TRAILER WIRE HARNESS STORAGE, PROTECTION AND SECURING DEVICE

DISPOSITIF DE STOCKAGE, PROTECTION ET FIXATION DE HARNAIS DE CABLES DE REMORQUE

English Abstract

A series of devices for storing, protecting, and securing various common types
of
terminal end connectors of a trailer light or combined trailer light and
braking system
wiring harness including an electrically non-conductive - plug receiving -
base having a
female receptacle therein, or combination of female receptacle therein and a
laterally
adjacent, elongated male dummy plug for receiving complementary formed,
electrically
conductive, male and female electrical terminals, respectively, provided in
the terminal
end connector. A mechanism is provided for mounting the electrically non-
conductive - plug receiving - base
on a trailer structure or vehicle adjacent to the terminal end
connector in order to secure and protect the various terminal end connectors
of a trailer
light or combined trailer light and braking system wiring harness .

Claims

CLAIMS
Claim 1
2-Pin Embodiment
A large number of trailer wiring harnesses include a motor vehicle mounted,
two-
way, flat harness connector having one male pin and one female socket and a
complementally formed, trailer-mounted flat harness connector including a
female
socket receptacle and one male pin. There is no known one piece, insulated
securing
and protection device which can be easily mounted on a trailer structure and
attached
to, and detached from, the trailer wire harness connectors.
Accordingly it is an object of the present invention embodiment to provide a
new
and novel one piece protection and securing device for protecting and securing
the
terminal end connector of a two-way electrical wiring harness of a trailer.
It is another object of the present invention embodiment to provide a
protection
and securing device of the type described including an electrically
nonconductive base
having an imperforate end face and an axially opposite perforate end face
including at
least one female socket.
It is another object of the present invention embodiment to provide a
protection
and securing device of the type described including one laterally adjacent
nonconductive socket in an end face of an electrically nonconductive base
member and
an electrically nonconductive male plug integral with the base and disposed
adjacent
the nonconductive socket.
It is another object of the present invention embodiment to provide a
protection
and securing device of the type described including one central perforation in
the
electrically nonconductive base member to allow the base member to be affixed
to the
trailer structure.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention embodiment will become
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art as the description thereof
proceeds.
Claim 2
4-Pin Embodiment
A large number of trailer wiring harnesses include a motor vehicle mounted,
four-
way, flat harness connector having one male pin and three female sockets and a
complementally formed, trailer-mounted flat harness connector including a
female
socket receptacle and three male pins. There is no known one piece, insulated
securing
and protection device which can be easily mounted on a trailer structure and
attached
to, and detached from, the trailer wire harness connectors.
Accordingly it is an object of the present invention embodiment to provide a
new and
novel one piece protection and securing device for protecting and securing the
terminal
end connector of a 4 way electrical wiring harness of a trailer.
It is another object of the present invention embodiment to provide a
protection
and securing device of the type described including an electrically
nonconductive base
having an imperforate end face and an axially opposite perforate end face
including at
least one female socket.

It is another object of the present invention embodiment to provide a
protection
and securing device of the type described including three laterally adjacent
nonconductive sockets in an end face of an electrically nonconductive base
member
and an electrically nonconductive male plug integral with the base and
disposed
adjacent the nonconductive sockets.
It is another object of the present invention embodiment to provide a
protection
and securing device of the type described including one central perforation in
the
electrically nonconductive base member to allow the base member to be affixed
to the
trailer structure.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention embodiment will become
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art as the description thereof
proceeds.
Claim 3
5-Pin Embodiment
A large number of trailer wiring harnesses include a motor vehicle mounted,
four-
way, flat harness connector having one male pin and four female sockets and a
complementally formed, trailer-mounted flat harness connector including a
female
socket receptacle and four male pins. There is no known one piece, insulated
securing
and protection device which can be easily mounted on a trailer structure and
attached
to, and detached from, the trailer wire harness connectors.
Accordingly it is an object of the present invention embodiment to provide a
new
and novel one piece protection and securing device for protecting and securing
the
terminal end connector of a 5 way electrical wiring harness of a trailer.
It is another object of the present invention embodiment to provide a
protection
and securing device of the type described including an electrically
nonconductive base
having an imperforate end face and an axially opposite perforate end face
including at
least one female socket.
It is another object of the present invention embodiment to provide a
protection
and securing device of the type described including four laterally adjacent
nonconductive sockets in an end face of an electrically nonconductive base
member
and an electrically nonconductive male plug integral with the base and
disposed
adjacent the nonconductive sockets.
It is another object of the present invention embodiment to provide a
protection
and securing device of the type described including one central perforation in
the
electrically nonconductive base member to allow the base member to be affixed
to the
trailer structure.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to
those of ordinary skill in the art as the description thereof proceeds.

Claim 4
6-Pin Embodiment
A large number of trailer wiring harnesses include a motor vehicle mounted,
six-
way, internal cylinder harness connector receiver having six male pins; five
positioned
equally around the circumference, with one centrally located male pin and a
complementally formed, trailer-mounted cylindrical harness connector including
six
female, round pin, socket receptacles; five positioned equally around the
circumference
with one centrally located socket receptacle. There is no known one piece,
insulated
securing and protection device which can be easily mounted on a trailer
structure and
attached to, and detached from, the trailer wire harness connectors.
Accordingly it is an object of the present invention embodiment to provide a
new
and novel one piece protection and securing device for protecting and securing
the
terminal end connector of a six-way electrical wiring harness of a trailer.
It is another object of the present invention embodiment to provide a
protection
and securing device of the type described including an electrically
nonconductive base
having an imperforate end face and an axially opposite cylindrical perforate
end face
including one female socket to receive the trailer-mounted cylindrical harness
connector
including six female, round pin, socket receptacles; five positioned equally
around the
circumference with one centrally located socket receptacle.
It is another object of the present invention embodiment to provide a
protection
and securing device of the type described including one keyed alignment groove
in the
cylindrical perforate of the nonconductive base to align the trailer-mounted
cylindrical
harness connector including six female, round pin, socket receptacles; five
positioned
equally around the circumference with one centrally located socket receptacle
to the
nonconductive base member.
It is another object of the present invention embodiment to provide a
protection
and securing device of the type described including one securing tab emergent
above
the cylindrical perforate of the nonconductive base to secure the trailer-
mounted
cylindrical harness connector including six female, round pin, socket
receptacles; five
positioned equally around the circumference with one centrally located socket
receptacle to the nonconductive base member.
It is another object of the present invention embodiment to provide a
protection
and securing device of the type described including four base located
perforations in the
electrically nonconductive base member to allow the base member to be affixed
to the
trailer structure.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention embodiment will become
apparent to those of ordinary skill in,the art as the description thereof
proceeds.
Claim 5
7-Pin Embodiment
A large number of trailer wiring harnesses include a motor vehicle mounted,
seven-way, internal cylinder harness connector receiver having six male blade
style
pins positioned equally around the circumference with one centrally located
female
socket and a complementally formed, trailer-mounted cylindrical harness
connector
including six female blade socket receptacles and one centrally located male
pin. There
is no known one piece, insulated securing and protection device which can be
easily

mounted on a trailer structure and attached to, and detached from, the trailer
wire
harness connectors.
Accordingly it is an object of the present invention embodiment to provide a
new
and novel one piece protection and securing device for protecting and securing
the
terminal end connector of a seven-way electrical wiring harness of a trailer
as .
It is another object of the present invention embodiment to provide a
protection
and securing device of the type described including an electrically
nonconductive base
having an imperforate end face and an axially opposite cylindrical perforate
end face
including one female socket to receive the trailer-mounted cylindrical harness
connector
including six female blade socket receptacles and one centrally located male
pin.
It is another object of the present invention embodiment to provide a
protection
and securing device of the type described including one keyed alignment groove
in the
cylindrical perforate of the nonconductive base to align the trailer-mounted
cylindrical
harness connector including six female blade socket receptacles and one
centrally
located male pin to the nonconductive base member.
It is another object of the present invention embodiment to provide a
protection
and securing device of the type described including one securing tab emergent
above
the cylindrical perforate of the nonconductive base to secure the trailer-
mounted
cylindrical harness connector including six female blade socket receptacles
and one
centrally located male pin to the nonconductive base member.
It is another object of the present invention embodiment to provide a
protection
and securing device of the type described including four base located
perforations in the
electrically nonconductive base member to allow the base member to be affixed
to the
trailer structure.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention embodiment will become
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art as the description thereof
proceeds.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention
have
been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not
intended to be
exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed,
and obviously
many modifications and variations are possible in the light of the above
teaching. The
exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the
principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby
enable others
skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various
embodiments with
various modifications as are suited to the particular use.

Description

CA 02893682 2015-06-02
Canadian Patent Application
SPECIFICATION
General Character
The invention relates to a series of embodiments of a device for stowing,
protecting, and securing one of multiple embodiments (2-pin, 4-pin, 5-pin, 6-
pin, and 7-
pin) of trailer light or combined trailer light and braking system wiring
harness systems.
The invention reduces instances of damage from impact or dragging through the
securing of the terminal end connectors of a trailer light or combined trailer
light and
braking system wiring harness away from the underside of the trailer vehicle
coupling
tongue onto the trailer structure. The invention prevents contamination of the
trailer light
or combined trailer light and braking system wiring harness systems from
fouling, dirt,
mud, moisture, or any other external elements; while reducing wire harness
electrical
connector exposure to corrosion causing environments.
Nature
It is conventional to provide electrical power to the lights or combined
lights and
braking systems of a trailer via a conductive wire harness on the draft
vehicle and on
the trailer which have mating terminal end connectors that are detachably
coupled
together. These connectors each have one or more electrically conductive male
terminals and one or more electrically conductive socket/female terminals,
which
receive the complementally formed, female and male electrically conductive
terminals
on the other connector. When the draft vehicle is not coupled to the trailer,
and the
wiring harnesses are not coupled together, the trailer harnesses are typically
left
hanging from the trailer coupling torgue. On occasion, water, dirt, snow,
dust, or gravel
can foul or damage the conductive socket or terminal elements rendering the
trailer wire
harness unusable until it is repaired, cleaned, or replaced entirely.
Additionally an
uncoupled trailer wire harness is subject to dragging, crushing, or impact
damage, and
can result in unserviceability of the trailer wire harness or trailer unit.
Inventive Idea
Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention (a series of
embodiments of
storage, protection, and securing connectors for multiple trailer types and
uses) to
provide a new and novel device for preventing trailer wire harness damage from
impact
or dragging by providing a method to securely mount the a trailer light or
combined
trailer light and braking system wiring harness out of the path of the
dragging and
impact areas of the trailer coupling tongue, and further to securely mount and
seal the
connector to prevent fouling from dirt, moisture, snow, dust or any external
fouling agent
when the trailer is not employed by the user.
Accordingly it is another object of the present invention to provide a one
piece
electrically non-conductive - plug receiving ¨ base for securing and
protecting a terminal
connector for a trailer wire harness when not in use. It is still another
object of the
present invention to provide a secure storage mechanism of the type described
with no
moving parts.

CA 02893682 2015-06-02
Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to provide a
trailer light
wire harness securing and protection device which will concurrently,
adequately protect
and detachably seal both male and female electrical terminals in electrical
connectors.

CA 02893682 2015-06-02
Canadian Patent Application
Full Description of the Drawings
The invention may be more readily understood by referring to the accompanying
drawings of each application of the device, in which:
Figure 1- Pictorial Side Elevation Views
In Figure 1, view A illustrates a conventional trailer draft bar with trailer
vehicle
coupling arrangement mock up (1); showing cooperating mating terminal end
connectors of an electrical trailer wire harness (2) with the present
invention(3) A 4-pin
embodiment is shown in this depiction. The present invention (3), a
nonconductive base
is secured to the draft bar of the trailer at a suitable location by the end
user as
illustrated in view A and the electrical trailer wire harness is inserted
fully into the
present invention (4) to protect the electrical trailer wire harness and
secure the
electrical trailer wire harness to the trailer structure as illustrated in
view B.
Figure 2 - Two-Pin Version
In Figure 2, view A illustrates an under plan view of the 2-pin embodiment of
the
storage, protection and securing device. Figure 3, view B is a sectional side
view of the
storage, protection and securing device constructed according to the present
invention,
taken along the front mating section line x-x of view A. View A and B
illustrates the
single female electrically nonconductive socket (1) and view A, B, and C; the
one male
electrically nonconductive pin (2) designed to mate with the complementary,
trailer
mounted, 2-pin electrical trailer wire harness plug. An integral device
mounting hole (3)
penetrates the device's elevated center also evident in view B and side plan
view C.
Figure 3 - Four-Pin Version
Figure 3, view A illustrates an under plan view of the 4-pin embodiment of the
storage, protection and securing device. Figure 3, view B is a sectional side
view of the
storage, protection and securing device constructed according to the present
invention,
taken along the front mating section line x-x of view A. View B and D
illustrates the three
female electrically nonconductive sockets (1) and one male electrically
nonconductive
pin (2) designed to mate with the complementary, trailer mounted, 4-pin
electrical trailer
wire harness plug. An integral device mounting hole (3) penetrates the
device's
elevated center also evident in side plan view C and in view D.
Figure 4 ¨ Five-Pin Version
Figure 4, view A illustrates an under plan view of the 5-pin embodiment of the
storage, protection and securing device. Figure 3, view C is a sectional side
view of the
storage, protection and securing device constructed according to the present
invention,

CA 02893682 2015-06-02
taken along the front mating section line x-x of view B. View A, B and D
illustrates the
four female electrically nonconductive sockets (1) and one male electrically
nonconductive pin (2) designed to mate with the complementary, trailer
mounted, 5-pin
electrical trailer wire harness plug. An integral device mounting hole (3)
penetrates the
device's elevated center also evident in side plan view E and in view D and E.
Figure 5 ¨ Six-Pin Version
Figure 5, view A illustrates a general 3D view of the 6-pin embodiment of the
storage, protection and securing device; a nonconductive base (1) with one
imperforate
end face (2) and an axially opposite cylindrical perforate end face (3)
including one
female socket designed to mate with the complementary, trailer mounted,
cylindrical 6-
pin electrical trailer wire harness plug. View A, B, D, and E also illustrate
a flexible
securing mechanism (4) and view C and E illustrate an internal key way (6)
that aligns
and holds a complementary and integral part of the 6-pin electrical trailer
wire harness
plug to maintain it in a secured position when inserted into the present
invention. View
A, B, D, and E illustrate the presence of four integral device mounting holes
(5) which
perforates the nonconductive base of the present invention's lower mounting
and
support structure. These holes are used by the end user to mount the present
invention
to the trailer structure.
Figure 6 ¨ Seven-Pin Version
Figure 6, view A illustrates a general 3D view of the 7-pin embodiment of the
storage, protection and securing device; a nonconductive base (1) with one
imperforate
end face (2) and an axially opposite cylindrical perforate end face (3)
including one
female socket designed to mate with the complementary, trailer mounted,
cylindrical 7-
pin electrical trailer wire harness plug. View A, B, D, and E also illustrate
a flexible
securing mechanism (4) and view C and E illustrate an internal key way (6)
that aligns
and holds a complementary and integral part of the 7-pin electrical trailer
wire harness
plug to maintain it in a secured position when inserted into the present
invention. View
A, B, D, and E illustrate the presence of four integral device mounting holes
(5) which
perforates the nonconductive base a the present invention's lower mounting and
support structure. These holes are used by the end user to mount the present
invention
to the trailer structure.

Representative Drawing