The present invention relates to safety lights, and more particularly, to safety lights on poles for small watercraft.
Boats, such as pleasure craft, are required to display a white light at the stern of the boat. These lights, called stern lights, are currently available in manually installable and removable form. The light, mounted on a pole, is installed by plugging the pole into an electrified socket which is a permanent part of the boat. On small boats accommodating two to eight passengers, the pole is typically two to five feet high. The pole includes a terminal bearing electrically conductive sockets intended to mate with corresponding electrically conductive prongs in the electrified socket. Once manually fully inserted into the socket, the light, located at the upper end or head of the stern light, can be illuminated by energizing an electrical circuit connected to the socket. This is ordinarily accomplished by a switch mounted proximate the operator of the boat, such as on a dashboard.
Stern lights increase visibility of the boat in darkness, fog, and other conditions. However, a stern light illuminates a relatively small area, typically comprising a single light bulb or other point light source. Even a small object interposed between the point light source of a stern light can obscure the light to an observer located away from the boat. In darkness, fog, or smoke, an entire small boat can become invisible toothers using a waterway. The potential for collisions and other mishaps is considerable.
The present disclosure therefore proposes an improved stern light which is illuminated along at least most of its length. The stern light retains the removable nature of conventional stern lights, and relies on the conventional powered socket for energizing the light source.
The novel stern light comprises a light transmissive elongated post, and a plurality of point light sources within and along the elongated post. Each one of the plurality of point light sources is individually controllable, and may be variable in color output. The stern light terminates in a conventional connector, and is manually insertible into and removable from the powered socket.
Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:
Referring initially to
As used herein, reference to an article as being mounted on or to another component does not necessarily imply direction connection between the article and the other component, as an intervening member may possibly be present. Mounting on or to another component signifies that the article is ultimately fixed to and supported by the other component.
Referring to
Unless otherwise indicated, the terms “first”, “second”, etc., are used herein merely as labels, and are not intended to impose ordinal, positional, or hierarchical requirements on the items to which these terms refer. Moreover, reference to, e.g., a “second” item does not either require or preclude the existence of, e.g., a “first” or lower-numbered item, and/or, e.g., a “third” or higher-numbered item.
As used herein, the phrase “at least” explicitly contemplates more than one of the recited article.
Elongated post 102 is fabricated from a light transmissive (i.e., translucent or transparent) substance such as polycarbonate plastic. Polycarbonate is one of a number of possible constituent materials which may be utilized to form elongated post 102. Other materials which may be substituted include other transparent or translucent plastics, such as acrylic plastics. Polycarbonate is readily commercially available, light in weight, readily extruded, and strong enough to serve as a suitable material for elongated post 102. Synthetic materials such as polycarbonate may optionally be reinforced with carbon fiber, fiberglass, and other materials. Polycarbonate may be coated or impregnated with a material resistant to ultraviolet light.
First and second incuse electrically conductive openings 112, 114 match conventional sizes and spacing of power prongs 38. Therefore, stern light 100 is a direct replacement for conventional stern light 18. That is, stern light 100 can be manually installed into socket 22, and will removably engage the latter by friction. Also, prongs 38 will enter and engage first electrically conductive opening 112 and second electrically conductive opening 114 by electrical circuitry 116, to connect electrical power to point light sources 108.
Stern light 100 may further comprise a programmable controller 118 connected to electrical circuitry 26, programmable controller 118 comprising a microprocessor 19 and a memory 121 (
Programmable controller 118 is separate from stern light 100 and may comprise a microprocessor, a memory, and computer instructions loaded into the memory in a non-transitory computer-readable medium that when executed, are configured to instruct the microprocessor to selectively control electric power to individual ones of the plurality of point light sources 108 to effect a selected illumination sequence. Alternatively, the computer instructions defining each selectable illumination sequence may be stored in a memory and processed by a microprocessor contained within stern light 100.
Programmable controller 118 may be fabricated specifically as a custom device for incorporation into stern light 100, or alternatively, may be an existing commercial product. A suitable data processing programmable controller may comprise an electrical microprocessor made for example by Arduino. The microprocessor available from Arduino is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software. Arduino is a commercial entity which intends its products for use by those creating projects having interactive features. Commercially available programming products of Arduino may be found online for example at a retailer such as Adafruit Industries (https://www.adafruit.com/products/191). Arduino product Mega 2560 R3 (Atmega 2560, product number 191, has proved satisfactory in the role of programmable controller 118.
It should be mentioned at this point that elongated post 102 may be monolithic, or alternatively, may be formed in complementary sections. The latter construction is depicted in
Adapter body 128 may be made by injection molding in final or net shape. Alternatively, adapter body 128 may be made by a subtractive method wherein material is abraded from an initial workpiece (e.g, by machining), or by an additive method such as three dimensional printing.
As seen in an option illustrated in
As seen in the example of
As an alternative to radio frequency signals, portable wireless manual controller 140 may emit infrared signals. Exterior locations of infrared signal receptors of programmable controller 118 is accommodated by the arrangements of
Therefore, stern light 100 may further comprise a remote controller system capable of connecting and breaking power to the plurality of point light sources 108. The remote controller system may comprise portable wireless manual controller 140, a wireless signal receiver coupled to stern light 100, and a switch 141 (
For radio frequency signal reception, programmable controller 118 has an antenna 144. Of course, antenna 144 may be remote from data processing components of programmable controller 118. Similarly, an infrared signal receptor may be located at a suitable location on stern light 100, remote from programmable controller 118.
Adapter body 128 serves as a mounting base having an opening (i.e., stepped internal bore 130) dimensioned and configured to slidably receive light transmissive elongated post 102 therein in close cooperation therewith, and a projection 142 dimensioned and configured to slidably penetrate powered socket 22 in close cooperation therewith, and connect electrically to energizable prongs 38 of powered socket 22.
Portable wireless manual controller 140 may have input elements such as pushbuttons 146A-146E. Pushbutton 146A illuminates point light sources 108. Pushbutton 146B extinguishes point light sources 108. Pushbuttons 146C, 146D, and 146E invoke lighting sequences wherein point light sources 108 flash intermittently or blink. Blinking rates ma vary, for example, including a first blinking sequence wherein illumination and extinguishing cycles are relatively few per minute, a second blinking sequence wherein illumination and extinguishing cycles are relatively more frequent, and a third blinking sequence wherein illumination and extinguishing cycles are still more frequent. Each of these blinking sequences is initiated by one of pushbuttons 146C, 146D, or 146E. Of course, programmable controller 118 may be programmed to provide different lighting effects, such as color changes, non-simultaneous illumination of individual point light sources 108, and other dynamic effects.
Stern light 100 may further comprise programmable controller 118 connected to electrical circuitry 116, wherein programmable controller 118 comprises a data processor and a memory, wherein programmable controller 118 is able to store illumination sequences to effect on-off control of each one of the plurality of point light sources 118 according to a selected illumination sequence stored in the memory, and wherein programmable controller 118 is coupled to the mounting base (e.g., as shown in
Alternatively, stern light 100 may further comprise programmable controller 118 connected to electrical circuitry 116, wherein programmable controller 118 comprises a data processor and a memory, and wherein programmable controller 118 is able to store illumination sequences to effect on-off control of each one of the plurality of point light sources 108 according to a selected illumination sequence stored in the memory, and wherein programmable controller 108 is contained within the mounting base.
Turning to an example of stern light 100 illustrated in
Referring to an example of stern light 100 illustrated in
Stern light 100 may have portable wireless manual controller 140 or local manual controller 162 or both. Portable wireless manual controller 140 and local manual controller 162 are each a device providing an interface for receiving manual inputs from a person using stern light 100. Programmable controller 118, by contrast, is a data processing device which receives command signals originating from portable wireless manual controller 140 and local manual controller 162, and converts these command signals into power signals which cause point light sources 108 to illuminate, extinguish, and optionally, to change color.
Turning now to an example of stern light 100 illustrated in
Substrate 164 may have two major faces 168 with at least one series of the point light sources 108 on each one of the two major faces 168. This arrangement assures that light will project in two opposed directions from stern light 100, thereby maximizing visibility of stern light 100 when two strips or series of point light sources 108 are provided. At least part of electrical circuitry 116 is carried within substrate 164. This avoids having exposed wiring throughout that portion of elongated post 102 which carries point light sources 108 visible from the exterior of stern light 100.
Referring again to
In another example of stern light 100, distal end 106 of light transmissive elongate post 102 may have a removable closure. In this example, illustrated in
In an example of stern light 100 illustrated in
Turning now to an example of a stern light 100 shown in
Referring to an example of stern light 100 shown in
Point light sources 108 may comprise light emitting diodes (LEDs). Point light sources 108 may be provided as prefabricated strips including substrate 164 (
Each LED is a three-part LED assembly including one red constituent LED, one green constituent LED, and one blue constituent LED. Electrical conductors pass through substrate 164 and are connected to each red constituent LED of each three-part LED assembly, each green constituent LED of each three-part LED assembly, and each blue constituent LED of each three part LED assembly, such that each point light source 108 is individually addressable by one of the electrical conductors contained within and integral to substrate 164. Not only are point light sources 108 individually addressable, each of the red, green, and blue constituent LEDs of any one point light source 108 are individually addressable. This enables any one point light source 108 to be controlled as to color or hue, and on-and-off independently from other point light sources 108. In turn, great versatility in creating both static and dynamic lighting patterns is easily achieved using a data processing controller (not separately shown). Also, this minimizes the number of LEDs which must be provided to attain any given level of resolution, and also minimizes the number and ampacity requirements of supporting electrical conductors of electrical circuitry 116 (e.g., as shown in
Electrical circuitry 116 will be understood to include both electrical conductors integrated within substrate 164 and also conductors used to join components of stern light 100 together. The later are illustrated in
Thus, in stern light 100, electrical circuitry 116 is arranged to control each one of the plurality of point light sources 108 individually. Also, in stern light 100, each one of the plurality of point light sources 108 is capable of projecting light of different colors. In stern light 100, each one of the point light sources 108 may comprise an LED, and each LED is an assembly of at least one red LED, at least one green LED, and at least one blue LED.
It should not be inferred from the drawings that LEDs can only be arranged as a single row. A series of LEDs may include more than one row of LEDs.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.
It should be understood that the various examples of the apparatus(es) disclosed herein may include any of the components, features, and functionalities of any of the other examples of the apparatus(es) disclosed herein in any feasible combination, and all of such possibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Many modifications of examples set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.
Therefore, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not to be limited to the specific examples presented and that modifications and other examples are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing description and the associated drawings describe examples of the present disclosure in the context of certain illustrative combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative implementations without departing from the scope of the appended claims.
This application claims priority of application Ser. No. 62/603,123, filed May 18, 2017.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62603123 | May 2017 | US |