A COVER FOR A SOCKET HOUSING OF A REMOVABLE TRAILER TOWING ROD

Abstract: A removable trailer towing rod, when removed, leaves a socket housing, near which there is mounted an electrical socket for the current plug of the trailer. Both of these sockets should be covered when not in use, for preventing intrusions of dirt and water. According to the invention the electrical socket is mounted on a cap for closing the socket housing, whereby also the electrical socket will be protected.

Description: A cover for a socket housing of a removable trailer towing rod. The present invention relates to an electrical socket for the current supply of automobile trailers, the current supply being provided through a removable towing rod, the coupling thereof being provided in a socket housing. A towing device for a trailer vehicle comprises an on the trailer mounted towing coupling comprising a towing ball which is mounted below respectively at the rear end of a towing auto¬ mobile. The towing device thus comprises a towing ball trans¬ ferring the towing force to the trailer coupling device. Visu¬ ally, towing devices are badly compatible with the design fea¬ tures of the rear portions of modern automobiles, and moreover, the towing ball may be an obstacle hindering the access to the luggage compartment. To avoid blowing marks caused by the tow¬ ing ball, by which moreover the ball generally is oiled, remov¬ able types of towing devices have been developed by which the towing devices, in particular the rods thereof, are arranged removable from the other portions of the towing devices and are adapted to be stored as individual units, e.g. within luggage compartments, until needed for use. When the towing rod is removed a hole remains which has to be covered by means of a cover means, such as to avoid the in- trusion of dirt which may make the remounting of the towing rod difficult. Associated with the towing device an electrical socket is arranged serving the supply of electric currents to the trailer, i.e. to provide that the signalling devices are arranged to cooperate with the rest of the electric system of the automobile. This electrical socket is covered by means of a cover means to prevent the intrusion of dirt or water. At the back of an automobile thus two cover means are located which both have to be removed when a trailer has to be attached. It is thus to be regarded as a drawback that two cover means have to be handled inclusive of as well a loose towing rod as the plug connecting means which has to be inserted in the electric socket. It is the purpose of the invention to simplify the trans¬ formation of a solo automobile to an automobile which includes a trailer, just as it is a purpose to attain that the electri¬ cal socket housing is arranged hidden from view with the pur- pose visually to achieve a better-looking design. This is attained by means of a plug connection according to the invention exhibiting in particular the features that the electrical socket housing is arranged upon a flap being hinged unto a fixed mounted portion, and which flap as a cover means is adapted to cover the socket housing of the towing rod cou¬ pling. Herethrough, the advantage is attained that through the exercising of only one single movement access is achieved as well to the electrical socket housing as to the socket housing of the towing rod coupling. An embodiment according to the invention in particular ex¬ hibits the features that sealing between the flap and the socket housing of the towing rod coupling is provided through arranging a resilient ring around the electrical socket hous¬ ing. Herethrough, a good fitting between the sealing means and the socket housing of the towing rod coupling is attained, and the flap can be held in place when it occupies closed position. In particular an embodiment according to the invention ex¬ hibits the features, that the external side of the flap is ar¬ ranged to be adapted to the surface structure of the surround- ing portions of the automobile. Herethrough, it is attained that it is not easily perceived that the automobile when not used for towing of a trailer is an automobile adapted for tow¬ ing, which embodiment according to the invention is regarded estically as advantageous. A further embodiment according to the invention in particu¬ lar exhibits the features that the individual wires to the pins of the electrical socket are led through the hingetap of the hinge means by which the hingetap is hollow. Herethrough, a se¬ cure and protected guiding of the wires is attained, and whereby the lengths of the wires are can be made so long that it is prevented that the wire connections break caused by the repeated use of the flap. A further embodiment according to the invention in particu¬ lar exhibits the features that the connecting wires to the in¬ dividual pins of the electrical socket are provided in the cover means in shape of printed circuits between the pins and the hinge means, and in the fixed portion between the hinge means and connecting terminals arranged for providing the con¬ nection with the electric system of the automobile, and whereby the hinge means is provided with sliding contact means and ele¬ ments for providing transfer of the currents through the hinge means. By employing these features movable wire connections for connecting the electrical socket are avoided, and the fixed portion can be put in direct connection with the electric sys¬ tem of the automobile. When the movement of opening takes place the sliding contacts are being cleaned, and a good connection always is assured. The invention is described in further details as follows under reference to the drawing, wherein: Fig. 1 illustrates a cut through a socket housing of a tow¬ ing rod coupling and a flap exemplifying an embodiment accord- ing to the invention, and Fig. 2 illustrates the same elements, but as viewed towards the back of the automobile. In Fig. 1 a towing rod coupling 1 is illustrated in which a, not shown, towing rod can be locked in place at the back of an automobile. The environment of the housing of the towing rod coupling comprises a fixed portion 2 supporting one half of a hinge means 3 which through hinge tap 4 is hinged unto the other half 5, which is arranged associated with a cover means 6. The cover means 6 is able to be pivoted to be located in front of the socket housing of a towing rod coupling 1 as shown in dotted line. On the inside of the cover means an electrical socket 7 is arranged, whereto the wire connections are running hidden in the cover means as shown at θ. Correspondingly, in the fixed portion 2 correspondingly are arranged the other ends of the connecting wires, the wires being terminated in connecting ter¬ minals providing connection to the electric system of the auto¬ mobile, i.e. for rear lights, license plate illumination, brake lights, flashers and possible reversing lights. Additionally, main current wiring for a main current supply of a caravan can be included. When occupying closed position the electrical socket is located within the socket housing of the towing rod coupling, and a ring or annular shaped sealing means 9 provides sealing as for the utmost portion of the socket housing of the towing rod coupling. By having the sealing wedgelike held in place this is a sufficient measure to safeguard that the flap when occupying closed position is as well tightening as close- fitting kept in place. The manner in which the wire connections 8 are guided from the cover means through the hollow hingetap 4 and further on to the fixed portion 1 is shown in Fig. 2. A locking member 10 is also shown which in the socket housing of a towing rod coupling 1 provides locking of the towing rod when mounted in place. Optionally, it is possible according to ..the invention to optimize the performance of some details, e.g. the hinge means elements 3, 4, 5 may internally be provided with a built-in stop means, so that only a 180° opening movement is made possi- ble and being associated with a kind of klicking means serving as fixation means when this position is occupied. An additional flap provided on both sides with a sealing agent may also be hinge connected with the flap serving to cover the electrical socket when it is occupying closed position, and when it is oc- cupying open position holds the electrical socket in place just as it is the manner of common use according to prior art when employing electrical sockets for trailers. When completely folded together, the sealing agents on the outside of the addi¬ tional flap provides sealing connection with the socket housing of a towing rod coupling. Depending on automobile model the hinge means may be arranged mounted as well above as below the socket housing of a towing rod coupling and not just only on one or the other side of the coupling housing.

Claims: C L A I M S : 1. Electrical socket for the current supply of automobile trailers, the current supply being provided through a removable towing rod, the coupling thereof being provided in a socket housing characteri zed in that, the electrical socket housing is arranged upon a flap being hinged unto a fixed mounted portion, and which flap as a cover means is adapted to cover the socket housing of the towing rod coupling. 2. Electrical socket according to claim 1 character¬ i zed in that, sealing between the flap and the socket hous¬ ing of the towing rod coupling is provided through arranging a resilient ring around the electrical socket housing. 3. Electrical socket according to claim 1 or 2 charac - teri zed in that, the surface structure of the surrounding portions of the automobile. 4. Electrical socket according to claim 1, 2 or 3 char¬ acteri zed in that, the individual wires to the pins of the electrical socket are led through the hingetap of the hinge means by which the hingetap is hollow. 5. Electrical socket according to claim 1, 2 or 3 char ¬ acteri zed in that, the connecting wires to the individ¬ ual pins of the electrical socket are provided in the cover means in shape of printed circuits between the pins and the hinge means, and in the fixed portion between the hinge means and connecting terminals arranged for providing the connection with the electric system of the automobile, and whereby the hinge means is provided with sliding contact means and elements for providing transfer of the currents through the hinge means.

Inventors: FAUERSKOV PER, FAUERSKOV, PER
Applicants: BRENDERUP TRAILERS AS, FAUERSKOV PER, BRENDERUP TRAILERS A/S, FAUERSKOV, PER
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B60R1
IPC codes: B60D1, H01R13