Luminescent trailer hitch plug

• US 9,604,567 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2016
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Dellock, Paul Kenneth, Glickman, David Brian, Salter, Stuart C., Musleh, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jason Moon
• Application Number:
  US15/182,811
• Time in Patent Office: 286 Days
• Field of Search: 362/485, 362/488
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/64 Couplings or joints therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/56 for illuminating registrations or the like , e.g. for licence plates

Abstract

A trailer hitch plug is provided herein. A base member is configured to luminesce in response to excitation light provided by a light source. An electrical connector is provided at the base member. A cover is removably coupled to the electrical connector and configured to luminesce in response to excitation light provided by the light source.

Claims

1. A trailer hitch plug comprising:

a base member of the trailer hitch plug configured to photoluminesce in response to excitation light provided by a light source;

an electrical connector provided at the base member; and

a cover removably coupled to the electrical connector and configured to photoluminesce in response to excitation light provided by the light source.

2. The trailer hitch plug of claim 1, configured as a 4-way flat plug.

3. The trailer hitch plug of claim 1, wherein the base member is molded from a resin containing one or more photoluminescent materials.

4. The trailer hitch plug of claim 1, wherein a photoluminescent material is applied over a surface of the base member.

5. The trailer hitch plug of claim 1, wherein the cover is substantially light-transmissive.

6. The trailer hitch plug of claim 1, wherein the cover is molded from an optically clear silicone.

7. The trailer hitch plug of claim 1, wherein the base member and the cover are both configured to continue to luminesce for a time period after the excitation light ceases to be provided by the light source.

8. The trailer hitch plug of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises natural light.

9. A trailer hitch plug comprising:

a base member of the trailer hitch plug;

at least one electrical connector provided at the base member; and

at least one cover pivotally coupled to the base member and movable between an open position and a closed position, the at least one cover having a portion configured to photoluminesce in response to excitation light provided by a light source.

10. The trailer hitch plug of claim 9, configured as a dual connector, wherein the at least one electrical connector comprises a 4-way flat plug and a 7-pole plug.

11. The trailer hitch plug of claim 9, wherein the base member includes a portion configured to luminesce in response to excitation light provided by the light source.

12. The trailer hitch plug of claim 11, wherein the at least one cover includes a light-transmissive portion configured to transmit excitation light to the portion of the base member when the at least one cover is in the closed position.

13. The trailer hitch plug of claim 12, wherein the portion of the base member directs luminescent light toward the at least one electrical connector.

14. The trailer hitch plug of claim 9, wherein the light source comprises at least one of a license plate lamp and sunlight.

15. A vehicle system comprising:

a license plate disposed in a license plate compartment;

a license plate lamp for illuminating the license plate compartment; and

a trailer hitch plug disposed in the license plate compartment proximate the license plate and configured to photoluminesce in response to excitation light provided by the license plate lamp.

16. The vehicle system of claim 15, wherein the trailer hitch plug comprises:

a base member;

at least one electrical connector provided at the base member; and

at least one cover pivotally coupled to the base member and movable between an open position and a closed position, the at least one cover having a portion configured to luminesce in response to excitation light provided by the license plate lamp.

17. The vehicle system of claim 16, wherein the base member includes a portion configured to luminesce in response to excitation light provided by the license plate lamp.

18. The vehicle system of claim 17, wherein the at least one cover includes a light-transmissive portion configured to transmit excitation light to the portion of the base member when the at least one cover is in the closed position.

19. The vehicle system of claim 17, wherein the portion of the base member directs luminescent light toward the at least one electrical connector.

20. The vehicle system of claim 15, wherein trailer hitch plug is further configured to luminesce in response to excitation light provided by natural light.