Convertible electric tester for use with a flashlight and including a jack plug with tubular shunt

• US 4,021,732 A
• Filed: 05/27/1975
• Issued: 05/03/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John W. Metcalf
• Original Assignee: John W. Metcalf
• Inventors: Metcalf, John W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Strecker, Gerard R.
• Application Number:
  US05/581,274
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 324/51, 324/53, 324/72.5, 324/149, 324/19, 324/133, 339/19, 339/183, 339/222
• US Class Current: 324/506
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/06766 Input circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/50 Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58

Abstract

An electric tester usable for one type of test by tapping into the battery current of a flashlight, or for an alternate type of test as a shunt across the terminals of units in a power line to determine their conductivity. The tester is a jack with a plug having terminals suitable to tap as mentioned for the first type of test. For the second type the invention provides a connector bridging the terminals to convert the jack plug into a shunt applicable as stated.

Claims

1. Shunt means for a circuit tester comprising a pair of flexible, electrically conductive probes with an input terminal on one end of each probe and a single jack plug having two conductors arranged therein in an electrically insulated relationship to provide two spaced output terminals on one end portion of said jack plug, the other end of each probe being inserted into the other end portion of said jack plug with one of said probe other ends being connected to one of said conductors and the other end of the other probe being connected to the other of said conductors;

said shunt means comprising a tubular element of the electrically conductive material to slidably receive and retain in frictional engagement at least the end portion of said jack plug having said output terminals, said tubular element being longitudinally split, one end of said tubular element being crimped inwardly to provide a stop for the terminal output end portion of said jack plug when inserted therein with one of said output terminals in contact with said element, said stop being in contact with the other of said terminal outputs to thereby provide a closed circuit between said output terminals, and a detent formed on an edge of said longitudinal split adjacent said crimped end to receive a notched depression in the terminal output end of said jack plug to retain said jack plug within said tubular element, being a non-conductive covering for said tubular element including enclosing of the crimped end of said element, said jack plug being of a type insertable into a flash light having a switch activated, battery-operated circuit connected to a receptacle to receive said jack plug.