Female connector member for towing connector

• US 7,594,816 B1
• Filed: 09/25/2008
• Issued: 09/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Jen-Ching Wang
• Inventors: Wang, Jen-Ching
• Primary Examiner(s): Hyeon; Hae Moon
• Assistant Examiner(s): Imas; Vladimir
• Application Number:
  US12/237,996
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 439/35, 439/489, 439/490, 439/340
• US Class Current: 439/35
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/64 Couplings or joints therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/5213 Covers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7175 Light emitting diodes (LEDs)
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/74 Means for mounting coupling parts in openings of a panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/00 Coupling parts supported only by co-operation with counterpart

Abstract

A female connector member for a towing connector includes a buzzer mounted in an accommodation chamber of a connector body and electrically connected to the reverse light terminal and grounding terminal to give an audio warning signal when the towing vehicle is moving backwards. A light emitting diode (LED) circuit board is mounted in the accommodation chamber and is electrically coupled to the buzzer for controlling LEDs to flash when the buzzer buzzes.

Claims

1. A female connector member for towing connector, comprising:

a bracket, said bracket comprising an opening, a plurality of first mounting through holes, and a plurality of second mounting through holes for fastening to a rear bottom side of a towing vehicle by fastening members;

a connector body fixedly fastened to the first mounting through holes of said bracket, said connector body comprising a plug hole for the connection of a male connector member for towing connector;

a center insertion hole and a plurality of border insertion holes respectively disposed in communication with said plug hole, said center insertion hole receiving a reverse light terminal, said border insertion holes receiving a taillight terminal, a left turn signal light terminal, a grounding terminal, a stoplight terminal, a right turn signal light terminal and a battery terminal respectively, a plurality of lead wires respectively electrically connecting said reverse light terminal, said taillight terminal, said left turn signal light terminal, said grounding terminal, said stoplight terminal, said right turn signal light terminal and said battery terminal to the reverse light, taillight, left turn signal light, grounding circuit, stoplight, right turn signal light and 12V car battery of the towing vehicle to which said bracket is fastened;

a plurality of mounting holes respectively fastened to the first mounting through holes of said bracket;

a pair of upright lugs;

a back cover, said back cover comprising a plurality of mounting holes respectively fastened to the mounting through holes of said connector body by fastening members, and a plurality of insertion holes for the passing of the terminals of said connector body; and

a front cover pivotally connected to the upright lugs of said connector body by a pivot pin,

wherein said connector body further comprises an accommodation chamber that houses a buzzer, said buzzer comprising a positive terminal and a negative terminal respectively electrically connected to said reverse light terminal and said grounding terminal so that when the towing vehicle is moving backwards, the reverse light of the towing vehicle is turned on to give a visual warning signal, and at the same time said buzzer is driven to given an audio warning signal.

2. The female connector member for towing connector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a LED circuit board mounted inside said accommodation chamber of said connector body above said buzzer and electrically connected to the positive terminal and negative terminal of said buzzer, said LED circuit board comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes, said LED circuit board controlling said light emitting diodes to flash when said buzzer is driven to buzz.

3. The female connector member for towing connector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a cap capped on said accommodation chamber of said connector body to house said buzzer and said LED circuit board, and a spacer plate mounted inside said cap and set between said LED circuit board and said buzzer, said cap comprising a peripheral wall tightly fitted into said accommodation chamber of said connector body, a center opening, a tubular inside flange suspending inside said peripheral wall and surrounding the center opening and press-fitted into a center hole of said LED circuit board, a plurality of through holes spaced around the center opening for receiving the light emitting diodes of said LED circuit board, and an inside locating groove, which receives an upper part of said buzzer tightly;

said spacer plate comprising two through holes for the passing of the positive terminal and negative terminal of said buzzer.