DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a rear view of one off-road vehicle, a four-wheel ATV, having combination rear work lights and running lights.
FIG. 2 is a detail view of the combination work light and running light of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the combination work light and running light of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a rear view of an off-road vehicle, a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle, having conventional rear lights and an additional rear working light, controlled from the rocker switch on the headlight pod.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, rear view of another all-terrain vehicle having the rear working light of FIG. 4, but having the control on a handlebar.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another off-road vehicle, a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle having a side-mounted working light.
FIG. 7 is a detail view of the side-mounted working light of FIG. 6, shown as removable from the off-road vehicle and powered by an electrical cord coupled to the vehicle.
FIG. 8 is a detail view of another side-mounted working light, also removable from the vehicle and having internal batteries so as to be powered away from the vehicle.
FIG. 9 is a detail view of yet another side-mounted working light, being adapted to swivel in the vertical and horizontal directions to aim the light.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of still another off-road vehicle, a three-wheel all-terrain vehicle including a side-mounted working light.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another off-road vehicle, a four-wheel utility vehicle, having one working light side-mounted on the rear bed and another working light side-mounted on the body.
FIG. 12 is a rear view of the off-road vehicle of FIG. 11, including both the combination working light and running light of FIG. 1 as well as another rear-mounted working light on the bed rear.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another off-road vehicle, a snowmobile, including a side-mounted working light.
FIG. 14 is a fragmentary, rear view of the snowmobile of FIG. 13, having a rear mounted, combination running light and working light.
DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 illustrates an off-road vehicle having one embodiment of the present invention. The off-road vehicle illustrated is a four-wheel all-terrain vehicle (AVT) 30. ATV 30 includes generally four wheels 32, a straddle-type seat 40, a speedometer 44, a headlight pod 46, handlebars for steering 42 and a rocker switch 48 for controlling a working light described later. ATV 30 includes a combination light 34, which includes a running light portion 38 and a working light portion 36. In the embodiment illustrated, ATV 30 has two combination lights 34, one on each side of the seat 40.
FIG. 2 further illustrates combination light 34 of FIG. 1. Combination light 34 includes a lens or bezel structure 37 including a running light/brake light region 38, and a working light region 36. Running light portion 38 may be red in color, while working light portion 36 is preferably white in color. Specifically, working light portion 36 should preferably project a white light as the working light color. Running light portion 38 and working light portion 36 may lie substantially within the same plane and be contained within the same structure in some embodiments.
FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of combination light 34, including running light portion 38 and working light portion 36, previously described. Lens structure 37, in the embodiment illustrated, includes an aperture 39 for receiving working light portion 36. Running light portion 38 can thus be formed of a red, translucent material, leaving aperture 39 free and open to receive a white lens 36 for the working light. Lens structure 37 can be adapted to fit over a light base structure 42 having generally a running light reflector bowl 44 and aperture 46 configured to seat working light lens portion 36. A running light bulb socket 52 is shown, for receiving and powering a running light bulb 48. A working light socket fixture 54 is also illustrated for receiving and powering a working light bulb 50. In some embodiments, working light bulb 50 is at least about 12 watts, depending on the embodiment.
FIG. 4 illustrates another off-road vehicle, another four wheel ATV 60 being similar in many respects to ATV 30 of FIG. 1, having handlebars 42, straddle-type seat 40, wheels 32 and working light control switch 48. ATV 60, however, has a conventional rear light 62 and an additional working light 64, which is shown as rear-mounted and rear-projecting.
FIG. 5 illustrates a variation of ATV 60 of FIG. 4 having again the independent, discreet working light 64, but with the working light being controlled by a handlebar-mounted control switch 66.
FIG. 6 illustrates yet another off-road vehicle, another four-wheel ATV 70 including handlebars 42, wheels 32 and straddle-type seat 40. ATV 70 includes a side body region 71 that carries a side-mounted working light 72.
FIG. 7 illustrates a detail view of ATV side regions 71 of FIG. 6. ATV side region 71 includes a working light 72 removable from a mounting socket 80 and powered through a coiled extension cord 78. Working light 72, in this embodiment, includes mounting clips 74 and a local on-off switch 76. In some embodiments, coiled electrical cord 78 may be coupled to receiving socket 80 using a cigarette lighter-type adapter, to allow other devices to be powered from the same receiving socket.
FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of a work light mounted to ATV side region 71. In this embodiment, a work light 82 again has a local on-off switch 84 and is received within a receiving cavity 86. In this embodiment, work light 82 is locally and independently powered by batteries, allowing work light 82 to be removed from the ATV and used independently. Work light 82 includes rechargeable batteries, which are charged from the ATV itself. Mounting clips 74 can allow the working light to be removed from the ATV without requiring the use of tools. Likewise, working light 82 can be replaced without the use of tools.
FIG. 9 illustrates another ATV side region 71 having again a work light 90 which can be swiveled or aimed as indicated by arrows 96. Work light 90, in the embodiment illustrated, includes vertical pivots 94 for horizontal movement and horizontally-oriented pivots 92 for vertical movement. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9 is highly diagrammatic, with swivel-mounted devices generally well-known and not requiring exhaustive explanation here.
FIG. 10 illustrates still another off-road vehicle, a three-wheel ATV 100. ATV 100 includes generally three-wheels 102, a straddle-type seat 106, and handlebars 104. ATV 100 includes a side-facing region 107 having a work light 108 mounted therein. Work light 108 can be similar to any of the work lights described in the present invention.
FIG. 11 illustrates another off-road vehicle, a four-wheel, off-road utility vehicle 110. Utility vehicle 110 includes generally four wheels 112, bench or bucket-type seats 116, a steering wheel 114, a bed 123, and a side-facing region of the body 118. Body side-facing region 118 includes a work light 120 received therein, which can be similar to the work lights previously discussed. Utility vehicle 110 may be seen to include a side-facing region 122 of bed 123. Side-facing bed region 122 includes a side-facing work light 124 exposed thereon or therein, depending upon the embodiment. Utility vehicle 110 thus illustrates two separate locations for work lights, 120 and 124. An actual utility vehicle may only have one such side-mounted work light in a preferred embodiment, but may have two side-mounted work lights in other embodiments.
FIG. 12 illustrates utility vehicle 110 from a rear view illustrating two more locations for work lights, using the same utility vehicle for illustrative purposes. Utility vehicle 110 may be seen to include combination work lights and running lights 34 as previously discussed with respect to FIG. 1. Utility vehicle 110 also includes a rear-facing bed region that has yet another rear-facing work light 116 disposed therein. Rear-facing work light 116 may be similar to any of the work lights previously described.
FIG. 13 illustrates still another off-road vehicle, a snowmobile 120. Snowmobile 120 includes generally a straddle-type seat 124, handlebars 126, skis 122, and a track 128. Snowmobile 120 also includes a side-facing region 129 having a side-facing work light 130 therein.
FIG. 14 illustrates snowmobile 120 from the rear, showing a rear-facing region 132 behind straddle-type seat 124. Rear-facing region may be seen to have a smaller version composite set of work lights including a right composite work light and running light combination 134 and a left work light and running light combination 136. In some embodiments, there will be a right running light and a left running light and a central, single rear-facing work light, which may all be formed as part of a single structure.
As previously illustrated, a work light may be controlled from the handlebars, an instrument panel, a headlight pod, a steering wheel, or a steering column. Some lights have local controls, mounted on lights or near the lights themselves. Some lights include timers coupled to the lights to allow the lights to time out after a set interval to avoid draining the battery. Some lights include LEDs in order to extend the battery life supplying the lights.
As used herein, the term “off-road vehicle” specifically includes three-wheel all-terrain vehicles, four-wheel all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, and four-wheel utility vehicles. As used herein, the term off-road vehicle is limited to vehicles that are not commonly licensable for on-street use.
The present invention includes methods for providing light near an off-road vehicle, including turning the light on and off from controls not operably coupled to the brake light or running light controls. Some embodiments allow the working light to be controlled from switches on or near the handlebars, the steering wheel, or headlight pod or instrument panel. The present invention provides a way for providing working light near an ATV without having to remember to bring a separate flashlight, as the need for the working light may not always be planned. The light provided may also be help in place without tying up a person's hands.
Uses for the off-road vehicle working lights may include providing rear-facing light for attaching or detaching devices being towed behind the off-road vehicle. Working lights may also be used to field dress game and fix or maintain other equipment in the field. The working lights may be used to effect mechanical repairs on other ATVs or to provide light during hunting, fishing or camping activities.
Thus, embodiments of the ATV work light are disclosed. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced with embodiments other than those disclosed. The disclosed embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims that follow.
Patent Application
20080068849
