Transom drain light

Abstract

Disclosed is an underwater lighting apparatus securable in the transom drain hole of a vessel. The apparatus is formed from a support structure having a chamber for housing at least LED. An outer surface of the support structure is sized and arranged to sealingly secure to the transom drain hole of a conventional boat to prevent water passage. The apparatus includes electrical connections extending through the end of the support structure for coupling to a power source. Illumination behind the boat is provided by an LED, halogen or other high intensity lighting source.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a marine vessel with a transom drain light;

FIG. 2 a is a front view of a transom drain light;

FIG. 2 b is a cross sectional side view of a threaded transom drain light;

FIG. 2 c is a rear view of the transom drain light depicted in FIG. 2b;

FIG. 3 a is a front view of a second embodiment with a transom drain light;

FIG. 3 b depicts a second embodiment of a transom drain light that is bolted to a transom;

FIG. 3 c is a rear view of FIG. 3b;

FIG. 4 a is a third embodiment of a transom drain light;

FIG. 4 b is a cross sectional side view of a third embodiment of a transom drain light having an expandable seal;

FIG. 4 c is a rear view of FIG. 4b;

FIG. 5 c is a rear pictorial view of a marine vessel having a transom drain light of the first embodiment installed; and

FIG. 6 is a pictorial rear view of a elongated transom drain light.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Although the invention will be described in terms of a specific embodiment, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art that various modifications, rearrangements and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims appended hereto. For clarity of this specification, the embodiment described will detail the use of a lighting assembly for use in combination with the window housing of the instant invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 set forth is a marine vessel (10) consisting of a vessel hull (12), and at least outboard engine (14) secured to a transom wall (16). A waterline (200) is depicted illustrating the placement of a propeller (16) submerged beneath the waterline (200). The transom drain light (20) of the instant invention is shown illuminating water from the rear of the transom (16). Preferably the power source for the transom drain light is a battery (21) electrically coupled to the lights by electrical wires (36). It should be noted that while the illustration depicts a boat having outboard engines, the invention is directed to any boat having a transom drain hole. This includes inboard/outboard powered boats, as well as inboard powered boat and jet boats.

Now referring to FIG. 2a, 2b, and 2c shown is a first embodiment of the instant invention wherein the transom drain light (20) includes at least one light-emitting diode (LED) (22) mounted in a support structure (24). The support structure has a first end (26) and a second end (28) with a continuous side wall (30) formed therebetween. The support structure may be sized to hold a single LED or a plurality of LED's. The support structure (24) may be square, round, semi-round shape, or have an ornamental shape such as a fish, boat, tree and so forth.

An inner surface (32) of the side wall (30) forms a chamber that operates as a passageway for the electrical wires (36). The electrical wires are potted within the chamber to prevent chafing and water passage. The wires are preferably potted with an isolating material such as natural or synthetic elastomers, nitro rubber, fluoroelastomers, silicone, or plastic. The outer surface (30) of the side wall is sized to sealingly secure to the transom drain hole (40) of a marine vessel transom (42). In this embodiment the outer surface (30) includes tapered threads to eliminate the need for additional sealing materials wherein the use of threads create a water tight seal found on conventional threaded transom drain plugs. In operation power is supplied through the electrical wires (36) from a low voltage direct current source as provided by a conventional boat battery (21) in either 12 volt or 24 volt levels. The first end (24) may include a single LED and be sized the same as the outer surface (30) of the continuous side wall or, as shown, be enlarged so as to carry multiple LED's. The support structure (24) may be constructed from most any material but preferably made of either aluminum, stainless steal, titanium, bronze, brass, plastic, celcon or combinations thereof.

Now referring to FIG. 3a, 3b, and 3c shown is a second embodiment of the instant invention wherein the transom drain light (40) includes at least one light-emitting diode (LED) (42) mounted in a support structure (44). The support structure has a first end (46) and a second end (48) with a continuous side wall (50) formed therebetween. The support structure (44) may be square, round, semi-round shape, or have an ornamental shape.

An inner surface (52) of the side wall (50) forms a chamber that operates as a passageway for the electrical wires (56). The electrical wires are potted within the chamber to prevent chafing and water passage. The wires are preferably potted with an isolating material as mentioned above. The outer surface of the side wall (50) is sized to sealingly secure to the transom drain hole (60) of a marine vessel transom (62). In this embodiment the outer surface (50) is smooth thus requiring first seal 61 between the support 46 and outer transom wall (63); and a second seal 68 adjacent to the inner transom wall (65). The second end of the light is treaded (66) and by use of an attachment nut (70), the light assembly is secured to the transom (62) sandwiching the transom (62) therebetween. In operation, power is supplied through the electrical wires (56) from a low voltage direct current source as provided by a conventional boat battery in either 12 volt or 24 volt levels. The first end (46) may include a single LED and be sized the same as the outer surface (50) of the continuous side wall or, as shown, be enlarged so as to carry multiple LED's. The support structure (44) may be constructed from most any material but preferably made of either aluminum, stainless steal, titanium, bronze, brass or combinations thereof.

Now referring to FIG. 4a, 4b, and 4c shown is a third embodiment of the instant invention wherein the transom drain light (80) includes at least one light-emitting diode (LED) (82) mounted in a support structure (84). The support structure has a first end (86) and a second end (88) with a flexible side wall (90) formed therebetween. The support structure (84) may be square, round, semi-round shape, or have an ornamental shape.

An inner surface (92) of the side wall (90) forms a chamber that operates as a passageway for the electrical wires (96). The electrical wires are sealed within the chamber to prevent chafing and water passage. The outer surface of the side wall (90) is made of a flexible material, such as neoprene, that is sized to sealingly secure to the transom drain hole (100) of a marine vessel transom (62). In this embodiment the outer surface side wall (90) engages the drain hole by use of a conventional flip handle style tightening lever 102 which may be a threaded t-handle or, as depicted, a flip handle tightening lever.

In operation, power is supplied through the electrical wires (96) from a low voltage direct current source as provided by a conventional boat battery in either 12 volt or 24 volt levels. The first end (86) may include a single LED and be sized the same as the outer surface (90) of the continuous side wall or, as shown, be enlarged so as to carry multiple LED's. The support structure (84) may be constructed from most any material but preferably made of either aluminum, stainless steal, titanium, bronze, brass or combinations thereof.

Now referring to FIG. 5 shown is a pictorial transom view of a marine vessel (10) having a transom (20) and engines (16). This configuration the engines are shown in duplex and the vessel (110) is partially submerged beneath the waterline (200). The transom drain light (20) is located in a area that has little or no pressure and ideally suited to allow illumination of items behind the vessel as well as propeller conditions when operating in low illumination situations.

Now referring to FIG. 6 shown is a transom pictorial view showing a vessel (100) having engines blown up to duplex with a transom drain light (104) which is elongated and may be further secured to a transom by a single tap screw so as to prevent rotation of the light once positioned. As with the previous embodiments the vessel illuminates beneath the waterline (200) but with greater intensity by use of multiple LED's. Alternatively, the illumination source may be a Halogen light, strobe, fiber optic or high intensity discharge (HID) lights.

It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification.

Claims

1. An underwater lighting apparatus securable in the transom drain hole of a marine vessel, said apparatus comprising; a support structure having a first end and a second end with a continuous side wall therebetween, an inner surface of said continuous side wall forming a chamber, an outer surface of said continuous side wall sized and arranged to sealingly secure to said transom drain hole;at least one lighting element disposed in said chamber, said lighting element having an illumination end positioned along a first end of said chamber for illumination outwardly therefrom and electrical connections extending placed through said second end of said chamber; anda power source electrically coupled to said electrical connections;wherein the placement of said support structure into said transom drain hole permits illumination of items behind the transom when said power source is energized.

2. The underwater lighting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support structure is electrically isolated from said marine vessel.

3. The underwater lighting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said outer surface of said side wall is threaded.

4. The underwater lighting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first end of said support structure includes a lamp support bracket for holding a plurality of lighting elements.

5. The underwater lighting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said support structure is constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, bronze, plastic or combinations thereof.

6. The underwater lighting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said lighting element is at least one low voltage LED.

7. The underwater lighting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said lighting element is a halogen lamp.

8. The underwater lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electrical element is potted with an electrical isolating material selected from the group consisting of natural or synthetic elastomers, nitrile rubber, fluoroelastomers, silicone, or plastic.

9. The underwater lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said support structure include a drain hole allowing water to drain from said marine when said support structure is placed within said transom hole.