IP Library Granted Patent US 8,496,485
Granted Patent B2
US 8,496,485 · App. 13/677,094 · Granted Jul 30, 2013

Wiring harness for towing a vehicle

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,496,485
App. No.
13/677,094
Granted
Jul 30, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wiring substrate connects an electrical system of a towed vehicle to an electrical system of a towing vehicle and includes a wiring connector configured to connect to a connector from a wiring harness of the towed vehicle, a first set of connections to connect to tail light assemblies in the towed vehicles, a second set of connections to connect to vehicle signal connections in the towed vehicle, the first and second sets of connections electrically coupled on the wiring substrate by at least one diode, and a third set of connections to connect to the towing vehicle. A towing connector connects an electrical system of a towed vehicle to an electrical system of a towing vehicle and includes a first connector configured to provide connection to a native vehicle wiring harness of the towed vehicle, a second connector arranged to provide connection to wires of the towing vehicle, a wiring substrate having conductive traces connecting selected wires from the first connector to the second connector, and diodes residing on the wiring substrate in an electrical path form by the conductive traces.

Claims (21)

1. A wiring system to connect an electrical system of a towed vehicle to an electrical system of a towing vehicle comprising:

a wiring connector configured to connect to a connector from a wiring harness of the towed vehicle;

a first set of connections to connect to tail light assemblies in the towed vehicles;

a second set of connections to connect to vehicle signal connections in the towed vehicle, the first and second sets of connections electrically coupled by at least one diode: and

a third set of connections to connect to the towing vehicle.

2. The wiring system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of connections comprises two sets of connections, one for each tail light assembly.

3. The wiring system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of connections comprises connections for a combined brake and turn signal.

4. The wiring system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of connections comprises connections for a separate brake and turn signal.

5. The wiring system of claim 1 , wherein the wiring system includes a connection for a brake light indicator to be mounted in the towing vehicle.

6. The wiring system of claim 1 , wherein the third set of connections comprises a 4-wire towing connector.

7. The wiring system of claim 1 , wherein the wiring system includes a housing.

8. The wiring system of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes lights electrically connected to the connections such that the lights are powered when the connections are complete.

9. A towing connector to connect an electrical system of a towed vehicle to an electrical system of a towing vehicle, comprising:

a first connector configured to provide connection to a native vehicle wiring harness of the towed vehicle;

a second connector arranged to provide connection to wires of the towing vehicle system; and

diodes connecting the first connector to the second connector.

10. The towing connector of claim 9 , wherein the second connector comprises a vehicle-specific connector.

11. The towing connector of claim 9 , wherein the towing connector includes an indicator connection electrically coupled to an in-indicator light such that the light is powered when the first and second connectors complete a connection.

12. The towing connector of claim 9 , wherein the first connector provides connections for combined brake and turn lights on the towed vehicle.

13. The towing connector of claim 9 , wherein the first connector provides connections for separate brake and turn light son the towed vehicle.

14. The towing connector of claim 9 , wherein the first and second connectors, and the diodes only include wires and diodes for one side of the towed vehicle, and the towing connector further comprises another set of connectors and diodes for another side of the towed vehicle.

Assignments (3)
FIRST LIEN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 18, 2025
From: AIRTEX INDUSTRIES, LLC; AIRTEX PRODUCTS, LP; APC INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS, LLC; APC PARENT, LLC; ASC INDUSTRIES, INC.; AUTOLITE OPERATIONS LLC; AVM EXPORT, INC.; BPI ACQUISITION COMPANY, LLC; BPI EC, LLC; BPI HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL, LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC CHINA LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC INDIA LLC; BRAKE PARTS INC LLC; CARDONE INDUSTRIES, INC.; CARRAND COMPANIES, INC.; CARTER CARBURETOR HOLDINGS, LLC; CARTER CARBURETOR, LLC; CARTER FUEL EXPORT, INC.; CARTER FUEL SYSTEMS, LLC; CHAMPION LABORATORIES, INC.; CWD HOLDING, LLC; CWD INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS I, LLC; CWD INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS II, LLC; CWD, LLC; DALTON CORPORATION; DALTON CORPORATION, KENDALLVILLE; MANUFACTURING FACILITY DALTON CORPORATION, ASHLAND; MANUFACTURING FACILITY DALTON CORPORATION, STRYKER MACHINING FACILITY CO.; DALTON CORPORATION, WARSAW MANUFACTURING FACILITY; EAGLE CASTING, LLC; EAGLE MACHINING, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP INTERMEDIATE, LLC; FIRST BRANDS GROUP, LLC; FRAM GROUP IP LLC; FRAM GROUP OPERATIONS LLC; FRAMAUTO HOLDINGS, LLC; FUEL FILTER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GLOBAL REMAN VENTURES, LLC; HEATHERTON HOLDINGS, LLC; HOPKINS ACQUISITION, INC.; HOPKINS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION; HORIZON EURO FINANCE LLC; HORIZON GLOBAL AMERICAS INC.; HORIZON GLOBAL COMPANY LLC; HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION; HORIZON INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; IBI INTERNATIONAL HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; INTERNATIONAL BRAKE INDUSTRIES, INC.; JASPER ACQUISITION CORP.; JASPER RUBBER PRODUCTS, INC.; KTRI HOLDINGS, INC.; KTRI OFFSHORE HOLDINGS, LLC; LONGMAN ENTERPRISES, INC.; PHNX ACQUISITION CORP.; PREMIER MARKETING GROUP, LLC; PYLON MANUFACTURING CORP.; PYLON SOUTH BEND, INC.; QUALIS AUTOMOTIVE, L.L.C.; QUALIS ENTERPRISES, LLC; QUALITOR ACQUISITION INC.; QUALITOR AUTOMOTIVE, LLC; QUALITOR SUBSIDIARY H, INC.; QUALITOR SUBSIDIARY S, INC.; QUALITOR, INC.; REMAN MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL LLC; SDC TX, LLC; SMART CHOICE, LLC; SPECIALTY PUMPS GROUP, INC.; STRONGARM, LLC; TAE BRAKES, LLC; TAE CHINA HOLDINGS, INC.; TMD INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC; TMD MEXICO LLC; TOLEDO MOLDING & DIE, LLC; TRANSPORTATION AFTERMARKET ENTERPRISE, LLC; TRICO HOLDING CORPORATION; TRICO PRODUCTS CORPORATION; TRICO TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION; TRIDONEX USA LLC; UCI ACQUISITION HOLDINGS (NO. 4) LLC; UCI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS PARENT, INC.; UCI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC.; UCI INTERNATIONAL, LLC; UCI PENNSYLVANIA, INC.; UCI-AIRTEX HOLDINGS, INC.; UNITED COMPONENTS, LLC; UNIVERSAL AUTO FILTER LLC; VIPER ACQUISITION I, INC.; VIPER ACQUISITION, INC.; WALBRO LLC; WALBRO MIDCO LLC; WEM US CO.
To: GLAS USA LLC
Reel/Frame 071674/0688 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT Recorded May 12, 2017
From: HOPKINS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
To: THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA
Reel/Frame 042455/0159 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2013
From: TOW DADDY, INC.
To: HOPKINS MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029917/0685 →