Jumper Cable Clamp

• US 20100304621A1
• Filed: 06/02/2010
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hopkins Manufacturing Corporation (Hoppy Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Carrand Companies Incorporated
• Inventors: Schouten, Pieter
• Granted Patent: US 8,083,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/772
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/24 with gripping jaws, e.g. crocodile clip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles

Abstract

One aspect of the present invention is a jumper cable clamp that is biased to a position with its jaws open. Another aspect of the present invention is a jumper cable clamp that uses biases open its jaws using torsional tension in a helical spring. Another aspect of the present invention is a jumper cable clamp that includes a set of jaws, a jaw-biasing hardware set and a ratchet hardware set where: (i) the jaw-biasing hardware set biases the jaws towards an open position; and (ii) the ratchet hardware set holds the position of the jaws at regular positional increments as the jaws are moved, against the bias provided by the jaw-biasing hardware set, towards a closed position. Preferably, the ratchet hardware set further includes a quick release mechanism structured, located, sized, shaped and/or mechanically connected to release a ratcheted engagement of the ratchet hardware set upon activation of the quick release mechanism.

Claims

1. A jumper cable clamp comprising:

a first moveable portion;

a second moveable portion;

a first jaw portion;

a second jaw portion;

a jumper cable contact; and

an urging-toward-open biasing hardware set;

wherein;

the jumper cable contact is mechanically connected to the first moveable portion;

the jumper cable contact is electrically connected to the first jaw portion and forms a suitable electrical contact for a jumper cable;

the first jaw portion is mechanically connected to the first moveable portion;

the second jaw portion is mechanically connected to the second moveable portion;

the first moveable portion is mechanically connected to the second moveable portion so that the first jaw portion is movable with respect to the second jaw portion between a first open position and a first closed position; and

the urging-toward-open biasing hardware set is structured, located and/or connected to bias the first and second moveable portions to move relative to each other so that the first jaw portion and second jaw portion move toward the first open position.

2. The clamp of claim 1 further comprising a pivoting hardware set, wherein the pivoting hardware set mechanically connects the first moveable portion to the second moveable portion so that the first and second moveable portions can rotate with respect to each other so that the first and second jaw portions move between the first open position and the first closed position.

3. The clamp of claim 2 wherein the urging-toward-open biasing hardware comprises a helical spring that is sized, shaped, located and/or connected to apply a torsional biasing force on the first and second moveable portions in order to bias the first and second moveable portions to move relative to each other so that the first jaw portion and second jaw portion move in a first angular direction toward the first open position.

4. The clamp of claim 2 wherein:

the first movable portion comprises a first pivoting member which is elongated and has a first end, a second end and an intermediate portion located between the first end and the second end;

the second movable portion comprises a first pivoting member which is elongated and has a first end, a second end and an intermediate portion located between the first end and the second end;

the pivoting hardware set mechanically connects the intermediate portion of the first pivoting member to the intermediate portion of the second pivoting member to form a clamp having a scissors-type geometry.

5. The clamp of claim 4 wherein:

the first pivoting member comprises a first generally Z-shaped member which is formed as a single unitary piece-part;

the second pivoting member comprises of a first generally Z-shaped member which is formed as a single unitary piece-part;

the first jaw portion consists of a first jaw member which is formed a s a single unitary piece-part made of metal and comprises a jagged gripping edge; and

the first jaw portion consists of first jaw member which is formed a s a single unitary piece-part made of metal and comprises a jagged gripping edge.

6. The clamp of claim 5 wherein:

the first generally Z-shaped member is made of plastic;

the second generally Z-shaped member is made of plastic;

the jumper cable contact comprises an electrical contact path and a contact member;

the electrical contact path forms an electrical conduction path that electrically connects the first jaw member to the contact member; and

the contact member is sized and shaped to be electrically and mechanically connected to an end of a jumper cable.

7. The clamp of claim 4 further comprising:

a first handle member;

a first jaw-bearing member comprising a first portion and a second portion;

a second handle member; and

a second jaw-bearing member comprising a first portion and a second portion;

wherein;

the first pivoting member comprises the first handle member and the first portion of the first jaw-bearing member, with the first handle member and the first portion of the jaw-bearing member being rigidly mechanically connected to each other to make the first pivoting member generally Z-shaped;

the second pivoting member comprises the second handle member and the first portion of the second jaw-bearing member, with the second handle member and the second portion of the jaw-bearing member being rigidly mechanically connected to each other to make the first pivoting member generally Z-shaped;

the first jaw portion comprises the second portion of the first jaw-bearing member; and

the second jaw portion comprises the second portion of the second jaw-bearing member;

and

the jumper cable contact comprises an electrical contact path and a contact member;

the electrical contact path forms an electrical conduction path that electrically connects the first jaw member to the contact member; and

the contact member is sized and shaped to be electrically and mechanically connected to an end of a jumper cable.

8. A jumper cable clamp comprising:

a first moveable portion;

a second moveable portion;

a first jaw portion;

a second jaw portion;

a jumper cable contact;

an urging-toward-open biasing hardware set; and

a position-securing hardware set;

wherein;

the jumper cable contact is mechanically connected to the first moveable portion;

the jumper cable contact is electrically connected to the first jaw portion and forms a suitable electrical contact for a jumper cable;

the first jaw portion is mechanically connected to the first moveable portion;

the second jaw portion is mechanically connected to the second moveable portion;

the first moveable portion is mechanically connected to the second moveable portion so that the first jaw portion is movable with respect to the second jaw portion between a first open position and a first closed position;

the urging-toward-open biasing hardware set is structured, located and/or connected to bias the first and second moveable portions to move relative to each other so that the first jaw portion and second jaw portion move toward the first open position; and

the position-securing hardware set is structured, located and/or mechanically connected to hold the first and second moveable portions with respect to each other against the biasing force of the urging-toward-open hardware set.

9. The clamp of claim 8 further comprising a pivoting hardware set, wherein the pivoting hardware set mechanically connects the first moveable portion to the second moveable portion so that the first and second moveable portions can rotate with respect to each other so that the first and second jaw portions move between the first open position and the first closed position.

10. The clamp of claim 9 wherein the urging-toward-open biasing hardware comprises a helical spring that is sized, shaped, located and/or connected to apply a torsional biasing force on the first and second moveable portions in order to bias the first and second moveable portions to move relative to each other so that the first jaw portion and second jaw portion move in a first angular direction toward the first open position.

11. The clamp of claim 8 wherein:

the position-securing hardware comprises a release hardware sub-set; and

the release hardware sub-set is structured, located and/or mechanically connected to be operated by a user to release the position-securing-hardware set'"'"'s hold of the first and second moveable portions with respect to each other so that the biasing force of the urging-toward-open hardware set moves the first moveable member and the second moveable member so that the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion move to the first open position.

12. The clamp of claim 11 wherein:

the position-securing hardware sub-set comprises a tooth-bearing member and a tooth-receiving member;

the tooth-bearing member comprises a tooth-bearing member body and a plurality of teeth;

the tooth-receiving member is shaped, sized, connected and/or located to be in a ratcheting engagement with the tooth bearing member; and

the position-securing hardware is sized, shaped, structured, connected and/or located so that the ratcheting engagement between the tooth-bearing member and the tooth-receiving member allows the position-securing hardware set to hold the first and second moveable members, against the biasing force of the urging-toward-open biasing hardware, in any one of a plurality of intermediate positions between the first open position and the first closed position.

13. The clamp of claim 12 wherein:

the tooth-receiving member is mechanically connected to the first moveable portion; and

the tooth-bearing member is connected to the second moveable portion.

14. The clamp of claim 12 wherein the plurality of teeth project from an arc-shaped edge of the tooth-bearing member body and extend in a radial direction defined by the arc of the arc-shaped edge.

15. The clamp of claim 14 wherein:

the tooth-bearing member is shaped as a flat generally arc-shaped member defining an outer radial edge;

the plurality of teeth extend generally in the radial direct from the outer radial edge; and

the tooth-bearing member is rigidly mechanically connected to the second moveable portion at a connection location which is;

(i) proximate to the mechanical connection between the second moveable portion and the second jaw portion; and

(ii) spaced apart from the jumper cable contact.

16. The clamp of claim 15 wherein:

the release hardware sub-set comprises pivotal connection hardware and release-engagement bias hardware;

the pivotal connection hardware is structure, located and/or connected to mechanically connect the tooth-receiving member to the second movable portion so that the tooth-receiving member is free to rotate between at least;

(i) an engaged position where the tooth-receiving member is engaged with at least one tooth of the plurality of teeth of the tooth-bearing member, and (ii) a disengaged position where the tooth-receiving member is disengaged from the plurality of teeth of the tooth-bearing member so that the tooth receiving member and the tooth-bearing member are free to move with respect to each other; and

the release-engagement bias hardware is structured, located and/or connected to bias the tooth-receiving member toward the engaged position.

17. The clamp of claim 16 wherein the release-engagement bias hardware comprises a spring that bears on the second moveable portion and on the tooth-receiving member to provide the bias toward the engagement position.

18. A jumper cable assembly comprising:

a first moveable portion;

a second moveable portion;

a first jaw portion;

a second jaw portion;

a first urging-toward-open biasing hardware set;

a third moveable portion;

a fourth moveable portion;

a third jaw portion;

a fourth jaw portion;

a second urging-toward-open biasing hardware set; and

a first jumper cable

wherein;

the first jumper cable is electrically connected to provide an electrical current path from the first jaw portion to the third jaw portion;

the first jaw portion is mechanically connected to the first moveable portion;

the second jaw portion is mechanically connected to the second moveable portion;

the first moveable portion is mechanically connected to the second moveable portion so that the first jaw portion is movable with respect to the second jaw portion between a first open position and a first closed position;

the first urging-toward-open biasing hardware set is structured, located and/or connected to bias the first and second moveable portions to move relative to each other so that the first jaw portion and second jaw portion move toward the first open position;

the third jaw portion is mechanically connected to the third moveable portion;

the fourth jaw portion is mechanically connected to the fourth moveable portion;

the third moveable portion is mechanically connected to the fourth moveable portion so that the third jaw portion is movable with respect to the fourth jaw portion between a second open position and a second closed position; and

the second urging-toward-open biasing hardware set is structured, located and/or connected to bias the third and fourth moveable portions to move relative to each other so that the third jaw portion and fourth jaw portion move toward the second open position.

19. The assembly of claim 18 further comprising:

a fifth moveable portion;

a sixth moveable portion;

a fifth jaw portion;

a sixth jaw portion;

a third urging-toward-open biasing hardware set;

a seventh moveable portion;

a eighth moveable portion;

a seventh jaw portion;

a eighth jaw portion;

a fourth urging-toward-open biasing hardware set; and

a second jumper cable

wherein;

the second jumper cable is electrically connected to provide an electrical current path from the fifth jaw portion to the seventh jaw portion;

the first and second jumper cables are mechanically connected to each other in a non-electrically conductive manner;

the fifth jaw portion is mechanically connected to the fifth moveable portion;

the sixth jaw portion is mechanically connected to the sixth moveable portion;

the fifth moveable portion is mechanically connected to the sixth moveable portion so that the fifth jaw portion is movable with respect to the sixth jaw portion between a third open position and a third closed position;

the third urging-toward-open biasing hardware set is structured, located and/or connected to bias the fifth and sixth moveable portions to move relative to each other so that the fifth jaw portion and sixth jaw portion move toward the third open position;

the seventh jaw portion is mechanically connected to the seventh moveable portion;

the eighth jaw portion is mechanically connected to the eighth moveable portion;

the seventh moveable portion is mechanically connected to the eighth moveable portion so that the seventh jaw portion is movable with respect to the eighth jaw portion between a fourth open position and a fourth closed position; and

the fourth urging-toward-open biasing hardware set is structured, located and/or connected to bias the seventh and eighth moveable portions to move relative to each other so that the seventh jaw portion and eighth jaw portion move toward the fourth open position.