Female connector member for towing connector

A female connector member for a towing connector includes a buzzer mounted in an accommodation chamber of a connector body and electrically connected to the reverse light terminal and grounding terminal to give an audio warning signal when the towing vehicle is moving backwards. A light emitting diode (LED) circuit board is mounted in the accommodation chamber and is electrically coupled to the buzzer for controlling LEDs to flash when the buzzer buzzes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a towing connector and more particularly, to a female connector member for towing connector, which has a buzzer and a light emitting diode (LED) circuit board mounted in an accommodation chamber of the connector body thereof and electrically connected to the reversing light terminal and grounding terminal so that the buzzer gives an audio warning signal and the LED circuit board gives a visual warning signal when the towing vehicle is moving backwards.

2. Description of the Related Art

A female connector member for towing connector is known having a plurality of electric wires for connection to the left directional light, right directional light, license light (tail light), stop light, 12V car battery and reversing light of a towing vehicle. When the towing vehicle is moving backwards, the reversing light will be turned on to give a visual warning signal. However, this visual warning signal may be not seen in a particular angle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a female connector member for towing connector, which gives an audio warning signal as well as a visual warning signal when the towing vehicle is moving backwards.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the female connector member comprises a buzzer mounted in an accommodation chamber of the connector body thereof and electrically connected to the reverse light terminal and grounding terminal for giving an audio warning signal when the towing vehicle is moving backwards.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a LED circuit board is mounted in the accommodation chamber above the buzzer and electrically coupled to the buzzer for controlling a number of LEDs to flash when the buzzer buzzes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring toFIGS. 1˜8, a in accordance with the present invention female connector member for towing connector is shown comprising a bracket1, a connector body2, a back cover4, and a front cover6.

The bracket1(seeFIG. 5) comprises an opening16, a plurality of first mounting through holes11for the mounting of the connector body2, and a plurality of second mounting through holes14for fastening to the rear bottom side of the vehicle (not shown) by fastening members.

The connector body2is fixedly fastened to the first mounting through holes11of the bracket1, comprising a plug hole21for the connection of a male connector member for towing connector, and a plurality of insertion holes22and23in communication with the plug hole21(seeFIG. 3) The center insertion hole22is adapted for receiving a reverse light terminal31. The other insertion holes23are adapted for receiving a taillight terminal32, a left turn signal light terminal33, a grounding terminal34, a stoplight terminal35, a right turn signal light terminal36and a battery terminal37respectively. Further, the top ends (seeFIG. 2) and bottom ends312,322,332,342,352,362and372of the terminals31,32,34,35,36and37(seeFIG. 6) respectively protrude over the top and bottom sides of the respective insertion holes22and23. Further, the bottom ends312,322,332,342,352,352and372of the terminals31,32,33,34,35,36and37respectively extend through the back cover4and respectively electrically connected to respective lead wires5(seeFIG. 8) that are respectively electrically connected to the reverse light (not shown), taillight (not shown), left turn signal light (not shown), grounding circuit (not shown), stoplight (not shown), right turn signal light (not shown) and 12V car battery charger (not shown) of the vehicle (not shown). The connector body2further comprises a plurality of mounting holes241respectively fastened to the mounting through holes11of the bracket1, and a plurality of mounting through holes242and25respectively fastened to the back cover4with respective fastening members62(seeFIG. 4). The connector body2further comprises a pair of upright lugs26for supporting the front cover6.

The back cover4comprises a plurality of mounting holes411and412respectively fastened to the mounting through holes242and25of the connector body2by the respective fastening members62(seeFIG. 4), and a plurality of insertion holes42for the passing of the bottom ends312,322,332,342,352,362and372of the terminals31,32,33,34,35,36and37respectively.

The front cover6is pivotally connected to the upright lugs26of the connector body2by a pivot pin27. Further, a torsional spring28is mounted on the pivot pin27to impart a biasing force to the front cover6relative to the connector body2.

By means of the second mounting through holes14of the bracket1, female connector member for towing connector can be conveniently fastened to the rear bottom side of the vehicle (not shown) by fastening members. After fixation of the bracket1of the female connector member for towing connector to the rear bottom side of the vehicle (not shown), the bottom ends312,322,332,342,352,362and372of the terminals31,32,33,34,35,36and37are respectively electrically connected to the lead wires5(seeFIG. 8) of the reverse light (not shown), taillight (not shown), left turn signal light (not shown), grounding circuit (not shown), stoplight (not shown), right turn signal light (not shown) and 12V car battery charger (not shown) of the vehicle (not shown).

The main features of the present invention are outlined hereinafter. The connector body2further comprises an accommodation chamber20that houses a buzzer7. The buzzer7has a positive terminal71and a negative terminal72respectively electrically connected to the bottom end312of the reverse light terminal31and the bottom end342of the grounding terminal34by lead wires81and82respectively (seeFIG. 6). Therefore, when the vehicle is reversing, the reverse light of the vehicle is turned on to give a visual warning signal, and at the same time the buzzer7is driven to give an audio warning signal.

Further, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 7, the lead wire81at the positive terminal71of the buzzer7is electrically connected with the positive pole of a LED circuit board9that carries a plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes)90. The LED circuit board9has a positive pole lead wire91electrically connected to the bottom end312of the reverse light terminal31. The lead wire82at the negative terminal72of the buzzer7is electrically with the negative pole of the LED circuit board9. The LED circuit board9has its negative pole electrically connected to the bottom end341of the grounding terminal34by a negative pole lead wire92. Therefore, when the reverse light of the vehicle and at the buzzer7is turned on, the LED circuit board9is driven to flash the LEDs (light emitting diodes)90, giving a visual warning signal.

Further, the buzzer7and the LED circuit board9are mounted in a cap93prior to installation in the accommodation chamber20. Referring toFIGS. 1 and 7, the cap93comprises a peripheral wall931tightly fitted into the accommodation chamber20, a center opening933, a tubular inside flange932suspending inside the peripheral wall931and surrounding the center opening933, a plurality of through holes934spaced around the center opening933, and an inside locating groove935. The LED circuit board9is mounted inside the cap93to insert the LEDs (light emitting diodes)90into the through holes934, having a center mounting hole94that receives the tubular inside flange932tightly. Further, a spacer plate95is mounted inside the cap93and set between the LED circuit board9and the buzzer7, having a center hole951, and two through holes952and953for the passing of the positive terminal71and negative terminal72of the buzzer7. Further, the buzzer7has the peripheral wall70thereof press-fitted into the inside locating groove935of the cap93.

Further, as shown inFIG. 8, an electrical connector15may be fastened to the bracket1of the female connector member for towing connector, having terminals151,152,153and154for the connection of electric circuit means.

As indicated above, the invention provides female connector member for towing connector, which has the following advantages:

1. By means of mounting a buzzer7in the accommodation chamber20of the connector body2and electrically connecting the positive terminal71and negative terminal72of the buzzer7to the reverse light terminal31and the grounding terminal34, the buzzer7gives an audio warning signal when the towing vehicle is moving backwards, raising the safety level.

2. A LED circuit board9is mounted in the accommodation chamber20of the connector body2and electrically connected with the buzzer7, and therefore the LEDs90of the LED circuit board9are driven to flash when the buzzer7is turned on to give an audio warning signal, enhancing the safety.