Surface mount trailer electrical connector

• US 20080113522A1
• Filed: 11/06/2007
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Wagner
• Original Assignee: Karl Wagner
• Inventors: Wagner, Karl
• Granted Patent: US 7,491,065 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/35
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/515 Terminal blocks providing connections to wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5213 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/24 Terminal blocks

Abstract

An improved, low profile, surface mounted female electrical connector for mounting to a vehicle. The connector has a flat rear surface that facilitates mounting on many different vehicles in many different locations. The connector may be mounted with or without drilling holes in the tow vehicle. The connector includes easy-to-use wire connectors with LED indicator lights to verify correct electrical connections between the tow vehicle and the electrical connector.

Claims

1. Apparatus for interconnecting the electrical system of a towing vehicle to the electrical system of a trailer, comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of wire terminal connectors in the housing, each wire terminal connector corresponding to a specific electrical function for the towing vehicle;

a trailer electrical interface having a plurality of electrical terminals, each terminal corresponding to a specific electrical function for the trailer;

an electrical connection from each wire terminal connector to a corresponding electrical terminal in the trailer electrical interface.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of wire terminal connectors are mounted on a circuit board and the electrical connections from the wire connectors to the trailer electrical interface are defined by electrical traces in the circuit board.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the trailer electrical interface is mounted on the circuit board.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 including an indicator lamp corresponding to and associated with each of the plural wire terminal connectors to indicate a proper electrical connection between the electrical system of the towing vehicle and the wire terminal connectors.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 including a test circuit for at least some of the indicator lamps, said test circuit manually openable and closable.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the indicator lamps are defined by LEDs.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises a planar surface for mounting said housing to a surface on the towing vehicle.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 including an adhesive member affixed to the planar surface and having exposable adhesive material for affixing the housing to the towing vehicle.

9. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the trailer electrical interface defines a female electrical socket configured for receiving a male pigtail electrical plug from the trailer.

10. A electrical connector for establishing a direct electrical attachment between the electrical system of a towing vehicle and the electrical system of a towed trailer, comprising:

a generally rectangular housing having a flat rear panel and a front panel comprising a socket adapted for receiving an electrical plug from the trailer;

a plurality of socket electrical terminals in the socket;

a plurality of wiring terminals mounted on a circuit board in the housing, each of said wiring terminals electrically connected to an electrical function of the towing vehicle;

a plurality of electrical leads in the circuit board, one lead for each wiring terminal, wherein each lead electrically connects a wiring terminal an associated socket electrical terminal; and

wiring indicator means for signaling a correct electrical connection between the towing vehicle'"'"'s electrical system and the electrical connector.

11. The electrical connector according to claim 10 including mounting means for mounting the housing to a surface on the towing vehicle.

12. The electrical connector according to claim 11 wherein the mounting means further comprises an adhesive pad on the flat rear panel of the housing.

13. The electrical connector according to claim 11 wherein the mounting means further comprises a bracket having a flat panel for receiving the housing and a member for attachment to the towing vehicle.

14. The electrical connector according to claim 11 in which the housing is attached to the flat panel of the bracket with adhesive.

15. The electrical connector according to claim 10 wherein the wiring indicator means is defined by an indicator lamp that is illuminated when a proper electrical connection is made from the towing vehicle'"'"'s electrical system to the wiring terminals.

16. Apparatus for interconnecting the electrical system of a towing vehicle to the electrical system of a trailer, comprising:

a housing for mounting to the towing vehicle, said housing including a planar surface with an adhesive pad affixed thereto;

a plurality of wire terminal connectors attached to a circuit board in the housing, each wire terminal connector electrically connected to a specific electrical function for the towing vehicle;

a trailer electrical socket attached to the circuit board and adapted for receiving a plug from the trailer, said electrical socket having a plurality of socket terminals, each socket terminal corresponding to a specific electrical function for the trailer;

an electrical connection from each wire terminal connector to a corresponding socket terminal in the trailer electrical socket; and

an indicator lamp associated with each of the plural wire terminal connectors.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein at least some of said indicator lamps include a manually openable and closable electrical circuit.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein at least some of said indicator lamps are powered only when the associated electrical function of said towing vehicle is powered.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the manually openable and closable electrical circuit comprises a test circuit.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19 further including a mounting bracket for receiving the housing, wherein said mounting bracket attaches to the towing vehicle.