Abstract:
A wireless reverse light system for trailers is provided. A transmitter is configured to replace a light or light assembly of at least one reverse light already contained in the tractor configured to pull the trailer. When the tractor is put into reverse gear, the transmitter in place of the reverse light or light assembly sends a wireless trigger signal to a receiver light that is releasably attached to a rear and/or side of the trailer. When the wireless signal is received by the receiver, it triggers the connection of a battery supply to lights contained therein, thereby providing a reverse light or lights at the rear/sides of the trailer.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/465,843 filed on Mar. 25, 2011, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to trailers. More particularly, it relates to the addition of reverse lights to trailers which do not have the same. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Generally, tractors (trucks) are used to pull trailers of various sizes. These tractors include reverse lights and sometimes (but not always) include chimers to provide audible notice of the engagement of the reverse gear of the tractor. Unfortunately, the trailers that are connected to these tractors do not include reverse lights. As such, when the trailer is attached to the tractor, and the tractor engages reverse gear, it is next to impossible to see the reverse lights on the tractor (except from very limited angles from the sides of the trailers) as they are hidden underneath the trailer, which can be anywhere from 20-53 feet long. Thus, unless the tractor includes a chimer, there is no way for the persons or vehicles behind the trailer to know that the trailer has engaged the reverse gear and is backing up. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    According to one aspect of the invention, the wireless reverse light assembly is for use with trailers connectable to tractors. The tractors have reverse light assemblies built therein. The wireless reverse light assembly includes a transmitter connectable to at least one reverse light assembly of the tractor, and a receiver connectable to a trailer and having at least one light contained therein. The receiver is configured to respond to a wireless trigger signal sent from the transmitter and activate the at least one light contained therein. The transmitter is configured to send the wireless trigger signal to the receiver when the tractor has engaged reverse gear. 
         [0007]    According to another aspect of the invention, the wireless reverse light system for trailers includes a transmitter in signal communication with a tractor pulling the trailer and being configured to transmit a wireless trigger signal in response to engagement of a reverse gear of the tractor, and a receiver light assembly releasably connectable to the a rear or side of the trailer and configured to illuminate one or more lights contained therein in response to receipt of the wireless trigger signal. 
         [0008]    Other aspects and features of the present principles will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the present principles, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    In the drawings wherein like reference numerals denote similar components throughout the views: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1   a  shows an example of a tractor (truck) and trailer configuration to which the present invention is applicable; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 1   b - 1   e  show lens shape examples of the transmitter portion of the wireless trailer reverse light system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 2   a - 2   c  shows the transmitter portion of the wireless trailer reverse light system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 3   a - 3   d  show exemplary shapes of the receiver portion of the wireless trailer reverse light system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 4   a - 4   b  shows the receiver portion of the wireless trailer receiver light system according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 1   a , there is shown a tractor  10  and a trailer  12  connected thereto. The Tractor includes reverse lights  14  at the back of the trailer connection portion of the same. Although the size of the tractor  10  may vary, all tractors include brake and reverse lights at the rear of the same. The tractor is generally electrically connected to the trailer  12  via a connection line  16  which has specific connectors with mating characteristics. It is through this connection line that the trailer  12  receives electric power and is couples the brake and running lights of the trailer to the Tractor. 
         [0016]    However, those of skill in the art will appreciate that most trailers  12  do not come equipped with reverse lights at the rear  18  thereof. As such, the electrical connection  16  does not operate to provide reverse light capability at the rear  18  of the trailer  12 . The present invention solves this problem by providing wireless reverse lights that can be either permanently or releasably attached to the rear  18  and/or the sides of any trailer  12 . 
         [0017]    According to an embodiment of the invention, the wireless reverse lights for trailers includes a first transmitter part configured to replace an existing reverse light assembly on the tractor, and a second receiver/light part, wirelessly in communication with the transmitter part, connected to the rear  18  or sides of the trailer to provide illumination and/or audible chiming when the reverse gear of the tractor is engaged. 
         [0018]    Since the shape of the existing reverse light assemblies may vary between tractor manufacturers, the present invention is intended to accommodate all various sizes and shapes of such existing reverse light assemblies.  FIGS. 1   b - 1   e  show some examples of the different shape assemblies of the first part of the system. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that any other sizes may be implemented without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2   a  shows an example of the transmitter part  20  according to an embodiment of the invention. Transmitter part  20  includes a housing  23  having connector  22  that is configured to mate with the existing reverse light assembly connector  15  contained within the existing reverse light assembly  14  of the tractor. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the housing  23  can be shaped to replace the existing reverse light assembly of the tractor (not shown). 
         [0020]      FIG. 2   b  shows a first embodiment of the internal workings of the transmitter part  20 A according to the present invention. The transmitter part  20 A includes a light bulb  24  and a motherboard or printed circuit board (PCB)  26  which are both electrically connected to the connector  22 . The PCB  26  includes wireless transmitter capability and is configured to be activated when the power to the connector  22  is activated, as a result of the reverse gear of the tractor being engaged. Thus, when the reverse gear of the tractor is engaged, the light  24  will illuminate and the transmitter circuitry on PCB  26  will be activated to send a wireless trigger signal to the wireless light receiver or second part of the system. 
         [0021]    In another implementation of the invention, the transmitter part  20 A can also include a reverse chimer  28 , which would also be activated in response to the engagement of the reverse gear and thus power to the connector  22 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 2   c  shows another implementation of the transmitter part  20 B where the transmitter circuitry/PCB  30  is connected directly to the connector  22 , and the light bulb  34  connects to the PCB  30 . In this configuration, PCB  30  includes the transmitter circuitry, may include the chimer (depending on whether the tractor includes a chimer already), and the means to illuminate the light  34  when power to the connector  22  is activated. In this embodiment, it is contemplated that that PCB  30  includes a mating connector that would mate with the existing reverse light bulb socket  32  on the tractor reverse light assembly. In this embodiment, the need for a separate housing could be eliminated and the wireless trailer reverse light system of the present invention could be implemented by simply changing the reverse light bulb of the tractor with the PCB  30  which would receive the light bulb  34 . 
         [0023]    According to another embodiment of the invention, it is contemplated that the tractor manufacturers could include the transmitter circuitry into the tractor during manufacture of the same. In this implementation, the transmitter circuitry would be in signal communication with the tractor so as to detect the engagement of the reverse gear. Here, the tractor manufacturer could provide the wireless receiver lights corresponding to the pre-installed transmitters with each tractor sold. 
         [0024]    Referring generally to  FIGS. 3   a - 3   d , there is shown various shapes and sizes of the wireless light receiver  40  according to embodiments of the invention. These wireless receivers  40  can be permanently or releasably attached to rear of the trailer by any suitable means. Examples of such connections can be, screw fasteners, adhesives, magnets, hook and loop fasteners, and the like. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that various means for connecting the wireless light receiver to the read of the trailer can be implemented without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0025]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  show an exemplary embodiment of the wireless light receiver  40  according to the invention. The wireless light receiver  40  includes a front lens portion  42  and a rear mounting or connecting portion  44 . Receiver circuitry/PCB  46  contained within the receiver  40  includes a battery power supply  50  and one or more low voltage lights (e.g., super bright LEDs)  48 . In other contemplated embodiments, the receiver PCB can also include a chimer  51 . 
         [0026]    As mentioned above, the connecting portion  44  can be implemented in many different ways. In one preferred implementation, the connecting portion  44  includes strong magnets that can be adhered to the trailer. The wireless light receivers  40  can be mounted on the rear of the trailer, and/or on the sides of the trailer so as to enable illumination of the sides of the trailer during reverse operations. 
         [0027]    During operation, the receiver circuitry  46  responds to a wireless trigger signal received from the transmitter circuitry  26 ,  30  by connecting the power/battery  50  to the lights  48 . When the receiver PCB  46  includes the chimer  51 , the chimer is also activated upon receipt of the wireless trigger signal. In this manner, the lights  48  provide reverse lights to the trailer without requiring any re-wiring or alterations to either the tractor or the trailer. In addition, a chimer can be added at the rear of the trailer for tractors that do not have chimers, and possibly in addition to the tractor chimer. As described above, the wireless trigger signal is sent by the transmitter circuitry in response to the engagement of reverse gear of the tractor. 
         [0028]    In the preferred implementation of the invention, the detection of the engagement of the reverse gear of the tractor transmission is performed using the existing reverse light assembly of the tractor. Those of skill it the art will appreciate that other methods of detecting the engagement of the reverse gear of the tractor could also be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention. Such methods may include, for example, communication with the tractor computer or electrical system, the gear shifter or transmission control systems, if any. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4B  shows an embodiment where the lens  42  of the receiver light assembly  40  is hinged  52  so as to allow access to the inside of the wireless light receiver  40  for purposes of changing the battery  50 , cleaning, etc. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that any type of releasable connector  54  can be implemented for allowing the lens  42  to be opened and closed, preferably without allowing moister to penetrate the light assembly once closed. 
         [0030]    Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the wireless communication protocol of the present invention can be, for example, radio frequency (RF) in any suitable range. It is further contemplated that the transmitter PCB  30  and corresponding receiver PCB  46  can be manufactured to operate at different frequencies so as to accommodate fleets of trucks and so as to prevent the accidental triggering of the wireless reverse light assemblies. 
         [0031]    In one exemplary embodiment, the transmitter PCB  30  and corresponding receiver PCB  46  can include frequency changing means, for example, dip switches  36  ( FIG. 2   c ) and  56  (FIG.  4   b ) which allow the user/owner to change the frequency at which the systems operate. Although shown in the form of a mechanical dipswitch, it is further contemplated that the frequency changing capability can be implemented in various know ways without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0032]    While there have been shown, described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the present principles, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of the methods described and devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the same. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the present principles. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or implementation of the present principles may be incorporated in any other disclosed, described or suggested form or implementation as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.