Abstract:
An ergonomic electrical connector and circuit indicator that facilitates the establishment of electrical connections between a motor vehicle and a towed trailer. The connector body has a first end portion configured appropriately for engaging a vehicle connector socket or plug. A second end portion of the connector defines an upwardly curved and expanded cylindrical section that presents an open connector face with an array of electrical connections and an associated array of LED indicators. The upward orientation eliminates the need for the user to work with the horizontal connector face at ground level and provides easy access to each of the terminals to which trailer wires are attached. The aligned LED indicators are each associated with a particular electrical terminal. The LED indicators therefore provide an identification of a particular circuit and the operational functionality of that circuit.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to electrical wiring and electrical connectors. The present invention relates more specifically to an electrical connector and circuit indicator for matching the lighting and braking electrical functions of a motor vehicle with the same functionality on a towed trailer. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Detachable connectors for joining the electrical circuitry on a motor vehicle with the electrical circuitry associated with a towed trailer are well known. Most motor vehicles that have been manufactured with trailer hitch components, or have been retrofit with such components, incorporate single connection points or connector plug sockets in a location adjacent the trailer hitch point. A number of efforts have been made to structure connector plugs that readily attach to and detach from the vehicle socket connector so that the user may easily connect or disconnect a trailer electrical system from that of the motor vehicle. The installed connector plug on the motor vehicle typically collects wires directed from the various lighting and braking circuitry on the motor vehicle together at the central connection point so that the electrical connections might be continued through to the hitched trailer and thereby operate the same or similar electrical systems on the trailer. For the most part, these electrical systems comprise lights, but may additionally include electrically operated wheel braking mechanisms. 
     Two problems frequently occur with past efforts to connect a motor vehicle electrical system with the corresponding electrical system on a towed trailer. First, the proper connections are often misidentified and crossed at the connection point, resulting in, for example, a right turn signal light being activated when a left turn signal is being made on the motor vehicle. It is important initially, therefore, that the proper association be made for the connectors at the connection point between the motor vehicle and the trailer. 
     A second problem that often occurs is the failure of the electrical system on the motor vehicle to properly provide voltage at the vehicle connector socket or plug. When such a problem occurs on the motor vehicle itself, the user is left wondering whether the failure of a light to operate on the trailer is due to a connection point failure or the failure of the vehicle socket to present the appropriate voltage to the connection point. 
     In addition to the above described problems associated with making the proper trailer electrical connection, most current connectors are structured to engage a vehicle socket or plug that is positioned beneath or adjacent the rear bumper of the vehicle in a horizontal orientation (level with the ground). In order to access this socket with a mating connector, the user must typically work at ground level and struggle to view the various wire terminals coming off of the connector inserted into the horizontal socket below the vehicle bumper. The above described connection error problems are therefore compounded by the difficulty with which most users struggle to make the proper connections while working in an uncomfortable and poor visibility position. 
     It would be desirable therefore to have a trailer electrical system connector that allowed the user to easily identify the various electrical circuits that are being connected, and to confirm their proper functionality. It would be desirable if such a connector could be assembled and verified with the user in a working position that lends itself to easy identification of the terminals and their functionality. It would be desirable if such connections could be made without having to operate at ground level below the bumper of the vehicle to which the connector is being attached. In addition, it would be desirable to have some indication on the connector itself as to the proper functioning of the electrical circuit that is being connected. It would be desirable that such indicators would not only identify the specific electrical circuit being worked with at a particular time, but also identify that the proper voltage is being provided at the vehicle socket or plug. It would be preferable if each of the problems described above were addressed by a trailer connector that engages standard sized connections. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an ergonomic vehicle trailer electrical connector and circuit indicator that facilitates the establishment of the necessary electrical connections between a motor vehicle and a towed trailer. The present invention provides a connector body having a first end portion configured in a standard arrangement appropriate for engaging a vehicle trailer connector socket or plug. A second end portion of the electrical connector defines an upwardly curved and expanded diameter cylindrical section that presents an open face work area with an array of electrical connections and an associated array of LED indicators. The upwardly curved orientation provides the user with a work area that eliminates the need to operate with the horizontal connector face at ground level and provides ease of access to each of the terminals to which trailer wires are to be attached. In addition, the upward turned face of the work area provides aligned LED indicators in an array that associates each indicator with a particular electrical terminal being connected. These LED indicators therefore provide both an identification of which particular circuit is being worked on as well as the operational functionality of that circuit, at least through to the vehicle socket or plug. Various other features and elements of the connector of the present invention allow it to operate in conjunction with standard vehicle socket or plug configurations, and to utilize various types of electrical wire connectors from the trailer electrical system. Further objects and benefits of the connector of the present invention will become apparent from consideration of the descriptions below and from the appended drawings, a brief description of which follows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective assembly view of the connector of the present invention shown adjacent the removable terminal cover. 
         FIG. 2  is a side plan view of the main body of the connector of the present invention shown without the terminal cover and without wiring connected. 
         FIG. 3  is an elevational end view of the main body of the connector of the present invention as seen from the viewpoint of the vehicle side of the connector. 
         FIG. 4  is an elevational end view of the main body of the connector of the present invention as seen from the viewpoint of the trailer side of the connector. 
         FIG. 5  is an electrical schematic diagram showing the electrical circuit connections from the vehicle through the connector of the present invention to the trailer terminal face of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an elevational side view of the connector of the present invention with the terminal cover, shown in the process of being installed between a vehicle and a trailer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference is made first to  FIG. 1  for a detailed description of the trailer plug connector of the present invention. The trailer plug connector is used for completing the electrical connections required for lights, brakes, etc. on a trailer and incorporates built-in lights to confirm the operation of those electrical circuits. The structure of the trailer plug connector makes it easily accessible to the user and includes a screw-on cap or cover. The shape and orientation of the trailer plug presents the connections to the user in an ergonomic manner, reducing or eliminating the need for the user to work at ground level next to the trailer hitch in order to secure the trailer wiring components.  FIG. 1  is a perspective assembly view showing both the main connector component and the removable terminal cover. Electrical connector  10  is shown to be generally made up of connector body  12  with associated terminal cover  14 . 
     Connector body  12  is itself made up of two primary parts, connector vehicle plug body  16  and connector trailer terminal body  18 . Connector vehicle plug body  16  is configured in a manner typical of trailer plugs, structured as it needs to be in order to mate with standard vehicle plug connections. Vehicle plug latch  20  is oriented at the top of the otherwise circular/cylindrical plug connection and engages with the vehicle plug (not shown in this view) to secure the plug in the socket (see  FIG. 6 ). Connector vehicle plug face  22  provides the end of connector body  12  that engages the vehicle connection. 
     On an opposite end of electrical connector  10  is connector trailer terminal face  24  which is structured to receive the various electrical conductors (wires) from the trailer electrical circuitry. Terminal cover  14  attaches to connector body  12  on connector trailer terminal body  18  by way of terminal body threading  26 . The cover shell  28  portion of terminal cover  14  incorporates a wire clamp  34  to gather and secure the various electrical conductors from the trailer electrical circuitry. Trailer terminals  30   a - 30   f  (all visible but not all referenced in  FIG. 1 ) are positioned on connector trailer terminal face  24  as typically oriented for a seven conductor configuration. The six flat trailer terminals  30   a - 30   f , typically structured with threaded apertures and attachment screws, are positioned in a radial array, equally spaced about the outer perimeter of connector trailer terminal face  24 . Trailer central post terminal  31  (see also  FIG. 2 ) is positioned in the middle of the array of trailer terminals  30   a - 30   f . LED circuit voltage indicators  32   a - 32   f  (all visible but not all referenced in  FIG. 1 ) are also positioned in a radial array within the array of trailer terminals  30   a - 30   f . Each LED circuit voltage indicator is functionally associated with its nearest adjacent trailer terminal. 
       FIG. 2  is a side plan view of the main body of the connector shown without the cover and without wiring attached. In this view, connector body  12  is again shown to be made up of connector vehicle plug body  16  and connector trailer terminal body  18 , the latter being positioned at an ergonomic angle with respect to the generally horizontal orientation of connector vehicle plug body  16 . This ergonomic orientation presents connector trailer terminal face  24  and all of its various connections and LED indicators directly to the user in an accessible manner. Once again, connector vehicle plug body  16  is structured as is typical for trailer plug connectors with a cylindrical shape having a vehicle plug latch  20  positioned at a top orientation for engaging the vehicle socket (not shown). Connector vehicle plug face  22 , described in more detail below in  FIG. 3 , includes primary vehicle plug center post terminal  36  that assists in the alignment of the plug with the vehicle socket connector. 
     Connector trailer terminal body  18 , again structured as a curving cylindrical section, presents connector trailer terminal face  24  at an ergonomic angle, including the positioning of trailer terminals  30   a - 30   f  ( 30   d - 30   f  shown in this view) in a position that allows the user easy access to the terminals. Also accessible with this orientation is trailer center post terminal  31  positioned in the middle of connector trailer terminal face  24 . 
     Reference is next made to  FIGS. 3 &amp; 4  which provide elevational views of each end of the electrical connector body  12  of the present invention.  FIG. 3  is an elevational view of the main body of connector  12  as seen from the vehicle viewpoint looking away from the vehicle towards the connector as it might be oriented for engagement. In this view, connector body  12  narrows to the cylindrical structure of connector vehicle plug body  16  and expands outward (towards the trailer) through the cylindrical and angled structure of connector trailer terminal body  18 . Vehicle plug latch  20  is again shown positioned at the top of the circular/cylindrical structure of connector vehicle plug body  16 , appropriate for engagement with a matching latch component (not shown) on the vehicle connector socket. 
     In  FIG. 3 , connector vehicle plug face  22  is shown in a profile view with each of the vehicle plug terminals  38   a - 38   f  shown arrayed about the perimeter edge of the cylindrical connector vehicle plug body  16 . Centered in connector vehicle plug face  22  is vehicle plug center post terminal  36 . Each of these vehicle plug terminals  38   a - 38   f , with vehicle plug center post terminal  36 , provide an electrical connection between the vehicle and the trailer as described in more detail below with respect to  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 4  presents the connector trailer terminal face  24  in a profile orientation as would be viewed by the user while installing and checking the operational circuitry of the electrical connector. In  FIG. 4 , connector body  12  is shown to taper (towards the vehicle) into the smaller cylindrical structure of connector vehicle plug body  16  with its vehicle plug latch  20  properly orienting and positioning connector vehicle plug face  22  towards the vehicle connector socket. Connector trailer terminal face  24  is shown to incorporate the circular array of trailer terminals  30   a - 30   f  (all labeled in this view) radially positioned about the perimeter of the terminal face. Centered on trailer terminal face  24  is trailer center post terminal  31 . 
     Between center post terminal  31  and the radial array of trailer terminals  30   a - 30   f  are LED circuit voltage indicators  32   a - 32   f . Once again, each LED is associated with the electrical circuitry defined by the nearest trailer terminal in the circular array orientation. The manner of identifying the functionality of the particular electrical circuit associated with each trailer terminal is by way of the illumination of the LED circuit voltage indicator nearest the terminal and is described in more detail below. 
       FIG. 4  does show the manner in which the orientation and size of connector trailer terminal body  18 , with its associated connector trailer terminal face  24 , offers the most convenient and easy access to each of the connection terminals and to the LED voltage indicators, such that the user may quickly and readily make the electrical connections and verify their functionality through the use of the LED indicators. Each of the trailer terminals  30   a - 30   f  is structured as a standard flat metal conductor terminal post suitable for use in conjunction with spade type electrical connectors or, through the use of threaded post attachment screws, the bare wire ends of the conductors from the trailer electrical circuitry. The object of the present invention is to provide an ergonomic presentation of the terminals and circuit functionality indicators to the user to facilitate the proper and complete attachment of the electrical conductors from the trailer circuitry to the vehicle plug and socket. 
     Reference is next made to  FIG. 5  which is an electrical schematic diagram that shows the electrical circuit connections from the vehicle, through the connector of the present invention, to the trailer terminal face component, as described above in  FIG. 4 . In  FIG. 5 , all of the schematic components shown within broken line boundary  12  comprise all of the components within connector body  12 . To the left side of the schematic, outside of the boundary of connector body  12 , are the various electrical components associated with the plug/socket positioned on the vehicle itself. Vehicle socket  21  is typically a socket with male terminal posts that engage the aligned female connectors associated with connector vehicle plug face  22  positioned on connector vehicle plug body  16  (see  FIG. 3 ). Connector vehicle plug face  22  is shown in  FIG. 5  as one of the components making up the connector body  12  electrical circuitry. The remaining major component within connector body  12  is identified as connector trailer terminal face  24 , which is presented in an orientation similar to that shown in  FIG. 4 . The orientation of the connector shown in  FIG. 3  is therefore represented in the middle of  FIG. 5 , while the orientation of the connector shown in  FIG. 4  is represented on the right side of  FIG. 5 . Again, the vehicle socket terminal connections are represented on the left in  FIG. 5 . 
     As described above, the detailed description of the present invention for a first preferred embodiment is directed to the typical seven conductor configuration for a vehicle trailer plug connector. The six electrical connections arranged in a circular array around a seventh center post electrical connection are typically configured in the manner described and shown in  FIG. 5 . These terminals are assigned on vehicle socket  21  in the following manner. The 1:00 terminal position is typically assigned to an auxiliary connection. The 3:00 position is assigned to the right turn signal and brake connection. The 5:00 position is typically assigned to the power brake electrical connection. The 7:00 position is typically configured as a terminal electrical ground. The 9:00 position is typically configured as a left turn signal and brake electrical connection. The 11:00 position is configured as a tail light electrical connection. Finally, the center terminal on the vehicle connector is typically configured as a reverse light electrical connection. 
     The terminals positioned on connector vehicle plug face  22  of the connector of the present invention are, of course, structured to align and mate with the electrical connections on the vehicle plug/socket itself. These electrical connections are then carried through the connector body  12 , preferably with rigid conductor elements (metal bars, rods, or bands) to the appropriate point of connection on connector trailer terminal face  24 . As seen in  FIG. 5 , these connector trailer terminal face  24  connections might be considered as generally the mirror image (horizontal symmetry) of the connections shown on the vehicle end of the connector. 
     In  FIG. 5 , electrical/electronic components make up each of the six connector circuits shown on connector trailer terminal face  24 . Circuit (A), made up of terminal  30   a , LED  32   a , and resistor R A , provides the auxiliary connection. Circuit (B), made up of terminal  30   b , LED  32   b , and resistor R B , is the right turn signal and brake light connection for the trailer. Circuit (C), made up of terminal  30   c , LED  32   c , and resistor R C , provides the electrical connection for the power brake system of the trailer. Circuit (D) is a slightly different electrical circuit, being make up of terminal  30   d , which provides a ground to the trailer electrical system, but also terminal  31  (the center post), as well as LED  32   d , and resistor R D , which are positioned to identify and confirm the circuitry associated with the reverse lights on the trailer where these are utilized. Circuit (E) is made up of terminal  30   e , LED  32   e , and resistor R E , and provides the electrical connection to the left turn signal and brake light on the trailer. Finally, Circuit (F) is made up of terminal  30   f , LED  32   f , and resistor R F , and provides the electrical connection for the tail lights on the trailer. 
     Reference is finally made to  FIG. 6 , which is an elevational side view of the connector of the present invention shown in the process of installation between a vehicle and a trailer. In this view, vehicle  50  is shown with bumper  52  and hitch ball  56  configured to receive the trailer hitch component  60 . The trailer electrical cable  62  generally comprises the wire bundle for the electrical circuitry associated with the trailer that comes together to be attached to the connector of the present invention. Trailer electrical cable  62  is fed through the neck of terminal cover  14  and presents the trailer electrical wires  64   a - 64   f  (not all visible or referenced in  FIG. 6 ) for placement and positioning on the connector body  12  of the present invention. Once again, the terminal ends of the wires associated with the trailer circuitry are shown with standard spade type electrical connectors that engage the flat post connections on the connector body  12 . Alternate means of connection between the wires and the connector body  12  are anticipated. 
     Also shown in  FIG. 6  on vehicle  50 , below vehicle bumper  52 , is vehicle trailer connector socket  54 , typically incorporating a hinged cover to protect the terminals from the elements when not in use. To use the connector of the present invention with vehicle connector socket  54 , the hinged cover is opened (see directional arrows in  FIG. 6 ) and the connector vehicle plug body portion of connector body  12  is inserted into vehicle connector socket  54  as described above. Once positioned and latched using vehicle plug latch  20 , connector body  12  presents connector trailer terminal body  18  at an upward orientation appropriate for easy access by the user. 
     In the above described orientation, with all of the LED indicators easily visible to the user, the various connections using trailer electrical wires  64   a - 64   f  may be made. Once these connections are made and the circuit functionality of each is confirmed using the LED indicators on connector trailer terminal face  24 , the terminal cover  14  may be slid down over trailer electrical cable  62  and threaded onto connector trailer terminal body  18  as described above. 
     Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with a number of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications to the described preferred embodiment may be made that still fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, the number of terminals associated with the connector may vary by as many as two or three, as there are standard configurations for five terminal connectors as well as seven or nine terminal connectors. The most common configuration is that shown and described above with the attached drawing figures. 
     The structure of the portion of the electrical connector of the present invention that attaches to the vehicle is relatively standard, and achieves a generally horizontal orientation because of the manner in which the vehicle socket is typically positioned on the vehicle. It is the structure of the present invention that converts this horizontal orientation to a more ergonomic orientation that makes it easier for the user to make the electrical connections and to confirm their functionality by way of the similarly oriented LED indicators. The user is immediately aware of any circuit that is non-functional by way of an LED indicator that is not illuminated during the process of making the connections. The LED indicators therefore not only provide confirmation of the functionality of the circuitry, but also confirmation of the orientation and placement of the vehicle trailer electrical conductors when initially establishing the assembly of the trailer connector. 
     Although specific electronic and electrical arrangements are described in  FIG. 5 , this description is primarily based on a standard assignment of light and brake electrical connections for most trailers. Those skilled in the art will recognize that there is no particular requirement that a given electrical conduction path be associated with a specific orientation on the electrical connector. The key elements and objectives of the present invention are to provide an easy identification of the functionality of a particular electrical conductor path, a confirmation of its being in working order, and easy access for the user to the terminal associated with that confirmed conductive path. Once again, those skilled in the art will recognize that modifications as to specific utilization of a conductive path or to the number of such electrical conductors may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.