Patent · US Expired

Tail light adapter between a towing vehicle and trailer

US6232722A · kind A · utility

28Cited by
14References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 7, 1999
Grant dateMay 15, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 7, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60Q1/305
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An electrical taillight adapter circuit (6) interfaces a three-lamp vehicle lighting circuitry (2) with a two-lamp trailer lighting circuitry (6). The vehicle lighting circuitry primarily includes a group (10) of three right hand lamps (20, 22, 24) and a group (12) three of left-hand lamps (12). These lamps operate in response to signals generated by the vehicle operator, and are electrically connected to the adapter circuit. The trailer circuit generally includes a group (14) of two right hand lamps (34, 36) and a group (16) of two left-hand lamps (35, 37). The adapter circuitry receives electrical signals from the vehicle circuit (2), processes them, and outputs power to the appropriate trailer lamp. This electrical taillight adapter circuit (4) interfaces the nonconforming taillight circuit of a vehicle with that of a trailer, while providing the trailer lamps with improved output current and protecting the system from short circuit conditions.

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