Jumper cables

• US 6,254,426 B1
• Filed: 01/29/1999
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rally Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Rally Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Hussaini, Saied, Iacovelli, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, T. C.
• Application Number:
  US09/239,674
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 439/503, 439/504, 439/490, 439/754, 320/105
• US Class Current: 439/504
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0084 Hand tools; Toolboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/24 with gripping jaws, e.g. crocodile clip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6608 with built-in single component H01R13/68, H01R13/70 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/122 Provisions for temporary connection of DC sources of essentially the same voltage, e.g. jumpstart cables

Abstract

A battery jumper cable having a light source which may be activated independently from a connection with a battery to be charged. At least one of the jumper cable connectors includes a voltage source, a switch and a light. Simple activation of the switch will cause the voltage source to illuminate the light thus providing sufficient lighting to identify the polarity of battery posts and establish a proper connection between the connector and battery terminal. In an alternate embodiment, the voltage source is provided from an external booster battery. An electrical connection is established between opposite cables. The switch closes a circuit between the external booster battery and the light thereby providing voltage to the light. The connector may be used as a flashlight to illuminate a connection area without the need for contact with the battery to be charged.

Claims

1. A battery jumper cable for providing a connection between a booster battery and a lesser charged battery, said battery jumper cable comprising:

two insulated cables having first and second ends;

a battery attachment means disposed at said first ends of said two cables for establishing electrical contact between said two cables and a corresponding battery terminal;

wherein one of said battery attachment means further comprises;

a independent voltage source;

a switch; and

a light device, whereby activation of said switch closes a circuit between said independent voltage source and said light thereby selectively providing illumination to an area adjacent said one battery attachment means.

2. The battery jumper cable according to claim 1, wherein, said switch is comprised of a pushbutton switch operable between on and off positions and spring biased in said off position.

3. The battery jumper cable according to claim 1, wherein said one of said battery attachment means further comprises:

electrically insulated pole pliers;

said pole pliers including a compartment for containing said voltage source between and electrically connected to a pair of leads, said switch being electrically connected to one of said leads and said light, said light being in turn electrically connected the other of said leads.

4. The battery jumper cable according to claim 3, wherein, said light comprises an LED.

5. A battery jumper cable for providing a connection between a booster voltage source and a lesser charged battery, said battery jumper cable comprising:

two insulated cables having first and second ends each having a pole plier secured thereto for establishing electrical contact to a corresponding terminal of one of said lesser charged battery and said booster voltage source to provide an electrical connection between said booster voltage source and said lesser charged battery wherein one of said pole pliers connected to a first one of said insulated cables comprises;

a switch;

a light device, and

an auxiliary electrical connection between one of said switch and light device and a second one of said two insulated cables, whereby activation of said switch closes a circuit between said booster voltage source and said light independent of said connection between said booster voltage source and said lesser charged battery thereby selectively providing illumination to an area adjacent said one of said pole pliers, said switch and light device being integrally formed with said one of said pole pliers.

6. The battery jumper cable according to claim 5, wherein said auxiliary electrical connection includes an auxiliary cable extending from said second insulated cable within and through an end portion of said one of said pole pliers and connected to one of said switch and said light device.