Patents by Inventor Robert J. Mikel

Robert J. Mikel has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5760545
    Abstract: A tow adapter adapts tail light signals of a towing vehicle for suitable tail light signals of a towed vehicle. The tow adapter adapts a left turn signal, a right turn signal, and a brake signal from the towing vehicle to energize left and right tow lamps of the towed vehicle. To energize the left tow lamp, the tow adapter selectively generates a left energization signal and a left enable signal based on the left turn signal and the brake signal. The tow adapter then selectively outputs the left energization signal based on the left enable signal to energize the left tow lamp. The tow adapter similarly adapts the right turn signal and the brake signal to energize the right tow lamp. Circuitry for one embodiment for the tow adapter minimizes any voltage loss in adapting tail light signals and functions despite a burned-out or removed tail light lamp of the towing vehicle. The circuitry also adapts a brake signal for the towed vehicle despite a tow adapter malfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: ACAR Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Mikel