reflected in a forward direction as well as to the side of the boat, i.e. in a direction angular to the forward beam of light. The reflector  40  may be affixed in any position along the inner surface  20  of the outer mounting end  12 , thus providing additional flexibility in choosing the angle of reflection of the non-forward light. The reflector may be attached by any suitable means, including but not limited to by hardware such as screws, or by adhesives, such as but not limited to epoxy. Thus, the docking light  10  of the present invention can be multi-directional in that the light shines to the front of the bulb and is reflected at an angle from the forward beam, thus increasing the visibility of the areas around the boat. This can be helpful as a boat approaches a dock.