Portable power supply

• US 20050142929A1
• Filed: 03/02/2005
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Associated Equipment Corporation (Associated Equipment)
• Original Assignee: Associated Equipment Corporation (Associated Equipment)
• Inventors: Cottle, William C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,252,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/504
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/24 with gripping jaws, e.g. crocodile clip

Abstract

The present invention includes a portable power supply having a housing that encloses a battery. Booster cables protrude from the housing and are electrically connected to the battery. Electrical clamps are attached to the booster cables and may connect to electrical terminals. The housing may include a clamp anchor integral thereto. The clamp anchor may include an anchor base and an anchor finger, wherein the anchor finger is generally perpendicular to the anchor base. The electrical clamp may be secured on the clamp anchor. The present invention further includes a booster cable with an electrical clamp that has a clamp cover rotatably mounted on the electrical clamp. The clamp cover may cover some of the electrically conductive portions of the electrical clamp and/or provide additional positioning of the electrical clamp on the clamp anchor.

Claims

1. A portable power supply, comprising:

a housing that encloses a battery;

booster cables protruding from the housing that are electrically connected to the battery;

electrical clamps connected to the booster cables;

a clamp anchor integral to the housing; and

wherein the clamp anchor comprises an anchor base and an anchor finger, wherein the anchor finger is generally perpendicular to the anchor base.

2. The portable power supply of claim 1, wherein the electrical clamps are capable of being positioned or secured on the clamp anchor.

3. The portable power supply of claim 1, wherein the anchor finger comprises a narrow region that is narrower than the remainder of the anchor finger.

4. The portable power supply of claim 1, wherein the anchor finger has a groove therein.

5. The portable power supply of claim 4, wherein the electrical clamps comprise longer and shorter electrically conductive surfaces, and wherein the longer electrically conductive surfaces squeeze against the groove in the anchor finger.

6. The portable power supply of claim 4, wherein the electrical clamps comprise longer and shorter electrically conductive surfaces, and wherein the longer electrically conductive surfaces squeeze against the groove in the anchor finger and the shorter electrically conductive surfaces squeeze against the anchor finger.

7. The portable power supply of claim 1, wherein the groove in the anchor finger is adjacent to the anchor base.

8. The portable power supply of claim 1, wherein the anchor finger has a groove therein formed by a transition region in the anchor finger that is narrower than the anchor finger.

9. The portable power supply of claim 7, wherein the anchor finger comprises a box shaped groove or a curve shaped groove.

10. The portable power supply of claim 1, wherein the clamp anchor is fixedly attached to the housing.

11. A booster cable, comprising:

an electrically conductive wire surrounded by an insulating material; and

wherein the wire is electrically connected to an electrical clamp, comprising;

handles having an electrically conductive portion;

wherein the handles are rotatably mounted on a pin;

wherein the electrically conductive portions are forced together by a spring; and

wherein a clamp cover is rotatably mounted on the pin.

12. The booster cable according to claim 11, wherein the clamp cover is capable of covering at least some of the electrically conductive portion.

13. An electrical clamp, comprising:

handles having an electrically conductive portion;

wherein the handles are rotatably mounted on a pin;

wherein the electrically conductive portions of the handles are forced together by a spring;

wherein a clamp cover is rotatably mounted on the pin.

14. The electrical clamp according to claim 13, wherein the clamp cover is capable of covering at least some of the electrically conductive portion.

15. The electrical clamp according to claim 13, wherein a force applied to the handles may overcome the force applied by the spring, wherein the electrically conductive portions are separated.

17. The clamp anchor according to claim 15, wherein the anchor finger has a groove therein.

16. A clamp anchor, comprising:

an anchor base;

an anchor finger generally perpendicular to the anchor base; and

wherein the clamp anchor is capable of receiving an electrical clamp that squeezes or pinches on the clamp anchor.