Automotive battery terminal clamp for a battery jumper cable
First Claim
1. An automotive battery terminal clamp for a battery jumper cable, comprising:
- a pair of terminal gripping members each including a jaw section and a handle section, at least one of the jaw sections being electrically conductive;
a pivot pin joining the gripping members together for pivotal movement relative to one another about an axis between the jaw and handle sections thereof;
biasing means on the gripping members for normally urging the handle sections apart and the jaw sections together about the axis so that a hand forcibly gripping the handles against resistance of the biasing means may pivot the handles toward one another and thereby cause corresponding pivotal motion of the jaw sections apart from one another and so that relaxing of the hand grip will allow the jaw sections to close responsive to the biasing means;
a switch mounted to the gripping members and electrically connected to the conductive jaw section and adapted for connection to the jumper cable, for selectively opening and closing to make and break electrical contact between the conductive jaw section and jumper cable; and
an actuator means on the pair of gripping members and connected to the switch for (a) opening the switch to break electrical contact between the conductive jaw section and cable responsive to said gripping, (b) holding the switch open following release of the handle sections, and for (c) selective operation to close the switch.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A clamp for battery jumper cables includes a pair of pivoted terminal gripping members with a switch and linkage arrangement connected between a conductive jaw and the conductive jumper cable to facilitate electrical connection and disconnection of the jaw and jumper cable in a controlled, spark-free manner. The linkage includes first and second lever sections pivotally connected to one of the handle sections of the terminal clamp. A first lever is operated as the clamp is grasped in the user'"'"'s hand. This lever causes the over-center linkage to shift to a first over-center position, opening the switch and breaking electrical contact between the clamp and jumper cable before the jaws are forcibly opened. The over-center linkage serves to hold the switch in an open, nonconductive state even though the clamp handles are released to secure the jaws against the terminal. A second lever must be consciously pressed before the switch is allowed to move to a closed condition and electrically connect the clamp and jumper cable. The second lever is pressed to shift the over-center mechanism back over-center bringing first and second contact surfaces of the switch together in flush conductive engagement. Subsequent grasping of the clamp will cause the switch to be opened before the clamp is removed from the terminal.
136 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An automotive battery terminal clamp for a battery jumper cable, comprising:
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a pair of terminal gripping members each including a jaw section and a handle section, at least one of the jaw sections being electrically conductive; a pivot pin joining the gripping members together for pivotal movement relative to one another about an axis between the jaw and handle sections thereof; biasing means on the gripping members for normally urging the handle sections apart and the jaw sections together about the axis so that a hand forcibly gripping the handles against resistance of the biasing means may pivot the handles toward one another and thereby cause corresponding pivotal motion of the jaw sections apart from one another and so that relaxing of the hand grip will allow the jaw sections to close responsive to the biasing means; a switch mounted to the gripping members and electrically connected to the conductive jaw section and adapted for connection to the jumper cable, for selectively opening and closing to make and break electrical contact between the conductive jaw section and jumper cable; and an actuator means on the pair of gripping members and connected to the switch for (a) opening the switch to break electrical contact between the conductive jaw section and cable responsive to said gripping, (b) holding the switch open following release of the handle sections, and for (c) selective operation to close the switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification