Danko Manufacturing LLC

Master Concepts, Inc.

B & D Manufacturing, Inc.

Other

Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation

Daniel L Decker, Jr

Jerad M Burkhart

Eric K Becker

Alec D Brock

Nathan R Mortensen

Samuel T Shumate

Ronald E Decker

Leland Charles Leber

Jeffrey T Samson

Jeffrey Tad Samson

Brian B Phillips

A wiring socket adapter is described that is configured to provide tow zone illumination. In embodiments the adapter includes a housing, a plug at a first end of the housing configured to be attached to a trailer wiring socket of a vehicle, and a socket at a second end of the housing configured to be attached to a trailer wiring plug. A lamp is at the second end of the housing and an electrical lead is coupled to the lamp at the second end of the housing to power the lamp and coupled to the socket at the first end of the housing to receive power from the socket.

Wiring socket adapter with tow zone illumination

Breakaway detection and alerting is described for a towed vehicle. In one example, a system includes a wired breakaway detector having a detector to generate an electric breakaway detection signal when a breakaway cable is not in a breakaway cable socket and an electrical cable to indicate the electric breakaway detection signal, and a wireless interface configured to be attached to the towed vehicle outside of the interior driver's area, to receive the electric breakaway detection signal from the breakaway detector and having a wireless transceiver to transmit a wireless breakaway alert signal in response to receiving the electric breakaway detection signal. A portable brake activation system receives the wireless breakaway alert signal from the wireless interface in the interior driver's area of the towed vehicle and activates the towed vehicle braking system through the attached brake pedal in response to the wireless breakaway alert signal.

Wireless towed vehicle breakaway cable alert system

A towed vehicle braking system is described that in some embodiments includes a brake pedal connector configured to connect to a brake pedal of a towed vehicle brake in a passenger compartment of a towed vehicle, a power supply circuit in an engine compartment of the towed vehicle coupled to a towed vehicle battery to receive power, and a brake drive system in the engine compartment connected through a wall to the passenger compartment to the brake pedal connector to actuate the brake of the towed vehicle through the brake pedal connector by applying a positive pressure to the brake pedal connector to move the brake pedal. An inertial sensor in the engine compartment detects deceleration of the towed vehicle, and a processor in the engine compartment coupled to the inertial sensor and to the brake drive system causes the brake drive system to actuate the brake in response to the detection of deceleration.

Under-hood installed towed vehicle braking system

A towed vehicle braking system is described that in some embodiments includes a brake pedal connector configured to connect to a brake pedal of a brake of a towed vehicle. A cylinder has a piston connected to the brake pedal connector to actuate the brake of the towed vehicle through the brake pedal connector by applying a positive pressure to the brake pedal connector to move the brake pedal. A vacuum supply line is coupled to a power booster of the towed vehicle brake and configured to provide vacuum to the power booster. A pump is coupled to the vacuum supply line and to the cylinder to alternately provide vacuum to the vacuum supply line and to drive the piston to actuate the brake. An inertial sensor detects deceleration of the towed vehicle, and a processor is coupled to the inertial sensor and to the pump to cause the pump to not provide vacuum and to drive the piston in response to the detection of deceleration.

Towed vehicle braking system with combined vacuum and pressure supply

Breakaway detection and alerting is described for the breakaway of a towed vehicle. In one example, a system includes a breakaway detector attached to a towed vehicle to detect when a distance to a tow vehicle has exceeded a predetermined distance and to generate a breakaway detection signal and a wireless interface coupled to the detector to receive the breakaway detection signal and to transmit a wireless breakaway alert signal in response thereto.

Wireless towed vehicle breakaway detection and alert

A towed vehicle braking system is described that in some embodiments includes a brake pedal connector configured to connect to a brake pedal of a brake of a towed vehicle. A brake drive system is connected to the brake pedal connector to actuate the brake of the towed vehicle through the brake pedal connector by applying a positive pressure to the brake pedal connector to move the brake pedal. A voltage detector is coupled to a battery of the towed vehicle to detect the voltage at the battery and an ON/OFF circuit is coupled to the voltage detector to turn off the brake drive system in response to the detected voltage being above a predetermined voltage threshold.

Towed vehicle braking system with battery voltage controlled operation

Brake activation system

Brake lock detection is described for a brake activation system. In one example, a main housing is configured to engage an interior surface of a towed vehicle near a brake pedal of the towed vehicle. An actuation arm extends away from the main housing configured to connect to the brake pedal to actuate a brake of the towed vehicle through the brake pedal. An arm drive system of the main housing applies a positive pressure to the actuation arm when activated to drive the brake pedal to actuate the brake. A negative pressure sensor generates a negative pressure signal when the brake pedal applies a negative pressure opposite the positive pressure to the actuation arm and the actuation arm is not activated.

Brake lock detection system for towed vehicles

A brake activation system and method are described. In one example, a bottom surface is configured to engage a floor pan of a towed vehicle near a brake pedal. An actuation arm extends away from the bottom surface and is configured to connect to the brake pedal to actuate a brake of the towed vehicle through the brake pedal, the actuation arm extends in a direction partially normal to the bottom surface. An arm drive system applies pressure to the actuation arm to drive the brake pedal to actuate the brake, the arm drive system being connected to the bottom surface to drive the actuation arm against the bottom surface in a direction partially normal to the bottom surface.

Brake activation system an method with vehicle floor placement

A brake activation system and method are described. In one example, an arm drive system of a brake activation system is activated to apply pressure to an actuation arm. The actuation arm is attached to a brake pedal of a towed vehicle and has a movable connection to a grip of the brake activation system. The applied pressure drives the grip away from the brake pedal. The grip grips a surface of the towed vehicle. The arm drive system is also activated to apply pressure to the actuation arm to drive the actuation arm toward the brake pedal, moving the connection to the grip.

Brake activation system and method

A potential parking area level indicator is provided that includes a centralized hub with a plurality of arms depending therefrom. Preferably, four arms are provided that are spaced 90 degrees from each other thereby defining two sets of opposing arms. In operation, a driver of an RV would locate the level indicator on a potential parking area thereby placing the arms onto the potential parking surface. If the line defined by a pair of opposed arms is placed on a generally level area, indicator lights will illuminate indicating that fact. If, however, the line defined by opposing arms is placed on a grade that is not acceptable for parking, the indicator lights will not illuminate showing that the potential parking area is unsafe for parking. Proper illumination of the lights is driven by accelerometers incorporated into the arms of the level indicator.

Parking area level indication device

Vehicle leveling device

An improved brake pedal fastener adapted for use with a tandem-type braking system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the brake pedal fastener can be selectively locked against and removed from varying sized brake pedals in a quick and easy manner.

Growing community of inventors

Castle Rock, CO, United States of America

Daniel L Decker, Jr