Safety jumper cable apparatus
First Claim
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1. Jumper cable apparatus for providing, when properly connected, a connection between positive terminals of the electrical systems of first and second vehicles and between negative terminals of the electrical systems of the first and second vehicles, the jumper cable apparatus comprising:
- first and second connector means for user-selected removable connection to the positive and negative electrical terminals, respectively, of the electrical system of the first vehicle when properly connected;
third and fourth connector means for user-selected removable connection to the positive and negative electrical terminals, respectively, of the electrical system of the second vehicle when properly connected;
first cable means for providing a first current path between the first and third connector means;
second cable means for providing a second current path between the second and fourth connector means; and
control means for preventing current flow in the first and second current paths unless (a) a first voltage between the third and fourth connector means has a polarity in which the third connector means is more positive than the fourth connector means and a magnitude greater than a predetermined threshold level, and (b) a second voltage between the first connector means and one other of the second, third and fourth connector means has a predetermined polarity in which the first connector means is more positive than the one other of the second, third and fourth connector means and a magnitude greater than a predetermined threshold level, thus indicating that the first, second, third and fourth connectors are all connected properly, wherein the control means comprises;
first switch means connected in the first current path and having a conductive state which permits current flow through the first path and a nonconductive state which blocks current flow through the first path;
first switch control means for controlling the state of the first switch means as a function of the first and second voltages;
second switch means connected in the second current path and having a conductive state which permits current flow through the second path and a nonconductive state which blocks current flow through the second path; and
second switch control means for controlling the state of the second switch means as a function of the first and second voltages.
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Abstract
Saftey jumper cable apparatus includes first and second cables, first and second connectors for connection of the cables to the rescue vehicle, third and fourth connectors for connection of the cables to the disabled vehicle and circuitry which prevents reverse or cross connection of the cables or shorting of the connectors.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. Jumper cable apparatus for providing, when properly connected, a connection between positive terminals of the electrical systems of first and second vehicles and between negative terminals of the electrical systems of the first and second vehicles, the jumper cable apparatus comprising:
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first and second connector means for user-selected removable connection to the positive and negative electrical terminals, respectively, of the electrical system of the first vehicle when properly connected; third and fourth connector means for user-selected removable connection to the positive and negative electrical terminals, respectively, of the electrical system of the second vehicle when properly connected; first cable means for providing a first current path between the first and third connector means; second cable means for providing a second current path between the second and fourth connector means; and control means for preventing current flow in the first and second current paths unless (a) a first voltage between the third and fourth connector means has a polarity in which the third connector means is more positive than the fourth connector means and a magnitude greater than a predetermined threshold level, and (b) a second voltage between the first connector means and one other of the second, third and fourth connector means has a predetermined polarity in which the first connector means is more positive than the one other of the second, third and fourth connector means and a magnitude greater than a predetermined threshold level, thus indicating that the first, second, third and fourth connectors are all connected properly, wherein the control means comprises; first switch means connected in the first current path and having a conductive state which permits current flow through the first path and a nonconductive state which blocks current flow through the first path; first switch control means for controlling the state of the first switch means as a function of the first and second voltages; second switch means connected in the second current path and having a conductive state which permits current flow through the second path and a nonconductive state which blocks current flow through the second path; and second switch control means for controlling the state of the second switch means as a function of the first and second voltages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Jumper cable apparatus for providing, when properly connected, a first current path for electrical current flow from a positive terminal of an electrical system of a rescue vehicle to a positive terminal of an electrical system of a disabled vehicle, and a second current path for electrical current flow from a negative terminal of the electrical system of the disabled vehicle to a negative terminal of the electrical system of the rescue vehicle, and for preventing current flow in the first and second current paths in the event of an improper connection, the jumper cable apparatus comprising:
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first and second connector means for user-selected removable connection to the positive and negative electrical terminals, respectively, of the electrical system of the rescue vehicle when properly connected; third and fourth connector means for user-selected removable connection to the positive and negative electrical terminals, respectively, of the electrical system of the disabled vehicle when properly connected; first cable means for providing the first current path between the first and third connectors; second cable means for providing the second current path between the second and fourth connectors; first control means connected in the first current path for permitting current flow between the first and third connector means only when (a) a first voltage between the third and fourth connector means has a predetermined polarity in which the third connector means is more positive than the fourth connector means and a magnitude greater than a predetermined threshold level, and (b) a second voltage between the first connector means and one other of the second, third, and fourth connector means has a predetermined polarity in which the first connector means is more positive and a magnitude greater than the predetermined threshold level; and second control means connected in the second current path for permitting the current flow between the second and fourth connector means only when the first and second voltages each have the predetermined polarity and a magnitude greater than the predetermined threshold level.
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- 10. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the second voltage is between the first and second connector means, and the predetermined polarity is one in which the first connector means is more positive than the second conductor means.
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12. Jumper cable apparatus for connecting together positive terminals and connecting together negative terminals of electrical systems of first and second vehicles, and for preventing occurrence of a hazardous condition in the event of an improper connection, the jumper cable apparatus comprising:
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first and second connector means for user-selected removable connection to the positive and negative terminals, respectively, of the electrical system of the first vehicle when properly connected; third and fourth connector means for user-selected removable connection to the positive and negative terminals, respectively, of the electrical system of the second vehicle when properly connected; first cable means for providing a first current path between the first and third connector means; second cable means for providing a second current path between the second and fourth connector means; first control means connected in the first current path for permitting current flow between the first and third connector means only when a first voltage between the third and fourth connector means has a predetermined polarity in which the third connector means is more positive and a magnitude greater than a predetermined threshold level and a second voltage has a predetermined polarity in which the first connector means is more positive and a magnitude greater than a predetermined threshold level and a second voltage has a predetermined polarity in which the first connector means is more positive and a magnitude greater than a predetermined threshold level; and second control means connected in the second current path for permitting current flow between the second and fourth connector means only when the first voltage has the predetermined polarity in which the third connector means is more positive and a magnitude greater than a predetermined threshold level and the second voltage between the first and second connector means has the predetermined polarity in which the first connector means is more positive and a magnitude greater than a predetermined threshold level.
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Specification