Twist mount wiring receiver

• US 7,214,094 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2004
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation (Hoppy Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation (Hoppy Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Kaminski, Gary, Guerra, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US10/810,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20050212360A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,138 Days
• Field of Search: 439/35, 439/142, 439/144, 439/274, 439/275, 439/314, 439/316, 439/462, 439/550, 439/551, 439/527, 439/559
• US Class Current: 439/550
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/64 Couplings or joints therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/59 Threaded ferrule or bolt operating in a direction parallel to the cable or wire
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/625 Casing or ring with bayonet engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/74 Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel

Abstract

A wiring receiver (10) that may be mounted on a towing vehicle without the use of tools. The receiver (10) broadly comprises a plurality of terminals (22) for transferring signals from the towing vehicle to a towed vehicle, a main body (20) housing the terminals (22), and a cover (24) that mates to the main body (20), thereby securing the receiver (10) to a bracket (12) of the towing vehicle. The main body (20) includes a contact surface (30) with four protrusions (34) extending through the bracket 12. The cover (24) includes a contact surface (44) having arcuate slots (54) operable to slide around the protrusions (34), thereby securing the main body (20) to the towing vehicle.

Claims

1. A wiring receiver that may be mounted on a towing vehicle without the use of tools, the receiver comprising:

a plurality of terminals for transferring a plurality of electrical signals from the towing vehicle to a towed vehicle;

a main body substantially housing the terminals and having a first contact surface facing a first direction and a plurality of protrusions extending from the contact surface in the first direction, the protrusions being arranged to be inserted through a traditional mounting bracket of the towing vehicle; and

a cover operable to engage the protrusions, rotate about at least a portion of the main body, and slide along the protrusions, thereby mounting the main body to the vehicle, wherein the cover includes

a second contact surface having a plurality of slots therein and facing a second direction which is substantially opposite to the first direction, at least a portion of the bracket being sandwiched between the contact surfaces of the main body and the cover.

2. The receiver as set forth in claim 1, wherein the cover includes a cable seal operable to substantially seal to a cable of the towing vehicle.

3. The receiver as set forth in claim 2, wherein the cable seal includes a cylindrical portion having exterior threads, a resilient conical grommet sized to fit snugly into the cylindrical portion, and an interiorly threaded end-cap for holding the grommet in place.

4. The receiver as set forth in claim 1, wherein the slots are substantially arcuate.

5. The receiver as set forth in claim 1, wherein the slots each include an enlarged opening at one end.

6. A wiring receiver that may be mounted on a towing vehicle without the use of tools, the receiver comprising:

a plurality of terminals for transferring a plurality of electrical signals from the towing vehicle to a towed vehicle;

a main body arranged around the terminals and including

a forward facing contact surface,

a cylindrical receptacle substantially housing the terminals, and

a plurality of protrusions extending forwardly from the contact surface, the protrusions arranged to be inserted through a traditional mounting bracket of the towing vehicle;

a substantially conical cover operable to mate with the main body and including

a rear facing contact surface having arcuate slots operable to slide around the protrusions, thereby mounting the main body to the vehicle, and

a cable seal operable to substantially seal to a cable of the towing vehicle; and

a resilient gasket for placement between the main body and the bracket, at least a portion of the bracket being sandwiched between the contact surfaces of the main body and the cover.

7. The receiver as set forth in claim 6, wherein the slots each include an enlarged opening at one end.