Patent ID: 6481738
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: B60D,B60Q

Abstract:
A connecting device (10) suitable for connecting a towing vehicle with rear lights (11) in a towing relationship to a towed vehicle with rear lights (12) and for actuating the rear lights (12) of the towed vehicle in accordance with the rear lights (11) of the towing vehicle, the connecting device (10) comprising a first coupling member (13) connected or connectable to the towing vehicle; a second coupling member (14) connected or connectable to the towed vehicle, which coupling members (13, 14) are lockingly engageable for connecting the vehicles in a towing relationship; a power supply conductor (15) for supplying power to the rear lights (12) of the towed vehicle from a power supply on the towing vehicle; a pair of interengageable electrical contacts (17, 18) providing in the power supply conductor (15), the pair (17, 18) including a first contact (17) provided on the first coupling member (13) and a second contact (18) provided on the second coupling member (14), the first (17) and second (18) contacts engaging each other when the first (13) and second (14) coupling members lockingly engage each other to allow power to flow through the pair of contacts (17, 18) the device (10) being characterised therein that the device (10) includes a signal transmitter arrangement (19) for transmitting at least one control signal through the power supply conductor (15) when power is supplied to at least one rear light (11) of the towing vehicle to activate the signal transmitter arrangement (19); and a signal receiver arrangement (20) for receiving the at least one control signal from the transmitter arrangement (19) and activating at least one rear light (12) of the towed vehicle in accordance with the at least one control signal received.