Battery gauge for trolling motor

• US 20090115421A1
• Filed: 11/07/2007
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Norma Wixon, Stephen Wixon
• Original Assignee: Norma Wixon, Stephen Wixon
• Inventors: Wixon, Norma, Wixon, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US11/983,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20090115421A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/435
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/06788 Hand-held or hand-manipulated probes, e.g. for oscilloscopes or for portable test instruments end pieces terminating in a probe H01R11/18
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/283 Bolt, screw or threaded ferrule parallel to the battery post
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Battery Gauge for Trolling Motor is a gauge for measuring the amount of voltage remaining in a boat battery. The preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes a gauge having a scale, a battery level indicator, cables and cable terminals to connect to battery terminals. To use the preferred embodiment of Battery Gauge for Trolling Motor, an individual would attach the cable terminals to the battery terminals of a boat using the securing wingnut. The battery level indicator can then be monitored on the gauge to determine when the battery power is at a critical level. Ideally, the gauge would be placed on the trolling motor, near the boat battery housing or on the dash of the boat.

Claims

1. A battery monitoring device comprising:

(a) a housing for a gauge;

(b) a first cable and a second cable emanating from the housing;

(c) a first cable terminal on the end of the first cable and a second cable terminal on the end of the second cable;

(d) a scale located on the housing; and

(e) a battery compartment on the housing.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the first cable and the second cable are located on opposite sides of the housing.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the housing is made of plastic.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the housing is approximately rectangular.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the housing is five inches in length, four inches in width and one inch in thickness.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the battery compartment is located on the rear of the housing.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the first cable and the second cable are approximately six inches long and a quarter of an inch in diameter.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the first cable and the second cable are insulated.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the first cable terminal and the second cable terminal are circular.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising

a display cover above the scale.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the display cover is transparent.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein the display cover is translucent.

13. The device of claim 10 wherein the display cover is circular.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the scale is numbered from zero volts to twelve volts.

15. The device of claim 1 further comprising

a battery level indicator centrally connected to the scale that rotates across the scale.

16. The device of claim 1 further comprising

a red zone on the scale.

17. The device of claim 1 further comprising

a first wingnut and a second wingnut to connect the first cable terminal and the second cable terminal to a first battery terminal and a second battery terminal

18. A method of monitoring a boat battery comprising the steps of:

(a) locating a battery on a boat;

(b) attaching a housing for a gauge to the boat;

(c) connecting a first cable terminal on the end of a first cable emanating from the housing and a second cable terminal emanating from the end of a second cable to the battery of the boat; and

(d) observing a scale having a battery level indicator in the housing and located underneath a display cover.

19. A battery monitoring device comprising:

(a) a housing for a gauge;

(b) a first cable and a second cable emanating from opposite sides of the housing;

(c) a first cable terminal that is approximately circular on the end of the first cable and a second cable terminal that is approximately circular on the end of the second cable;

(d) a display cover that is approximately circular and transparent above a scale with a range of zero volts to twelve volts on the front of the housing;

(e) a battery level indicator centrally connected to the scale that rotates across the scale;

(f) a red zone on the scale; and

(g) a battery compartment on the housing.

20. The device of claim 19 further comprising

a first wingnut and a second wingnut to connect the first cable terminal and the second cable terminal to a first battery terminal and a second battery terminal.