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Method and apparatus to automatically convert trailer marker lights to flashing hazard lights upon disruption of trailer lighting power supplied from a towing vehicle

  • US 5,775,712 A
  • Filed: 05/15/1996
  • Issued: 07/07/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A device operable, in a first mode, to transmit lighting power from a towing vehicle through an electrical connector of the towing vehicle to an electrical connector of a trailer lighting harness, lighting pigtail, and operable, in a second mode, to deliver power from a battery carried on the trailer, in a pulsed output, to the electrical connector of the trailer lighting harness, lighting pigtail to provide emergency actuation of lights on the trailer, said device comprisingan electrical input connector for electrically connecting a plurality of input conductors, including an auxiliary lighting power conductor, in the device, with the electrical connector of the towing vehicle lighting pigtail,an electrical output connector for electrically connecting a plurality of output conductors in the device with the electrical connector of the trailer lighting harness,a plurality of conductors connected to deliver, when the device is operating in the first mode, power from said plurality of input conductors to said plurality of output conductors so that the trailer lights operate in normal fashion and the device does not interfere with the normal operation of the towing vehicle lights,a battery charging circuit operable to receive power from said auxiliary lighting power conductor and to charge a battery carried on the trailer,a flasher element including conductors and selectively operable to receive power from a battery carried on the trailer and to deliver a pulsed output through at least one of said output conductors to the electrical connector of the trailer lighting harness,a battery output conductor for delivering the output of a battery carried on the trailer to said flasher element,a control circuit comprising a switch, said switch being operably connected to receive power from the auxiliary lighting power conductor and, when it is receiving power, to cause the device to operate in the first mode wherein said plurality of input conductors are electrically connected to said plurality of output conductors so that the trailer lights operate in normal fashion, said switch being operable, when it fails to receive power, to cause the device to operate in the second mode wherein said battery output conductor is operable, when it is connected to a battery carried on the trailer, to deliver the output of the battery to said flasher element through said switch and said flasher element is operable to deliver a pulsed output to said plurality of output conductors.

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