Bi-directional boat running and emergency light apparatus and method

• US 7,794,124 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2007
• Issued: 09/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael Hulsey
• Original Assignee: Michael Hulsey, Richard Butler
• Inventors: Hulsey, Michael, Butler, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US11/860,662
• Publication Number:
  US 20080247161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 362/227, 362/249, 362/252, 362/276, 362/477, 362/540, 362543-545, 362/802, 362/249.02
• US Class Current: 362/477
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 45/04 the devices being intended to indicate the vessel or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/00 Light sources with three-dimensionally disposed light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

A boat running light and emergency light apparatus and method comprising a plurality of radially projecting lights, at least one axially upward projecting light and at least one photometer, wherein the at least one photometer senses the amount of illumination from the plurality of radially projecting lights. Upon a reduction or cessation of illumination caused by failure of one or more of the plurality of radially projecting lights, the plurality of radially projecting lights are turned off and the axially upward projecting lights are illuminated to notify boaters of a faulty light while still providing redundant lighting. Additionally, the boat light is capable of flashing SOS in Morse code during an emergency situation. The lights are preferably high intensity directional light emitting diodes.

Claims

1. A light comprising:

a casing;

a plurality of radially projecting high intensity directional light emitting diodes disposed entirely within said casing, wherein said plurality of radially projecting high intensity directional light emitting diodes are arranged in a plurality of banks;

at least one axially upward projecting light emitting diode disposed entirely within said casing; and

a plurality of photometers, wherein each of said plurality of photometers senses the amount of light illuminating from a specific bank of said plurality of banks of said plurality of radially projecting high intensity directional light emitting diodes, and wherein upon any of said plurality of photometers sensing a decrease in illumination from any of said plurality of radially projecting high intensity directional light emitting diodes, all of said plurality of radially projecting high intensity directional light emitting diodes are deactivated and said at least one axially upward projecting light emitting diode is illuminated.

2. The light of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said plurality of radially projecting high intensity directional light emitting diodes are in series electrical communication.

3. The light of claim 1, wherein said at least one axially upward projecting light emitting diode is in switchable parallel electrical communication with said plurality of radially projecting high intensity directional light emitting diodes.

4. The light of claim 1, wherein said at least one axially upward projecting light emitting diode is in parallel electrical communication with another at least one axially upward projecting light emitting diode.

5. The light of claim 1, wherein said light further comprises a shaft, and wherein said casing is disposed on said shaft.

6. The light of claim 5, wherein each of said plurality of radially projecting high intensity directional light emitting diodes is disposed perpendicular to said shaft.

7. The light of claim 1, wherein said plurality of photometers measure light output of at least a portion of said plurality of radially projecting high intensity directional light emitting diodes.

8. The light of claim 7, wherein all of said plurality of radially projecting high intensity directional light emitting diodes are switched off upon said plurality of photometers sensing a selected decrease in illumination from at least a portion of said plurality of radially projecting high intensity directional light emitting diodes.

9. The light of claim 7, wherein said at least one axially upward projecting light emitting diode is illuminated upon at least one of said plurality of photometers optically detecting a selected decrease in illumination from at least a portion of said plurality of radially projecting high intensity directional light emitting diodes.

10. The light of claim 1, wherein said plurality of radially projecting high intensity directional light emitting diodes and said at least one axially upward projecting light emitting diode are flashable.

11. The light of claim 10, wherein said light flashes at least 120 times per minute.

12. The light of claim 10, wherein said light flashes SOS in Morse code.

13. The light of claim 10, wherein said light flashes upon a condition, wherein said condition is selected from the group consisting of when electrical communication with an operator is lost, when physical communication with an operator is lost, and upon operator activation.

14. The light of claim 1, wherein said plurality of radially projecting high intensity directional light emitting diodes is divided into a plurality of banks, wherein each of said plurality of banks contains a sub-plurality of said plurality of radially projecting high intensity directional light emitting diodes.

15. The light of claim 14, wherein each of said sub-plurality of radially projecting high intensity directional light emitting diodes within each of said plurality of banks is in series electrical communication.

16. The light of claim 14, wherein said plurality of banks illuminates approximately 360 degrees horizontally.

17. The light of claim 14, wherein said plurality of banks of said plurality of radially projecting high intensity directional light emitting diodes illuminates less than 360 degrees horizontally.

18. The light of claim 17, wherein said plurality of banks illuminates a range, wherein said range is selected from the group consisting of approximately 225 degrees horizontally, approximately 112.5 degrees horizontally, and approximately 135 degrees horizontally.

19. A method of redundant lighting, wherein said method comprises the steps of:

illuminating a plurality of radially projecting lights disposed entirely within a casing, wherein said plurality of radially projecting lights is divided into a plurality of banks disposed in a common plane;

sensing light emitted by said plurality of radially projecting lights via an optical sensor; and

illuminating at least one axially upward projecting light disposed entirely within said casing and deactivating all of said plurality of radially projecting lights, upon said optical sensor detecting a decrease in illumination from said plurality of radially projecting lights, wherein said at least one axially upward projecting light is disposed perpendicular to said plurality of banks.