Gladhand electrical connectivity towing system

• US 10,377,198 B1
• Filed: 10/29/2018
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William R. Fields
• Original Assignee: William R. Fields
• Inventors: Fields, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Briggitte R.
• Application Number:
  US16/172,928
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/605 Protection caps
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/64 Couplings or joints therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/625 Casing or ring with bayonet engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/065 with built-in electric apparatus

Abstract

A gladhand electrical connectivity towing system couples electrical wiring from a towing vehicle to a towed vehicle through a quick and easy gladhand coupling operation between a pigtail and a vehicle mount. The system provides a pigtail that detachably couples to a vehicle mount through a tool-free, 20°-25° rotation, gladhand-type connection between male and female gladhand couplers. Two aligning gladhand couplers and one stabilizing gladhand coupler mate. The pigtail and vehicle mount include electrical interfaces that align and engage to conduct electricity from the towing vehicle to the towed vehicle. The electrical interfaces have lips and multiple apertures, with the lips forming a sealed interface to protect against moisture and debris. Multiple first conduction members are fitted into apertures in the electrical interfaces to conduct electricity from the power source of the towing vehicle to the towed vehicle.

Claims

1. A gladhand electrical connectivity towing system, the system comprising:

a pigtail comprising a first tongue, a first open end, and a first coupling end, the first coupling end being defined by a first flanged inner perimeter and a first outer perimeter, the first outer perimeter forming multiple aligning female gladhand couplers and at least one stabilizing female gladhand coupler;

a first electrical interface defined by a first lip and multiple first apertures, the first lip forming a sealed interface with the first flanged inner perimeter;

multiple first conduction members fitted into the first apertures;

a vehicle mount comprising a second tongue, a second open end, and a second coupling end, the second coupling end being defined by a second flanged inner perimeter and a second outer perimeter, the second outer perimeter forming multiple aligning male gladhand couplers and at least one stabilizing male gladhand coupler,

whereby the pigtail interlocks with the vehicle mount when;

the aligning male gladhand couplers and the aligning female gladhand couplers are aligned, and

when the aligning female gladhand couplers are rotated in a first direction until the stabilizing female gladhand coupler mates with the stabilizing male gladhand coupler;

a second electrical interface defined by a second lip and multiple second apertures, the second lip forming a sealed interface with the second flanged inner perimeter; and

multiple second conduction members fitted into the second apertures,

whereby the first and second conduction members align when the pigtail and the vehicle mount interlock.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the pigtail comprises two aligning female gladhand couplers and one stabilizing female gladhand coupler.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the two aligning female gladhand couplers are disposed proximal to the first tongue.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the vehicle mount comprises two aligning male gladhand couplers and one stabilizing male gladhand coupler.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the two aligning male gladhand couplers are disposed proximal to the second tongue.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the pigtail interlocks with the vehicle mount when the aligning female gladhand couplers are rotated between twenty degrees and twenty four degrees in the first direction until the stabilizing female gladhand coupler mates with the stabilizing male gladhand coupler.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the pigtail disengages from the vehicle mount when the aligning female gladhand couplers are rotated between twenty degrees and twenty four degrees in a second direction until the stabilizing female gladhand coupler disengages from the stabilizing male gladhand coupler.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second electrical interfaces are defined by a disc-shape.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiple first electrical interfaces comprises seven first electrical interfaces.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the multiple second electrical interfaces comprises seven second electrical interfaces.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first cap mating with the first outer perimeter to cover the first electrical interface.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second cap mating with the second outer perimeter to cover the second electrical interface.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second conduction members comprise brass bolts.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising multiple nuts that couple to the brass bolts.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mounting plate attached to the second open end of the second tongue, and a mounting bolt fastening the mounting plate to a towed vehicle.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a cable for carrying electrical current from the electrical power source, through the first electrical interface, through the second electrical interface, to the towed vehicle.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a gated housing encapsulating the gladhand connection between the pigtail and vehicle mount, the gated housing defined by a first open end and an opposing second open end, the first open end comprising a hinged gate, the second open end comprising an aperture flange.

18. A gladhand electrical connectivity towing system, the system comprising:

a pigtail comprising a first tongue, a first open end, and a first coupling end, the first coupling end being defined by a first flanged inner perimeter and a first outer perimeter, the first outer perimeter forming two aligning female gladhand couplers and one stabilizing female gladhand coupler;

a first electrical interface defined by a first lip and multiple first apertures, the first lip forming a sealed interface with the first flanged inner perimeter;

multiple first conduction members fitted into the first apertures;

a first cap mating with the first outer perimeter to cover the first electrical interface;

a vehicle mount comprising a second tongue, a second open end, and a second coupling end, the second coupling end being defined by a second flanged inner perimeter and a second outer perimeter, the second outer perimeter forming two aligning male gladhand couplers and one stabilizing male gladhand coupler,

whereby the pigtail interlocks with the vehicle mount when;

the aligning male gladhand couplers and the aligning female gladhand couplers are aligned, and

when the aligning female gladhand couplers are rotated between twenty degrees and twenty four degrees in a first direction until the stabilizing female gladhand coupler mates with the stabilizing male gladhand coupler;

a mounting plate attached to the second open end of the second tongue;

a second electrical interface defined by a second lip and multiple second apertures, the second lip forming a sealed interface with the second flanged inner perimeter;

multiple second conduction members fitted into the second apertures,

whereby the first and second conduction members align when the pigtail and the vehicle mount interlock;

a second cap mating with the second outer perimeter to cover the second electrical interface; and

a gated housing encapsulating the gladhand connection between the pigtail and vehicle mount, the gated housing defined by a first open end and an opposing second open end, the first open end comprising a hinged gate, the second open end comprising an aperture flange.

19. A gladhand electrical connectivity towing system, the system comprising:

a vehicle mount comprising a second tongue, a second open end, and a second coupling end, the second coupling end being defined by a second flanged inner perimeter and a second outer perimeter, the second outer perimeter forming two aligning male gladhand couplers and one stabilizing male gladhand coupler,

a mounting plate attached to the second open end of the second tongue;

a disc-shaped second electrical interface defined by a second lip and seven second apertures, the second lip forming a sealed interface with the second flanged inner perimeter;

seven second conduction members fitted into the second apertures,

whereby the first and second conduction members align when the pigtail and the vehicle mount interlock; and

a second cap mating with the second outer perimeter to cover the second electrical interface;

a mounting plate attached to the second open end of the second tongue;

a second electrical interface defined by a second lip and multiple second apertures, the second lip forming a sealed interface with the second flanged inner perimeter;

multiple second conduction members fitted into the second apertures; and

a second cap mating with the second outer perimeter to cover the second electrical interface.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

a pigtail comprising a first tongue, a first open end, and a first coupling end, the first coupling end being defined by a first flanged inner perimeter and a first outer perimeter, the first outer perimeter forming two aligning female gladhand couplers and one stabilizing female gladhand coupler;

a disc-shaped first electrical interface defined by a first lip and seven first apertures, the first lip forming a sealed interface with the first flanged inner perimeter;

seven first conduction members fitted into the first apertures;

a first cap mating with the first outer perimeter to cover the first electrical interface;

whereby the pigtail interlocks with the vehicle mount when;

the aligning male gladhand couplers and the aligning female gladhand couplers are aligned, and

when the aligning female gladhand couplers are rotated in a first direction until the stabilizing female gladhand coupler mates with the stabilizing male gladhand coupler;

whereby the first and second conduction members align when the pigtail and the vehicle mount interlock; and

a gated housing encapsulating the gladhand connection between the pigtail and vehicle mount, the gated housing defined by a first open end and an opposing second open end, the first open end comprising a hinged gate, the second open end comprising an aperture flange.