US 12,623,500 B2Granted

Trailer connector

AssigneeArk Corporation Pty Ltd

InventorsRichard Arakelian, Shojaeddin Mirfendereski, Hsuan-chi Kuo

Life of this patent

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Abstract

There is provided a vehicle mounted device (1) for connecting the electrical circuit of a towing vehicle to the electrical circuit of a towed vehicle. The device includes a body (2), a towed-side connector, and a towing side connector (3). The device is configured to receive input signals corresponding to the lights of the towing vehicle and to transmit these signals to the electrical circuits of the towed vehicle. The device includes a protection component to isolate the towing vehicle electrical system. The device may be configured to perform a testing protocol. The testing protocol can include a safety protocol that determines whether a towed vehicle is electrically connected to the device. The testing protocol may also test the functionality of the electrical circuits for the towing and towed vehicles.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A device for connecting an electrical circuit of a towing vehicle to an electrical circuit of a towed vehicle, the device including:

a body;
an electrical circuit arrangement located within the body, the electrical circuit arrangement configured to receive power from a power source;
a towed-side connector configured to operably connect the electrical circuit arrangement to the electrical circuit of the towed vehicle;
a towing-side connector configured to operably connect the electrical circuit arrangement to the electrical circuit of the towing vehicle,
wherein the electrical circuit arrangement includes:
a processor;
a communication module located within the body, the communication module in electrical communication with the processor;
and
a memory that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, are configured to perform a testing protocol,
wherein the testing protocol includes a safety protocol which continuously monitors whether the towed vehicle is electrically connected to the towing vehicle, and
wherein the safety protocol includes the steps of:
a) determining if the vehicle is in motion;
b) determining whether a towed vehicle is electrically connected;
c) sensing an object behind the tow vehicle based on a calibrated profile;
and
d) communicating a warning if the towed vehicle is not electrically connected.

13 more elements

A device for connecting an electrical circuit of a towing vehicle to an electrical circuit of a towed vehicle, the device including:

a body;
an electrical circuit arrangement located within the body, the electrical circuit arrangement configured to receive power from a power source;
a towed-side connector configured to operably connect the electrical circuit arrangement to the electrical circuit of the towed vehicle;
a towing-side connector configured to operably connect the electrical circuit arrangement to the electrical circuit of the towing vehicle,
wherein the electrical circuit arrangement includes:
a processor;
a communication module located within the body, the communication module in electrical communication with the processor;
and
a memory that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, are configured to perform a testing protocol,
wherein the testing protocol includes a towing vehicle testing protocol for testing the functionality of the electrical circuit of the towing vehicle with or without the towed vehicle connected, and
wherein the towing vehicle testing protocol includes the following steps:
a) operating a selected light of the towing vehicle with the vehicle controls;
b) detecting if a signal from the towing vehicle corresponding to the operated light is present;
and
c) optionally communicating the result of step b) via the communication module to an external computing device.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/492,497Filed 23 Oct 2023 · division
Priority: AU 201990094020 Mar 2019
Published: US 2024/0051362 A115 Feb 2024
Granted: 12 May 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

B60D 1/64
Involving supply lines, electric circuits or the like: couplings or joints therefor
G01R 31/007
On road vehicles, e.g. automobiles or trucks: using microprocessors or computers
B60D 1/58
Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices: auxiliary devices
B60Q 1/305
For indicating rear of vehicle, e.g. by means of reflecting surfaces: indicating devices for towed vehicles

Family

Application16/586,289Parent of this division · filed 27 Sep 2019
US 2024/0051362 A1Pre-grant publication · published 15 Feb 2024
US 11,794,539 B2Parent of this division
US 2020/0298642 A1Published application
US 12,623,500 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.