The present invention relates generally to accessories used with an anchor. More specifically, the present invention is a light that is mounted onto the anchor.
Certain rules and regulations apply when operating a boat at night. Most of these rules and regulations are set in place for safety purposes. Displaying an anchor light is one such rule used to provide safety to the boat operator and the boat. As with any safety regulation, certain standards need to be met when mounting an anchor light. Being a 360-degree white all-around light and having a two-mile visibility are among the main requirements for an anchor light.
Since most anchors are not designed to receive an external anchor light, boat owners use a variety of methods to fulfill the coast guard requirements. Connecting a light to an end of a pole and mounting the pole against the anchor is one commonly used method. Since the pole has no permanent mounting method, the pole must be repeatedly attached and detached. Due to the fixed height of the pole, setting the pole-and-light assembly at a preferred height may not be possible. Additionally, positioning the pole-and-light assembly at a preferred angle may not be possible due to the fixed mounting mechanism.
The objective of the present invention is to address the aforementioned issues. To do so, the present invention consists of a mounting mechanism that has the capability to mount onto an existing anchor. The present invention is designed and mounted so that the movement of the anchor and related components is not interrupted. Moreover, in contrast to other lighting devices, the present invention does not need to be removed when not in use. A swivel mechanism allows the present invention to be positioned at a preferred angle.
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is a lighting accessory that is intended to be used with an anchor on a boat. The present invention is intended to be mounted onto the anchor without making any modifications to the anchor. Additionally, the present invention is equipped with the ability to be positioned at a preferred angle.
As illustrated in
The pole body 4 extends from the first end 3 to the second end 5 and determines an overall length of the lighting pole 2. The overall length of the lighting pole 2 can vary in different embodiments of the present invention. For instance, in one embodiment of the present invention, the lighting pole 2 can be 12-inches long. In another embodiment of the present invention, the lighting pole 2 can be 18-inches long. The mounting plate 6 is used to attach the present invention onto an external surface of the boat. Since the present invention is designed to be mounted onto an anchor, the mounting plate 6 is used to establish a connection with the anchor of the boat. The swivel mechanism 9 is used to position the lighting source 1 at a preferred angle while being mounted onto the anchor. To do so, the lighting pole 2 is rotatably engaged with the mounting plate 6 through the swivel mechanism 9.
As mentioned earlier, the lighting source 1 is powered through the external power source 8. Preferably, the external power source 8 is a main power source used in the boat. However, the external power source 8 can vary in different embodiments of the present invention. To provide the required power, the lighting source 1 is electrically connected to the external power source 8. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a 12-Volt power source is used to illuminate the lighting source 1. However, in other embodiments, the overall power of the external power source 8 can vary according to the lighting source 1 that is being used. To obtain maximum extension through the lighting pole 2, the lighting source 1 is terminally connected to the lighting pole 2 at the first end 3. The pole body 4 is then rotatably engaged with the mounting plate through the swivel mechanism 9 adjacent the second end 5. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the swivel mechanism 9 is a pull and twist mechanism. However, the swivel mechanism 9 can be different in other embodiments of the present invention. The mounting plate 6 is laterally connected to the lighting pole 2 through the swivel mechanism 9. Since the mounting plate 6 remains stationary against the anchor of the boat, the lighting pole 2 can be positioned at a preferred angle by controlling the swivel mechanism 9. In other words, the lateral connection between the mounting plate 6, the swivel mechanism 9, and the lighting pole 2 allows the user to rotate the lighting pole 2 and the lighting source 1 about the mounting plate 6.
The swivel mechanism 9, which is a pull and twist mechanism in the preferred embodiment, can vary in different embodiments of the present invention. As seen in
As seen in
As seen in
When appropriately positioned, the first terminal end 12 of the first cylindrical body 10 is aligned with the first terminal end 12 of the second cylindrical body 11 along an axis of the both the first cylindrical body 10 and the second cylindrical body 11. On the other hand, the second terminal end 13 of the first cylindrical body 10 is aligned with the second terminal end 13 of the second cylindrical body 11. The positioning of the first cylindrical body 10 and the second cylindrical body 11 relative to each other ensures that the plurality of positioning grooves 14 is removably positioned into the plurality of groove-receiving slots 15.
As discussed before, the swivel mechanism 9 in the preferred embodiment is a pull and twist mechanism. A pulling motion disengages the plurality of positioning grooves 14 from the plurality of groove-receiving slots 15 by axially displacing the first cylindrical body 10 and the second cylindrical body 11 from each other. A twisting motion positions each of the plurality of positioning grooves 14 into a new corresponding groove-receiving slot of the plurality of groove-receiving slots 15 by rotating the second cylindrical body 11 about its axis. As further illustrated in
The pulling motion and the twisting motion are facilitated by the expansion and compression properties of the spring 18. The washer 19 and the nut fastener 20 are used to hold the bolt 16 against the spring 18 which allows the spring 18 to compress and expand. In doing so, the washer 19 is pressed against the mounting plate 6 opposite the first cylindrical body 10 and terminally engaged with the bolt 16. The nut fastener 20, which is pressed against the washer 19 opposite the mounting plate 6, is also terminally engaged with the bolt 16. Thus, when needed, the bolt 16 can be removed from the bolt-receiving channel 17 by unfastening the washer 19 and the nut fastener 20.
As seen in
The present invention is intended to be permanently mounted onto the anchor of the boat. As shown in
When the present invention is in use, the following process flow is generally followed. Initially, the mounting plate 6 is pressed against the anchor of the boat. In the preferred embodiment, the anchor-engaging groove 7 establishes the connection between the anchor and the mounting plate 6. Next, the lighting pole 2 is rotatably engaged with the mounting plate 6 through the swivel mechanism 9 by positioning the pole body 4 into the pole-receiving sleeve 21. Thus, the user can position the lighting pole 2 and the connected lighting source 1, at a preferred angle. As illustrated in
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/536,245 filed on Jul. 24, 2017.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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4706172 | Lebowitz | Nov 1987 | A |
5370348 | Toth | Dec 1994 | A |
6164803 | Reniger | Dec 2000 | A |
6394634 | Kitchin | May 2002 | B2 |
Entry |
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Apex Lighting, Hella Marine, 2NM All Round Anchor Lamp Fold-Down, Aug. 16, 2019, https://www.apexlighting.com/boat-lights/ led-navigation-lights/2nm-all-round-anchor-lamp-fold-down/. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20190023363 A1 | Jan 2019 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62536245 | Jul 2017 | US |