Light harness connector

• US 6,273,729 B1
• Filed: 11/13/2000
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meyer Products LLC
• Original Assignee: The Louis Berkman Company
• Inventors: Kelly, Fred E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAMMOND, BRIGGITTE R
• Application Number:
  US09/710,621
• Time in Patent Office: 274 Days
• Field of Search: 439/36, 439/587, 439/275, 439/271, 439/589, 439/272, 439/148, 439/528, 307/10
• US Class Current: 439/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0207 Wire harnesses

Abstract

An auxiliary vehicle light harness which includes headlight connector to connect to a headlight, a power connector to connect to a headlight plug, an auxiliary light connector to connect to an auxiliary light, and a switch to control power to the headlight and/or the auxiliary light. The harness may include a control module to direct power to the auxiliary light and/or the headlight upon receiving a signal from the switch. The harness may further include a seal to protect the harness circuit from developing a short.

Claims

1. A connector arrangement for an electrical circuit of an auxiliary light harness, said connector arrangement inhibiting interference of electrical signals moving in the electrical circuit and protecting at least one electrical component of the electrical circuit, said connector arrangement comprising:

a male connector, a female connector, a male seal connector and a female seal connector;

said male connector including a first flexible seal, said first flexible seal positioned at least partially between said male and female connector when said male connector is at least partially inserted into said female connector, and said first flexible seal positioned at least partially between said male connector and said male seal connector when said male connector is at least partially inserted into said male seal connector;

said female seal connector including a second flexible seal, said second flexible seal positioned at least partially between said female seal connector and said female connector when said female seal connector is at least partially inserted into said female connector, and said second flexible seal positioned at least partially between said female seal connector and said male seal connector when said female seal connector is at least partially inserted into said male seal connector;

each of said male and female connectors including at least one electric connector adapted to form an electrical connection when said male and female connectors are connected together;

said male connector and said first flexible seal thereof being adapted to form a seal with said male seal connector to at least partially protect said at least one electric connector on said male connector;

said female seal connector and said second flexible seal thereof being adapted to form a seal with said female connector to at least partially protect said at least one electric connector on said female connector; and

,

said female connector and said male seal connector each including a housing, said male connector and said female seal connector each including a neck portion, said housing of each of said female connector and said male seal connector being adapted to at least partially telescopically receive said neck portion of one of said female seal connector and said male connector.

2. The connector arrangement as defined in claim 1, including a cable, said cable extending between said male connector and said male seal connector.

3. The connector arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said male and female connectors include between a locking arrangement to secure together said male and female connectors.

4. The connector arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said first flexible seal and said second flexible seal include at least one corrugation.

5. The connector arrangement as defined in claim 1, including a cable, said cable extending between said female connector and said female seal connector.

6. The connector arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said female seal connector includes a locking arrangement to secure together said female connector and said female seal connector.

7. The connector arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said male seal connector includes a locking arrangement to secure together said male connector and male seal connector.

8. The connector arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said first flexible seal substantially surrounds at least a portion of said neck portion of said male connector, and said second flexible seal substantially surrounds at least a portion of said female seal connector.

9. The connector arrangement as defined in claim 8, including a first cable, said first cable extending between said male connector and said male seal connector.

10. The connector arrangement as defined in claim 9, wherein said male and female connectors include a locking arrangement to secure together said male and female connectors.

11. The connector arrangement as defined in claim 10, wherein said locking arrangement includes a locking tab on said female connector and a substantially flexible release tab on said male connector.

12. The connector arrangement as defined in claim 11, wherein said first flexible seal and said second flexible seal each include at least one corrugation.

13. The connector arrangement as defined in claim 12, including a second cable, said second cable extending between said female connector and said female seal connector.

14. The connector arrangement as defined in claim 13, wherein said female seal connector includes a locking arrangement to secure together said female connector and said female seal connector.

15. The connector arrangement as defined in claim 14, wherein said male seal connector includes a locking arrangement to secure together said male connector and male seal connector.