Abstract:
A universal control adapter system allows any commercial or custom snowplow controller to be quickly and easily attached and detached from any commercial or custom snowplow blade. A first adapter connects the snowplow driver&#39;s controller to a first universal controller. A second adapter connects the snowplow to a second universal connector, where the second universal connector is configured to removably mate with the first universal connector. The first universal connector and second universal connector are color coded or otherwise configured to ensure proper mating. In this manner, skilled snowplow drivers can quickly and easily transfer their controllers to different vehicles rather than learning different controls for various snowplow manufacturers.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/609,976 filed on Sep. 15, 2004. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     The present invention pertains to snowplow systems designed for attachment to the front of a vehicle such as a pickup truck. These snowplow systems include a wiring harness that is routed to the interior cabin of the vehicle for connection to a control box. Typically, this wiring harness includes one or more connectors such that the control box may be disconnected from the plow. Some of the snowplow systems include a control box. Others require the purchase of an after-market control box. Further, some manufacturers of control boxes also manufacture compatible plow systems, while others simply manufacture control boxes.  
         [0003]     Operating a plow while also operating a vehicle is a skill that is honed with experience. Understandably, some plow operators become extremely proficient using a particular control box and prefer not to change to a different control box. However, compatibility issues between control boxes and snowplows often require these operators to learn to use different control boxes, or forego work with a particular brand of plow.  
         [0004]     There is a need for a system that resolves these compatibility issues, thereby allowing a plow operator to attach a favorite control box to any make of snowplow. Preferably, the system allows the connection between the control box and the snowplow to be made without requiring wire splicing.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention addresses the above-mentioned need by providing an adapter system that allows a plow operator to attach any control box to any make of snowplow. The system generally includes a first adapter and a second adapter. The first adapter has a length of straight cord having a first end and a second end. The first end has a plurality of pins for removably connecting the first end to a connector compatible with a controller box. The second end is removably connected to a universal connector that is configured to mate with another universal connector.  
         [0006]     Similarly, the second adapter has a length of tubing having a first end and a second end. The first end is removably attached to another universal connector that is configured to mate with another universal connector. The second end is removably attached to a connector configured to mate with a snowplow.  
         [0007]     Thus, connecting a controller box made by Brand A with a snowplow made by Brand B is simply a matter of attaching a Brand A first adapter to the controller box, and a Brand B second adapter to the snowplow. The universal connector ends of the first and second adapters can then be connected together to establish connectivity between the control box and the snowplow. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a schematic of an embodiment of a first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 1A  is a top plan view of a straight blade touchpad harness used with the first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 1B  is a front plan view of a universal connector positioned at a second end of the first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 1C  is a front plan view of a first connector positioned at a first end of the first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1D  is a front plan view of a second connector positioned at a first end of the first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a schematic of an embodiment of a first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2A  is a schematic of a vee-blade touchpad harness used with the first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2B  is a front plan view of a universal connector positioned at a second end of the first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2C  is a front plan view of a first connector positioned at a first end of the first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2D  is a front plan view of a second connector positioned at a first end of the first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a schematic of an embodiment of a first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3A  is a front plan view of a universal connector positioned on the second end of the first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a schematic of an embodiment of a first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 4A  is a top plan view of an up/down small joystick harness used with the first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4B  is a front plan view of a universal connector positioned on the second end of the first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 4C  is a front plan view of receptacles in a connector of an up/down joystick harness.  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a schematic of an embodiment of a first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5A  is a top plan view of a 4-way small joystick harness used with the first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 5B  is front plan view of a universal connector positioned on the second end of the first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 5C  is a front plan view of a first connector positioned at a first end of the first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 5D  is a front plan view of a second connector positioned at a first end of the first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is a schematic of an embodiment of a second adapter of the present invention.  
         [0030]      FIG. 6A  is a front plan view of a universal connector positioned on the second end of the first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0031]      FIG. 6B  is a front plan view of a connector configured to mate with a connector of a particular snowplow.  
         [0032]      FIG. 7  is a schematic of an embodiment of a second adapter of the present invention.  
         [0033]      FIG. 7A  is a front plan view of a universal connector positioned on the second end of the first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0034]      FIG. 7B  is a front plan view of a connector configured to mate with a connector of a particular snowplow.  
         [0035]      FIG. 8  is a schematic of an embodiment of a second adapter of the present invention.  
         [0036]      FIG. 8A  is a front plan view of a universal connector positioned on the second end of the first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0037]      FIG. 9  is a schematic of an embodiment of a second adapter of the present invention.  
         [0038]      FIG. 9A  is a front plan view of a universal connector positioned on the second end of the first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0039]      FIG. 9B  is a front plan view of a connector configured to mate with a connector of a particular snowplow.  
         [0040]      FIG. 10  is a schematic of an embodiment of a second adapter of the present invention.  
         [0041]      FIG. 10A  is a front plan view of a universal connector positioned on the second end of the first adapter of the present invention.  
         [0042]      FIG. 10B  is a front plan view of a connector configured to mate with a connector of a particular snowplow.  
         [0043]      FIG. 11  is a schematic of one embodiment of the universal control adapter system of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0044]     Referring to  FIG. 11 , there is shown a general schematic overview of one embodiment of a universal control adapter system  8  of the present invention. Specifically, there is shown a first adapter  20  connected to a second adapter  80  by way of mating universal connectors  28  and  30 . While  FIG. 11  depicts a first end  22  on the first adapter  20  having a plurality of pins  32  and a second adapter  80  having a second end  84  with a connector  86  configured to mate with a connector of a particular snowplow, various other embodiments are within the scope of the present invention. Following there are several embodiments of the first and second adapters  20  and  80 , respectively.  
         [0045]     Referring now to the Figures, and first to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , there are shown various embodiments of a first adapter  20  of the present invention. Each of the first adapters  20  includes a length of straight cord  21  having a first end  22  and a second end  24 . The first ends  22  are constructed and arranged for attachment to particular controller boxes  26 . The second ends  24  include a universal connector  28  configured to mate with a universal connector  30  ( FIGS. 6-10 ).  
         [0046]     For example,  FIG. 1  shows a first adapter  20  having a straight cord  21  with a first end  22  and a second end  24 . The first end  22  has a plurality of pins  32 , which are insertable into the female receptacles  34  of connectors  36  and  38  sold under the trademark TYCO® (Tyco International Services AG Corporation, Switzerland), which are connected to a straight blade touchpad harness  40  , as depicted in  FIG. 1A . The second end  24  connects to a universal connector  28 . Tables 1 and 2 show the functions of the individual pins  32  as they relate to pin  32  numbers depicted in  FIGS. 1C and 1D . Table 3 shows the functions of the pins  27  of the universal connector  28  . Referring to  FIG. 1B , in one embodiment, individual wires  23  bundled within the straight cord  21  are color coded to correspond to color coded receptacles  34  in connectors  36  and  38  and to the pins  27  of the universal connector  28 .  
                                                   TABLE 1                           TYCO ® CONNECTOR P/N 172170-1       TYCO ® TERMINALS P/N 770804-1            PIN #   COLOR   FUNCTION   AWG                    1   RED   POS {+}   18       2   WHITE   RAISE   20       3   ORANGE   FLOAT   18       4   BROWN   PUMP SOLENOID   18       5   GREEN   RIGHT   20       6   BLUE   LEFT   20       7   N/A   N/A       8   N/A   N/A       9   PINK/BLACK   AUXILIARY   20       10   N/A   N/A       11   N/A   N/A       12   BLACK   GROUND   20                  
 
         [0047]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TYCO ® CONNECTOR P/N 172168-1 
               
               
                 TYCO ® TERMINALS P/N 770904-1 
               
             
          
           
               
                 PIN # 
                 COLOR 
                 FUNCTION 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 2 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 3 
                 BLACK 
                 GROUND {−} 
               
               
                 4 
                 WHITE 
                 LIFT 
               
               
                 5 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 6 
                 ORANGE 
                 DOWN 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0048]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TYCO ® CONNECTOR P/N 172168-1 
               
               
                 TYCO ® TERMINALS P/N 770904-1 
               
             
          
           
               
                 PIN # 
                 COLOR 
                 FUNCTION 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1 
                 RED 
                 POS {+} 
               
               
                 2 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 3 
                 PINK/BLACK 
                 AUXILIARY 
               
               
                 4 
                 BLUE 
                 LEFT 
               
               
                 5 
                 GREEN 
                 RIGHT 
               
               
                 6 
                 BROWN 
                 PUMP SOLENOID 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0049]      FIG. 2  shows a first adapter  20  having a straight cord  21  with a first end  22  and a second  24  . The first end  22  that has a plurality of pins  42  , which are insertable into the female receptacles  44  of connectors  46  and  48  sold under the trademark TYCO® (Tyco International Services AG Corporation, Switzerland), which are connected to a vee-blade touchpad harness  50  . The second end connects to a universal connector  28 . Tables 4 and 5 show the functions of the individual pins  42  depicted in  FIGS. 2C and 2D . Table 6 shows the functions of the pins  27  of the universal connector  28 . Referring to  FIG. 2B , in one embodiment, individual wires  23  bundled within the straight cord  21  are color coded to correspond to color coded receptacles  44  in connectors  46  and  48  and to the pins  27  of the connector  28 .  
                                                   TABLE 4                           TYCO ® CONNECTOR P/N 172170-1       TYCO ® TERMINALS P/N 770904-1            PIN #   COLOR   FUNCTION   AWG                    1   RED   POS {+}   18       2   WHITE   RAISE   20       3   ORANGE   FLOAT   18       4   BROWN   PUMP SOLENOID   18       5   GREEN   RIGHT   20       6   BLUE   LEFT   20       7   RED/WHITE   RIGHT WING OUT   20       8   RED/BLACK   RIGHT WING IN   20       9   PINK/BLACK   AUXILIARY   20       10   BLUE/WHITE   LEFT WING OUT   20       11   BLUE/BLACK   LEFT WING IN   20       12   BLACK   GROUND   20                    
         [0050]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 5 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TYCO ® CONNECTOR P/N 172168-1 
               
               
                 TYCO ® TERMINALS P/N 770904-1 
               
             
          
           
               
                 PIN # 
                 COLOR 
                 FUNCTION 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1 
                 RED/BLACK 
                 RIGHT WING IN 
               
               
                 2 
                 BLUE/WHITE 
                 LEFT WING OUT 
               
               
                 3 
                 BLACK 
                 GROUND {−} 
               
               
                 4 
                 WHITE 
                 LIFT 
               
               
                 5 
                 RED/WHITE 
                 RIGHT WING OUT 
               
               
                 6 
                 ORANGE 
                 DOWN 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0051]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 6 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 TYCO ® CONNECTOR P/N 172168-1 
               
               
                 TYCO ® TERMINALS P/N 770904-1 
               
             
          
           
               
                 PIN # 
                 COLOR 
                 FUNCTION 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1 
                 RED 
                 POS {+} 
               
               
                 2 
                 BLUE/BLACK 
                 LEFT WING IN 
               
               
                 3 
                 PINK/BLACK 
                 AUXILIARY 
               
               
                 4 
                 BLUE 
                 LEFT 
               
               
                 5 
                 GREEN 
                 RIGHT 
               
               
                 6 
                 BROWN 
                 PUMP SOLENOID 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0052]      FIG. 3  shows a first adapter  20  having a straight cord  21  with a first end  22  and a second end  24 . The first end  22  has a plurality of flag terminals  52  and  54 , and a female coupler  56 . The terminals  52  and  54  , as well as female coupler  56 , connect to a main large joystick harness (not shown). The second end connects to a universal connector  28 . Table 7 shows the functions of the pins  27  of the universal connector  28 . In one embodiment, individual wires  23  bundled within the straight cord  21  are color coded to correspond to particular pins  27  of the universal connector  28  as depicted in  FIG. 3A .  
                                           TABLE 7                           TYCO ® CONNECTOR P/N 172170-1       TYCO ® TERMINALS P/N 770904-1            PIN #   COLOR   FUNCTION                    1   RED   POS {+}       2   WHITE   RAISE       3   ORANGE   FLOAT       4   BROWN   PUMP SOLENOID       5   GREEN   RIGHT       6   BLUE   LEFT       7   N/A   N/A       8   N/A   N/A       9   N/A   N/A       10   N/A   N/A       11   N/A   N/A       12   N/A   N/A                    
         [0053]      FIG. 4  shows a first adapter  20  having a straight cord  21  with a first end  22  and a second end  24 . The first end  22  has a plurality of pins  58  that are connectable to a connector  60  of an up/down small joystick harness  62 . The up/down small joystick harness  62  is depicted in  FIG. 4A . There are also female couplers  64  connectable to a 12V power supply (not shown). Tables 8 and 9 show the functions of the pins of universal connector  28  and of the pins  58 , respectively. In one embodiment, individual wires  23  bundled within the straight cord  21  are color coded to correspond to receptacles in a connector  60  (shown in  FIG. 4C ) of an up/down joystick harness  62  and to the pins  27  of the universal connector  28 .  FIG. 4B  depicts a numbering configuration for the pins  27  of the universal connector  28  in order to mate the universal connector  28  with other connectors based on function.  
                                           TABLE 8                           TYCO ® CONNECTOR P/N 172170-1       TYCO ® TERMINALS P/N 770904-1            PIN #   COLOR   FUNCTION                    1   RED   POS {+}       2   N/A   N/A       3   ORANGE   FLOAT       4   BROWN   PUMP SOLENOID       5   N/A   N/A       6   N/A   N/A       7   N/A   N/A       8   N/A   N/A       9   N/A   N/A       10   N/A   N/A       11   N/A   N/A       12   N/A   N/A                    
         [0054]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 9 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AMP SL-156 PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD CONNECTOR WITH 
               
               
                 LOCKING RAMP/WITH POLARIZING TABS 0.465 (No. of Pos. 3) 
               
               
                 P/N 770849-3 WITH AMP SL-156 CRIMP CONTACTS 
               
               
                 CONTACT -C HOODED (DUAL WIPE) 10 AMP MAX. STRIP 
               
               
                 P/N 770476-1 LOOSE PIECE P/N 770522-1 
               
             
          
           
               
                 PIN # 
                 COLOR 
                 FUNCTION 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1 
                 BROWN 
                 PUMP SOLENOID 
               
               
                 2 
                 RED 
                 12 v+ 
               
               
                 3 
                 ORANGE 
                 FLOAT 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0055]      FIG. 5  shows a first adapter  20  having a straight cord  21  with a first end  22  and a second end  24 . The first end  22  has a plurality of pins  66  connectable to connectors  68  and  70  of a 4-way small joystick harness  72 , as depicted in  FIG. 5A . The functions of the pins  66  are shown in Tables 11 and 12. Additionally, female couplers  74  are connectable to a 12V power supply (not shown). Table 10 shows the functions of the pins of universal connector  28 . In one embodiment, individual wires  23  bundled within the straight cord  21  are color coded to correspond to receptacles in connectors  68  and  70  of a 4-way small joystick harness  72  and to the pins  27  of the universal connector  28  (shown in  FIGS. 5C  and  FIG. 5D ). Referring to  FIG. 5B , there is shown a numbering configuration for the pins  27  of the universal connector  28  in order to mate the universal connector  28  with other connectors based on function.  
                                           TABLE 10                           TYCO ® CONNECTOR P/N 172170-1       TYCO ® TERMINALS P/N 770904-1            PIN #   COLOR   FUNCTION                    1   RED   POS {+}       2   WHITE   RAISE       3   ORANGE   FLOAT       4   BROWN   PUMP SOLENOID       5   GREEN   RIGHT       6   BLUE   LEFT       7   N/A   N/A       8   N/A   N/A       9   N/A   N/A       10   N/A   N/A       11   N/A   N/A       12   BLACK   GROUND                    
         [0056]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 11 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AMP SL-156 PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD CONNECTOR WITH 
               
               
                 LOCKING RAMP/WITH POLARIZING TABS 0.465 (No. of Pos. 3) 
               
               
                 P/N 770849-3 WITH AMP SL-156 CRIMP CONTACTS 
               
               
                 CONTACT -C HOODED (DUAL WIPE) 10 AMP MAX. STRIP 
               
               
                 P/N 770476-1 LOOSE PIECE P/N 770522-1 
               
             
          
           
               
                 PIN # 
                 COLOR 
                 FUNCTION 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1 
                 BROWN 
                 PUMP SOLENOID 
               
               
                 2 
                 RED 
                 12 v+ 
               
               
                 3 
                 ORANGE 
                 FLOAT 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0057]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 12 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 AMP SL-156 PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD CONNECTOR WITH 
               
               
                 LOCKING RAMP/WITH POLARIZING TABS 0.465 (No. of Pos. 3) 
               
               
                 P/N 770849-3 WITH AMP SL-156 CRIMP CONTACTS 
               
               
                 CONTACT -C HOODED (DUAL WIPE) 10 AMP MAX. STRIP 
               
               
                 P/N 770476-1 LOOSE PIECE P/N 770522-1 
               
             
          
           
               
                 PIN # 
                 COLOR 
                 FUNCTION 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1 
                 BLUE 
                 LEFT 
               
               
                 2 
                 GREEN 
                 RIGHT 
               
               
                 3 
                 BLACK 
                 GROUND 
               
               
                 4 
                 WHITE 
                 RAISE 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0058]      FIGS. 6-10  show various embodiments of a second adapter  80  of the present invention, usable to connect a first adapter  20  to a particular snowplow. Each second adapter  80  has length of tubing  81  having a first end  82  and a second end  84 . Each first end  82  includes a universal connector  30  configured to mate with the universal connectors  28  of the various embodiments of the first adapters  20 . Thus, despite the various embodiments of the present invention, each of the universal connectors  28  of the various first adapters  20  is the same, as is each of the universal connectors  30  of the various second adapters  80 . Each second end  84  of the second adapters  80  is constructed and arranged to be attached to a particular snowplow.  
         [0059]     For example,  FIG. 6  shows a second adapter  80  with a first end  82  and a second end  84 . The second end  84  has a connector  86  configured to mate with a connector of a snowplow sold under the trademarks of MEYER® or DIAMOND® (manufactured by Meyer Products, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio) (not shown). Referring to  FIG. 6B , there is shown a numbering configuration for the connector  86 .  FIG. 6A  depicts a numbering configuration for the pins  31  of the universal connector  30  in order to mate the universal connector  30  with other connectors based on function. The pin assignments of both connectors  30  and  86  are shown in Tables 13 and 14.  
                                           TABLE 13                           TYCO ® CONNECTOR P/N 172170-1       TYCO ® TERMINALS P/N 770904-1            PIN #   COLOR   FUNCTION                    1   RED   POS {+}       2   N/A   N/A       3   ORANGE   FLOAT       4   BROWN   PUMP SOLENOID       5   GREEN   RIGHT       6   BLUE   LEFT       7   N/A   N/A       8   N/A   N/A       9   N/A   N/A       10   N/A   N/A       11   N/A   N/A       12   BLACK   GROUND                  
 
         [0060]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 14 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 “AMP” 
               
               
                 0.093 (6) PIN POWER CONNECTOR 
               
               
                 P/N 770086-1 WITH “AMP” FEMALE-TERMINAL 
               
               
                 P/N 770529-1 (F) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 PIN # 
                 COLOR 
                 FUNCTION 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1 
                 BROWN 
                 PUMP SOLENOID 
               
               
                 2 
                 RED 
                 POS {+} 
               
               
                 3 
                 BLACK 
                 GROUND 
               
               
                 4 
                 BLUE 
                 LEFT 
               
               
                 5 
                 GREEN 
                 RIGHT 
               
               
                 6 
                 ORANGE 
                 FLOAT 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0061]      FIG. 7  shows a second adapter  80  with a first end  82  and a second end  84 . The second end  84  has a connector  88  configured to mate with a connector of a straight blade snowplow sold under the trademark WESTERN® (manufactured by Western Products, Miliwaukee, Wis.) (not shown) or the trademark FISHER® (manufactured by Fisher Engineering, Rockland, Me.) (not shown).  FIG. 7B  depicts a numbering configuration of the connector  88 . The pin assignments of both connectors  30  and  88  are shown in Tables 15 and 16. In addition,  FIG. 7A  depicts a numbering configuration for the pins  31  of the universal connector  30  in order to mate the universal connector  30  with other connectors based on function.  
                                           TABLE 15                           TYCO ® CONNECTOR P/N 172162-1       TYCO ® TERMINALS P/N 770903-1            PIN #   COLOR   FUNCTION                    1   RED   POS {+}       2   WHITE   RAISE       3   ORANGE   FLOAT       4   BROWN   PUMP SOLENOID       5   GREEN   RIGHT       6   BLUE   LEFT       7   N/A   N/A       8   N/A   N/A       9   N/A   N/A       10   N/A   N/A       11   N/A   N/A       12   BLACK   GROUND                    
         [0062]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 16 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 “AMP” 
               
               
                 0.062 (6) PIN POWER CONNECTOR 
               
               
                 P/N 770086-1 WITH “AMP” FEMALE-TERMINAL 
               
               
                 P/N 770355-1 
               
               
                 WITH “AMP” FEMALE TERMINAL 
               
               
                 P/N 794017-1 (M) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 PIN # 
                 COLOR 
                 FUNCTION 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1 
                 RED 
                 POS {+} 
               
               
                 2 
                 GREEN 
                 RIGHT 
               
               
                 3 
                 BLACK 
                 GROUND 
               
               
                 4 
                 BROWN 
                 PUMP SOLENOID 
               
               
                 5 
                 WHITE 
                 RAISE 
               
               
                 6 
                 ORANGE 
                 FLOAT 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0063]      FIG. 8  shows a second adapter  80  with a first end  82  and a second end  84 . The second end  84  has several female terminals  90  configured to mate with male terminals of any snowplow that does not have a specific connector, but allows individual wire plugs.  FIG. 8A  depicts a numbering configuration for the pins  31  of the universal connector  30  in order to mate the universal connector  30  with other connectors based on function. The pin assignments of the connector  30  are shown in Table 17.  
                                           TABLE 17                           TYCO ® CONNECTOR P/N 172162-1       TYCO ® TERMINALS P/N 770903-1            PIN #   COLOR   FUNCTION                    1   RED   POS {+}       2   WHITE   RAISE       3   ORANGE   FLOAT       4   BROWN   PUMP SOLENOID       5   GREEN   RIGHT       6   BLUE   LEFT       7   RED/WHITE   RIGHT WING OUT       8   RED/BLACK   RIGHT WING IN       9   PINK/BLACK   AUXILIARY       10   BLUE/WHITE   LEFT WING OUT       11   BLUE/BLACK   LEFT WING IN       12   BLACK   GROUND                    
         [0064]      FIG. 9  shows a second adapter  80  with a first end  82  and a second end  84 . The second end  84  has a connector  92  configured to mate with a connector of a snowplow sold under the trademark NORTHMAN® (manufactured by Northman Snow Plows, Sioux Falls, S.D.) (not shown).  FIG. 9B  depicts a numbering configuration of the connector  92 .  FIG. 9A  depicts a numbering configuration for the pins  31  of the universal connector  30  in order to mate the universal connector  30  with other connectors based on function. The pin assignments of both connectors  30  and  92  are shown in Tables 18 and 19.  
                                           TABLE 18                           TYCO ® CONNECTOR P/N 172162-1       TYCO ® TERMINALS P/N 770903-1            PIN #   COLOR   FUNCTION                    1   RED   POS {+}       2   WHITE   RAISE       3   ORANGE   FLOAT       4   BROWN   PUMP SOLENOID       5   GREEN   RIGHT       6   BLUE   LEFT       7   N/A   N/A       8   N/A   N/A       9   N/A   N/A       10   N/A   N/A       11   N/A   N/A       12   BLACK   GROUND                    
         [0065]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 19 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 DIGI-KEY ® CONNECTOR P/N A1207-ND 
               
               
                 DIGI-KEY ® TERMINALS P/N A1423-ND 
               
             
          
           
               
                 PIN # 
                 COLOR 
                 FUNCTION 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1 
                 BLACK 
                 GROUND 
               
               
                 2 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
               
               
                 3 
                 RED 
                 POS {+} 
               
               
                 4 
                 GREEN 
                 RIGHT 
               
               
                 5 
                 ORANGE 
                 FLOAT 
               
               
                 6 
                 BROWN 
                 PUMP 
               
               
                 7 
                 BLUE 
                 LEFT 
               
               
                 8 
                 N/A 
                 N/A 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0066]      FIG. 10  shows a second adapter  80  with a first end  82  and a second end  84 . The second end  84  has a connector  94  configured to mate with a connector of a snowplow sold under the trademark HINIKER® (manufactured by Hiniker Company, Mankato, Minn.) (not shown). The second adapter  80  also has two female terminals  96  that are connectable to a switch (not shown) unique to snowplows sold under the trademark HINIKER®.  FIG. 10B  depicts a numbering configuration of the connector  64 .  FIG. 10A  depicts a numbering configuration for the pins  31  of the universal connector  30  in order to mate the universal connector  30  with other connectors based on function. The pin assignments of both connector  30  and  94  are shown in Tables 20 and 21.  
                                           TABLE 20                           TYCO ® CONNECTOR P/N 172162-1       TYCO ® TERMINALS P/N 770903-1            PIN #   COLOR   FUNCTION                    1   RED   POS {+}       2   N/A   N/A       3   ORANGE   FLOAT       4   BROWN   PUMP SOLENOID       5   GREEN   RIGHT       6   BLUE   LEFT       7   N/A   N/A       8   N/A   N/A       9   N/A   N/A       10   N/A   N/A       11   N/A   N/A       12   BLACK   GROUND           WHITE/BLACK   GROUND                    
         [0067]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 21 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                   
               
               
                 PEI-GENESIS SURE SEAL ® CONNECTIONS 
               
               
                 CONNECTOR P/N 120-1874-000 
               
               
                 FEMALE TERMINAL P/N 031-1067-001 
               
               
                 MALE TERMINAL P/N 030-2196-001 
               
             
          
           
               
                 PIN # 
                 COLOR 
                 FUNCTION 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 1 
                 BROWN 
                 PUMP SOLENOID 
               
               
                 2 
                 ORANGE 
                 FLOAT 
               
               
                 3 
                 RED 
                 {POS +} 
               
               
                 4 
                 BLACK 
                 GROUND 
               
               
                 5 
                 BLUE 
                 LEFT 
               
               
                 6 
                 GREEN 
                 RIGHT 
               
               
                 7 
                 WHITE/BLACK 
                 SWITCH 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0068]     In one embodiment, individual wires  83  bundled within the length of tubing  81  are color coded to correspond to color coded receptacles in the connectors  86 ,  88 ,  90 ,  92 ,  94  . The color coding of the individual wires  83  also corresponds to particular receptacles  31  of the universal connector  30 .  
         [0069]     Having shown a variety of examples of first adapters  20  and second adapters  80  , it is apparent that the present invention can be used to connect any controller to any snowplow. For example, if it were desired to use a 4-way small joystick harness with a snowplow sold under the trademarks of MEYER® or DIAMOND® (manufactured by Meyer Products, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio), a first adapter  20  of  FIG. 5  would be used with a second adapter  80  of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0070]     In operation, referring again to  FIGS. 1-5  , the first adapter  20  is constructed based on the type of controller desired, whereby the individual pins  32 ,  42 ,  58  and  66 ; terminals  52  and  54 ; and/or female couplers  56 ,  64  and  74  on the first end  22  are connected to corresponding receptacles in the desired controller  40 ,  50 ,  62  and  72 . The second end  24  is connected to the universal connector  28 .  
         [0071]     Referring now to  FIGS. 6-10  , the second adapter  80  is constructed based on the desired snowplow, whereby the individual wires  83  on the second end  84  are connected to a particular snowplow connector  86 ,  88 ,  90 ,  92  and  94 . The first end is connected to the universal connector  30  that corresponds to the universal connector  28  of the first adapter.  
         [0072]     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , when the universal connector  28  of the first adapter  28  is mated with the universal connector  30  of the second adapter  28  the desired snowplow is connected to the desired controller. It is contemplated that features disclosed in this application can be mixed and matched to suit particular circumstances. For example, the wires  23  and  81  of any of the adapters  20  and  80  shown can be fitted to a particular connector to allow connection to a controller or snowplow not shown. Various other modifications and changes will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, reference should be made to the claims to determine the scope of the present invention.