US 5,030,938 AGranted

Universal trailer lighting adapter

OwnerFrederick Bondzeitinventor

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Abstract

A universal trailer lighting adapter permits connection of the lighting systems of American trailers to either American or foreign motor vehicles. Circuitry employing complementary metal oxide semiconductor logic elements in cooperation with solid state switches results in negligible current drain from the motor vehicle battery when the motor vehicle is not in use. The circuitry is powered directly from the battery of the motor vehicle, thereby eliminating additional loading of the motor vehicle electrical components and wiring and assuring full brightness of on both the motor vehicle and the trailer. The circuitry is fused or current limited to protect the electrical systems of both the motor vehicle and trailer from shorts that may occur in the trailer lighting system. A light emitting diode is provided to indicate a malfunction in either the adapter circuitry or the trailer lighting system to the driver of the motor vehicle.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A universal trailer lighting adapter for interconnecting the battery and lighting system of either an American or foreign motor vehicle to the lighting system of a towed trailer that has a plurality of running lights, a left turn/stop lamp, and a right turn/stop lamp, the universal trailer lighting adapter comprising:

first input connection means for receiving a left turn signal from the lighting system of the motor vehicle;
second input connection means for receiving a right turn signal from the lighting system of the motor vehicle;
third input connection means for selectively receiving a brake light signal from the lighting system of the motor vehicle;
fourth input connection means for receiving a taillight signal from the lighting system of the motor vehicle;
driver means, coupled to said first, second, and third input connection means, and having inputs for selectively receiving said left turn signal, said right turn signal, and said brake light signal;
power connection means, including fuse means, coupled to the battery of the motor vehicle, for receiving operating power from said battery;
first solid state switch means, coupled to a first output of said driver means, said power connection means, and said left turn/stop lamp of the towed trailer, for supplying operating power to said left turn/stop lamp in response to either of said left turn signal or said brake light signal;
second solid state switch means, coupled to a second output of said driver means, said power connection means, and said right turn/stop lamp of the towed trailer, for supplying operating power to said right turn/stop lamp in response to either of said right turn signal or said brake light signal;
third solid state switch means, coupled to said fourth input connection means and said power connection means, for supplying operating power to said running lamps in response to said taillight signal;
and
indicator means, coupled across said fuse means, for providing a failure indication to the driver of the motor vehicle.

8 more elements

first input connection means for receiving a left turn signal from the lighting system of the motor vehicle;
second input connection means for receiving a right turn signal from the lighting system of the motor vehicle;
third input connection means for selectively receiving a brake light signal from the lighting system of the motor vehicle;
fourth input connection means for receiving a taillight signal from the lighting system of the motor vehicle;
driver means, coupled to said first, second, and third input connection means, and having inputs for selectively receiving said left turn signal, said right turn signal, and said brake light signal;
power connection means, including thermal cutout switch means, coupled to the battery of the motor vehicle, for receiving operating power from said battery;
first solid state switch means, coupled to a first output of said driver means, said power connection means, and said left turn/stop lamp of the towed trailer, for supplying operating power to said left turn/stop lamp in response to either of said left turn signal or said brake light signal;
second solid state switch means, coupled to a second output of said driver means, said power connection means, and said right turn/stop lamp of the towed trailer, for supplying operating power to said right turn/stop lamp in response to either of said right turn signal or said brake light signal;
third solid state switch means, coupled to said fourth input connection means and said power connection means, for supplying operating power to said running lamps in response to said taillight signal;
and
indicator means, coupled across said thermal cutout switch means, for providing a failure indication to the driver of the motor vehicle.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.