Patents by Inventor Alton J. Cunningham

Alton J. Cunningham has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5060121
    Abstract: A sealed tail light assembly for a boat trailer including an outer housing and a sealed capsule is contained within the housing. The capsule is composed of a base and a transparent casing that contains a pair of light bulbs. The base is provided with a depression or well. Electrical conductors are connected to the bulbs and extend through openings in the base into the well where the ends of the conductors are connected to electrical leads. The well is filled with an electrically insulating material, such as resin, which encloses the openings in the well and encapsulates the connections between the conductors and the leads. One end of the capsule is provided with a tongue, which is received within a slot in the rear wall of the housing, while the opposite end of the capsule is formed with a lip which is captured between the lower edge of the side marker lens and the rear wall, thus enabling the capsule to be secured within the housing without the need for auxiliary connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Wesbar Corporation
    Inventors: Alton J. Cunningham, Brian A. Hanson
  • Patent number: 4617617
    Abstract: A submersible tail light assembly for a boat trailer. The tail light assembly includes an outer housing having an open outer end that is enclosed by a tail light lens. A transparent capsule having an open inner end is sealed to the wall of the housing, and a bulb socket that carries a light bulb is mounted on the inner wall of the housing and is located within the capsule. The electrical leads connected to the bulb socket extend through an opening in the lower portion of the inner wall of the housing. In some cases the housing may also have an open side enclosed by a side marker lens and a side marker bulb socket and bulb are mounted in the housing in alignment with the side marker lens. When the trailer light is submerged in water during launching of a boat, air is entrapped within the capsule preventing water from rising in the capsule to the level of the bulb socket and bulb. The bulb can be conveniently replaced by removing the lens and capsule from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1986
    Assignee: Wesbar Corporation
    Inventors: Alton J. Cunningham, Brian A. Hanson
  • Patent number: 4163275
    Abstract: Converter means for converting a side marker light for a vehicle such as a trailer to a combination side marker and clearance light comprises an adapter assembly for repositioning the ligh bulb and a multi-sided translucent lens for replacing the original flat lens of the side marker light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1979
    Assignee: Wesbar Corporation
    Inventors: Bernard R. Weber, Brian A. Hanson, Alton J. Cunningham