Rear warning light system for trailered vehicles

• US 6,641,288 B1
• Filed: 06/08/2000
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dee Wade Olsen
• Original Assignee: Dee Wade Olsen
• Inventors: Olsen, Dee Wade
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUONG, BAO Q
• Application Number:
  US09/590,638
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 362/485, 362/477, 362/544, 362/548, 362/549, 362/249, 362/250, 362/543, 362/227, 362/389, 362/382, 340/468, 114/361, 150/166, 150/167, 248/205.3, 248/205.4, 248/291.1
• US Class Current: 362/485
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2615 mounted on the vehicle body, e.g. with magnets
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/305 Indicating devices for towed vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 45/04 the devices being intended to indicate the vessel or parts thereof

Abstract

A removable rear warning light system for attachment to a vehicle, such as a boat or snowmobile, carried on a trailer pulled by a motor vehicle to provide warning to the drivers of motor vehicles approaching from the rear. The warning light system includes a pod removably mountable on a rear portion of the trailered vehicle attachable to the electrical system of the motor vehicle to work in unison with one or more light functions of the motor vehicle. The pod fits within a boat cover having a flexible, water repellant sheet of such configuration as to cover the upper portion of a trailered vehicle.

Claims

1. A warning light system for attachment to a trailered vehicle or other such structure carried on a trailer, towed by a motor vehicle of the type which includes an electrical system with light functions, to warn motor vehicles approaching the rear of the trailered structure, the warning light system comprising a self-contained, portable pod removably mountable on a rear portion of the trailered structure, said pod comprising a casing having a shell with a light-passing rear portion, means for producing light within said casing so as to shine through said light passing rear portion, and means for removably mounting said pod, as an assembled unit, to the rear portion of the trailered structure, wherein the mounting means removably and non-permanently connects the pod to the rear portion of the trailered structure for temporary use during trailering thereof.

2. A warning light system according to claim 1, wherein the mounting means includes at least one pair of patches of mating hook and loop fastener material, one of said patches of said pair which adhesively attaches to the rear portion of the trailered structure and the other of said patches of said pair which adhesively attaches to the casing.

3. A warning light system according to claim 1, wherein the casing is watertight.

4. A warning light system according to claim 3, wherein the casing includes an access door which connects to the shell with a means for sealing therebetween.

5. A warning light system according to claim 4, wherein the access door is hingedly connected to the shell, and the sealing means comprises a gasket which fits between the access door and the shell.

6. A warning light system for attachment to a trailered vehicle or other such structure carried on a trailer, towed by a motor vehicle of the type which includes an electrical system with light functions, to warn motor vehicles approaching the rear of the trailered structure, the warning light system comprising a pod removably mountable on a rear portion of the trailered structure which comprises a casing having a shell with a light-passing rear portion, means for producing light within said casing so as to shine through said light passing rear portion, and means for removably mounting said pod, as a unit, to the rear portion of the trailered structure, wherein the mounting means removably and non-permanently connects the pod to the rear portion of the trailered structure for temporary use during trailering thereof;

a hood connectable to the casing, said hood having a top wall and a plurality of side walls downwardly dependent therefrom such that the hood is generally hollowed; and

means for removably and non-permanently mounting said hood to the rear portion of the trailered structure forward of said casing.

7. A warning light system according to claim 6, wherein the mounting means includes at least first and second pairs of patches of mating hook and loop fastener material, one of said patches of said first and second pairs which adhesively attach to the rear portion of the trailered structure and the other of said patches of said first and second pairs which adhesively attaches respectively to the casing and to the hood.

8. A warning light system according to claim 6, wherein the hood is movable relative to the casing.

9. A warning light system according to claim 8, wherein the hood is hingedly connected to the casing.

10. A warning light system according to claim 6, wherein the light producing means includes an electrical cord having a first end portion which extends from the pod, a middle portion, and a second end portion connected to a plug removably connectable to the electrical system of the motor vehicle such that said light producing means works in unison with one or more light functions of the motor vehicle.

11. A warning light system for attachment to a trailered vehicle or other such structure carried on a trailer, towed by a motor vehicle of the type which includes an electrical system with light functions, to warn motor vehicles approaching the rear of the trailered structure, the warning light system comprising:

a pod mountable on a rear portion of the trailered structure which comprises a casing having a shell with a light-passing rear portion;

means for producing light within said casing so as to shine through said light passing rear portion;

means for mounting said casing by removably connecting said casing to the rear portion of the trailered structure;

a hood connectable to said casing;

means for removably mounting said hood to the rear portion of the trailered structure forward of said casing; and

wherein said hood comprises a top wall and a plurality of side walls downwardly dependent therefrom, said side walls each of which include at least one lower break-away edge piece, and wherein said mounting means is of adjustable height to conform said pod to the configuration of the particular rear portion of the trailered structure and said break-away edge pieces can be removed as needed to likewise conform thereto.

12. A warning light system according to claim 11, wherein the hood is vertically tapered having opposing tapered side walls having the respective break-away edge pieces of tapered configuration.

13. A warning light system according to claim 11, wherein the mounting means is of adjustable height by means of a plurality of L-shaped brackets each of which include a slot and which are attachable to the casing using a hardware means.

14. A warning light system for attachment to a trailered vehicle or other such structure carried on a trailer, towed by a motor vehicle of the type which includes an electrical system with light functions, to warn motor vehicles approaching the rear of the trailered structure, the warning light system comprising:

a pod mountable on a rear portion of the trailered structure which comprises a casing having a shell with a light-passing rear portion;

means for producing light within said casing so as to shine through said light passing rear portion;

means for mounting said casing by removably connecting said casing to the rear portion of the trailered structure;

a hood connectable to said casing;

means for removably mounting said hood to the rear portion of the trailered structure forward of said casing and

wherein said hood includes a top wall and a pair of vertically tapered side walls downwardly dependent therefrom.

15. A warning light system for attachment to a trailered vehicle or other such structure carried on a trailer, towed by a motor vehicle of the type which includes an electrical system with light functions, to warn motor vehicles approaching the rear of the trailered structure, the warning light system comprising:

a pod mountable on a rear portion of the trailered structure which comprises a watertight casing having a shell with a light-passing rear portion;

means for producing light within said casing so as to shine through said light passing rear portion; and

means for mounting said casing to the rear portion of the trailered structure;

a hood connectable to said casing;

means for mounting said hood to the rear portion of the trailered structure forward of said casing;

wherein said light producing means includes an electrical cord having a first end portion which extends from said pod, a middle portion, and a second end portion connected to a plug removably connectable to the electrical system of the motor vehicle such that said light producing means works in unison with one or more light functions of the motor vehicle; and

further comprising an auxiliary power cord having a first end portion electrically connected to said light producing means, a middle portion, and a second end portion electrically connected to a socket for supplying electrical power to an electrical device, said power cord and socket being stowable within the hood.

16. A warning light system for attachment to a trailered vehicle or other such structure carried on a trailer, towed by a motor vehicle of the type which includes an electrical system with light functions, to warn motor vehicles approaching the rear of the trailered structure, the warning light system comprising:

a pod mountable on a rear portion of the trailered structure which comprises a casing having a shell with a light-passing rear portion;

means for producing light within said casing so as to shine through said light passing rear portion;

means for mounting by removably connecting said casing to the rear portion of the trailered structure;

a hood connectable to said casing;

means for removably mounting said hood to the rear portion of the trailered structure forward of said casing;

wherein said light producing means includes an electrical cord having a first end portion which extends from said pod, a middle portion, and a second end portion connected to a plug removably connectable to the electrical system of the motor vehicle such that said light producing means works in unison with one or more light functions of the motor vehicle; and

further comprising an auxiliary power cord having a first end portion electrically connected to said light producing means, a middle portion, and a second end portion electrically connected to a socket for supplying electrical power to an electrical device, said power cord and socket being stowable within said hood.

17. A warning light system for attachment to a trailered vehicle or other such structure carried on a trailer, towed by a motor vehicle of the type which includes an electrical system with light functions, to warn motor vehicles approaching the rear of the trailered structure, the warning light system comprising:

a pod mountable on a rear portion of the trailered structure which comprises a casing having a shell with a light-passing rear portion;

means for producing light within said casing so as to shine through said light passing rear portion;

means for mounting by removably connecting said casing to the rear portion of the trailered structure;

a hood connectable to said casing;

means for removably mounting said hood to the rear portion of the trailered structure forward of said casing;

wherein said light producing means includes an electrical cord having a first end portion which extends from said pod, a middle portion, and a second end portion connected to a plug removably connectable to the electrical system of the motor vehicle such that said light producing means works in unison with one or more light functions of the motor vehicle; and

further comprising a boat cover which comprises a flexible, water resistant sheet having a front portion and a rear portion and being of such configuration as to cover the upper portion of a trailered structure comprising a boat, a plurality of means for fastening affixed thereto about an outer periphery thereof which are mateable with means for fastening affixed to an outer periphery of the boat to retain said sheet to the boat, and wherein said pod is connectable to said rear portion of said sheet, said electrical cord which extends from said pod along said sheet, the second end portion of said cord which extends outwardly from said front portion of said sheet such that said plug is attachable to the electrical system of the motor vehicle.

18. A warning light system according to claim 17, wherein the electrical cord is stitched an underside of the sheet to retain said electrical cord juxtaposed said sheet.

19. A warning light system according to claim 17, wherein the electrical cord includes a plurality of individual insulated electrical wires, the first end portion, the middle portion, and second end portion of said electrical cord being separate pieces containing respective first end portions, middle portions, and second end portions of said individual wires, one end of each of said individual wires of said first end portion being connected to the light producing means and a second end portion of each being connected to a respective fastening means of said boat cover at the rear portion thereof, one end of each of said individual wires of said second end portion being connected to the plug and a second end portion of each being connected to a respective fastening means of said boat cover at the front portion thereof, said middle portion of said electrical cord being fastenable within an inner perimeter of the hull of the boat with a first end of each of said individual wires of said middle portion being connectable to respective fastening means at a front portion of the hull and a second end of each of said individual wires being connectable to respective fastening means at a rear portion of the hull, and wherein when said boat cover is assembled to the boat, electrical connection is made between the plug and the light producing means of the pod, through the respective individual wires of said cord and said fastening means, to operate said light producing means in unison with one or more light functions of the motor vehicle.

20. A warning light system for attachment to a trailered vehicle or other such structure carried on a trailer, towed by a motor vehicle of the type which includes an electrical system with light functions, to warn motor vehicles approaching the rear of the trailered structure, the warning light system comprising a pod mountable on a rear portion of the trailered structure which comprises a casing having a shell with a light-passing rear portion, means for producing light within said casing so as to shine through said light passing rear portion, and means for mounting said casing to the rear portion of the trailered structure, wherein the mounting means includes a plurality of holes which longitudinally extend through at least a portion of the casing for bolt means to extend through into the rear of the trailered structure, said plurality of holes each extending through a reinforcing structure of the casing which extends generally through the casing, ad wherein said plurality of holes through the casing each include a countersunk end portion adjacent the light-passing rear portion of said casing being of such configuration to accept the head of a respective bolt means, said countersunk end portions being covered with respective removable covers of said shell.

21. A warning light system for attachment to a trailered vehicle or other such structure carried on a trailer, towed by a motor vehicle of the type which includes an electrical system with light functions, to warn motor vehicles approaching the rear of the trailered structure, the warning light system comprising a self-contained, portable pod removably mountable on a rear portion of the trailered structure, said pod comprising a casing having a shell with a light-passing rear portion, means for producing light within said casing so as to shine through said light passing rear portion, and means for removably mounting said pod, as an assembled unit, to the rear portion of the trailered structure, wherein the casing is watertight, said casing including an access door which connects to said shell with a means for sealing there between, and wherein the access door is hingedly connected to said shell, and said sealing means comprises a gasket which fits between said access door and said shell.

22. A warning light system for attachment to a trailered vehicle or other such structure carried on a trailer, towed by a motor vehicle of the type which includes an electrical system with light functions, to warm motor vehicles approaching the rear of the trailered structure, the warning light system comprising:

a pod mountable on a rear portion of the trailered structure which comprises a casing having a shell with a light-passing rear portion, means for producing light within said casing so as to shine through said light passing rear portion;

means for mounting said casing to the rear portion of the trailered structure, wherein the mounting means removably and non-permanently connects the casing to the rear portion of the trailered structure wherein said casing is watertight;

a hood connectable to the casing, said hood having a top wall and a plurality of side walls downwardly dependent therefrom such that said hood is generally hollowed; and

means for mounting said hood to the rear portion of the trailered structure forward of said casing.

23. A warning light system according to claim 22, wherein the hood is movable relative to the casing.

24. A warning light system according to claim 23, wherein the hood is hingedly connected to the casing.

25. A warning light system according to claim 22, wherein the light producing means includes an electrical cord having a first end portion which extends from the pod, a middle portion, and a second end portion connected to a plug removably connectable to the electrical system of the motor vehicle such that said light producing means 692X works unison with one or more light functions of the motor vehicle.

26. A warning light system for attachment to a trailered vehicle or other such structure carried on a trailer, towed by a motor vehicle of the type which includes an electrical system with light functions, to warn motor vehicles approaching the rear of the trailered structure, the warning light system comprising:

a pod mountable on a rear portion of the trailered structure which comprises a watertight casing having a shell with a light-passing rear portion;

means for producing light within said casing so as to shine through said light passing rear portion;

means for mounting said casing to the rear portion of the trailered structure;

a hood connectable to said casing;

means for mounting said hood to the rear portion of the trailered structure forward of said casing; and

wherein said hood comprises a top wall and a plurality of side walls downwardly dependent therefrom, said side walls each of which include at least one lower break-away edge piece, and wherein said mounting means is of adjustable height to conform said pod to the configuration of the particular rear portion of the trailered structure and said break-away edge pieces can be removed as needed to likewise conform thereto.

27. A warning light system according to claim 26, wherein the hood is vertically tapered having opposing tapered side walls having the respective break-away edge pieces of tapered configuration.

28. A warning light system according to claim 26, wherein the mounting means is of adjustable height by means of a plurality of L-shaped brackets each of which include a slot and which are attachable to the casing using a hardware means.

29. A warning light system according to claim 26, wherein the hood includes a top wall and a pair of vertically tapered side walls downwardly dependent therefrom.

30. A warning light system for attachment to a trailered vehicle or other such structure carried on a trailer, towed by a motor vehicle of the type which includes an electrical system with light functions, to warn motor vehicles approaching the rear of the trailered structure, the warning light system comprising:

a pod mountable on a rear portion of the trailered structure which comprises a watertight casing having a shell with a light-passing rear portion;

means for producing light within said casing so as to shine through said light passing rear portion;

means for mounting said casing to the rear portion of the trailered structure;

a hood connectable to said casing;

means for mounting said hood to the rear portion of the trailered structure forward of said casing;

wherein the light producing means includes an electrical cord having a first end portion which extends from said pod, a middle portion, and a second end portion connected to a plug removably connectable to the electrical system of the motor vehicle such that said light producing means works in unison with one or more light functions of the motor vehicle; and

further comprising a boat cover which comprises a flexible, water resistant sheet having a front portion and a rear portion and being of such configuration as to cover the upper portion of a trailered structure comprising a boat, a plurality of means for fastening affixed thereto about an outer periphery thereof which are mateable with means for fastening affixed to an outer periphery of the boat to retain said sheet to the boat, and wherein the pod is connectable to said rear portion of said sheet, said electrical cord which extends from said pod along said sheet, the second end portion of said cord which extends outwardly from said front portion of said sheet such that said plug is attachable to the electrical system of the motor vehicle.

31. A warning light system according to claim 30, wherein the electrical cord is crossover stitched an underside of the sheet to retain said electrical cord juxtaposed said sheet.

32. A warning light system according to claim 30, wherein the electrical cord includes a plurality of individual insulated electrical wires, the first end portion, the middle portion, and second end portion of said electrical cord being separate pieces containing respective first end portions, middle portions, and second end portions of said individual wires, one end of each of said individual wires of said first end portion being connected to the light producing means and a second end portion of each being connected to a respective fastening means of said boat cover at the rear portion thereof, one end of each of said individual wires of said second end portion being connected to the plug and a second end portion of each being connected to a respective fastening means of said boat cover at the front portion thereof, said middle portion of said electrical cord being fastenable within an inner perimeter of the hull of the boat with a first end of each of said individual wires of said middle portion being connectable to respective fastening means at a front portion of the hull and a second end of each of said individual wires being connectable to respective fastening means at a rear portion of the hull, and wherein when said boat cover is assembled to the boat, electrical connection is made between the plug and the light producing means of the pod, through the respective individual wires of said cord and said fastening means, to operate said light producing means in unison with one or more light functions of the motor vehicle.