Abstract:
A method and apparatus for incorporating lighting fixtures (e.g., Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting fixtures) within other non-lighting components, or their mounting structures, already mounted to a watercraft. A mounting bracket that may be used to mount the non-lighting component to the watercraft may be modified to include a mounting bracket for the LED lighting device. The light fixture may be incorporated into the non-lighting component mount without utilizing any extra surface area on the watercraft itself.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to lighting mechanisms, and more particularly to marine-based lighting mechanisms. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Lighting mechanisms for use in marine applications (e.g., fishing boats) are numerous. Navigation lights, for example, may be implemented as colored lights (e.g., a red light on the port side and a green light on the starboard side) so that when two or more watercraft are on intersecting paths, the crew occupying one watercraft may determine the position, heading and status of the other watercraft by monitoring the location of each navigation light in relation to the approaching watercraft. Accordingly, right-of-way may be established between each watercraft. 
     As per other examples, docking lights, underwater lights, courtesy lights, utility lights and task lights may also be utilized in marine applications, where virtually all such lighting may utilize dedicated mounts. Accordingly, precious surface area that may be utilized for other applications, is instead required to be used for the lighting applications themselves. 
     Efforts continue, therefore, to develop techniques that may incorporate lighting fixtures within structures already mounted to the watercraft, so that lighting may be provided without unnecessarily wasting surface area. 
     SUMMARY 
     To overcome limitations in the prior art, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, various embodiments of the present invention disclose methods and apparatus for incorporating lighting fixtures (e.g., Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting fixtures) within other components already mounted to a watercraft. For example, a bracket that may be used to mount a trolling motor to a watercraft may be modified to include a mounting bracket for an LED lighting device. Accordingly, since the mounting bracket for the trolling motor is already being utilized for the trolling motor mounting function, a light fixture may be incorporated into the trolling motor mount without utilizing any extra surface area on the watercraft itself. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a lighting system comprises a mounting bracket having a first side coupled to a vehicle and a second side operable to receive a trolling motor. The lighting system further comprises a light bracket coupled to the mounting bracket, the light bracket including a light fixture mounted within a cavity of the light bracket, the light fixture operable to illuminate portions outside of the vehicle. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a lighting system comprises a mounting bracket having a first side coupled to a vehicle and a second side operable to receive a non-lighting device. The lighting system further comprises a light bracket coupled to the mounting bracket, the light bracket including a light fixture mounted within a cavity of the light bracket, the light fixture operable to illuminate portions outside of the vehicle. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a method of mounting a light fixture comprises selecting an existing fixture mounted to a vehicle, the existing fixture being mounted along a first axis, altering at least a portion of the existing fixture to accommodate a compartment and mounting a light fixture along a second axis within the compartment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon review of the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a bow portion of a watercraft in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a light fixture mounted within a trolling motor mounting bracket in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a lighting fixture in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a flow diagram in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Generally, the various embodiments of the present invention are applied to lighting fixtures (e.g., LED lighting fixtures) that may be mounted within other fixtures, or their mounting brackets, currently existing on vehicles such as marine-based vehicles. Accordingly, for example, since those fixtures and their associated mounting brackets are already utilized on the vehicle, mounting the lighting fixtures within such other fixtures and/or their associated mounting brackets may not require any extra surface area. In so doing, lighting fixtures may be attached to vehicles, such as marine-based vehicles, without the need to utilize any extra surface area that is not already being utilized. 
     Turning to  FIG. 1 , trolling motor  104  may be attached to a vehicle (e.g., fishing boat  100 ) via mounting bracket  106 . Any number of mounting configurations may be utilized, such as the bow-mount configuration as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . As can be seen, bracket  106  may be mounted to the bow of fishing boat  100  along port side  102  of fishing boat  100 . Accordingly, mounting bracket  106  may not be aligned along an axis that is parallel to the centerline of fishing boat  100 , but rather may be aligned along an axis that is not parallel (e.g., along axis  112 ) to the centerline of fishing boat  100 . Lighting bracket  110  may nevertheless provide a light-fixture compartment to house a light fixture, such that when the light fixture is mounted within the light-fixture compartment, the light fixture may be aligned along the centerline of fishing boat  100 . Accordingly, once light fixture  116  is caused to illuminate, illumination pattern  114  may be directed from light fixture  116  substantially along an axis that is parallel to the centerline of fishing boat  100 . As the direction of fishing boat  100  is changed (e.g., via operation of control cable  108  of trolling motor  104 ), the direction of illumination pattern  114  may also change to remain aligned generally in the direction that fishing boat  100  is being pulled through the water via trolling motor  104 . 
     Alternately, bracket  106  may be mounted to the bow of fishing boat  100  along starboard side  118  of fishing boat  100 . Accordingly, mounting bracket  106  may not be aligned along an axis that is parallel to the centerline of fishing boat  100 , but rather may be aligned along an axis that is not parallel to the centerline of fishing boat  100  (e.g., axis  120 ) instead. Lighting bracket  110  may nevertheless provide a light-fixture compartment that may be aligned along the centerline of fishing boat  100 , such that when the light fixture is mounted within the light-fixture compartment, the light fixture may be aligned along the centerline of fishing boat  100 . Accordingly, once light fixture  116  is caused to illuminate, illumination pattern  114  may be directed from light fixture  116  substantially along an axis that is parallel to the centerline of fishing boat  100 . As the direction of fishing boat  100  is changed (e.g., via operation of control cable  108  of trolling motor  104 ), the direction of illumination pattern  114  may also change to be aligned generally in the direction that fishing boat  100  is being pulled through the water via trolling motor  104 . 
     It should be noted that light fixture  116  may be operational while trolling motor  104  is deployed (e.g., as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) and light fixture  116  may be operational while trolling motor  104  is stowed (e.g., when trolling motor  114  is out of the water and resting on mounting bracket  106 ). In either instance, illumination pattern  114  may be projected forward of fishing boat  100  whether or not trolling motor  104  is operational. Accordingly, extension arm  122  of trolling motor  104  may not substantially interfere with illumination pattern  114  while trolling motor  104  is operational or not. 
     It should be further noted that lighting bracket  110  may facilitate a mounting of light fixture  116  such that illumination pattern  114  may be adjusted by a few degrees upward (e.g., 5 degrees upward) and a few degrees downward (e.g., 5 degrees downward) by allowing light fixture  116  to be rotated upward and downward, respectively, while light fixture  116  is mounted within the compartment of lighting bracket  110 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 2 , assembly  200  is illustrated, which may include bracket  202  (e.g., a mounting bracket for a trolling motor), light bracket  204  and a light fixture (e.g., LED light fixture  206 ). Light bracket  204  may, for example, be configured to accept light fixture  206  within cavity  214  of light bracket  204 , such that light fixture  206  may be recessed within light bracket  204 . Accordingly, for example, light fixture  206  may be protected from objects that would otherwise impact and damage light fixture  206 , but for the existence of light bracket  204 . 
     Light bracket  204  may, for example, facilitate the mounting of light fixture  206  as shown, such that an angle may exist between axis  208  (e.g., the longitudinal axis of bracket  202 ) and axis  210  (e.g., the axis along which light illuminated by light fixture  206  is projected). Accordingly, for example, bracket  202  may be mounted to a vehicle (e.g., a fishing boat) such that the longitudinal axis along bracket  202  (e.g., axis  208 ) is not necessarily aligned along a centerline of the vehicle, but due to the angle of light fixture  206  that may be produced by light bracket  204 , light fixture  206  may nevertheless be substantially aligned with the centerline of the vehicle (e.g., along axis  210 ). Accordingly, for example, the light illuminated by light fixture  206  may be aligned with the centerline of the vehicle. 
     Alternately, light bracket  204  may, for example, facilitate the mounting of light fixture  206 , such that an angle may exist between axis  208  (e.g., the longitudinal axis of bracket  202 ) and axis  212  (e.g., the axis along which light illuminated by light fixture  206  is projected). Accordingly, for example, bracket  202  may be mounted to a vehicle (e.g., a fishing boat) such that the longitudinal axis along bracket  202  (e.g., axis  208 ) is not necessarily aligned along a centerline of the vehicle, but due to the angle of light fixture  206  that may be produced by light bracket  204 , light fixture  206  may nevertheless be substantially aligned with the centerline of the vehicle (e.g., along axis  212 ). Accordingly, for example, the light illuminated by light fixture  206  may be aligned with the centerline of the vehicle. 
     A bottom side (e.g., side  218 ) of bracket  202  may, for example, be configured to mount to a vehicle (e.g., a fishing boat) and a top side (e.g., side  216 ) of bracket  202  may, for example, be configured to accept an article of the vehicle (e.g., a trolling motor). Accordingly, LED light fixture  206  may be mounted to the vehicle (e.g., via bracket  204 ) without necessarily requiring any other surface area on the vehicle with which to be mounted. 
     Turning to  FIG. 3 , assembly  300  is illustrated, which may include top bracket  302 , light bracket  304 , a light fixture (e.g., LED light fixture  306 ) and bracket  308 . As illustrated, light fixture  306  may fit within cavity  310  of light bracket  304 , such that cavity  310  may fully encapsulate at least forward portion  312  of light fixture  306  when light fixture  306  is installed within cavity  310  of light bracket  304 . Accordingly, for example, objects that may come into contact with forward portion  314  of light bracket  304  may be prohibited from also coming into contact with front portion  312  of light fixture  306 . In so doing, light bracket  304  may provide protection for light fixture  306 , such that when light fixture  306  is in use (e.g., utilized within a trolling motor mounting bracket), light fixture  306  may not be allowed to come into contact with foreign objects (e.g., the extension arm of a trolling motor). 
     Light fixture  306  may, for example, include one or more LEDs  316  and one or more associated reflectors  318 . LEDs  316  may, for example, be mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) (not shown) within light fixture  306 . In addition, control circuitry (not shown) may also exist on the PCB to, for example, provide operational power and associated biasing to LEDs  316 , such that LEDs  316  may become illuminated when desired. Reflectors  318  may, for example, be installed over LEDs  316 , such that reflectors may, or may not, be in contact with the PCB. Reflectors  318  may, for example, exhibit a parabolic shape with a small opening on one end of the reflector and a larger opening on the opposite end of the reflector. The small opening of reflector  318  may, for example, be positioned proximate to its associated LED  316 . 
     As LEDs  316  illuminate, a portion of illuminated light may be directed forward of the LED through both the small and large openings of its associated reflector and may not be reflected by the reflector. Other portions of the light projected by LEDs  316  may be directed through the small opening of its associated reflector and reflected by an inner portion of the reflector to an area forward of the LED. Accordingly, for example, a substantial portion of the light emitted by each of LEDs  316  may either be projected forward of the LED and/or may be reflected by the associated reflectors forward of the LED. 
     Bracket  308  may, for example, allow light fixture  306  to be rotated in an upward direction within cavity  310 . Similarly, bracket  308  may, for example, allow light fixture  306  to be rotated in a downward direction within cavity  310 . Accordingly, for example, light emitted by light fixture  306  may be caused to illuminate a few degrees upward (e.g., 5 degrees upward) or a few degrees downward (e.g., 5 degrees downward) while light fixture  306  remains mounted within light bracket  304 . 
     Turning to  FIG. 4 , a flow diagram is illustrated, which may include selecting an existing fixture (e.g., selecting a trolling motor mount as in step  402 ) that may preexist on a vehicle (e.g., a watercraft). In step  404 , a compartment within the existing fixture may be selected within which to mount a lighting fixture (e.g., an LED-based lighting fixture). Step  404  may, for example, include altering at least a portion of the existing fixture to accommodate a compartment that may fit within the existing fixture. In one embodiment, the compartment may be configured to accept a lighting fixture and may be configured as a rigid, flexible or semi-rigid/semi-flexible compartment. 
     In step  406 , the lighting fixture compartment of step  404  may be configured to arrange the lighting fixture parallel to an axis that is relative to the existing fixture (e.g., parallel to the centerline axis of the vehicle to which the existing fixture is mounted). In one embodiment, the compartment may accept the lighting fixture at an angle, such that irrespective of the mounting angle of the existing fixture, the angle of the lighting fixture may nevertheless be arranged to be along any axis of interest (e.g., the longitudinal axis of the watercraft) so that once illuminated, the lighting fixture may project light forward along the path traveled by the watercraft away from the inside of the watercraft. In so doing, for example, light may be projected away from the watercraft in a direction that may illuminate the path that is to be travelled by the watercraft, much like a headlight for a motor vehicle. 
     The lighting fixture may, for example, be mounted within the existing fixture, such that the lighting fixture may be rotated within the existing fixture after being mounted within the existing fixture (e.g., as in step  408 ). In one embodiment, for example, the lighting fixture may be rotated upward (e.g., between 0 and 10 degrees above the horizon), to allow light to be emanated from the light fixture at a variable angle above the horizon. In an alternate embodiment, for example, the lighting fixture may be rotated downward (e.g., between 0 and 10 degrees below the horizon), to allow light to be emanated from the light fixture at a variable angle below the horizon. 
     Other aspects and embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended, therefore, that the specification and illustrated embodiments be considered as examples only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.