US 5,704,704 AGranted

Marine pole light and base

AssigneeAttwood Corporation

InventorsBrent A. Reichard, Bruce Reniger, Terry L. Lautzenheiser, Clifton J. Ratza

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A pole light system for marine craft, which is easily mounted and dismounted and includes a base receptacle having a keyed socket, and a pole having a light assembly at one end and a plug at the other end which is keyed to be received in the socket, whereby insertion of the pole into the socket is limited to a preselected orientation which will permit the use of wiping, self-cleaning electrical contacts on the pole and receptacle. The light assembly includes a base which is securable to the pole, a planar reflector disposed on the base, a hemispherical Fresnel lens which, together with the reflector, define a volume wherein a light bulb is disposed via a two-part, wire form retainer. The reflector which is generally positioned below the lightbulb, in combination with a hemispherical Fresnel lens, efficiently utilize light emitted from the bulb, so that a lower wattage bulb requiring less energy and producing less heat can be used to achieve a desired illumination in a smaller light assembly.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A pole light assembly for a marine craft, comprising:

a receptacle body including a passageway with an open upper end and a keyed socket, and a pole including an upper end to which is secure a light assembly and a lower end having a plug which is keyed to be received within said socket, said pole including a pair of electrical contacts, each of which is wipingly engaged by a corresponding electrical contact in said receptacle when said pole with said plug is inserted into said socket;
each of said electrical contacts in said receptacle having a flexible arm which engages and is resiliently biased toward said contacting surface of one of said electrical contacts on said pole when said pole is inserted into said receptacle;
said receptacle including a cap which is pivotally secured to said receptacle body by a laterally extending hinge shaft, said cap being pivotable about said hinge shaft between an open position wherein said lower end of said pole can be inserted into said passageway of said receptacle, and a closed position wherein the open upper end of said passageway is covered by said cap;
and said cap including a resilient boot secured to an underside thereof, said resilient boot being closely received in and sealing said open upper end of said passageway when said cap is in the closed position, said resilient boot being attached to said cap so that said resilient boot is automatically located centerally in said open upper end of said passageway when said cap is rotated about said hinge shaft from the open position to the closed position.

1 more element

A pole base for receiving a pole having a light secured to one end, and a keyed plug and a pair of electrical contacts on the other end, comprising:

a receptacle body with a passageway with an open upper end and a keyed socket adapted to receive the plug on the pole, and a pair of electrical contacts in said passageway, each of which engage a corresponding electrical contact on the pole when the pole is inserted into said passageway, each of said electrical contacts in said receptacle having a flexible arm which engages and which is resiliently biased toward a corresponding electrical contact on the pole when the pole is inserted into said passageway;
said receptacle including a cap which is pivotally secured to said receptacle body by a laterally extending hinge shaft, said cap being pivotable about said hinge shaft between an open position wherein said lower end of said pole can be inserted into said passageway of said receptacle, and a closed position wherein the open upper end of said passageway is covered by said cap;
and said cap including a resilient boot secured to an underside thereof, said resilient boot being closely received in and sealing said open upper end of said passageway when said cap is in the closed position, said resilient boot being attached to said cap so that said resilient boot is automatically located centerally in said open upper end of said passageway when said cap is rotated about said hinge shaft from the open position to the closed position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/419,041Filed 10 Apr 1995
Granted: 6 Jan 1998
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

B60Q 1/2657
The devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic: mounted on a shaft, e.g.…
B63B 45/04
Arrangements or adaptations of signalling or lighting devices: the devices being intended to indicate the vessel or parts thereof
B60Q
Arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or
B63B
Ships or other waterborne vessels

Family

No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.

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