Integrated structural and electrical connector
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsAlan G. Holmes, Joel M. Maguire, Andrew J. Farah, Edward D. Tate, Jr., Steven A. Tarnowsky
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An integrated electrical connector comprises one or more terminals housed within a connector body. The connector body is configured and arranged to structurally join an auxiliary component to a host vehicle to which the integrated electrical connector is mechanically fixed and electrically coupled. The connector body is configured to facilitate electrically coupling electrical circuitry of the auxiliary component to the host vehicle. The connector body is configured to facilitate transmission of information among the auxiliary component and the host vehicle.
Claims17
An integrated structural and electrical connector comprising:
- a connector body;
- one or more terminals housed within the connector body;
- a protective cover;
- and
- a sensor;
- the connector body defining a female receptacle oriented along a longitudinal axis and having an opening that facilitates insertion of a mating structure along the longitudinal axis and into the female cavity;
- the protective cover disposed adjacent to the opening and configured to protect the female receptacle from contamination;
- the sensor disposed adjacent to the protective cover and configured to detect when the protective cover is open;
- the connector body being configured and arranged to structurally join a host vehicle with an auxiliary component, to which the integrated structural and electrical connector is to be mechanically fixed and electrically coupled;
- the connector body being configured to facilitate electrically coupling electrical circuitry of the auxiliary component to the host vehicle;
- and
- the connector body being configured to facilitate transmission of information among the auxiliary component and the host vehicle.
An integrated structural and electrical connector for a vehicle comprising:
- a hitch receiver housing defining a female receptacle with an opening at an end of the hitch receiver housing;
- a protective cover that is configured to protect the female receptacle from contamination and that is disposed adjacent to the opening;
- a sensor disposed adjacent to the protective cover and configured to detect when the protective cover is open;
- and
- an internal electrical connector disposed in the female receptacle and suitably configured for coupling an external charging source to an electrical system of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.