Abstract:
A lighted guide assembly for boat trailers used in centering a boat on a trailer during the loading and unloading process. The lighted guide post assembly provides running and braking lights for the trailer that can be seen from the rear of the boat trailer despite the height or length of a trailered boat. The lighted boat guide post assembly has first and second uprights each formed from a partially or substantially transparent tube with directional lights placed therein. The lighted boat guide post is electrically coupled to the boat trailer towing vehicle and provides lighting that extends from the trailer frame to the top of each guide post.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to boat trailers and in particular to a boat trailer lighting assembly incorporated into a boat centering guide post assembly.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     While there are various types of loading mechanisms that have been developed for aiding in the loading and unloading of a boat from a trailer, boat centering guide post become universally accepted. Before the use of the self centering guides, any size boat could be difficult to load and unload due to current, cross winds, and single person operations. The situation is compounded with longer boats where the length of the boat could make it nearly impossible to control during certain situations if guide posts were not available.  
         [0003]     The conventional boat centering guide post is positioned at the outmost side of a trailer to prevent lateral movement of a boat during the loading and unloading process. For instance, should a boat operator attempt to load a boat in a cross current or wind, the boat can be pushed against the guide post wherein the guide post will flex but otherwise cause the boat to be centered on the trailer.  
         [0004]     In operation, the boat loading process requires the operator of the boat to either float the boat onto the trailer or hook a winch line from the trailer to the bow of a boat to be loaded. In either event, the propulsion system of the boat is either shut down or becomes ineffective at such slow speed wherein any wind or current could move the transom of the boat but for the positioning of the centering guide posts. The majority of the boat trailer is typically submerged during this process and the boat is literally floated on to the trailer with the center guide posts positioning the boat over the trailer bunks. When the trailer is pulled from the water, hopefully the boat is aligned to the trailer as provided by the guide posts.  
         [0005]     While the boat centering guides have made boat loading and unloading an effortless process, the ease of use has led to the transporting of even larger boats which results in another problem in which this invention addresses.  
         [0006]     One of the problems arise in the ability to view the trailer operating lights whenever a boat is on a trailer. Trailering of a boat necessitates proper lighting for the safety of those following the boat trailer as well as for the safety of the boat and trailer. The difficulty in viewing of the trailer lighting is proportionately enhanced when a larger boat is transported. The self centering guide posts are typically mounted near the trailer wheels since the wheel location must be the outermost position of the boat trailer to provide the necessary boat stability during transport. The lights may also be mounted to the trailer along the outermost area, which typically results in the placement near the wheel location.  
         [0007]     By way of example, driving at night posses unique dangers to those following a boat since the trailer lights may be blocked from view should the boat extend any distance past the rear of the trailer. Thus, the operator of an automobile traveling behind the trailered boat may only see one side of the trailer lights. If the operator of an automobile traveling behind the trailer boat is driving close to the boat, both side lights obscured. Unfortunately, if the boat being trailered includes multiple outboard engines, inboard/outboard engines, or is a longer boat then the conventional lights mounted on the trailer would be obscured from most every position when viewed from the rear of the trailer.  
         [0008]     While the centering guide posts provide a tremendous improvement in the safe loading and unloading boats, the ease of operation has resulted in the consuming public transporting boats more frequently and, of larger boats, placing the driving public at risk when the boat trailer lights cannot be seen.  
         [0009]     Various inventors have recognized the need for providing lighting on or near the rear of a trailered boat.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,022 discloses a portable set of boat trailer light assemblies; this disclosure requires fishing pole holes in order to support the light. U.S. Pat. No. 4,360,859 discloses a boat light having resiliently flexible and adjustable mounts. U.S. Pat. No. 4,445,163 discloses a boat light for use in transom mounting. U.S. Pat. No. 5,060,121 discloses a sealed tail light for a boat trailer. U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,591 discloses an attachable auxiliary vehicle lighting system. U.S. Pat. No. 4,197,050 discloses a typical boat guide assembly that is used on a boat trailer.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,217 discloses yet another boat trailer centering device as does U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,768. It should be noted on each of these boat trailer guides that the guide assemblies are located on the outermost portion of the boat trailer typically adjacent to the boat trailer wheel assembly.  
         [0012]     Design Pat. No. 351,115 illustrates a guide post with a raised indicator light. This device assists the operator of the towing vessel to determine trailer position when the trailer is submerged.  
         [0013]     Thus, what is lacking in the art is a light assembly that replicates the lighting functions of the towing vehicle to provide an enhanced level of safety to the driving public and the owner of the boat.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     The present invention satisfies these needs through provision of an improved boat guide post that is used for centering a boat on a boat trailer and for providing running and braking lights for the boat trailer. The lighted boat guide assembly has first and second uprights each formed from tubular shaped material. The guide post is similar in most aspects to the conventional guide post with the improvement of either a partially transparent cross section throughout substantially the entire length of the tube, or a transparent post with a directional light placed therein. The lighted boat guide posts are electrically coupled to the boat trailer towing vehicle and effectively provide lighting that extends from the trailer frame mounting section to the top of each guide post.  
         [0015]     Thus, a primary objective of the invention is provide a lighted guide post that can be seen from the rear of the boat trailer despite the length or style of the trailered boat and dispite weather conditions, or natural light conditions.  
         [0016]     Another objective of the invention is to provide a lighted guide post wherein the length or any length thereof of the guide post operates as the brake light, turn signal, and/or marker light.  
         [0017]     Still another objective of the invention is to employ direction LED lighting for localized positioning of lighting elements.  
         [0018]     Another objective of the invention is to employ the use of prismatic films that permit strategic placement of lighting elements wherein the prismatic film operates to diffuse and reflect the lighting to provide illumination along the length of the guide post.  
         [0019]     Still another objective of the invention is to place all electrical components and connections at the top of the guide posts providing the advantage that no saltwater intrusion is possible since no submersion of the guide top is possible.  
         [0020]     Yet another objective of the invention is to place lighting at an elevated position above wheel misting, which occurs when the pavement is wet, to prevent obscuring of the lights during rain.  
         [0021]     Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]      FIG. 1  is a pictorial of a boat trailer with the illuminated lighted guide post assembly of the instant invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a square tube lighted guide post;  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is side view of a guide post having a prismatic film;  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is an exploded side view of the lighted guide assembly employing a prismatic film;  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the lighted guide assembly employing an LED electrical circuit strip; and  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional side view of the lighted guide assembly employing an LED circuit strip with a focal lens.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0028]     Although the invention will be described in terms of a specific embodiment, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art that various modifications, rearrangements and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.  
         [0029]      FIG. 1  depicts a boat trailer  10  defined by a frame  12  with wheels  14  located on the outermost section of the frame. A tongue  16  includes a hitch  18  for use in coupling to the towing vehicle. A winch  28  is used to secure a boat, not shown, onto the trailer. The use of a trailer with a winch is only for illustrations purposes, the trailer may also be a float-on style trailer where no winch is necessary.  
         [0030]     The guide post  40  is mounted to the frame  12  with the proximal end  42  secured to the frame and a distal end  44  extending a predetermined distance above the frame. Guide post  40  is positioned on the port side of the boat/trailer providing a signal that would be repeating all signals provided by towing vehicle. Similarity, guide post  48  is positioned on the starboard side of the boat/trailer providing a signal that would be repeating all signals provided by the towing vehicle. The guide posts  40  and  48  operate to center a boat onto the frame  12  during the loading process. The distal ends  44  and  54  extending about the side edge the boat wherein frame submerging, for either loading or unloading wherein, permits the distal ends  44  and  54  to remain above the water and thus are the preferred location for electrical connections and sensitive circuitry.  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  illustrates the preferred guide post  40 , having a base  20  which is bolted to the frame  12 . The base is typically formed from a hollow square shaped steel tube defined by four side walls. One side wall  22  has a plurality of aperture  26  corresponding with a light source  34 . The light source may consist of a light strip having LED spaced apart for projecting through the base. A illumination circuitry  32  is positioned along the upper end  35  of the base  20  for use in converting vehicle signals to the appropriate LED transmission. This illumination circuitry may include LED sequencing to further draw attention to the trailer to emergency braking, parking and so forth. The main purpose of the illumination circuitry placement is to prevent water submersion. A plastic tube  37  with cap  39 , which are made from clear PVC or acrylic, is positioned over the base  20 . The LED lighting projects through the tube  37  and should the tube become fogged due to age, wear, sunlight fading, or choice of clarity by the manufacturer. The plastic tube  37  is allowed to rotate to prevent damage to the boat while protecting the base.  
         [0032]     The illumination circuitry provides repeater service of braking, turning, parking, and running lights for the towing vehicle.  
         [0033]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , set forth an alternative embodiment depicting guide post  40  with a partially transparent cross section  70  throughout substantially the entire length thereof. The transparent cross section may consist of a prismatic lens or be a clear polycarbonate material with a illumination means and/or prismatic type film  72  located behind the cross section. Conventional lighting is located at the distal end of the guide post  40  wherein illumination occurs through the post by use of prismatic film. Placement of a lighting source in the distal end prevents water damage. It is well known that traditional incandescent bulbs require maintenance for the exposure to inherent in marine applications deteriorates the mounting of conventional light bulbs. Should water immersion occur, typically the corrosion is often so extensive that it seizes the bulb to the socket assembly, making the replacement of the bulb difficult and often resulting in physical damage to the socket. It is not necessary to submerge the distal ends of the guide posts during loading or unloading, so the need for sealed lamp ends is eliminated.  
         [0034]     The illumination circuitry provides repeater service of braking, turning, parking, and running lights for the towing vehicle. Use of diffuse optical grade polycarbonate film with prismatic angles allows for uniform diffusion along the length of the film with minimal loss of light intensity. The light from the conventional bulbs is preferably a 12 volt halogen lamp with a filament orientation parallel with their respective inner reflective surface. This orientation provides downward intensity lighting so as to meet SAE requirements for trailer lighting.  
         [0035]     The guide post  40  can be a sealed, waterproof assembly wherein a first opaque plastic shell  62  has threaded bolts  64 , or other fasteners, extending perpendicularly therefrom for attaching the light to a trailer. The shell  62  has a central depression with lens screws  66  securing the transparent cross sectional lens section  70  to the shell  62 . The transparent cross sectional lens is preferably curved to permit ease of sealing to the shell and elimination of edges that may nick the side of a boat. However, it should be noted that the lens may consist of most any optic shape and, in the case of lighting placed in the distal end or when LED circuitry is use, the lens  70  may not be sealed against the shell  62 . The shell or lenses may be made from a durable, water resistant plastic, such as ABS, PVC, acrylic or polycarbonate, and if sealed against each other can be sealed with sealant, solvent or electronic welding.  
         [0036]      FIG. 4  illustrates the use of a traditional incandescent bulb  80  located along the distal end of the shell  62 . The lens mounting screws  66  removed from the shell and lens. The placement of the incandescent bulb  80 , preferably a halogen lamp, at the distal end  44  eliminates submersion of the bulb  80  during the boat loading and unloading process. To enhance the lighting ability of the post a prismatic film  72  can be used with the lens  70 .  
         [0037]     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , another alternative to LED lighting is the use of an LED array can be placed along the length of the guide post  100 . Distal end  92  of the guide provides for a circuitry location that is not submerged. The embodiment employs the tubular shape with an array of LEDs encapsulated in resin and positioned within a specified parameter so as to deflect its full light output upon a surfaced light diffusion reflector.  
         [0038]     In this embodiment, an integral light and circuit module  96  is suspended within the shell  98  and lens  102 . The module  96  has an array of LEDs that are aimed at the lens  102  so that the LED shines through optic shapes  108  formed on the lens  104 . The LEDs are electrically connected in conventional manner to a printed circuit board  106 . A waterproof sealant, such as an epoxy resin, can be used to prevent moisture from entering lens assembly. The circuitry for the LED or incandescent is not detailed herein but is considered well known in the art and is used only as a repeater for the towing vehicle&#39;s rear lights. Such an electrical coupling is conventionally secured by use of pin and socket wiring harness standardized on most vehicles capable of towing a trailer.  
         [0039]     In operation, the operator of a vehicle located behind the boat trailer will be able to see at least part of each lighted guide post. For instance, if a driver of the rear vehicle is able to see the left side of the trailer, the driver could view the entire guide post as well as the distal end of the other guide post. This will allow the driver to differentiate whether the trailer operator is indicating a left turn, right turn or is simply braking since without the ability to view each side post in relation to the other, it is most difficult to determine what the change in intensity creates.  
         [0040]     It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described certain forms of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification.