Patent · US Expired

Direct connect trailer tow interconnector

US5800188A · kind A · utility

68Cited by
16References
1Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 9, 1996
Grant dateSep 1, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 9, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01R2201/26
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A direct-connect trailer tow interconnector for connecting the electrical circuits of a tow vehicle with similar circuits of a trailer in which a one-piece shell socket accepts a standard trailer plug at one end and is compatible with the fitting of a tow vehicle harness at the other end. Pass-through conductors, each of which is made from a single metal blank, form terminals compatible with those of the trailer plug and also with those of the vehicle harness fitting. A cover is provided with a spring-loaded floating hinge to permit flat sealing protecting the interconnector from environmental hazards, and a flushing passage is formed through the cover to remove debris from the floating hinge.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.