MXPA97001232A

MXPA97001232A - Accommodation and mounting box for an electrical connector for a remol

Info

Publication number: MXPA97001232A
Application number: MXPA/A/1997/001232A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Moedritzer Kurt; S Belinky Jacob
Original assignee: Drawtite Inc
Priority date: 1996-08-06
Filing date: 1997-02-18
Publication date: 1998-04-01

Abstract

A mounting box formed of polymeric material for mounting an electrical connector laterally to the transverse tube of a trailer coupling with walls enclosing the body of the electrical connector that can be received through an opening of the mounting wall with another opening to receive the wire cable connected to the electrical connector. A pair of separate grooves formed in the mounting box through which an adjustable band clamp is received to encompass the transverse tube of the trailer hitch to rigidly secure the mounting box to the cross tube. The holding holes are arranged around the first opening in the wall in a pattern corresponding to different electrical and different mounting connectors of the electrical connector. A flap in the mounting wall allows the cable of a pre-lit electrical connector to be received inside the mounting box

Description

ACCOMMODATION AND MOUNTING BOX FOR AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR A TOWING COUPLER FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to electrical connector assemblies for a trailer hitch and in particular to a mounting box for housing and mounting an electrical connector to a trailer hitch.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION To tow a trailer with a trailer hitch, an electrical connector is transported by a tow vehicle for communication of the brake and return signals of the towed vehicle to a trailer. Typically, the electrical connector hangs loosely from a cable or is mounted to either the towed vehicle or the towing hitch by a bracket. U.S. Patent 5,407,219 discloses such a mounting bracket, which presents the electrical connector as aligned with the longitudinal axis of the towed vehicle and in the direction of travel of the towed vehicle and exposes the electrical connector to wear and damage resulting from water , current REF: 24079 of mud, dust and road debris thrown from the tires of the towed vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It would be more advantageous for a mount to be easily and securely assembled with an electrical connector to a trailer hitch, while protecting the electrical connector from a hostile environment of elements and debris from the road. The present invention provides such a mounting box for an electrical connector for a trailer hitch. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide the mounting of an electrical connector to a tow hitch, which also provides protection from hostile elements to which such an electrical connector may be exposed. It is another object of the invention to easily mount such a box to a trailer hitch. It is still another object of the invention to provide a box, which is inexpensive to manufacture but still fulfills the above objects. These and various other objects and advantages are achieved by the present invention as will be apparent from the following specification, drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of the mounting box of the present invention, mounting an electrical connector to a trailer hitch in the rear of a vehicle; Fig. 2 is an enlarged, perspective view of the mounting box of Fig. 1 in a fragmented portion of a trailer coupling cross tube; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is an exploded view of the mounting box and the electrical connector to be mounted therein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY With reference to Figures 1-4, a mounting box 10 formed with a polymeric material is mounted in a transverse tube 20 of a conventional trailer hitch 22, which extends laterally through and secured to the underside of the vehicle 30 in its rear end. In the preferred embodiment, the mounting box 10 is injection molded with high density polyethylene. The cross tube 20 is typically substantially rectangular or square in cross sectional configuration with the front, top, back and bottom sides 24, 25, 26 and 27, respectively. Unlike the metal bracket the present box 10 molded with a polymeric material will not rust or corrode. The mounting box 10 houses and assembles an electrical connector 40 to the cross tube 20, as will be explained in more detail in the following. The mounting box 10 includes a front wall 12, an upper wall 14, a lower wall 15, a right wall 16 and a left wall 17 as best shown in Figure 4. Walls 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17 of the box 10 are formed in a substantially five-sided housing with an opening 13 on the back side of the box 10, which opening 13 is dimensioned and configured to conform to the front wall 24 of the cross tube 20. The openings 28 and 29 are formed at the rear end of the wall 16 and 17, respectively. The openings 28 and 29 conform to the shape of the transverse tube 20. Although in the preferred embodiment, the openings 28 and 29 are generally C-shaped to conform to the generally rectangular cross-sectional shape of the transverse tube 20, the openings 28 and 29 may be arched to conform to a transverse tube having a circular cross section. A cutting opening 31 is provided in the rear part of the wall 17 to receive a multiple wire cable 42 connectors to the electrical connector 40. A circular cut or opening 32 is formed through the wall 16 to receive the body 42 of the connector 40. Means such as parallel notches 33 or notch lines may be formed in the wall 16 between the cutout 32 and the opening 28, to allow an articulated fin 19 to be formed therein, to allow an electrical connector 40 to have a pre-wired cable 42 permanently attached thereto, to be received within the interior of the case 10. The articulated fin 19 is closed after such a pre-wired cable 42 of an electrical connector 40 is placed inside the interior of the case 10 and the aperture 32 A plurality of fastener holes 50 is provided in the wall 16 in a pattern corresponding to a standard pattern of mounting holes 44 in a mound boss. Aje 43 of an electrical connector 40 for a conventional trailer hitch. The connector shown in Figures 1-4 is a standard 7-way connector. The pattern of the holes 50 in the wall 16 allows such a 7-way connector to be mounted to it by means of the fasteners or screws 51 in the orientation shown or any other possible orientation by a 90 ° rotation of the electrical connector 40 in relation with the. The pattern of holes 50 allows a standard 6-way electrical connector (not shown) to be mounted in the holes 50 placed diagonally in a desired orientation by means of the screws 51. The opposite grooves 34, 35 are formed through the walls 14, 15, respectively, adjacent to its trailing edge. A tension member 36 such as a band of the hose clamp type adjustable with a screw is inserted through the slots 34, 35 and encompasses the cross tube 20 to secure the mounting box 10 thereto. The housing 10 encloses the body 42 of the electrical connector 40 and securely mounts the electrical connector 40 to a structural, lateral member 20 of the trailer coupling 22 transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle 30 and thus protects the electrical connector 40 from the hostile elements, damage and wear that in any other way could result from water currents, mud, dust and road debris thrown upward from the underside of the vehicle 30. The box 10 is firmly and rigidly secured in a stationary position and resists the incident forces for the connection and disconnection of an electrical trailer coupling connector (not shown) with the electrical connector 40. The result is an attractive and safe installation whereby the electrical connector 40 of the towed vehicle facilitates the connection and disconnection of the coupling connector of the end of the trailer. In addition, the box 10 houses an electrical connector 40 which is pre-wired to the vehicle 30 without division, disconnection or other interruption for the wires in the cable 42. Variations of the invention described in the above are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims. For example, the portion of the walls 14 and 15, which engage the opposite sides of the transverse tube 20 could be displaced outwardly to conform to a larger transverse tube. For the trailer hitch with center section of the box 10 mounted at an inclination, can be mounted to the lower surface 27 of the cross tube instead of the front surface 24. One or more drain holes can be provided in the mounting box 10. Also, a back wall could be added to the opposite wall 12 between the walls 14 and 15 instead of using a surface 24 or 27 of the cross tube to close / open the side 13 of the box 10. It is noted that in relation to this date the best method known by the applicant to implement the said invention is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it refers. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following:

Claims

1. A mounting box for mounting an electrical connector to a trailer hitch having a transverse tube, which extends through the rear of a vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: a housing provided with a first opening for receiving the body of the vehicle. electrical connector inside the housing; the housing is also provided with a second opening for receiving a plurality of wires connected to the electrical connector; means for rigidly securing the mounting box to the cross tube, the housing is configured to substantially enclose and enclose the body of the electrical connector with the mounting box rigidly secured to the cross tube.

2. The mounting box according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for securing the box to the transverse tube comprises slot means formed in the housing and an adjustable tension member extending through the slot means and around the tube cross.

3. The mounting box according to claim 1 characterized in that includes a plurality of fasteners and a plurality of fasteners holes formed in the housing, around the first opening, the fastener holes are for receiving fasteners for holding the electrical connector in the mounting box.

4. The mounting box according to claim 3, characterized in that the fastening holes are provided in an arrangement around the first opening, which facilitates the fastening of the electrical connector to the mounting box in any of a plurality of different positions.

5. The mounting box according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing includes a fin in communication with the first opening, providing access to the interior of the mounting box for the wires connected to the electrical connector.

6. The mounting box according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing is formed of a polymeric material.

7. A mounting box for mounting an electrical connector to a trailer hitch, having a transverse member which extends laterally through the rear of a vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: a housing means provided with a first opening for receiving the body of the electrical connector within the housing means, the housing means is also provided with a second opening for receiving a plurality of wires extending from the outside of the housing means, so that the connector is received therein, the The housing means is provided with a box means on at least one side thereof configured to conform to the cross-sectional shape of the transverse tube, and a securing means for rigidly securing the mounting box to the transverse tube with the housing. assembly extending laterally with respect to the vehicle.

8. The mounting box according to claim 7, characterized in that the securing means comprises a pair of separate grooves, formed in the housing means and an adjustable band extending through the grooves and around the transverse tube.

9. The mounting box according to claim 7, characterized in that it includes a plurality of fasteners and a plurality of fasteners holes formed around the first opening, for receiving the plurality of fasteners for fastening the electrical connector to the mounting box.

10. The mounting box according to claim 9, characterized in that the holding holes are arranged around the first opening in a pattern which is provided to hold the electrical connector to the mounting box in any of a plurality of different positions.

11. The mounting box according to claim 9, characterized in that the fastening holes are arranged around the first opening in a pattern, which is provided for any of a plurality of different electrical connectors that are to be fastened to the mounting box .

12. The mounting box according to claim 7, characterized in that the housing means includes a movable flap in communication with the first opening, the flap is movable in an open position to provide access to the interior of the housing for the extending wires to the electrical connector.

13. The mounting box according to claim 12, characterized in that the housing means is formed with a polymeric material.

14. A mounting box for housing and mounting an electrical connector to a trailer hitch, having a transverse tube member with a substantially rectangular cross section, extending laterally through the rear of a vehicle, characterized in that it comprises: a first wall having an opening for receiving the body of the electrical connector; a second wall positioned generally opposite the first wall and provided with an opening for receiving a plurality of wires connected to the electrical connector; a wall means extending between the first wall and the second wall, the wall means comprises at least a substantial portion of the body of the electrical connector; means for rigidly securing the mounting box to the cross tube member; the wall means together with the first wall and the second wall define a lateral opening of the box, the side opening has a configuration which conforms to the rectangular cross-sectional configuration of the cross tube, to enclose the body of the electrical connector with the mounting box rigidly secured to the cross tube member.

15. The mounting box according to claim 14, characterized in that the means for securing the mounting box to the transverse tube comprises a groove means formed in the wall means and an adjustable band extending through the groove means and around of the cross tube.

16. The mounting box according to claim 14, characterized in that it includes a plurality of fastening holes formed in the first wall for fastening the electrical connector to the mounting box.

17. The mounting box according to claim 16, characterized in that. the fastener holes are positioned around the opening in the first wall in a pattern which is provided to hold the electrical connector to the mounting box in any of a plurality of different positions.

18. The mounting box according to claim 17, characterized in that the fastening holes are arranged in a pattern that facilitates holding any of a plurality of different electrical connectors to the mounting box.

19. The mounting box according to claim 14, characterized in that the first wall includes a wall fin that provides access to the interior of the mounting box for the electrical wires connected to the electrical connector.

20. The mounting box according to claim 14, characterized in that it is molded of a polymeric material.