VISUAL INDICATOR ADAPTOR AND ASSEMBLY FOR A TRACTOR TRAILER

• US 20100308984A1
• Filed: 06/03/2010
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wabash National LP (Wabash National Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Wabash National LP (Wabash National Corporation)
• Inventors: Ehrlich, Rodney, Pickup, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,649,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/431
• 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 1/305 Indicating devices for towed vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/32 for indicating vehicle sides , e.g. clearance lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal

Abstract

A visual indicator assembly and adaptor for a trailer includes a control circuit electrically coupled to a plurality of lamps positioned in a rear header of the trailer. The control circuit is configured to supply a first voltage signal to the plurality of lamps in response to a power signal and supply a second voltage signal to the plurality of lamps in response to a brake signal. The second voltage signal is greater than the first voltage signal.

Claims

1. An adaptor configured to be coupled in-line with a rear identification lamp wiring harness of a trailer, the adaptor comprising:

a housing;

a circuit positioned in the housing, the circuit including (i) a first current blocking device electrically coupled between a brake signal input and an output, (ii) a second current blocking device electrically coupled to a power input, and (iii) a voltage reduction device electrically coupled between the second voltage blocking device and the output.

2. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the first and second current blocking devices are diodes and the voltage reduction device is a resistor.

3. The adaptor of claim 2, wherein the resistor is sized to step-down the voltage of the power input by about 0.5.

4. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the first and second current blocking devices are diodes and the voltage reduction device is a DC-to-DC converter.

5. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the first current blocking device is a diode having an anode coupled to the brake signal input and a cathode coupled to the output.

6. The adaptor of claim 5, wherein the second current blocking device is a diode having an anode coupled to the power input and a cathode coupled to the voltage reduction device.

7. The adaptor of claim 1, further comprising an output wiring harness extending out of the housing and terminating in a first plug.

8. The adaptor of claim 2, further comprising an input wiring harness extending out of the housing and terminating in a plurality of second plugs.

9. The adaptor of claim 1, wherein the circuit is over-molded with the housing.

10. A trailer lamp assembly comprising:

a plurality of identification lamps; and

a control circuit electrically coupled to the plurality of identification lamps, the control circuit being configured to supply a first voltage signal to the plurality of identification lamps in response to a power signal and supply a second voltage signal to the plurality of identification lamps in response to a brake signal, the second voltage signal being greater than the first voltage signal.

11. The trailer lamp assembly of claim 10, wherein the first voltage signal is about 6 volts and the second voltage signal is about 12 volts.

12. The trailer lamp assembly of claim 10, wherein the brake signal is indicative of the application of at least one brake.

13. The trailer lamp assembly of claim 10, wherein the plurality of identification lamps is positioned in a rear header of a trailer.

14. The trailer lamp assembly of claim 13, further comprising a left clearance lamp positioned in the rear header of the trailer and electrically coupled to the control circuit,

wherein the control circuit is configured to supply the first voltage signal to the left clearance lamp in response to the power signal and supply the second voltage signal to the left clearance lamp in response to the brake signal.

15. The trailer lamp assembly of claim 14, wherein the control circuit is further configured to supply a third voltage signal to the left clearance lamp in response to a left turn signal.

16. The trailer lamp assembly of claim 13, further comprising a right clearance lamp positioned in the rear header of the trailer and electrically coupled to the control circuit,

wherein the control circuit is configured to supply the first voltage signal to the right clearance lamp in response to the power signal and supply the second voltage signal to the right clearance lamp in response to the brake signal.

17. The trailer lamp assembly of claim 16, wherein the control circuit is further configured to supply a third voltage signal to the right clearance lamp in response to a right turn signal.

18. The trailer lamp assembly of claim 13, further comprising a left clearance lamp and a right clearance lamp positioned in the rear header of the trailer and electrically coupled to the control circuit,

wherein the control circuit is configured to supply the first voltage signal to the left and right clearance lamps in response to the power signal and supply the second voltage signal to the left and right clearance lamps in response to the brake signal.

19. The trailer lamp assembly of claim 18, wherein the control circuit is further configured to supply a third voltage signal to the left clearance lamp in response to a left turn signal.

20. The trailer lamp assembly of claim 19, wherein the control circuit is further configured to supply a fourth voltage signal to the right clearance lamp in response to a right turn signal.