AU2004100738A4 - Tail light assembly - Google Patents

Description

Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: OLSEN INDUSTRIES PTY. LTD.

LLEWELYN CHRISTOPHER OELOFSEN SANDERCOCK COWIE SUITE 8C, 50-54 ROBINSON STREET DANDENONG VIC 3175 TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY Fc2004-09-02,A:\508olsen.file.wpd, I la- TITLE: TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns rear light assemblies for vehicles, especially boat trailers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A known assembly has a hollow sheet metal housing equipped with two lamp holders, one being a combined rear lamp and stop lamp, the other being a traffic turn indicator.

The housing has holes for the reception of fixing bolts so that the assembly can be carried 2004-08-31 ,A:\507olsen.innpat.wpd,1 at the correct height by the trailer. A moulded cover in red and amber plastic provides the appropriate colours for the lamps. The four wire conductors about 200mm long are supplied with the assembly for connection to the multi pin connector of the vehicle wiring harness.

Such an assembly has a limited life because the assemblies suffer periodic immersion.

They retain water and corrode. Seawater being an electrolyte is capable of conducting current and causing extra difficulties. Our work has shown that modification of the assembly to confer water tightness is counterproductive. Cycles of thermal expansion and contraction in the assembly tend eventually to admit moisture which then undergoes evaporation and condensation cycles with corrosive effects similar to the version which had no such proofing. The economics of replacement with manufacturers spare parts are in favour of cheapening the assembly but again our work has shown this is not rewarding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus aspect of the invention provides a tail light assembly inter alia for a boat conveyor comprising housing containing LED arrays providing a rear light, a direction indicator and illumination for a number plate, a coupling for the conductor leads supplying the LED arrays, all of the above being waterproofed, a drain outlet in the housing; and a transparent lens cover on the housing.

Preferably the LED arrays for the rear light display and the direction indicator display sit in a tray capable of containing fluent, hardenable resin in order to render waterproof displays and contacts with the conductor leads.

Preferably the LEDs which illuminate the numberplate are situated between the trays and direct light downwardly.

Preferably the housing has a recess to hold the coupling, the recess forming a resin tray capable of containing a fluent hardenable resin in order to render waterproof the connections between the conductor leads and the leads which take current from the vehicle wiring harness.

2004-08-31,A:\507olsen.innpat.wpd,2 -3- Preferably the housing has an exit for water and water vapour at a site where water drainage is gravity assisted. Two drainage holes are preferred because road camber tends to tilt the trailer favouring drainage from the lowest hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One embodiment of the invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the housing.

Figure 2 is a plan of the housing.

Figure 3 is an exploded section of the housing of Figure 1 on axis 2-2.

Figure 4 is a section of the housing of Figure 1 on axis 3-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH RESPECT TO THE DRAWINGS Referring now to the drawings, the housing 2 is a capsule shaped ABS moulding 200 x x 30mm with a peripheral groove 4. The housing has a downwardly facing aperture 4 closed by a window 6. Two drainage holes 8 each adjacent the window allow the housing to drain after immersion. The floor 10 of the housing supports two pairs of stalks 12. Each stalk pair supports a shallow moulded tray 14. Each tray supports a circuit board 16 with a 7-LED array 18. Each board lies in a pool of hardened transparent resin The floor also supports a third tray 22 screwed to floor posts 24 by screws. Tray 22 supports circuit board 24 which mounts three LEDs, the purpose of which is to direct light through window 6 onto the number plate (not shown).

The trays are a push fit on the stalks during assembly. Bushes 26 allow the trailer builder to insert self-tapping fixing bolts (not shown). The bolts have a threaded portion which 2004-08-31 ,A:\507olsen.innpat.wpd,3 -4extends with the trailer chassis.

Accordingly the floor of the housing is made flat but the assembly must be supplied with current from the vehicle wiring harness (not shown). The floor has a recess 28 to assist the wiring path. A central sleeve 30 is moulded in the recess. The sleeve retains standard 6-way coupling 32. Conductor leads 34 from trays 14 and 22 enter the coupling through a plug 36 of resin seal. The conductor leads 38 for reaching the wiring harness of the vehicle extend from the coupling. The connections between the coupling conductors and the leads are smeared with insulating gel before the coupling is inserted into sleeve in order to protect them during immersion.

The housing is closed by a red moulded lens cover 42. This has a peripheral flange 44 for reception by the housing groove 4. The lens has a red insert 44 with seven convex lenses 46, an amber insert 48 with seven convex lenses 50 and a central reflector zone 52.

The lenses correspond to the dispositions of the LEDs. The rear/stop LEDs are red. The turn indicator LEDs are amber. The positions of the red and amber inserts are reversed for LH and RH limits, amber being outermost in each assembly.

We have found the advantages of the above embodiment to be: 1. The entire assembly is immersible without detriment.

2. The assembly is able to release water vapour as it dries out.

3. Sand and salt can be washed from the components if mild hose pressure is applied to one of the drainage holes.

It is to be understood that the word "comprising" as used throughout the specification is to be interpreted in its inclusive form, ie. use of the word "comprising" does not exclude the addition of other elements.

It is to be understood that various modifications of and/or additions to the invention can be made without departing from the basic nature of the invention. These modifications 2004.08-31,A:A507olsen.innpat.wpd,4 and/or additions are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

2004-09-3 1,A:\507olsen. innpat.

Claims (4)

1. A tail light assembly inter alia for a boat conveyor comprising an open topped housing, LED arrays providing a rear light, a direction indicator and illumination for a number plate, a coupling for the conductor leads supplying the LED arrays, all of the above being waterproofed, a drain outlet in the housing; and a transparent lens cover enclosing the housing.

2. A tail light assembly inter alia for a boat conveyor as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the LED arrays for the rear light display and the direction indicator display sit in a tray capable of containing fluent, hardenable resin in order to render waterproof displays and contacts with the conductor leads.

3. A tail light assembly inter alia for a boat conveyor as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the LEDs which illuminate the number plate are situated between the trays and direct light downwardly.

4. A tail lightassembly inter alia for a boat conveyor as claimed in any one of Claims 1-3, wherein the housing has a recess to hold the coupling, the recess forming a resin tray capable of containing a fluent hardenable resin in order to render waterproof the connections between the conductor leads and the leads which take current from the vehicle wiring harness. A tail light assembly inter alia for a boat conveyor as claimed in any one of Claims 1-4, wherein the housing has an exit for water and water vapour at a site where water drainage is gravity assisted. Dated this 2 nd day of September, 2004. SANDERCOCK COWIE PATENT ATTORNEYS FOR OLSEN INDUSTRIES PTY. LTD.

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