Male plug protector for trailer wiring harness

• US 6,705,880 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2003
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Douglas R. Rhude
• Original Assignee: Douglas R. Rhude
• Inventors: Rhude, Douglas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Figueroa, Felix O.
• Application Number:
  US10/422,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20030186564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 326 Days
• Field of Search: 439/35, 439/34, 439/142, 439/138, 439/144, 439/147, 439/135, 220/242
• US Class Current: 439/144
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/60 Means for supporting coupling part when not engaged

Abstract

A male plug protector for trailer wiring harness connection plug simulating a female type receptacle and is vertically mounted on the hitch frame with the upper end closed for protecting a plug when not in use. In one embodiment the male plug end is cylindrical and is retained in the protector by the spring action of the cover and a protrusion on the interior of the cover corresponding to a projection located on the male plug wall. The user pulls back the cover and to remove the plug. In another embodiment, the male plug is linear and retained in the protector by the spring action of the cover and a lower wall holding the base of the male plug and having a central opening for passage of the male plug electrical wiring harness closing over the male plug. The wiring harness plug'"'"'s electrical connectors are protected when not in use.

Claims

1. A male plug protector for trailer wiring, comprising:

a vertically oriented, rectangular plug receiver having a front wall, opposing side walls, a closed top wall and a mounting plate opposing said front wall, said plug receiver being open at a lower end thereof for receiving a linear, generally rectangular male plug;

a lower cover for covering said plug receiver lower end;

and a spring-biased hinge attaching said lower cover and said plug receiver lower end;

said lower cover being rotatable at said spring-biased hinge between a vertical open position and a horizontal closed position, said cover being spring-biased to the closed position;

said rectangular plug receiver and said lower cover being of such dimensions and configuration to receive a linear, generally rectangular male plug;

whereby said lower cover is rotated downward from the closed position to the open position by a user, said male plug is inserted upward into said plug receiver, and said lower cover is allowed to close over the plug by said spring bias while allowing the wiring harness to extend downward from the closed cover.

2. The male plug protector of claim 1, wherein said lower cover defines a cutout therethrough for receiving said wiring harness.

3. The male plug protector of claim 2, said plug receiver mounting plate has extension portions extending outward, horizontally from each respective plug receiver side wall, each said mounting plate defining a mounting bore therethrough for receiving a mounting screw.

4. The male plug protector of claim 2, wherein said lower cover has an upper peripheral surface and said plug receiver has a lower peripheral surface corresponding with said lower cover upper surface for mating closure therewith.

5. The male plug protector of claim 4, wherein said lower cover upper peripheral surface has an inner lip for sealing against inner sides of said walls of said plug receiver lower peripheral surface forming a seal against entrance of dust or water into said male plug protector when in a closed position.

6. The male plug protector of claim 4, said plug receiver having a cover hinge housing extending outward and forward from a lower central portion of said front wall, said cover hinge housing having a common lower surface with said plug receiver lower peripheral surface and forming a front wall, an upper wall, and opposing side walls, each said side wall having outer hinge pin receiving portions of said hinge extending downward from the forward portion thereof.

7. The male plug protector of claim 6, said cover having a hinge extension portion corresponding with said cover hinge housing, said hinge extension portion defining outer grooves for receiving said outer hinge pin receiving portions of said cover hinge housing and having inner hinge pin receiving portions extending upward from the forward portion thereof spaced so as to rotatably bear against said outer hinge pin receiving portions of said cover hinge housing.

8. The male plug protector of claim 7, wherein said outer and inner hinge pin receiving portions define a pin bore having a hinge pin therethrough, said hinge pin having a biasing spring thereon extending between said inner hinge pin receiving portions, said biasing spring being so arranged as to form said spring-biased hinge connecting said plug receiver and said lower cover.

9. The male plug protector of claim 7, wherein said plug receiver is greater in width than said cover hinge housing and said cover hinge extension portion of said lower cover is coextensive with said cover hinge housing, said lower cover having shoulders extending from each side of said cover hinge extension portion such that said cover portion is coextensive with said lower surface of said plug receiver.

10. The male plug protector of claim 9, wherein said lower cover is recessed, having an inner peripheral wall and an inner cover wall for the lower end of said plug.

11. The male plug protector of claim 9, wherein said lower cover has outer side walls extending outward from said shoulders and an end wall, said end wall and said cover portion defining said cutout for receiving said wiring harness.

12. The male plug protector of claim 11, lower cover portion having tabs extending outward from said cover side walls for the user to engage when opening said lower cover for insertion or removal of said plug.

13. A male plug protector for trailer wiring, comprising:

a vertically oriented, rectangular plug receiver having a front wall, opposing side walls, a closed top wall and a mounting plate opposing said front wall, said plug receiver being open at a lower end thereof for receiving a linear, generally rectangular male plug;

a lower cover for covering said plug receiver lower end; and

a spring-biased hinge attaching said lower cover and said plug receiver lower end;

said lower cover being rotatable at said spring-biased hinge between a vertical open position and a horizontal closed position, said cover being spring-biased to the closed position;

said rectangular plug receiver and said lower cover being of such dimensions and configuration to receive a linear, generally rectangular male plug;

said lower cover having an upper peripheral surface and said plug receiver having a lower peripheral surface corresponding with said lower cover upper surface for mating closure therewith;

said lower cover upper peripheral surface having an inner lip for sealing against inner sides of said walls of said plug receiver lower peripheral surface forming a seal against entrance of dust or water into said male plug protector when in a closed position;

said plug receiver mounting plate having extension portions extending outward, horizontally from each respective plug receiver side walls, each said mounting plate defining a mounting bore therethrough for receiving a mounting screw;

said lower cover portion having sidewalls and tabs extending outward from said cover side walls for the user to engage when opening said lower cover for insertion or removal of said plug;

whereby said lower cover is rotated downward from the closed position to the open position by a user, said male plug is oriented with the electrical contacts thereof pointing upward, said male plug is inserted upward into said plug receiver, and said lower cover is allowed to close over the plug as a result of said spring bias while allowing the wiring harness to extend downward from the closed cover.

14. A male plug protector for trailer wiring, comprising:

a vertically oriented, rectangular plug receiver having a front wall, opposing side walls, a closed top wall and a mounting plate opposing said front wall, said plug receiver being open at a lower end thereof for receiving a linear, generally rectangular male plug;

a lower cover for covering said plug receiver lower end; and

a spring-biased hinge attaching said lower cover and said plug receiver lower end;

said lower cover being rotatable at said spring-biased hinge between a vertical open position and a horizontal closed position, said cover being spring-biased to the closed position;

said rectangular plug receiver and said lower cover being of such dimensions and configuration to receive a linear, generally rectangular male plug;

said plug receiver mounting plate having extension portions extending outward, horizontally from each respective plug receiver side wall, each said mounting plate defining a mounting bore therethrough for receiving a mounting screw;

said plug receiver having a cover hinge housing extending outward and forward from a lower central portion of said front wall, said cover hinge housing having a common lower surface with said plug receiver lower peripheral surface and forming a front wall, an upper wall, and opposing side walls, each said side wall having outer hinge pin receiving portions of said hinge extending downward from the forward portion thereof;

said cover having a hinge extension portion corresponding with said cover hinge housing, said hinge extension portion defining outer grooves for receiving said outer hinge pin receiving portions of said cover hinge housing and having inner hinge pin receiving portions extending upward from the forward portion thereof spaced so as to rotatably bear against said outer hinge pin receiving portions of said cover hinge housing;

said outer and inner hinge pin receiving portions defining a pin bore having a hinge pin therethrough, said hinge pin having a biasing spring thereon extending between said inner hinge pin receiving portions, said biasing spring being so arranged as to form said spring-biased hinge connecting said plug receiver and said lower cover;

said lower cover having shoulders extending outward from said hinge extension portion, outer side walls and an end wall, said end wall and said cover portion defining said cutout for receiving said wiring harness;

whereby said lower cover is rotated downward from the closed position to the open position by a user, said male plug is inserted upward into said plug receiver, and said lower cover is allowed to close over the plug by said spring bias while allowing the wiring harness to extend downward from the closed cover.

15. The male plug protector of claim 14, said plug receiver being greater in width than said cover hinge housing and said cover hinge extension portion of said lower cover is coextensive with said cover hinge housing, said lower cover having shoulders extending from each side of said cover hinge extension portion such that said cover portion is coextensive with said lower surface of said plug receiver.

16. The male plug protector of claim 15, wherein said lower cover defines a cutout therethrough for receiving said wiring harness.

17. The male plug protector of claim 16, wherein said lower cover has an upper peripheral surface and said plug receiver has a lower peripheral surface corresponding with said lower cover upper surface for mating closure therewith.

18. The male plug protector of claim 17, wherein said lower cover upper peripheral surface has an inner lip for sealing against the inner sides of said walls of said plug receiver lower peripheral surface forming a seal against entrance of dust or water into said male plug protector when in a closed position.

19. The male plug protector of claim 17, wherein said plug receiver mounting plate has extension portions extending outward, horizontally from each respective plug receiver side wall, each said mounting plate defining a mounting bore therethrough for receiving a mounting screw.

20. The male plug protector of claim 19, wherein said lower cover portion having side walls and tabs extending outward from said cover side walls for the user to engage when opening said lower cover for insertion or removal of said plug.