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(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (19) World Intellectual Property Organization II International Bureau (43) International Publication Date H(10) International Publication Number 15 March 2012 (15.03.2012) PCT W O 2012/031312 Al (51) International Patent Classification: (81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every HOR 4/00 (2006.01) B60R 16/02 (2006.01) kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM, HO1R 9/16 (2006.01) HO1R 13/62 (2006.01) AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BR, BW, BY, BZ, CA, CH, CL, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DO, (21) International Application Number: DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, Fl, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, PCT/AU2O11/000484 HN, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KM, KN, KP, (22) International Filing Date: KR, KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LY, MA, MD, 21 April 2011 (21.04.2011) ME, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, NO, NZ, OM, PE, PG, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, RU, SC, SD, (25) Filing Language: English SE, SG, SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TH, TJ, TM, TN, TR, (26) Publication Language: English TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW. (30) Priority Data: (84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every 2010904058 9 September 2010 (09.09.2010) AU kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH, GM, KE, LR, LS, MW, MZ, NA, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, (71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): ARK ZM, ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, CORPORATION PTY LTD [AU/AU]; 8 Smoothy TM), European (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, Place, Arndell Park, New South Wales 2148 (AU). EE, ES, Fl, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, (72) Inventor; and LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, (75) Inventor/Applicant (for US only): ARAKELIAN, SM, TR), OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, Richard [AU/AU]; 8 Smoothy Place, Arndell Park, New GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG). South Wales 2148 (AU). Published: (74) Agent: ALLENS ARTHUR ROBINSON; Patent & - with international search report (Art. 21 (3)) Trade Marks Attorneys, Level 28, Deutsche Bank Place, Corner Hunter and Phillip Streets, Sydney, NSW 2000 (AU). (54) Title: ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR e5 (57) Abstract: A rolled terminal (50) for an electrical connector has a first portion (58) formed of a rolled sheet defining a bore O for receiving an electrical wire, and a first aperture (62) in the wall of the first portion (58) for receiving a screw for clamping the wire between the screw and the wall of the first portion. WO 2012/031312 PCT/AU2011/000484 Electrical Connector Field of Invention This invention relates to electrical connectors and has particular relevance to connectors used with vehicle trailers. However the invention is not limited to 5 use with vehicle trailers. Background Trailers for road vehicles have various electrical lights, such as brake, tail lights and indicator lights. These are powered and controlled from the tow vehicle. 10 The electrical connection from the trailer to the tow vehicle is usually via a detachable multi strand cable. Typically the tow vehicle has a socket mounted at its rear into which a plug on the cable of the trailer is inserted. To allow for movement of the trailer relative to the tow vehicle the cable cannot be taut and there must be extra cable, i.e. some slack, to accommodate this relative 15 movement. When the trailer is detached from the tow vehicle the plug is removed from the socket and then hangs from the loose cable. The plug and cable can present a safety hazard when manoeuvring a trailer. For example a person manoeuvring the trailer may trip on the cable. In addition, the plug and cable 20 may be damaged or contaminated with debris, such as dirt. Most single axle trailers are balanced so the trailer hitch rests on the ground when unloaded. The cable and plug are at the hitch end and commonly either rest on the ground, where they can be contaminated or can be crushed by the trailer hitch. 25 Electrical connectors are typically provided in one or two forms. In one form the connector is in a fully assembled form, with the cable permanently WO 2012/031312 PCT/AU2011/000484 -2 attached to the electrical pins or sockets and, usually encased in a moulded shell. The other form is for attachment to a cable at a later date. Permanently attached cables typically are connected to rolled terminals that are crimped to the electrical wire. Connectors for which the cable is attached 5 later are typically provided with terminals formed of solid metal that has been machined to have a bore for the wire and a threaded side aperture for a screw. Whilst these allow a cable to be attached and detached they are more expensive than rolled terminals. Summary of the Invention 10 In one broad form the invention provides an electrical connector for a towed vehicle, the connector including securing means for temporarily securing the electrical connector to the towed vehicle. In one form the securing means includes at least one first magnet, whereby the electrical connector may be secured by the magnet to a magnetic part of 15 the towed vehicle. At least one second magnet may be provided for permanent mounting on the towed vehicle for magnetic connection with the at least one first magnet. The securing means may comprise at least one mechanical securing means to secure the connector to the towed vehicle. The at least one mechanical 20 securing means may comprise a clip, plug or socket that interacts with a corresponding complementary structure on the towed vehicle. There may be a clip or other structure on the towed vehicle that engages the connector. Where the electrical connector has a plug portion the complementary structure may be a secondary socket mounted on the towed vehicle into which 25 the plug portion is inserted and secured. Where the electrical connector has a socket portion the complementary structure may be a secondary plug mounted on the towed vehicle over which the socket portion is engaged with and WO 2012/031312 PCT/AU2011/000484 -3 secured. The invention, in another form, provides a rolled terminal for an electrical connector. The rolled terminal has a first portion formed of a rolled sheet defining a bore for receiving an electrical wire and a first aperture in the wall 5 of the first portion for receiving a screw for clamping the wire between the screw and the wall of the first portion. The first aperture may be sized so the screw is a clearance fit in the aperture. Alternatively, the first aperture may be an interference fit. The material of the wall and the size of the first aperture may be chosen so that the thread of 10 the screw engages the first aperture in a threaded manner. The first aperture may be deformed by the thread of the screw to present a complementary thread or the first aperture may be provided with a complementary thread. In another form the rolled terminal of the invention is located in a plastics carrier that has a second aperture that aligns with the first aperture. The 15 second aperture may be a clearance fit with the screw or may engage the thread of the screw. The second aperture may be provided with a thread with which the screw engages. This may be by way of a separately threaded component, such as a nut, embedded in the plastics material. Alternatively the second aperture may 20 be sized so the screw forms a thread on first use. Alternatively the aperture may be formed with a thread for the screw. Accordingly, the invention also provides an electrical connector including at least one rolled terminal located in a carrier, the at least one a rolled terminal having a first portion formed of a rolled sheet defining a bore for 25 receiving an electrical wire and a first aperture in the wall of the first portion for receiving a screw; a second aperture in the carrier aligned with the first aperture and a screw located in the second aperture for clamping the wire WO 2012/031312 PCT/AU2011/000484 -4 between the screw and the wall of the first portion. The connector may be a plug or a socket. The at least one rolled terminal may include at least one plug type rolled terminal, at least one socket type rolled terminal or both at least one plug type rolled terminal and at least one socket 5 type rolled terminal. The screw may engage one or both of the first and second apertures. Preferably the screw only engages either the first or the second aperture. Preferably the rolled terminal includes means to prevent or limit rotation about a longitudinal axis when mounted in the carrier. The means to prevent 10 or limit rotation is preferably a part of the first portion that has a non circular cross section. In one form a part of the wall of the first portion is pressed outwards. Preferably the carrier has a complementary recess into which the part of the wall extends. This enables the terminal to be correctly aligned in the carrier recess so that the first and second apertures align. 15 When the screw is holding the wire in the terminal the screw also prevents the terminal being pulled or pushed out of the carrier. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view from below of a first implementation of the invention. 20 Figure 2 is a rear end view of the first implementation of the invention. Figure 3 is a view from below of the first implementation of the invention. Figure 4 is a front end view of a first implementation of the invention. Figure 5 is a perspective view from above of a first implementation of the invention. WO 2012/031312 PCT/AU2011/000484 -5 Figure 6 is a schematic plan view of a trailer incorporating the first implementation of the invention. Figure 7 is a top view of a second implementation of the invention. Figure 8 is a side view of a second implementation of the invention. 5 Figure 9 is a bottom view of a second implementation of the invention. Figure 10 is a perspective view of a second implementation of the invention. Figure 11 is a top view of a third imp |
