Method and apparatus for installing and operating an auxiliary lighting system using a vehicle light plug

• US 9,751,452 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2016
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meyer Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Meyer Products LLC
• Inventors: Orazem, Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kaiser, Syed M
• Application Number:
  US15/356,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20170066363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 289 Days
• Field of Search: 315294, 340431, 340294, 340463, 340985
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0088 Details of electrical connections B60Q1/305 takes precedence; electrical connection of the light source itself F21S41/192, F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/076 by electrical means including means to transmit the movements, e.g. shafts or joints
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/305 Indicating devices for towed vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/34 for indicating change of drive direction B60Q1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2800/20 Utility vehicles, e.g. for agriculture, construction work
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/061 by scraper blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/657 by moving light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/02 Intermediate parts for distributing energy to two or more circuits in parallel, e.g. splitter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/92
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An auxiliary lighting system using a vehicle'"'"'s electric plug is disclosed. A signal may be transmitted from the plug to an auxiliary implement attached to a vehicle. The signal may be sent through a wire bundle (wiring harness). The auxiliary lighting system does not require rewiring of the vehicle'"'"'s wiring harness. A normally closed relay pack is included with the auxiliary lighting system that prevents simultaneous operation of the vehicle'"'"'s headlights and the auxiliary lighting system.

Claims

1. An auxiliary apparatus for use with an associated vehicle having:

at least one vehicle light wherein the at least one vehicle light includes a headlight having a low beam and a high beam;

an operator adjustable light control that permits a user to control the vehicle light, a battery; and

, an electric plug that is electrically connected to the vehicle light;

the auxiliary apparatus comprising;

an auxiliary snow and/or ice removal implement that is removably mountable to the associated vehicle;

an auxiliary lighting system that;

is designed for use with the auxiliary implement;

has at least one auxiliary light designed to illuminate a ground surface upon which the associated vehicle travels; and

, the at least one auxiliary light includes a low beam and a high beam;

a user operable device that is designed to operate at least one function of the auxiliary snow and/or ice removal implement;

a first wiring harness that;

has a first electrical connector that is a power connector;

has a second electrical connector that is electrically connectable to the at least one auxiliary light;

has a third electrical connector that is electrically hardwire connectable to the auxiliary implement; and

, has a fourth electrical connector;

a second wiring harness that;

has a first end that is electrically connectable to the vehicle battery;

has a second end with a power connector that is electrically hardwire connectable to the power connector of the first wiring harness; and

, is designed to transmit power from the vehicle battery to the power connector of the first wiring harness to power the auxiliary snow and/or ice removal implement;

a third wiring harness that;

has a first connector that is electrically hardwire connectable to the vehicle electric plug;

has a second connector that is electrically hardwire connectable to the fourth electrical connector of the first wiring harness;

has a third connector that is designed to be connected to the user operable device; and

, is designed to transmit an electrical signal from the vehicle electric plug to the first wiring harness;

a relay pack that;

has a first and second normally closed relay that are electrically connectable to the vehicle headlight low beam, the at least one auxiliary light low beam, and the user operable device;

has a third and fourth normally closed relay that are electrically connectable to the vehicle headlight high beam, the at least one auxiliary light high beams, and the user operable device; and

, wherein when the first, second, and third wiring harnesses are connected;

the user operable device is operable to operate the at least one function of the auxiliary snow and/or ice removal implement; and

, the operator adjustable light control is operable to control the at least one auxiliary light.

2. The auxiliary apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the auxiliary lighting system further comprises a microprocessor;

the second electrical connector of the first wiring harness is electrically connectable to the microprocessor; and

,

the microprocessor is programmed to operate the at least one auxiliary light based on the electrical signal.

3. The auxiliary apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the auxiliary lighting system further comprises an adapter having;

a first end that is electrically connectable to the vehicle electric plug;

a first outlet that is electrically connectable to the first connector of the third wiring harness; and

, a second outlet that is electrically hardwire connectable to electrically connect the vehicle electric plug to a component.

4. The auxiliary apparatus of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary snow and/or ice removal implement is a snowplow assembly.

5. The auxiliary apparatus of claim 1 wherein the auxiliary snow and/or ice removal implement is a spreader.

6. The auxiliary apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a sensor that is operable to turn off the at least one auxiliary light when the at least one vehicle light is turned off.

7. A method for use with an associated vehicle having:

at least one vehicle light wherein the at least one vehicle light includes a headlight having a low beam and a high beam;

an operator adjustable light control that permits a user to control the vehicle light, a battery; and

, an electric plug that is electrically connected to the vehicle light;

the method comprising the steps of;

A;

providing an auxiliary apparatus comprising;

an auxiliary snow and/or ice removal implement comprising at least one operable function;

an auxiliary lighting system that;

is designed for use with the auxiliary implement;

has at least one auxiliary light designed to illuminate a ground surface upon which the associated vehicle travels; and

, the at least one auxiliary light includes a low beam and a high beam;

a user operable device that is designed to operate the at least one operable function of the auxiliary snow and/or ice removal implement;

a first wiring harness that;

has a first electrical connector that is a power connector;

has a second electrical connector that is electrically connectable;

has a third electrical connector that is electrically hardwire connectable; and

, has a fourth electrical connector;

a second wiring harness that;

has a first end; and

, has a second end with a power connector that is electrically hardwire connectable;

a third wiring harness that;

has a first connector that is electrically hardwire connectable;

has a second connector that is electrically hardwire connectable; and

, has a third connector;

a relay pack that;

has a first and second normally closed relay that are electrically connectable to the vehicle headlight low beam, the at least one auxiliary light low beam, and the user operable device;

has a third and fourth normally closed relay that are electrically connectable to the vehicle headlight high beam, the at least one auxiliary light high beams, and the user operable device;

wherein the auxiliary apparatus is operable according to the following steps;

B;

mounting the auxiliary snow and/or ice removal implement to the associated vehicle;

C;

mounting the auxiliary lighting system to at least one of;

the auxiliary snow and/or ice removal implement; and

, the associated vehicle;

D;

securing the first, second, and third wiring harnesses to at least one of;

the auxiliary snow and/or ice removal implement; and

, the associated vehicle;

E;

electrically connecting the second electrical connector of the first wiring harness to the at least one auxiliary light;

F;

electrically hardwire connecting the third electrical connector of the first wiring harness to the auxiliary implement;

G;

electrically connecting the first end of the second wiring harness to the vehicle battery;

H;

electrically hardwire connecting the power connector of the second wiring harness to the power connector of the first wiring harness to enable power to be transmitted from the vehicle battery to the auxiliary snow and/or ice removal implement;

I;

electrically hardwire connecting the first connector of the third wiring harness to the vehicle electric plug;

J;

electrically hardwire connecting the second connector of the third wiring harness to the fourth electrical connector of the first wiring harness;

K;

electrically hardwire connecting the third connector of the third wiring harness to the user operable device to enable an electric signal to be transmitted from the vehicle electric plug to the first wiring harness;

L;

electrically connecting the first and second relays to the vehicle headlight'"'"'s low beam wiring harness;

M;

electrically connecting the first and second relays to the at least one auxiliary light'"'"'s low beam;

N;

electrically connecting the third and fourth relays to the vehicle headlight'"'"'s high beam wiring harness;

O;

electrically connecting the third and fourth relays to the at least one auxiliary light'"'"'s high beam;

P;

electrically connecting the first, second, third, and fourth relays to the user operable device;

Q;

manually operating the user operable device to operate the at least one function of the auxiliary snow and/or ice removal implement; and

,

R;

manually operating the operator adjustable light control to control the at least one auxiliary light.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein:

step A comprises the step of;

providing auxiliary apparatus with a microprocessor;

step E comprises the step of;

electrically connecting the second electrical connector of the first wiring harness to the microprocessor; and

, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to operate the at least one auxiliary light based on the electrical signal.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein:

step A comprises the step of;

providing auxiliary apparatus with an adapter having;

a first end that is electrically connectable to the vehicle electric plug;

a first outlet that is electrically connectable to the first connector of the third wiring harness; and

, a second outlet that is electrically connectable to electrically connect the vehicle electric plug to another component;

step I comprises the steps of;

electrically hardwire connecting the first end of the adapter to the vehicle electric plug; and

, electrically hardwire connecting the first connector of the third wiring harness to the first outlet of the adapter; and

, the method further comprises the steps of;

providing a component; and

, electrically hardwire connecting the component to the second outlet of the adapter.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the auxiliary apparatus comprises a sensor that is operable to turn off the at least one auxiliary light when the at least one vehicle light is turned off.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the auxiliary apparatus is designed so that steps B through K are safely accomplished without the aid of an electrical technician.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the auxiliary apparatus is designed so that no wire splicing is required.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein:

the associated vehicle comprises a computer used to control the at least one vehicle light; and

,

no reset or adjustments to the computer are required.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a vehicle comprising;

at least one vehicle light wherein the at least one vehicle light includes a headlight having a low beam and a high beam;

an operator adjustable light control that permits a user to control the vehicle light, a battery; and

, an electric plug that is electrically connected to the vehicle light;

an auxiliary snow and/or ice removal implement that is removably mountable to the vehicle;

an auxiliary lighting system that;

is designed for use with the auxiliary implement;

has at least one auxiliary light designed to illuminate a ground surface upon which the vehicle travels; and

, the at least one auxiliary light includes a low beam and a high beam;

a user operable device that is designed to operate at least one function of the auxiliary snow and/or ice removal implement;

a first wiring harness that;

has a first electrical connector that is a power connector;

has a second electrical connector that is electrically connected to the at least one auxiliary light;

has a third electrical connector that is electrically hardwire connected to the auxiliary implement; and

, has a fourth electrical connector;

a second wiring harness that;

has a first end that is electrically connected to the vehicle battery;

has a second end with a power connector that is electrically hardwire connected to the power connector of the first wiring harness; and

, transmits power from the vehicle battery to the auxiliary snow and/or ice removal implement;

a third wiring harness that;

has a first connector that is electrically hardwire connected to the vehicle electric plug;

has a second connector that is electrically hardwire connected to the fourth electrical connector of the first wiring harness;

has a third connector that is connected to the user operable device; and

, transmits an electrical signal from the vehicle electric plug to the first wiring harness;

a relay pack that;

has a first and second normally closed relay that are electrically connectable to the vehicle headlight low beam, the at least one auxiliary light low beam, and the user operable device;

has a third and fourth normally closed relay that are electrically connectable to the vehicle headlight high beam, the at least one auxiliary light high beams, and the user operable device;

wherein the user operable device is operable to operate the at least one function of the auxiliary snow and/or ice removal implement; and

, wherein the operator adjustable light control is operable to control the at least one auxiliary light.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the electric plug is positioned at a rear end of the vehicle.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein:

a conduit is secured to the vehicle and extends substantially from a back of the vehicle to a front of the vehicle; and

,

the third wiring harness is secured within the conduit.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the electric plug is positioned near the vehicle battery.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein:

the auxiliary lighting system further comprises a microprocessor;

the second electrical connector of the first wiring harness is electrically connected to the microprocessor; and

,

the microprocessor is programmed to operate the at least one auxiliary light based on the electrical signal.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein:

the auxiliary lighting system further comprises an adapter having;

a first end that is electrically connectable to the vehicle electric plug;

a first outlet that is electrically connectable to the first connector of the third wiring harness; and

, a second outlet that is electrically hardwire connectable to electrically connect the vehicle electric plug to a component.

20. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the auxiliary apparatus further comprises a sensor that is operable to turn off the at least one auxiliary light when the at least one vehicle light is turned off.