Gary L Kaminski, 76296 Road 180, Emporia, KS 66801

7214094, May 8, 2007

Mar 26, 2004

10/810972

Gary Kaminski - Emporia KS, US
Lawrence Guerra - Shawnee KS, US

Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation - Emporia KS

H01R 13/73

439550, 439316, 439462, 439559

A wiring receiver () that may be mounted on a towing vehicle without the use of tools. The receiver () broadly comprises a plurality of terminals () for transferring signals from the towing vehicle to a towed vehicle, a main body () housing the terminals (), and a cover () that mates to the main body (), thereby securing the receiver () to a bracket () of the towing vehicle. The main body () includes a contact surface () with four protrusions () extending through the bracket. The cover () includes a contact surface () having arcuate slots () operable to slide around the protrusions (), thereby securing the main body () to the towing vehicle.

7850191, Dec 14, 2010

Jun 17, 2009

12/486390

Gary Kaminski - Emporia KS, US
David Ihde - Osage City KS, US

Hopkins Manufacturing Corp. - Emporia KS

B60D 1/62

280422, 280420, 280477, 439 35

A trailer hitch apparatus for mechanically and electrically coupling a towing vehicle to a towed vehicle includes: a receiver and a trailer mount. The receiver has a receiver tube with an open end; a first electrical connector having a plurality of electrical contacts for attaching to the towing vehicle electrical system; and a second electrical connector having a plurality of electrical contacts electrically connected to the plurality of electrical contacts of the first electrical connector. The trailer mount is installed within the open end of the receiver tube and includes a mounting tube comprising a first end and a second end for inserting into the receiver tube; a third electrical connector having a plurality of electrical contacts and operable to mate with the second electrical connector; an attachment mount connected to the second end of the mounting tube; a trailer attachment device connected to the attachment mount for attaching a towed vehicle; and an electrical receptacle electrically having a plurality of electrical contacts and connected with the third electrical connector for providing an electrical signal to an electrical system of the towed vehicle.

8215656, Jul 10, 2012

Nov 23, 2010

12/952366

Gary Kaminski - Emporia KS, US
David Ihde - Osage City KS, US

Hopkins Manufacturing Corp. - Emporia KS

B60D 1/62

280422, 280420, 280477, 439 35

A trailer hitch apparatus for mechanically and electrically coupling a towing vehicle to a towed vehicle includes: a receiver and a trailer mount. The receiver has a receiver tube with an open end; a first electrical connector having a plurality of electrical contacts for attaching to the towing vehicle electrical system; and a second electrical connector having a plurality of electrical contacts electrically connected to the plurality of electrical contacts of the first electrical connector. The trailer mount is installed within the open end of the receiver tube and includes a mounting tube comprising a first end and a second end for inserting into the receiver tube; a third electrical connector having a plurality of electrical contacts and operable to mate with the second electrical connector; an attachment mount connected to the second end of the mounting tube; a trailer attachment device connected to the attachment mount for attaching a towed vehicle; and an electrical receptacle electrically having a plurality of electrical contacts and connected with the third electrical connector for providing an electrical signal to an electrical system of the towed vehicle.

8430458, Apr 30, 2013

Nov 17, 2006

11/561196

Gary Kaminski - Emporia KS, US
Vicki Sickler - Emporia KS, US
Jonathan Gray - Garnett KS, US

Hopkins Manufacturing Corp. - Emporia KS

B60T 7/06
B60T 13/00

303 7, 303 3, 303 15, 303 20, 303 241, 3031193, 303123, 188 111 E, 188 3 H, 188112 R, 188135, 188356, 701 70, D12180, D13168

An auxiliary braking system and method of controlling the braking a towed vehicle is provided that includes a remote control that is in selective communication with an auxiliary braking unit positioned in a towing vehicle. More specifically, it is often desirable for the operator of the towing vehicle to assess the performance of the auxiliary braking apparatus positioned in a towed vehicle. In addition, it is often advantageous for the operator to perform real time adjustments to the performance parameters of the auxiliary braking apparatus positioned in the towing vehicle without having to cease driving and physically access the auxiliary braking device.

2002012, Sep 12, 2002

Mar 6, 2001

09/800342

Gary Kaminski - Troy NY, US

B60L001/00

307/010100

An electrical interface device () for towing, operable to facilitate releasably coupling one or more electrical subsystems of a towing vehicle () and a towed vehicle, and including associated modular, removable circuitry (). The circuitry () may provide overload, short-circuit, and reverse connection protection and power signal filtering. Alternative or additional circuitry may be added to support other functionality, including interfacing a brake control subsystem. Circular receptacle and flat plug connectors () are provided to accommodate without modification a variety of electrical connectors. Covers () are also provided to protect unused connectors from adverse environmental conditions.

2010026, Oct 14, 2010

Apr 8, 2009

12/420327

Gary Kaminski - Emporia KS, US

Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation - Emporia KS

G01C 21/00
G01S 19/52

701213, 34235735

A GPS data based towed vehicle braking control system and related methods are provided. In operation, an auxiliary braking system for positioning within a towed vehicle and for actuation of the brakes thereof, is provided. The system is designed to activate the auxiliary braking system only when brakes of a towing vehicle are themselves actuated. The system includes a sensing mechanism with integrated logic mechanism. The system also has a power mechanism associated with the sensing mechanism. Further, a brake actuation mechanism is associated with the sensing mechanism. In operation, the sensing mechanism employs a global positioning system (GPS) sensing device that senses the location of the auxiliary braking system. Integrated logic mechanism can then provide information to the brake actuation mechanism to selectively cause the auxiliary braking system to apply force to brakes associated with a towed vehicle.

2012000, Jan 5, 2012

Dec 30, 2010

12/982192

Jon Gray - Garnett KS, US
Paul Svoboda - Emporia KS, US
Gary Kaminski - Emporia KS, US

Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation - Emporia KS

G06F 19/00

701 334, 701 291

A sway sensing and notification device includes a sway sensor for sensing swaying of a towed vehicle and generating corresponding sway data; and a computing device coupled with the sway sensor for analyzing the sway data and determining when the swaying of the towed vehicle could result in an unstable driving condition. The device may also include a notification device coupled with the computing device for alerting an operator when the computing device determines that the swaying of the towed vehicle could result in an unstable driving condition.