Clamp assembly for a battery booster cable

• US 5,772,468 A
• Filed: 09/27/1996
• Issued: 06/30/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Coleman Cable LLC (Southwire Company)
• Original Assignee: Coleman Cable Systems, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kowalski, Wayne J., Holpuch, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Khiem
• Assistant Examiner(s): BYRD, EUGENE G
• Application Number:
  US08/723,218
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 439/506, 439/759, 439/822, 439/819, 439/755
• US Class Current: 439/506
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/24 with gripping jaws, e.g. crocodile clip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/281 for connections to batteries

Abstract

A clamp assembly for a battery booster cable for removable attachment to a battery terminal. The clamp assembly includes a pair of clamp members each having a jaw portion and a handle portion. One of the jaw portions is configured with an electrically conductive edge portion, and the other jaw portion is configured with a non-conductive edge portion. The electrically conductive edge portion and non-conductive edge cooperate to securely mount the clamp assembly to the battery terminal. A pivot member joins the clamp members together between the respective jaw and handle portions thereof to allow pivotal movement of the clamp members relative to one another about the pivot member. A biasing member is also disposed on the clamp members for normally urging the handle portions apart and the jaw portions together about the pivot member.

Claims

1. A clamp assembly for a battery booster cable for removable attachment to a battery terminal, comprising:

a pair of clamp members each including a jaw portion and a handle portion, one of said jaw portions being configured with an electrically conductive edge portion, and the other of said jaw portions being configured with a non-conductive edge portion, said electrically conductive edge portion and non-conductive edge portion cooperating to securely mount the clamp to the battery terminal;

a pivot member joining the clamp members together between the respective jaw and handle portions thereof to allow pivotal movement of the clamp members relative to one another about the pivot member; and

a biasing member disposed on the clamp members for normally urging the handle portions apart and the jaw portions together about the pivot member.

2. The clamp assembly of claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive edge portion is defined as an electrically conductive contact jaw attached to one of said jaw portions of the clamp member.

3. The clamp assembly of claim 2 wherein each of said jaw portions is coated with a non-conductive insulating material.

4. The clamp assembly of claim 3 wherein each of said handle portions is coated with a non-conductive insulating material.

5. The clamp assembly of claim 2 wherein the contact jaw is releasably secured to one of said jaw portions by a fastener, said fastener being recessed to thereby shield said fastener from contact with conductive objects.

6. The clamp assembly of claim 5 wherein the pivot member is recessed below the surface of each clamp member to shield said pivot member from contact with external electrically energized conductors.

7. The clamp assembly of claim 2 further comprising a cable conductor secured to said contact jaw to provide an electrical connection between the contact jaw and a source of current.

8. The clamp assembly of claim 7 wherein said cable conductor comprises a stranded copper cable having an end portion crimped within the end of said electrically conductive contact jaw for making the mechanical and electrical connection between the end of the cable and the contact jaw.

9. The clamp assembly of claim 2 wherein each of said clamp members is formed of a one-piece construction of a metallic material and entirely coated with a layer of non-conductive insulating material.

10. The clamp assembly of claim 1 further comprising a mechanical stop disposed on one of the clamp members to prevent contact between the respective serrated edges to biasing of spring.

11. The clamp assembly of claim 1 further comprising polarity markings disposed on one of said clamp members.

12. The clamp assembly of claim 11 wherein said polarity markings are configured with a phosphorescent material to facilitate visibility in poor lighting conditions.

13. The clamp assembly of claim 1 wherein each handle portion includes spaced-apart wing sections through which said pivot member extends, the wing sections of one handle portion overlapping the wing sections of the other handle portion to improve the stability of the clamp connection.

14. The clamp assembly of claim 13 further comprising a mechanical stop formed on an edge of each wing section of one of said handle portions.

15. A clamp assembly for a battery booster cable for removable attachment to a battery terminal, comprising:

an active clamp member coated with an insulating material, said active clamp member having a jaw portion and a handle portion;

an electrically conductive contact jaw attached to said jaw portion of the active clamp member and having a serrated edge for gripping securement to the battery terminal;

a passive clamp member coated with an insulating material, said passive clamp member having a handle portion and an insulated jaw portion defining a serrated edge for gripping securement to the battery terminal;

a pivot member joining the active and passive clamp members together between the respective jaw portions and handle portions to allow pivotal movement of the active and passive clamp members relative to one another about the pivot member; and

a spring operably engaging the active and passive clamp members for normally urging the respective handle portions apart and the respective jaw portions together about the pivot member, the contact jaw of the active clamp member and the insulated serrated edge of the passive clamp member cooperating to securely mount the clamp to the battery terminal.

16. The clamp assembly of claim 15 wherein the contact jaw is releasably secured to the jaw portion of the active clamp by a fastener, said fastener being recessed to thereby shield said fastener from contact with conductive objects.

17. The clamp assembly of claim 16 wherein the pivot member is recessed below the surface of each clamp member to shield said member from contact with external electrically energized conductors.

18. The clamp assembly of claim 15 further comprising a cable conduct or secured to said contact jaw to provide an electrical connection between the contact jaw and a source of current.

19. The clamp assembly of claim 18 wherein said cable conductor comprises a stranded copper cable having an end portion crimped within the end of said electrically conductive contact jaw for making the mechanical and electrical connection between the end of the cable and the contact jaw.

20. The clamp assembly of claim 15 wherein each of said clamp members is formed of a one-piece construction of a metallic material and entirely coated with a layer of non-conductive insulating material.

21. The clamp assembly of claim 15 further comprising a mechanical stop disposed on one of the handle portions to prevent contact between the contact jaw of the active clamp member and the insulated serrated edge of the passive clamp member due to biasing of spring.

22. The clamp assembly of claim 15 further comprising polarity markings formed on the handle portion of one of said active and passive clamp members.

23. The clamp assembly of claim 22 wherein said polarity markings are made of a phosphorescent material.

24. The clamp assembly of claim 15 wherein each handle portion includes spaced-apart wing sections through which said pivot member extends, the wing sections of one handle portion overlapping the wing sections of the other handle portion to improve the stability of the clamp connection.

25. The clamp assembly of claim 15 further comprising a mechanical stop formed on an edge of each wing section of one of said handle portions.

26. A clamp assembly for a battery booster cable for removable attachment to a battery terminal, comprising:

an active clamp member coated with an insulating material, said active clamp member having a jaw portion and a handle portion;

an electrically conductive contact jaw attached to said jaw portion of the active clamp member and having a serrated edge for gripping securement to the battery terminal;

a cable conductor secured to said contact jaw to provide an electrical connection between the contact jaw and a source of current;

a passive clamp member coated with an insulating material, said passive clamp member having a handle portion and a jaw portion defining a serrated edge for gripping securement to the battery terminal;

a pivot member joining the active and passive clamp members together between the respective jaw portions and handle portions to allow pivotal movement of the active and passive clamp members relative to one another about the pivot member;

a spring operably engaging the active and passive clamp members for normally urging the respective handle portions apart and the respective jaw portions together about the pivot member, the contact jaw of the active clamp member and the insulated serrated edge of the passive clamp member cooperating to securely mount the clamp assembly to the battery terminal; and

a mechanical stop disposed on one of the handle portions to prevent contact between the contact jaw of the active clamp member and the insulated serrated edge of the passive clamp member due to biasing of spring.

27. A clamp assembly for a battery booster cable for removable attachment to a battery terminal, comprising:

an active clamp member having a handle portion and an active jaw portion, said active jaw portion having an electrically conductive contact jaw attached thereto for gripping securement to the battery terminal;

a passive clamp member having a handle portion and a passive jaw portion, said passive jaw portion defining a gripping edge integrally formed thereon for gripping securement to the battery terminal, said electrically conductive contact jaw and gripping edge cooperating to securely mount the clamp to the battery terminal;

a pivot member joining the clamp members together between the respective jaw and handle portions thereof to allow pivotal movement of the clamp members relative to one another about the pivot member; and

a biasing member disposed on the clamp members for normally urging the handle portions apart and the jaw portions together about the pivot member.