Electronic controlled, spark free booster cable system

• US 5,796,255 A
• Filed: 04/06/1996
• Issued: 08/18/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ricky Dean Mcgowan
• Original Assignee: Ricky Dean Mcgowan
• Inventors: McGowan, Ricky Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Oda, Christine K.
• Application Number:
  US08/633,852
• Time in Patent Office: 864 Days
• Field of Search: 340/636, 324/435, 324/429, 320/48, 320/25, 320/26
• US Class Current: 324/429
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0034 using reverse polarity correcting or protecting circuits mechanical means of polarity protection H02J7/0045

Abstract

A device for safely transferring electrical energy from a charged battery of an operable vehicle to a discharged battery of a disabled vehicle. The device consists of two pairs of jumper cables electrically connected to an intervening safety circuit. When the jumper cables are connected to their respective batteries, the safety circuit prevents reverse-polarity bridging of the charged and discharged batteries, thereby preventing explosions or improper current flow that could injure the operator or damage either battery. The safety circuit provides a sensory indication to the user when the cables are properly connected and allows the operator to manually enable the sub-circuitry that completes the full circuit between the two batteries. The sub-circuitry that completes the full circuit between batteries, in combination with the circuit'"'"'s housing, operates to eliminate dangerous sparking that typically attends the connection of the terminals of vehicle batteries.

Claims

1. An electrical safety circuit for use in a battery booster system, comprising:

circuit terminals for connecting to positive and negative battery terminals of a first battery and a second battery;

means for detecting the polarity of a connection of said system to said first battery and providing sensory indications of said polarity;

means for detecting the polarity of a connection of said system to said second battery and providing sensory indications of said polarity;

switching means for completing an electrical path between said terminals of said first and second batteries;

means for automatically disabling said switching means when said connection to either said first or second battery is of reverse polarity or not present;

means for indicating when contacts of said switching means have closed said circuit;

an override switch for manually overriding said automatic switching means disabling means, said override switch permitting the operation of said switching means even though said second battery is completely discharged; and

a disable switch for manually disabling said switching means.

2. A safety booster cable system for transferring electrical power from the battery of a disabled first vehicle to the servicing battery of a second vehicle comprising:

a first pair of cables for electrically connecting to said battery of said first vehicle;

a second pair of cables for electrically connecting to said battery of said second vehicle;

the electrical safety circuit of claim 1 connecting said two cable pairs; and

a housing for said electrical safety circuit.