Trailer Alarm
First Claim
1. An alarm device for use with a vehicle, the device comprising:
- a first connector for electrical connection with a vehicle trailer wiring receptacle of a vehicle;
a second connector for electrical connection with a trailer wiring connector of a trailer;
a power line electrically connecting the first connector to the second connector to deliver vehicle power from the first connector to the second connector;
a signal path electrically connecting the first connector to the second connector to deliver electrical signals from the vehicle to the electrically operable components on the trailer when the vehicle trailer wiring receptacle is connected with the first connector and the trailer wiring receptacle is connected with the second connector; and
an alarm component electrically connected in series between the first and second connectors, the alarm component being configured to detect an electrical condition indicating an unauthorized attempt to separate the trailer from the vehicle and produce a corresponding alert signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An alarm device for use with a vehicle includes an input connector for electrical connection with a vehicle wiring harness of a vehicle, an output connector for electrical connection with a trailer lighting receptacle of a trailer, and an alarm circuit electrically connected in series between the input connector and the output connector. The alarm circuit is configured to detect a presence or absence of an electrical signal supplied to the input connector for delivery through the output connector to an electrically powered component of the trailer. The alarm circuit is configured to deliver an alert signal when the alarm circuit detects the absence of the electrical signal.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. An alarm device for use with a vehicle, the device comprising:
-
a first connector for electrical connection with a vehicle trailer wiring receptacle of a vehicle; a second connector for electrical connection with a trailer wiring connector of a trailer; a power line electrically connecting the first connector to the second connector to deliver vehicle power from the first connector to the second connector; a signal path electrically connecting the first connector to the second connector to deliver electrical signals from the vehicle to the electrically operable components on the trailer when the vehicle trailer wiring receptacle is connected with the first connector and the trailer wiring receptacle is connected with the second connector; and an alarm component electrically connected in series between the first and second connectors, the alarm component being configured to detect an electrical condition indicating an unauthorized attempt to separate the trailer from the vehicle and produce a corresponding alert signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method of detecting separation of a towed item from a towing vehicle, the method comprising:
-
connecting a sensor to one of the item and the vehicle; connecting an alarm component to the other of the item and the vehicle; placing the alarm component and the sensor within a communication circuit covering a predetermined area; determining the presence of the sensor and the alarm component within the communication circuit; providing an alert signal when one of the sensor and the alarm component is not detected within the communication circuit; and providing a perceptible alert in response to the alert signal, wherein disconnecting the sensor from the one of the item and the vehicle deactivates a circuit completion mechanism to remove the sensor from the communication circuit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. An alarm device for use with a vehicle, the device comprising:
-
an input connector for electrical connection with a vehicle wiring harness of a vehicle; an output connector for electrical connection with a trailer lighting receptacle of a trailer; and an alarm circuit electrically connected in series between the input connector and the output connector, the alarm circuit being configured to detect a presence or absence of an electrical signal supplied to the input connector for delivery through the output connector to an electrically powered component of the trailer, wherein the alarm circuit is configured to deliver an alert signal when the alarm circuit detects the absence of the electrical signal.
-
Specification