Cab power connectors

• US 7,666,028 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2008
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Phillips & Temro Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Phillips & Temro Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Meleck, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US12/051,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20080233773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 439/502, 439/503, 439/677, 439/680, 174/72.A
• US Class Current: 439/502
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles

Abstract

A wiring arrangement for interconnecting an alternating current power source to a receptacle within a motor vehicle includes a first wire harness having a current rating and a second wire harness having a similar current rating. A coupling mechanism electrically interconnects the first and second wire harnesses of similar current ratings. The coupling mechanism restricts interconnection of wire harnesses having dissimilar current ratings.

Claims

1. A wiring arrangement for interconnecting an alternating current power source to a receptacle within a motor vehicle, comprising:

a first wire harness having a predetermined current rating;

a second wire harness having a similar current rating; and

a coupling mechanism electrically interconnecting the first and second wire harnesses of similar current ratings, the coupling mechanism restricting interconnection of wire harnesses having dissimilar current ratings and including a first housing coupled to the first wire harness and one of a plurality of electrical sockets and a plurality of current-carrying pins coupled thereto, the first housing including a boss and cylindrical wall circumscribing the boss, the wall having an end face offset from an end face of the boss, the boss being positioned within the receptacle and the cylindrical wall being positioned within a groove of the second housing circumscribing the receptacle, the coupling mechanism including a second housing including a receptacle for receiving a portion of the first housing and the other of the plurality of electrical sockets and the plurality of current-carrying pins, the current-carrying pins conducting electricity to the electrical sockets when the first housing is coupled to the second housing, wherein the coupling mechanism includes first, second and third means for rotationally aligning the first and second housing, wherein at least one of the means for rotational aligning includes an axially extending rib formed on one of the first and second housings and a mating groove formed on the other of the first and second housings, wherein the rib and the groove mate with one another to allow interconnection of housings having common current ratings and resist interconnection with housings having different current ratings.

2. The wiring arrangement of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second housings includes an externally threaded cylindrical portion, the coupling mechanism further including an overmolded sheath engaging one of the threaded cylindrical portions.

3. A cord set for electrically connecting a receptacle within a vehicle to an alternating current power source, the cord set comprising:

a first wire harness having a first end and a second end, said first end having a first connector adapted to be electrically connected to the power source;

a second wire harness having a first end and a second end, said first end having a second connector adapted to be selectively connected to the receptacle within the vehicle; and

a coupling mechanism electrically coupling said first wire harness to said second wire harness, said coupling mechanism including;

a first housing fixedly attached to said second end of said first wire harness, said first housing including a projection radially outwardly extending therefrom, a radially inwardly protruding and axially extending rib and a circumferentially extending recess positioned radially between the rib and the projection; and

a second housing fixedly attached to said second end of said second wire harness, said second housing including a flexible finger having an aperture for receiving the projection, an axially extending groove for receiving the rib and a cylindrical wall for insertion within the recess.

4. The cord set of claim 3 wherein said projection is operable to enter said aperture in a snap-fit arrangement to connect said first housing to said second housing.

5. The cord set of claim 4 wherein said first housing includes one of a plurality of current-carrying pins and a plurality of electrical sockets, said second housing including the other of said current-carrying pins and said electrical sockets, said current-carrying pins being matingly received by the electrical sockets to transmit electricity between said first and second housings.

6. The cord set of claim 5 wherein said first housing includes a boss having said groove formed thereon, said boss axially extending beyond an end face of said cylindrical wall.

7. The cord set of claim 3 wherein each of the first and second housings includes an externally threaded cylindrical portion, the coupling mechanism further including an overmolded sheath engaging one of the threaded cylindrical portions.

8. Cord sets for connecting electrical receptacles mounted within a vehicle to a power source, the cord sets comprising:

a first cord set having a first wire harness having a first current rating, a second wire harness having the first current rating and a first coupling mechanism electrically interconnecting the first and second wire harnesses; and

a second cord set having a third wire harness having a second current rating greater than the first current rating, a fourth wire harness having the second current rating and a second coupling mechanism electrically interconnecting the third and fourth wire harnesses, the first and second coupling mechanisms preventing electrical connection of wire harnesses having dissimilar current ratings, wherein the first coupling mechanism includes a first housing coupled to the first wire harness and includes one of a plurality of electrical sockets and a plurality of current-carrying pins coupled thereto, the first housing including a boss and a cylindrical wall circumscribing the boss, the wall having an end face offset from an end face of the boss, wherein the boss is positioned within the receptacle and the cylindrical wall is positioned within a groove of the second housing circumscribing the receptacle, the first coupling mechanism including a second housing including a receptacle for receiving a portion of the first housing and the other of the plurality of electrical sockets and the plurality of current-carrying pins, the current-carrying pins conducting electricity to the electrical sockets when the first housing is coupled to the second housing, wherein the first coupling mechanism includes first, second and third means for rotationally aligning the first and second housing, wherein at least one of the means for rotational aligning includes an axially extending rib formed on one of the first and second housings having a predetermined current rating and a mating groove formed on the other of the first and second housings having a similar current rating, wherein the rib and the groove resist interconnection with housings having other than the predetermined current rating.

9. The cord sets of claim 8 wherein each of the first and second housings includes an externally threaded cylindrical portion, the coupling mechanism further including an overmolded sheath engaging one of the threaded cylindrical portions.