Patent Publication Number: US-6217200-B1

Title: Detachably mountable safety light apparatus for a trailered boat

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a safety light apparatus which is detachably mountable on a trailered boat. More particularly, the present invention relates to a safety light apparatus which is designed to be mounted on a hub of a propellered motor of the trailered boat. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Personal boats in general are transported over land using trailers which are towed by a motor vehicle. Such trailers generally include rear safety lights, which are electrically connected to the rear lights of the towing vehicle, since trailered boat at least partially, if not totally, obstructs the rear lights of the towing vehicle from the view of following traffic. However, trailers in general are designed to be low-riding, thus providing a low center of gravity for the trailered boat to improve the handling of the trailer and to avoid undue risk of roll-over. 
     Trailers in general are also designed with a boat supporting structure that allows easy loading of the boat from the rear. This, however, requires that the rear safety lights of the trailer must be mounted at or below the supporting structure so as to avoid interference with loading/unloading of the boat and damage to the rear safety lights or the boat. Typically, the rear safety lights are mounted on each side of the supporting structure, but are still restricted in height since the boat itself is typically wider than the supporting structure of the trailer. 
     Therefore, the rear safety lights of the trailer are mounted in a relatively low position which is substantially lower than the normal line of sight for most passenger vehicles, and even far lower still than the normal line of sight for larger vehicles such as semi-tractor trailers, busses and some Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs). This imposes a great risk of property damage and personal injury from a failure of following traffic to notice the rear safety lights of the trailer. 
     The value of rear safety lights which are mounted in a higher position so as to be in the normal line of sight of most vehicles has been recognized for years. Almost all newer vehicles include auxiliary or “third” brake lights which are mounted above the traditional brake lights. However, even such auxiliary brake lights are typically obscured from view by a trailered boat. Thus, there is a need to improve the safety of trailered boats to prevent unnecessary property damage and personal injury. 
     This need has been recognized by others. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,228 discloses a watercraft which has rear lights incorporated into the rear end thereof which are electrically connected to the brake light system of the towing vehicle. This approach, however, is rather expensive in that it requires the purchase of a new boat with the rear lights installed or the permanent modification of an existing boat to install the rear lights. 
     Furthermore, this approach is particularly adapted for use with boats having an inboard motor wherein the entirety of the motor structure is installed within the hull of the boat and the propeller is connected at the bottom of the hull. It is not suitable, however, for use with boats having an outboard motor, wherein the entirety of the motor is installed on the rear of the boat extending therefrom, since the additional brake light provided would itself be obscured by the motor housing. Even if the brake light were positioned so as to be visible past the motor housing, the brake light would not be positioned at the rearmost portion of the boat, since the motor extends beyond the boat itself, which does not provide an ideal warning for following vehicles. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,591 provides a detachably mountable auxiliary vehicle lighting system which is readily mounted in many situations. However, the system is not particularly well suited for a trailered boat as it is to be mounted below the supporting structure, thus yielding no particular advantage over the known rear safety lights for trailers. Furthermore, as noted above, the mounting of this system is not ideal since the boat itself typically extends beyond the end of the trailer. In particular, with boats having an outboard motor or an inboard outboard motor, wherein the engine structure is mounted within the hull of the boat and part of the motor extends from the rear of the hull, the motor extends even further beyond the trailer. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,870,875 and 5,613,886 provide safety lights that are particularly designed for trailered boats. The 875 patent teaches a cover which is only designed to fit over the part of an inboard outboard motor that extends from the hull of a trailered boat. The cover has an electric tail light mounted near its rear. This cover, however, has many drawbacks. In particular, it is not adapted for use on an inboard motor or an outboard motor and still does not place the safety light at the rearmost portion of the trailered boat since a portion of the motor extends rearward of the light. Additionally, the cover is somewhat cumbersome to use/remove and the light itself is not securely supported by any structure other than the flexible cover. 
     The 886 patent teaches a safety light apparatus which is permanently affixed to an outside housing of an outboard motor. While the safety light apparatus indeed provides a rear safety light that is mounted higher and is more readily visible to traffic following the boat when trailered, the apparatus entails other drawbacks. In particular, since the apparatus is permanently mounted to the motor, the expenses of modifying an existing motor to install such an apparatus or purchasing a new motor with such an apparatus already installed are encountered. Further, the apparatus is not adapted for use on an inboard motor or an inboard outboard motor and still does not place the safety light at the rearmost portion of the trailered boat since again the lower portion of the motor including the propeller extend rearward of the apparatus. 
     In as much as the brake lights of a towing vehicle are obscured by a trailered boat, the back-up lights of the towing vehicle are typically even more obscured. Therefore, a need also exists for auxiliary back-up lights for trailered boats to indicate backing-up of the towing vehicle and trailered boat. It is also noted that it is difficult to judge the distance between the rear of the trailered boat and obstructions when backing-up, particularly at night. Thus, enhancement of the driver&#39;s vision and judgment would be beneficial. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention aims to provide a safety light apparatus for a trailered boat which is convenient to use, relatively inexpensive, adapted for use with boats equipped with either outboard motors, inboard motors or inboard outboard motors, easily adaptable to fit motors of different sizes and shapes, securely mountable to maintain proper positioning, lockable to prevent theft and mountable in an ideal location for safety. 
     To achieve the foregoing objectives, the present invention provides a safety light apparatus which is designed to be detachably mountable on a hub of a propellered motor. 
     The apparatus preferably comprises a housing with a mounting recess formed in a rear side thereof and a light assembly disposed on a front side thereof. The mounting recess is adapted to receive a hub of a propellered motor such that the apparatus is mountable thereon. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the light assembly has a primary direction of radiance which is substantially horizontal in use, that is, when the apparatus is mounted on the hub of a trailered boat. The mounting recess is formed such that a central axis thereof is axially offset with respect to the substantially horizontal primary direction of radiance when the apparatus is mounted on the hub of a trailered boat. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment, at least one bushing is arranged within the mounting recess such that the mounting recess is adapted to receive different sized hubs. 
     The light assembly in particular may comprise a tail/brake light or a back-up light. It preferably includes an electrical connection assembly for electrically connecting the light assembly to a vehicle towing the trailered boat. In addition to providing a back-up light, the apparatus may include a back-up sensor. 
     The apparatus also includes a securing mechanism which holds the housing relative to the hub. In one embodiment, the securing mechanism comprises a cable, adapted to encircle at least a part of the propeller or the propellered motor, and a buckle or latch connected to the housing and arranged to tighten the cable relative thereto. Additionally, the latch or buckle may include a portion which is adapted to receive a lock. 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention are described hereinafter. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further details of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows a front view of a preferred embodiment of the safety light apparatus according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 shows a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 shows a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 shows a top right perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention installed upon the hub of an outboard motor of a trailered boat; 
     FIG. 6 shows a cross sectional view taken along line VI—VI wherein an embodiment of present invention is installed upon the hub using a bushing; 
     FIG. 7 shows a rear view of another embodiment of the present invention wherein the mounting recess includes a plurality of radial fins; and 
     FIG. 8 shows a rear view of an embodiment of the present invention installed upon the hub of an outboard motor of a trailered boat. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in FIGS. 1-4, a preferred embodiment of a detachably mountable safety light apparatus  10  according to the present invention mainly comprises a molded plastic housing  12  which presents a front side  14  on which a light assembly  20  is disposed. It will be appreciated that the shape and dimensions of both the housing  12  and the light assembly  20  may be varied in accordance with any desired configuration as long as the light assembly  20  is properly positioned once the safety light apparatus  10  is mounted. By properly positioned, it is meant that the safety light apparatus  10  mounted such that the light assembly is highly visible for traffic following behind, and preferably peripherally, the trailered boat being towed. 
     The light assembly preferably comprises a tail/brake light and an electrical connection assembly which is adapted to electrically connect the light assembly to a tail/brake light system of a towing vehicle. The light assembly may include an electrical circuit which is arranged to cause the tail/brake light to emit light pulses in response to application of a brake pedal by a driver of the towing vehicle. 
     The light assembly may also comprise a back-up light which is electrically connected to a back-up light system of a towing vehicle, preferably by its own electrical connection assembly. The back-up light may be designed to not only provide an indication of the vehicle being backed-up, but also to provide substantial illumination to assist a driver by enhancing his vision and judgment. The back-up light may be combined with the tail/brake light or may be separately positioned on the front side  14  of the housing  12 . 
     Furthermore, the safety light apparatus may include a backing sensor  21  installed on the housing  12 . The backing sensor  21  is preferably arranged to emit a warning upon detection of an obstacle or obstruction within a predetermined proximate zone thereof. Preferably, the signal emitted has an intensity which is dependent upon the distance between the obstruction and the backing sensor  21 , ideally such that the intensity of the signal increases geometrically as the distance decreases. The sensor  21  is preferably acoustic, although an optical sensor may be used as well. 
     FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the preferred embodiment of the safety light apparatus  10 . The housing  12  has been mounting recess  18  formed in a rear side  16  thereof. The mounting recess  18  is shown as a generally circular cavity which is axially offset with respect to a plane  20 ′ of the light assembly  20 . This is readily seen in the side view of Figure. As such, a central axis  18 ′ forms an angle a with respect to a primary direction of radiance  20 ″ of the light assembly  20 . The purpose of having the mounting recess  18  axially offset with respect to the plane  20 ′ of the light assembly  20  will be explained further herein. 
     The rear side  16  of the housing  12  is formed with two lateral abutments or projections  22 ,  22 ′ as shown in FIGS. 2-4. The abutments  22 ,  22 ′ are also axially offset with respect to a plane  20 ′ of the light assembly  20  so as to extend parallel to the central axis  18 ′ of the mounting recess  18 . 
     As particularly shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the housing  12  preferably has a light recess  24  formed in the front side  14  thereof. The light assembly  20  thus may be separately molded or assembled and then installed in the light recess  24  to comprise the safety light apparatus  10 . Preferably, the light assembly  20  projects somewhat from the light recess  24  beyond the front side  14  of the housing  12 . This enhances the peripheral visibility of the light assembly  20  for vehicles which are not directly behind the trailered boat being towed, for example in an adjacent lane of the road. 
     A securing mechanism comprising a cable  26  may be provided which is to used to secure the safety light apparatus  10  once it is mounted upon a hub of a propellered motor. The actual use of the cable  26  will be discussed later with reference to FIG.  5 . The cable  26  preferably includes a cable stop  28  at one end which may include an adjustment screw  28 ′ to adjust the position thereof along the cable  26  so as to provide a desired functional length. The other end of the cable  26  is preferably connected to a buckle or latch  32 . The latch  32  is preferably one that is similar to one used on tool boxes or ski bindings which applies a tensioning force to latch the particular article. The adjustment screw  28 ′ is preferably only adjustable by a specialized tool or is keyed so as to prevent easy theft of the safety light apparatus  10  once it is mounted upon a hub of a propellered motor. The cable  26  itself is preferably a braided metal cord which is difficult to sever and which may or may not be covered with a protective coating of rubber or hardened polymer. 
     Returning now to the purpose of the abutments  22 ,  22 ′, one of the abutments  22  may be provided with a hole  30  through which the cable  26  is passed. After passing through the hole  30 , one end of the cable  26  has the cable stop  28  secured thereto such that the cable  26  is movably secured to the housing  12  up to the point at which the prevented from cable stop  28  contacts the abutment  22 . The other one of the abutments  22 ′ then has the latch  32  pivotally mounted thereon via a pivot  32 ′. The other end of the cable  26  is connected to the latch  32 . 
     Of course, other ways of securing mechanisms for the safety light apparatus  10  are within the scope of the present invention. For example, a relatively positionable, generally U-shaped bar or bracket (not shown) may be used. In such an embodiment, each end of the U-shaped bar connects to a respective one of the abutments  22 ,  22 ′, with at least one of the ends having a connection that is adjustable so that the U-shaped bar may be properly positioned relative to the housing  12 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, a boat  100  having an outboard propellered motor  102  is carried by a trailer  104 . The propellered motor  102  itself is supported by a motor support  106  connected to the trailer  104 . The motor support  106  supports the propellered motor  102  at an angle such that a lower end  108  thereof is raised to prevent it from contacting the ground when the trailered boat  100  is towed. Since the propellered motor  102  in its upright, in-use position typically extends below the bottom of the boat  100 , the lower end  108  must be raised to provide necessary clearance for towing over bumps in the road or a change in road surface slope. 
     While a single outboard motor is shown, it will be understood that the safety light apparatus  10  according to the present invention may be installed on an inboard motor, an outboard motor, or an inboard outboard motor as well, or may be designed to mount upon a plurality of motors. This is because the safety light apparatus  10  according to the present invention is designed to be mounted upon a hub  110  of the propellered motor  102  behind the propeller blades  112  and is therefore not dependent upon the type of motor or the number or size of the propeller blades  112 . It will also be understood that the safety light apparatus  10  according to the present invention is readily adapted to be mounted on motors of the jet-propulsion type which do not have propellers since they have an outlet which is similar in outer configuration to the hub of a propellered motor. In this sense, the term “hub” is considered encompass not only an actual hub of a propellered motor but also an outlet of a jet-propulsion type motor. 
     Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the safety light apparatus  10  is fitted onto the hub  110  of the propellered motor  102  behind the propeller blades  112 . Once mounted, the safety light apparatus  10  is secured to the propellered motor  102  by looping the cable  26  around either at least two of the propeller blades  112  or the propellered motor  102 . The position of the cable stop  28  is then adjusted to vary the functional length of the cable  26 . Once the safety light apparatus  10  is mounted in the proper position upon the hub  110  of the propellered motor  102 , the latch  32  is forced to rotate around its pivot  32 ′ so as to tighten the cable  26  around the propeller blades  112  or the propellered motor  102  as the case may be. Once the latch  32  is fully rotated to contact the abutment  22 ′, it may be secured to the housing with a conventional padlock (not shown) by passing the bar of the padlock through the latch and a portion of the housing  12 . Since the cable stop adjustment screw  28 ′ is keyed or may be turned only using a specialized tool, theft of the safety light apparatus  10  is substantially prevented. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the housing  12  preferably includes an access hole  34  to the rear of the light recess  24  to accommodate wiring  36  of the light assembly  20 . This wiring  36  and an appropriate connector may comprise the electrical connection assembly mentioned above. It is to be understood, of course, that the access hole  34  may be located anywhere convenient in the housing  12 . In the preferred embodiment shown, the access hole  34  extends all the way to the  20  mounting recess  18  so that the wiring  36  emerges from the rear side  16  of the housing  12 . 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the safety light apparatus  10  is mounted by on the hub  110  by fitting the hub  110  into the mounting recess  18  of the housing  12 . A bushing  38  is shown disposed within the mounting recess  18  such that it fills any gap left between the hub  110  and the housing  12 . One or more bushings  38 , or none at all, may be used to adapt the safety light apparatus  10  for mounting on various sized hubs. 
     Of course, other ways of adapting the safety light apparatus  10  to mount on different sized hubs are within the scope of the present invention. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the mounting recess  18  may have a plurality of relatively flexible or compressible fins  40  disposed around an inner circumference thereof. In use, the fins  40  are either radially compressed or flex to either side to accommodate different sized hubs. Preferably, the fins  40  are sufficiently resilient so that the safety light apparatus  10  may be mounted on a hub of one diameter and a hub of larger diameter without requiring further adaptation. The resiliency of the fins  40  may be such that they provide a gripping force against the hub  110 . The fins need not be resilient, however, but rather may be made of the same material as the housing  12  and molded therewith. In such a case, the fins  40  would then be trimmed so as to fit the desired hub size. 
     The purpose of the axially offset of the mounting recess  18  and the abutments  22 ,  22 ′ will now be made clear. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the boat  100  is mounted on the trailer  104 , the propellered motor  102  is supported at an angle relative to the ground by the motor support  106 . As noted above, this is necessary to raise the lower end  108  of the propellered motor  102  to prevent it from contacting the ground when the trailered boat  100  is towed over bumps or a change in road surface slope. This angle may vary somewhat depending on the particular propellered motor  102  and motor support  106 ; however, it does not vary too greatly. The axially offset of the mounting recess  18  compensates for the angle at which the propellered motor  102  is disposed when the boat  100  is trailered such that the primary direction of radiance  20 ″ of the light assembly  20  is generally horizontal. Thus, the primary direction of radiance  20 ″ of the light assembly  20  will be such that the maximum radiance of the light assembly  20  is directly behind the trailered boat  100  for maximum visibility. 
     As shown in FIG. 8, since the lower end  108  of the propellered motor  102  is raised, the safety light apparatus  10  according to the present invention is designed to be positioned at an ideal height, substantially in line with the line of sight of other vehicles. This height is significantly higher than that of conventional tail/brake lights  114  which are mounted on the trailer  104 , typically on the rear side of the fenders thereof. Furthermore, as evident from FIG. 5, the safety light apparatus  10  according to the present invention is designed to be positioned at a rearmost point of the trailered boat  100  and propellered motor  102 , an ideal position for safety which prevents the drivers of following vehicles from misjudging the distance between them and the trailered boat. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited in any way to the details of the preferred embodiments discussed above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Other embodiments including various modifications of the basic invention will be appreciated by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the proper scope of the present invention should be determined only by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims.