The present invention relates generally to lighting systems employed in outboard motors used as marine propulsion systems, and to marine vessel assemblies employing outboard motors with such lighting systems, and related methods of operation and implementation. In one example embodiment of a lightin
The present invention relates generally to lighting systems employed in outboard motors used as marine propulsion systems, and to marine vessel assemblies employing outboard motors with such lighting systems, and related methods of operation and implementation. In one example embodiment of a lighting system, the lighting system includes a first cowling panel portion including a reflective strip portion, and a second cowling panel portion that, in combination with the first cowling panel portion, at least partly defines an interior region within the cowling. The lighting system also includes a lighting source that is positioned within the interior region and positioned so that, when operating, first light is emitted toward the reflective strip portion and, upon the first light reaching the reflective strip portion, at least some of the first light is directed outward away from the cowling.
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1. In an outboard motor having a cowling and configured for attachment to and use with a marine vessel, a lighting system comprising: a first cowling panel portion including a reflective strip portion;a second cowling panel portion that, in combination with the first cowling panel portion, at least
1. In an outboard motor having a cowling and configured for attachment to and use with a marine vessel, a lighting system comprising: a first cowling panel portion including a reflective strip portion;a second cowling panel portion that, in combination with the first cowling panel portion, at least partly defines an interior region within the cowling; anda lighting source, wherein the lighting source is supported on one or more of the first cowling panel portion, the second cowling panel portion, or a further cowling panel portion, within the interior region,wherein the lighting source is positioned in a fixed or substantially-fixed manner relative to the reflective strip portion so that, when operating, first light is emitted toward the reflective strip portion, andwherein the reflective strip portion is configured so that, upon the first light reaching the reflective strip portion, at least some of the first light is directed outward away from the cowling. 2. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the first cowling panel portion is attached to the second cowling panel portion by way of a fastening mechanism that permits disassembly and reassembly. 3. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the first cowling panel portion includes a first outwardly-facing surface that is exposed to an outside environment, wherein the second cowling panel portion includes a second outwardly-facing surface that is exposed to the outside environment, and wherein there exists a gap between an edge of the second cowling panel portion and the first outwardly-facing surface through which the at least some first light proceeds outward away from the cowling. 4. The lighting system of claim 3, wherein the reflective strip portion is an additional surface of the first cowling panel portion that extends from the first outwardly-facing surface toward an interior of the cowling and to a region that is inwardly-located of the second cowling panel portion. 5. The lighting system of claim 4, wherein at least some of the first cowling panel portion and at least some of the second cowling panel portion are sections of or form a vent cover, a decorative cover, or a cowling accent piece. 6. The lighting system of claim 3, wherein the second cowling panel portion includes a blocking portion that extends past a location of the lighting source to the edge so as to form a barrier between the lighting source and the outside environment. 7. The lighting system of claim 6, wherein the blocking portion at the edge includes a lip extending inwardly that further defines the interior region. 8. The lighting system of claim 7, wherein the blocking portion including the lip is configured so that at least some additional light emitted from the light source does not reach the reflective strip portion and does not reach the outside environment. 9. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the first and second cowling panel portions and the light source are arranged along a starboard side of the outboard motor or along a port side of the outboard motor. 10. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the first and second cowling panel portions and the light source are arranged along a rear side of the outboard motor. 11. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the lighting system is configured so that the at least some first light directed outward from the cowling has an appearance, when viewed from a location external of the cowling, of being of substantially consistent intensity along the length of the reflective strip portion. 12. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the lighting source is a lighting source strip including a plurality of light sources, and wherein the lighting source strip is positioned so that the light sources, when operating, emit the first light toward the reflective strip portion. 13. The lighting system of claim 12, wherein the lighting source strip is one or both of flexible or waterproof. 14. The lighting system of claim 12, wherein each of the light sources has a respective light emission range, and wherein a first spacing of first and second neighboring ones of the light sources along a length of the lighting source strip and a second spacing between the light sources and the reflective strip portion are respectively configured so that the respective light emission ranges of the neighboring ones of the light sources overlap at a location that is at a distance from the lighting source strip that is less than the second spacing. 15. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the lighting system is configured so that the at least some first light directed outward from the cowling has an appearance, when viewed from a location external of the cowling, of being of substantially varying intensity along the length of the reflective strip portion. 16. A method of operating a lighting system on an outboard motor configured for use with a marine vessel, the method comprising: providing a set of light sources arranged within an interior region of a cowling;actuating the light sources to emit light toward a light strip that is formed on or as a part of the cowling and positioned in a fixed or substantially-fixed manner relative to the set of light sources; andreflecting the light at the light strip so that the light is emitted in a direction away from the cowling. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising blocking an additional portion of light emitted from the light sources by way of a blocking portion of a panel that at least partly defines the interior region. 18. In an outboard motor having a cowling and configured for attachment to and use with a marine vessel, a lighting system comprising: a first cowling panel portion including a first reflective portion;a second cowling panel portion that, in combination with the first cowling panel portion, at least partly defines an interior region within the cowling; anda first lighting source,wherein the lighting source is supported on one or more of the first cowling panel portion, the second cowling panel portion, or a further cowling panel portion, within the interior region, in a fixed or substantially-fixed manner relative to the first reflective portion,wherein the second cowling panel portion includes a blocking portion that serves to at least partly shield the lighting source from exposure to an outside environment, andwherein the second cowling panel portion is detachable from the first cowling panel portion to allow for direct exposure of the lighting source to the outside environment,whereby cleaning or other servicing of at least some of the lighting source is facilitated. 19. The lighting system of claim 18, wherein the first lighting source is a first lighting source strip that includes a first plurality of light sources, and the at least some of the lighting source includes either the lighting source strip or one or more of the light sources. 20. The lighting system of claim 19, wherein the second cowling panel portion is coupled to the first cowling panel portion by way of a fastening mechanism including a protruding shaft with enlarged head and a grommet. 21. The lighting system of claim 20, wherein first light emitted by the light sources to the outside environment reaches the outside environment due to reflection off of the reflective portion. 22. The lighting system of claim 21, wherein second light emitted by the light sources is precluded or substantially precluded from reaching the outside environment by the blocking portion. 23. The lighting system of claim 19, wherein the lighting source strip and reflective portion are arranged on an upper portion of the cowling that is detachable from a. lower portion of the cowling. 24. The lighting system of claim 23, wherein the upper portion is hingedly coupled to the lower portion of the cowling by way of a mechanical tether and an electrical connection including electrical wiring or another electrical coupling structure. 25. The lighting system of claim 23, wherein the upper portion is removable from the lower portion but, when the upper and lower portions are assembled, electrical couplers allow for electrical coupling between the upper and lower portions. 26. The lighting system of claim 19, further comprising a second lighting source strip with a second plurality of light sources and a second reflective portion. 27. The lighting system of claim 26, wherein the first lighting source strip and first reflective portion are positioned on a starboard side or a port side of the outboard motor, and wherein the second lighting source strip and second reflective portion are positioned on a rear side of the outboard motor. 28. The lighting system of claim 19, wherein the blocking portion serves to shield the lighting source from direct exposure to an outside environment outside of a field of view, and wherein the light sources are light emitting diode (LEDs). 29. The lighting system of claim 27, further comprising a third Y-shaped panel portion that substantially covers over the second lighting source strip. 30. A cowling for an outboard motor configured for attachment to and use with a marine vessel, the cowling comprising: a first panel structure;a second panel structure that is detachably coupled to the first panel structure, wherein a gap exists between an edge of the second panel structure and the first panel structure, and wherein a first portion of the first panel structure extends inwardly of the second panel structure such that the second panel structure shields the first portion from an external environment;light a source positioned within an interior region of the cowling; anda reflective portion formed on the first panel structure and positioned in a fixed or substantially-fixed manner relative to the light source, wherein at least some light emitted from the light source is reflected off of the reflective portion and directed through the gap to the external environment. 31. The cowling of claim 30, wherein the reflective portion is an elongated strip. 32. The cowling of claim 31, wherein the reflective portion is a beveled region or a painted region of the first panel structure. 33. A marine vessel assembly including the marine vessel, the outboard motor, and the cowling of claim 30. 34. The marine vessel assembly of claim 30, wherein the outboard motor includes a lighting system including a lighting source strip that includes the light source and one or more additional light sources. 35. The marine vessel assembly of claim 34, further including a lighting control system supported at least partly upon the marine vessel and coupled at least indirectly to the lighting system. 36. The marine vessel assembly of claim 35, wherein the lighting control system includes at least one of a control module and a mobile device, and communications between the control module or mobile device and the lighting system include either wired communications or wireless communications. 37. The marine vessel assembly of claim 35, further comprising at least one additional outboard motor having at least one additional lighting system that is controlled at least indirectly by a control module. 38. A method of implementing a lighting system in relation to an outboard motor configured for use with a marine vessel, the method comprising: attaching a lighting source to a surface of an inner cowling wall structure;providing a reflective surface on the inner cowling wall structure or an additional cowling structure that is exposed to an outside environment, wherein the reflective surface is positioned in a fixed or substantially-fixed manner relative to the lighting source; andcoupling a further wall structure to the inner cowling wall structure so that an interior region is defined partly by the inner cowling wall structure and the further wall structure. 39. The method of claim 38, wherein the lighting source is a lighting source strip that includes multiple light sources. 40. The method of claim 39, coupling the lighting system to a lighting control system associated with the marine vessel. 41. The method of claim 38, wherein the reflective surface includes at least one boundary such that, when light from the lighting source is reflected by the reflective surface outward toward one or more exterior locations, the reflected light appears at the one or more exterior locations as though it is emanating from a substantially bounded region. 42. In an outboard motor having a cowling and configured for attachment to and use with a marine vessel, a lighting system comprising: a cowling; anda light source supported in relation to the cowling;wherein the light source is positioned in relation to the cowling so that, and the cowling is configured so that, the light source is at least partly shielded from an exterior environment by the cowling or one or more portions thereof, and also at least some light emitted from the light source upon being reflected or refracted by an additional structure formed on or as a part of the cowling is able to escape or pass to an external location outside of the cowling, at which at least a portion of the at least some light is viewable, wherein the additional structure is positioned in a fixed or substantially-fixed manner relative to the light source. 43. The lighting system of claim 42, wherein the light source is at least partly shielded from one or more of sunlight, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, water, or debris.
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