Surface mount trailer electrical connector

• US 7,491,065 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2007
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Karl Wagner
• Original Assignee: Karl Wagner
• Inventors: Wagner, Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): NASRI, JAVAID H
• Application Number:
  US11/983,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20080113522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 439 34- 36, 439/490
• US Class Current: 439/35
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/515 Terminal blocks providing connections to wires or cables
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5213 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 9/24 Terminal blocks

Abstract

An improved, low profile, surface mounted female electrical connector for mounting to a vehicle. The connector has a flat rear surface that facilitates mounting on many different vehicles in many different locations. The connector may be mounted with or without drilling holes in the tow vehicle. The connector includes easy-to-use wire connectors with LED indicator lights to verify correct electrical connections between the tow vehicle and the electrical connector.

Claims

1. An apparatus for interconnecting the electrical system of a towing vehicle to the electrical system of a trailer, comprising:

a housing having a planar back surface configured for mounting the housing on the towing vehicle, wherein the planar back surface defines a plane and no portion of the housing extends beyond said plane;

a plurality of wire terminal connectors in the housing, each wire terminal connector corresponding to a specific electrical function for the towing vehicle;

a trailer electrical interface having a plurality of electrical terminals, each terminal corresponding to a specific electrical function for the trailer;

an electrical connection from each wire terminal connector to a corresponding electrical terminal in the trailer electrical interface;

wherein the housing may be mounted on a mounting surface of the towing vehicle that has no apertures in said mounting surface and such that the apparatus does not extend through the mounting surface.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of wire terminal connectors are mounted on a circuit board and the electrical connections from the wire connectors to the trailer electrical interface are defined by electrical traces in the circuit board.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the trailer electrical interface is mounted on the circuit board.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the trailer electrical interface defines a female electrical socket configured for receiving a male pigtail electrical plug from the trailer.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 including an indicator lamp corresponding to and associated with each of the plural wire terminal connectors to indicate a proper electrical connection between the electrical system of the towing vehicle and the wire terminal connectors.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 including a test circuit for at least some of the indicator lamps, said test circuit manually openable and closable.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the indicator lamps are defined by LEDs.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 including an adhesive member affixed to the mounting surface and having exposable adhesive material for affixing the housing to the towing vehicle.