Motorcycle tail light

• US 5,713,653 A
• Filed: 07/23/1996
• Issued: 02/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harley Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Harley Davidson Motor Company (Harley-Davidson Incorporated)
• Inventors: White, Russell L., Scherbarth, Brian M., Stelling, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dority, Carroll B.
• Application Number:
  US08/686,237
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 362/83, 362/72, 362/83.2, 362/367
• US Class Current: 362/473
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/04 Rear lights

Abstract

A motorcycle tail light assembly including a base having a light bulb mount and a wiring harness connected with the mount, and a mounting means for mounting the base to the motorcycle. The assembly further includes a cover, including a tail light lens, adapted to be positioned over the base, and an attaching means for attaching the cover to a motorcycle. The mounting means is designed to maintain connection between the base and the motorcycle when the cover has been removed from the motorcycle. The tail light assembly can also include a lens engaging portion, and the cover can include a housing and a license plate lens having a first portion and a second portion. The lens engaging portion of the base engages the second portion to force the first portion into engagement with the housing.

Claims

1. A motorcycle tail light assembly for mounting on a motorcycle, said assembly comprising:

a base including a light bulb mount, a wiring harness connected with said mount, and a lens engaging portion; and

a cover adapted to be positioned over said base, said cover including;

a housing; and

a license plate lens having a first portion and a second portion, wherein said lens engaging portion of said base engages said second portion to force said first portion into engagement with said housing.

2. A motorcycle tail light assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said lens engaging portion and said second portion includes a ramped surface positioned such that movement of said license plate lens toward said base causes movement of said first portion toward said housing.

3. A motorcycle tail light assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lens engaging portion includes a ramped surface, and wherein said second portion of said license plate lens includes at least one U-shaped channel dimensioned to slidably engage said ramped surface.

4. A motorcycle tail light assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said base includes two ramped surfaces, and wherein said second portion of said license plate lens includes two U-shaped channels dimensioned to slidably engage said ramped surfaces.

5. A motorcycle tail light assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover further includes a lens gasket positioned between said license plate lens and said cover, wherein said base engages said second portion to sandwich said gasket between said first portion and said housing.

6. A motorcycle tail light assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said license plate lens is adhesively connected to said cover.

7. A method of securing a tail light assembly to a motorcycle, the tail light assembly including a housing, a base and a lens, said method comprising the steps of:

moving the housing and the lens in a first direction toward the motorcycle;

forcing the lens in a second direction, angled from the first direction, toward the housing by engagement with the base; and

creating a sealed engagement between the lens and the housing.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the base includes a ramped surface, and wherein said forcing step includes the steps of:

engaging the lens with the ramped surface; and

sliding the lens relative to the ramped surface.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tail light assembly further includes a gasket, and wherein said method further includes the step of positioning the gasket between the lens and the housing.