The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 26, 1995
Filed:
May. 06, 1994
Evan L Hopkins, Emporia, KS (US);
E Leon Hopkins, Emporia, KS (US);
Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation, Emporia, KS (US);
Abstract
An automotive electrical wiring harness for connecting the electrical system of a towing vehicle to that of a trailer or the like has a flat connector at one end which is foldable along a hinge line of weakness in the body of the connector. When folded, the connector body is smaller than the diameter of a small opening in the bumper of the towing vehicle so as to permit the connector to be passed through the opening while the rest of the harness stays behind. Once on the far side of the opening, the connector is unfolded to reestablish its original flat, full size configuration, whereupon it may be coupled with other connector components of the vehicle's electrical system. Optionally, a protective sleeve may be slipped over the connector and frictionally retained in place thereon once the connector has been passed through the opening, so as to maintain structural integrity of the connection and to guard against the ingress of moisture and contaminants. Additionally, a storage container may be mounted on the rear face of the bumper in overlying relationship to the installation opening for neatly housing the remaining parts of the harness during periods of nonuse.