Battery pack and protective pouch therefor

• US 6,259,228 B1
• Filed: 02/11/2000
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Technologies Incorporated (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Technologies Incorporated (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Inventors: Prince, Richard W., Doyle, Bryan L., Eggert, Daniel M., Becker, Thomas P., Putney, Gordon A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIBBITS, PIA FLORENCE
• Application Number:
  US09/502,872
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 320/105, 320/107
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/204 Racks, modules or packs for multiple batteries or multiple cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/24 adapted for protecting batteries from their environment, e.g. from corrosion thermal insulation H01M10/658
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/296 characterised by terminals of battery packs terminals of batteries H01M50/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/5033 used as charging means for another battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/122 Provisions for temporary connection of DC sources of essentially the same voltage, e.g. jumpstart cables
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A protective housing for a jump-starting battery pack includes a flexible sheet of multi-layered, electrically insulating fabric material including inner and outer nylon layers and a foam padding layer sandwiched therebetween adapted to be folded around the case of a battery pack positioned in the middle of the sheet and held closed by Velcro-type closures. Retaining straps secure the battery pack in place, one of the straps having stacks of secured-together folds positioned on opposite sides of the case to provide supports on which the connector clamps of the battery pack jumper cables can be clamped, with the cables projecting from the open top of the housing to serve as handles.

Claims

1. A protective housing for a battery pack having two jumper cables with connector clamps, the housing comprising:

a flexible foldable sheet of protective material,

retaining structure on the sheet for retaining an associated battery pack thereon,

two clamp supports on the sheet respectively engageable with the clamps of an associated battery pack for supporting the clamps out of contact with each other,

the sheet being shaped and dimensioned to be foldable around an associated battery pack in a closed condition completely encircling the battery pack, and

a closure structure for holding the sheet in its closed condition.

2. The housing of claim 1, wherein the retaining structure includes a plurality of straps.

3. The housing of claim 2, wherein the straps include a first laterally extending bight having ends secured to the sheet and a second longitudinally extending bight having an end secured to the sheet and an end secured to the first bight for cooperation therewith to define a receptacle for an associated battery pack.

4. The housing of claim 2, wherein the retaining structure includes a strap arranged to extend across an associated battery pack, the strap having two support portions each comprising a plurality of stacked folds secured together and providing a support on which a battery pack connector clamp can be clamped.

5. The housing of claim 1, wherein the sheet is formed of electrically insulating material.

6. The housing of claim 5, wherein the sheet is a multi-layered material including inner and outer layers of a wear-resistant fabric and an inner layer of foamed material for padding.

7. The housing of claim 1, wherein the retaining structure is disposed on a central section of the sheet, the sheet including end sections on either side of the central section arranged to be folded over an associated battery pack positioned on the central section.

8. The housing of claim 1, wherein the closure structure includes a Velcro-type hook strip and a Velcro-type loop strip adapted to be engaged with each other.

9. The housing of claim 1, wherein the sheet includes a pocket for receiving documentary material.

10. A portable jump starter assembly comprising:

a jump-starting battery pack including a case, a battery housed in the case and a pair of jumper cables connected to the battery and projecting from the case and each provided at a distal end with a connector clamp;

a flexible foldable housing adapted to receive the case and be folded therearound in a closed condition,

the housing including retaining structure engageable with the case for retaining the case in place in the housing,

two clamp supports respectively engageable with the clamps for supporting the clamps out of contact with each other, and

closure structure for holding the housing in its closed condition.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the retaining structure includes a plurality of straps.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the retaining structure includes a strap arranged to extend across an associated battery pack, the strap having two support portions each comprising a plurality of stacked folds secured together and providing a support on which a battery pack connector clamp can be clamped.

13. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the housing is formed of an electrically insulating material.

14. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the retaining structure is disposed on a central section of the housing, the housing including end sections on either side of the central section arranged to be folded over an associated battery pack positioned on the central section.

15. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the housing in its closed condition has an open top through which the jumper cables project when the clamps are engaged with the clamp supports and the housing is retained by the retaining structure for providing handles for the assembly.

16. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the housing in its closed condition has an open bottom, the case including a charging jack which is accessible through the open bottom when the case is retained in the housing.

17. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the closure structure includes a Velcro-type hook strip and a Velcro-type loop strip adapted to be engaged with each other.

18. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the retaining structure nonremovably retains the case in the housing.