Jump starter

• US 5,793,185 A
• Filed: 06/10/1997
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deltona Transformer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Deltona Transformer Corporation
• Inventors: Prelec, Michael L., Gordon, Lawrence W.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, EDWARD H
• Application Number:
  US08/872,623
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: 320/103, 320/104, 320/105, 320/111, 320/112, 320/114, 320/115, 320/DIG. 34, 320/101, 320/106
• US Class Current: 320/104
• 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: H01M 50/202 Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5033 used as charging means for another battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/20 Charging or discharging characterised by the power electronics converter
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A jump starter has a hand-held charger case (1) that contains an internal battery (8), a battery charger (7), connections and controls that provide a needed variety of foolproof and convenient care of external batteries (9) such as vehicle batteries. Control components and circuits are provided to prevent overcharging and incorrect connection to batteries and to allow an external battery to be charged directly by the charger or by the internal battery. Cables, connections and controls allow the charger to accept AC electricity through an AC input cord (3) or DC electricity through a DC input cord (4) and respective converters (5, 6). Jump-start cables (27, 28, 29) with clamp connections (30) are positioned on opposite sides (34, 37) of the charger case and supportable by covered nonconductive cleat-support members (30, 31) to prevent contact with each other or with other objects when not in use. The AC input cords and DC input cords are positioned on opposite sides of the case for additional safety.

Claims

1. A jump starter comprising:

a charger case that is sized, shaped and structured to be hand-held and to contain components designedly to provide a design selection of desired care of vehicle batteries;

an AC input cord having electrical conveyance from an AC source to an AC-DC converter that is contained by the charger case;

the AC-DC converter being an electrical transformer, rectifier and filter that is structured to convert AC line voltage to DC voltage required to operate a select battery-charger circuit that is contained by the charger case;

an AC charger line in electrical communication from the AC-DC converter to a battery charger that is contained by the charger case;

a DC input cord having electrical conveyance from a DC source to a DC-DC converter that is contained by the charger case;

the DC-DC converter being a boost converter that is structured to convert DC input voltage to DC voltage required to operate a select battery-charger circuit;

a DC charger line in electrical communication from the DC-DC converter to the battery charger;

the battery charger being a regulator of charge voltage and current required to charge and then to maintain charge of a battery;

a charging-indicator LED positioned externally on the charger case and having charging-indicator circuitry in electrical communication with the battery charger to cause the charging-indicator LED to indicate that a charge circuit is supplying normal charge to a battery;

a charged-indicator LED positioned externally on the charger case and having charged-indicator circuitry in electrical communication with the battery charger to cause the charged-indicator LED to indicate that a charged battery is charged and that a charging circuit is maintaining charge of the charged battery;

function conveyance in electrical communication between the battery charger and a function-selector switch with which functions of DC output are selected;

the function-selector switch having a first position that connects an output socket directly to an internal battery;

an internal-battery line in electrical communication from the function-selector switch to the internal battery;

the function-selector switch having a second position that connects the battery charger directly to a DC output socket;

the DC output socket being connectable to DC accessories or, optionally, the DC output socket being connectable to an external battery to charge the external battery directly;

jumper cables that are in electrical communication from poles of the internal battery to poles of an external battery; and

an output line in electrical communication from the internal battery to the function-selector switch for electrical output to the DC output socket.

2. A jump starter as described in claim 1 wherein:

the charging-indicator LED is red and the charged-indicator LED is green.

3. A jump starter as described in claim 1 wherein:

the internal battery has a design voltage in relationship to external batteries to be jump-start charged.

4. A jump starter as described in claim 1 wherein:

voltage of the internal battery is as high as the highest voltage of external batteries to be provided with electrical input from the jump starter.

5. A jump starter as described in claim 1 wherein:

the charger case has a first-cable channel in a bottom wall of a first side and a second-cable channel in a bottom wall of a second side of the charger case;

a first jumper cable in electrical communication from a first electrical pole is extended outwardly from the charger case at a relatively high portion of a front first side of the charger case;

a second jumper cable in electrical communication from a second electrical pole is extended outwardly from the charger case at a high portion of a front second side of the charger case;

in a non-use mode of the jump starter, the first jumper cable is routed first through the first-cable channel to a rear side and then routed to a relatively high portion of a first side of the charger case where a clamp connector positioned on a distal end of the first jumper cable is supportable by a nonconductive that is shielded by a first-side roof holster and first-side walls to deter contact by opposite clamp connectors and by extraneous objects; and

also in a non-use mode of the jump starter, the second jumper cable is routed first through the second-cable channel to a rear side and then routed to a relatively high portion of a second side of the charger case where a clamp connector positioned on a distal end of the second jumper cable is supportable by a nonconductive support member that is shielded by a second-side roof holster and second-side walls to deter contact by opposite clamp connectors and by extraneous objects.

6. A jump starter as described in claim 5 wherein:

the first jumper cable and the second jumper cable have lengths that provide designedly tight connection between positions of extension from a front of the charger case and nonconductive support members on which clamp connectors on distal ends of the first jumper cable and the second jumper cable respectively are stored in non-use mode of the jump starter.

7. A jump starter as described in claim 1 wherein:

the AC input cord and the DC input cord are extended through line orifices in respectively opposite sides of the charger case; and

the AC input cord and the DC input cord are wound onto cord wind-up spools on the respectively opposite sides of the charger case in non-use mode of the jump starter.

8. A jump starter as described in claim 1 wherein:

the charger case is waterproof and has a top handle.

9. A jump starter comprising:

a charger case that is sized, shaped and structured to be hand-held and to contain components designedly to provide a design selection of desired care of vehicle batteries;

an AC input cord having electrical conveyance from an AC source to an AC-DC converter that is contained by the charger case;

the AC-DC converter being an electrical transformer, rectifier and filter that is structured to convert AC line voltage to DC voltage required to operate a select battery-charger circuit that is contained by the charger case;

an AC charger line in electrical communication from the AC-DC converter to a battery charger that is contained by the charger case;

a DC input cord having electrical conveyance from a DC source to a DC-DC converter that is contained by the charger case;

the DC-DC converter being a boost converter that is structured to convert DC input voltage to DC voltage required to operate a select battery-charger circuit;

a DC charger line in electrical communication from the DC-DC converter to the battery charger;

the battery charger being a regulator of charge voltage and current required to charge and then to maintain charge of a battery;

a charging-indicator LED positioned externally on the charger case and having charging-indicator circuitry in electrical communication with the battery charger to cause the charging-indicator LED to indicate that a charge circuit is supplying normal charge to a battery;

a charged-indicator LED positioned externally on the charger case and having uncharged-indicator control circuitry in electrical communication with the battery charger to cause the charged-indicator LED to indicate that a charged battery is charged and that a charging circuit is maintaining charge of the charged battery;

function conveyance in electrical communication between the battery charger and a function-selector switch with which functions of DC output are selected;

the function-selector switch having a first position that connects an output socket directly to an internal battery;

an internal-battery line in electrical communication from the function-selector switch to the internal battery;

the function-selector switch having a second position that connects the battery charger directly to a DC output socket;

the DC output socket being connectable to DC accessories or, optionally, the DC output socket being connectable to an external battery to charge the external battery directly;

jumper cables that are in electrical communication from poles of the internal battery to poles of an external battery;

an output line in electrical communication from the internal battery to the function-selector switch for electrical output to the DC output socket;

the charging-indicator LED being red and the charged-indicator LED being green;

an external-battery line in electrical communication from the function-selector switch to the external battery;

the jumper cables being connectable from poles of the internal battery to poles of an external battery;

voltage of the internal battery is as high as the highest voltage of external batteries to be provided with electrical input from the jump starter;

the charger case has a first-cable channel in a bottom wall of a first side and a second-cable channel in a bottom wall of a second side of the charger case;

a first jumper cable in electrical communication from a first electrical pole is extended outwardly from the charger case at a relatively high portion of a front first side of the charger case;

a second jumper cable in electrical communication from a second electrical pole is extended outwardly from the charger case at a high portion of a front second side of the charger case;

in a non-use mode of the jump starter, the first jumper cable is routed first through the first-cable channel to a rear side and then routed to a relatively high portion of a first side of the charger case where a clamp connector positioned on a distal end of the first jumper cable is supportable by a nonconductive cleat-support member that is shielded by a first-side roof holster and first-side walls to deter contact by opposite clamp connectors and by extraneous objects;

also in a non-use mode of the jump starter, the second jumper cable is routed first through the second-cable channel to a rear side and then routed to a relatively high portion of a second side of the charger case where a clamp connector positioned on a distal end of the second jumper cable is supportable by a nonconductive cleat-support member that is shielded by a second-side roof holster and second-side walls to deter contact by opposite clamp connectors and by extraneous objects;

the first jumper cable and the second jumper cable have lengths that provide designedly tight connection between positions of extension from a front of the charger case and nonconductive cleat-support members to which clamp connectors on distal ends of the first jumper cable and the second jumper cable respectively are connected in non-use mode of the jump starter;

the AC input cord and the DC input cord are extended through line orifices in respectively opposite sides of the charger case;

the AC input cord and the DC input cord are wound onto wind-up spools on the respectively opposite sides of the charger case in non-use mode of the jump starter; and

the charger case is waterproof and has a top handle.