Jumper cable

• US 4,272,142 A
• Filed: 10/15/1979
• Issued: 06/09/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David Belin, Laurence L. Anderson, Leonard Smith, Milton Brown
• Original Assignee: David Belin, Laurence L. Anderson, Leonard Smith, Milton Brown
• Inventors: Zapf, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US06/084,619
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 339/10, 339/28, 339/29 R, 339/29 B, 339/113 R, 339/113 L, 320/2, 320/25, 320/26, 324/133
• US Class Current: 439/504
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/24 with gripping jaws, e.g. crocodile clip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/66 Structural association with built-in electrical component coupling devices having concentrically or coaxially-arranged contacts H01R24/38
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6641 with diode with LED H01R13/7175
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/717 with built-in light source
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/15 Polarity control

Abstract

A jumper cable comprised of first and second electrical cable means which each have a pair of electrical connector clamps on one end thereof. An electrical coupling is positioned on the other end of the two electrical cable means with the connectors adapted to be secured to each other at approximately the midpoint between the clamps. A polarity indicator circuit is located within each connector and is comprised of diodes and separate and differently colored lights to visually verify that the appropriate clamps have been secured to the battery being charged. An alternate form of the invention utilizes an audible sound means within the connectors to provide a sound signal if the clamps are not properly secured to the battery terminals.

Claims

1. A jumper cable device, comprising,

a first electrical cable means having opposite ends,

a pair of electrical connector clamps on one end of said first electrical cable means,

an electrical coupling on the other end of said first electrical cable means,

a second electrical means having opposite ends,

a pair of electrical connector clamps on one end of said second electrical cable means,

an electrical coupling on the other end of said electrical cable means,

each cable means being comprised of positive and negative cable elements,

electrical circuit means electrically connecting said cable elements within said couplings,

polarity signal means imposed in said circuit means,

a diode in said circuit means permitting flow of current in only one direction through said polarity signal means from one of said cable elements whereby the flow of current through said polarity signal means is indicative of the polarity of the clamps and cable elements associated therewith,

said electrical couplings adapted to be secured directly together to effect electrical connection between said first and second electrical cable means,

said electrical couplings having positive and negative terminals electrically connected to the positive and negative cable elements, respectively, of each cable means, and means on said couplings permitting the interconnection of said positive terminals together and permitting the interconnection of said negative terminals together, and preventing the interconnection of said positive and negative terminals.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said electrical connector clamps are secured to the electrical circuit of separate vehicles, and said electrical couplings are secured together at a point between said vehicles.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said polarity indicator device is an audible signal means.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said polarity signal means comprises a light element and further comprising a second light element imposed in said circuit means, and a second diode permitting flow of current in only one direction through said second light element from the other of said cable elements.

5. A jumper cable device, comprising

first and second battery electrical connector clamps,

first and second cables electrically secured by one of their ends to said first and second clamps, respectively,

a first electrical coupling electrically secured to the other ends of said first and second cables,

third and fourth battery electrical connector clamps,

third and fourth cables electrically secured by one of their ends to said third and fourth clamps, respectively,

a second electrical coupling electrically secured to the other ends of said third and fourth cables,

said first and second couplings adapted to be physically and electrically coupled and uncoupled to permit the selective electrical connection between said first and third cables, and between said second and fourth cables,

and physical means on said first and second couplings to prevent the coupling thereof to connect said first cable to said fourth cable, or to connect said second cable to said first cable,

said first and third cables being comprised of positive cable means and said second and fourth cables being comprised of negative cable means,

first electrical circuit means electrically connecting said first and second cable means within said first coupling;

second electrical circuit means electrically connecting said third and fourth cable means within said second coupling;

first and second signal means imposed in said first and second circuit means, respectively,

a first diode imposed in said first circuit means for permitting flow of current in only one direction through said first signal means from one of said first and second cables;

a second diode imposed in said second circuit means for permitting flow of current in only one direction through said second signal means from one of said third and fourth cables.

6. A cable device according to claim 5 comprising third and fourth signal means imposed in said first and second circuit means, respectively, third and fourth diodes being in said first and second circuit means, respectively, said third diode permitting current to flow through said third signal means only in a direction opposite to the direction of current flow permitted through said first signal means, said fourth diode permitting current to flow through said fourth signal means only in a direction opposite to the direction of current flow permitted through said second signal means.