Jumper cable apparatus

• US 4,969,834 A
• Filed: 10/02/1989
• Issued: 11/13/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Alan Johnson
• Original Assignee: Robert Alan Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Application Number:
  US07/415,570
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 439/503, 439/504, 439/489, 439/490, 439/140, 439/141, 320/2, 320/25, 320/26, 320/48
• US Class Current: 439/141
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4538 Covers sliding or withdrawing in the direction of engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6691 with built-in signalling means H01R13/717 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/713 the switch being a safety switch
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0034 using reverse polarity correcting or protecting circuits mechanical means of polarity protection H02J7/0045

Abstract

A jumper cable apparatus to interconnect two batteries is described. The apparatus has a first and second connecting means that releasably engage each other. The first and second connecting means have a polarity-sensitive and current-limiting circuit within each connecting means with one or more colored LEDs, a current-limiting resistor and a piezoelectric alarm. The circuits also indicate when one of the batteries may have an open or short cell. The second connecting means has an electrically insulative, translating block means to reduce the chance of accidental contact with the interior of the connecting means and to reduce the chance of arcing outside of the electrically insulated housing and block means. The apparatus may have an extension cable apparatus to assist jumping the batteries when access to the batteries may be difficult. The housings of the connecting means have bosses and slots to aid in the alignment of the housings and to align the positive cables when the housings are interconnected.

Claims

1. A jumper cable apparatus comprising:

a. a first charging transfer cable having on a first end a first attaching means and a second charging transfer cable having on a second end a second attaching means to releasably attach the first and second charging transfer cables to a first pair of battery terminals;

b. a third charging transfer cable having on a third end a third attaching means and a fourth charging transfer cable having on a fourth end a fourth attaching means to releasably attach the third and fourth charging transfer cables to a second pair of battery terminals;

c. a first connecting body means including circuit means to sense polarity and to limit current attached to a fifth end of the first charging transfer cable and attached to a sixth end of the second charging transfer cable;

the first connecting body means further comprising;

a positive probe receiver connected to the fifth end of the first charging transfer cable;

a negative probe receiver connected to the sixth end of the second charging transfer cable;

a first electrical circuit means to electrically interconnect the first and second charging transfer cables;

a first polarity-sensitive LED in the first circuit means;

a first circuitry test switch in the first circuit means;

a first current-limiting resistor in the first circuit means allowing current flow between the first switch and the first LED;

a first polarity-sensitive piezoelectric alarm in the first circuit means allowing and sensing reversed current flow between the first switch and the negative probe receiver;

a thermally-activated circuit breaker in the first circuit means allowing and limiting current flow between the negative probe receiver and the second charging transfer cable;

an incandescent lamp and a nonpolarity-sensitive alarm in the first circuit means allowing current flow when the circuit breaker interrupts current flow between the negative probe receiver and the second charging transfer cable; and

the first switch in the first circuit means allowing selective current flow from the positive probe receiver, through the switch, through the first current-limiting resistor, through the first LED, through the piezoelectric alarm and to the second charging transfer cable;

d. a second connecting body means including circuit means to sense polarity attached to a seventh end of the third charging transfer cable and attached to an eighth end of the fourth charging transfer cable and the second connecting means being selectively engaged with the first connecting means to allow transfer of current between a first battery and a second battery; and

e. an insulative translating block means in the second connecting means to reduce contact with an interior of the second connecting means.

2. A jumper cable apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the second connecting means further comprises:

a. a positive probe connected to the seventh end of a third charging transfer cable;

b. a negative probe connected to the eighth end of a fourth charging transfer cable;

c. a second electrical circuit means to electrically interconnect the third and fourth charging transfer cables;

d. a second polarity-sensitive LED in the second circuit means;

e. a second circuitry test switch in the second circuit means;

f. a second current-limiting resistor in the second circuit means allowing current flow between the second switch and the second LED;

g. a second polarity-sensitive piezoelectric alarm in the second circuit means allowing and sensing reversed current flow between the second switch and the negative probe; and

h. the second switch in the second circuit means allowing selective current flow from the positive probe, through the second switch, through the second current-limiting resistor, through the second piezoelectric alarm and to the negative probe.

3. A jumper cable apparatus comprising:

a. a first charging transfer cable having on a first end a first attaching means and a second charging transfer cable having on a second end a second attaching means to releasably attach the first and second charging transfer cables to a first pair of battery terminals;

b. a third charging transfer cable having on a third end a third attaching means and a fourth charging transfer cable having on a fourth end a fourth attaching means to releasably attach the third and fourth charging transfer cables to a second pair of battery terminals;

c. a positive probe receiver connected to the fifth end of the first charging transfer cable;

d. a negative probe receiver connected to the sixth end of the second charging transfer cable;

e. a first electrical circuit means to electrically interconnect the first and second charging transfer cables;

f. a first polarity-sensitive LED in the first circuit means;

g. a first circuitry test switch in the first circuit means;

h. a first current-limiting resistor in the first circuit means allowing current flow between the first switch and the first LED;

i. a first polarity-sensitive piezoelectric alarm in the first circuit means allowing and sensing reversed current flow between the first switch and the negative probe receiver;

j. a thermally-activated circuit breaker in the first circuit means allowing and limiting current flow between the negative probe receiver and the second charging transfer cable;

k. an incandescent lamp and a nonpolarity-sensitive alarm in the first circuit means allowing current flow when the circuit breaker interrupts current flow between the negative probe receiver and the second charging transfer cable;

l. the first switch in the first circuit means allowing selective current flow from the positive probe receiver, through the first switch, through the first current-limiting resistor, through the first LED, through the first piezoelectric alarm and to the second charging transfer cable.

m. a positive probe connected to the seventh end of a third charging transfer cable;

n. a negative probe connected to the eighth end of a fourth charging transfer cable;

o. a second electrical circuit means to electrically interconnect the third and fourth charging transfer cables;

p. a second polarity-sensitive LED in the second circuit means;

q. a second circuitry test switch in the second circuit means;

r. a second current-limiting resistor in the second circuit means allowing current flow between the second switch and the second LED;

s. a second polarity-sensitive piezoelectric alarm in the second circuit means allowing and sensing reversed current flow between the second switch and the negative probe;

t. the second switch in the second circuit means allowing selective current flow between the positive probe, the second current-limiting resistor, the second piezoelectric alarm and the negative probe;

u. an insulative translating block means in the second connecting means to reduce contact with an interior of the second connecting means; and

v. the positive and negative probe receivers being selectively engaged with the positive and negative probes to allow transfer of current between a first battery and a second battery.

4. A jumper cable apparatus as defined in claim 3 further comprising an extension cable apparatus to extend the length of the jumper cable apparatus.

5. A jumper cable apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the extension cable apparatus further comprises:

a. A fifth and sixth charging transfer cable;

b. a third connecting means for mating with the first connecting means attached to a ninth of the fifth charging transfer cable and to a tenth end of the sixth charging transfer cable; and

c. a fourth connecting means for mating with the second connecting means attached to a eleventh end of the fifth charging transfer cable and to a twelfth end of the sixth charging transfer cable.

6. A jumper cable apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the first, second, third and fourth attaching means are color coded to further assist and facilitate which attaching means is to be attached to a positive terminal of the first and second pair of battery terminals.

7. A jumper cable apparatus comprising:

a. a first charging transfer cable having on a first end a first attaching means and a second charging transfer cable having on a second end a second attaching means to releasably attach the first and second charging transfer cables to a first pair of battery terminals;

b. a third charging transfer cable having on a third end a third attaching means and a fourth charging transfer cable having on a fourth end a fourth attaching means to releasably attach the third and fourth charging transfer cables to a second pair of battery terminals;

c. a positive probe receiver connected to the fifth end of the first charging transfer cable;

d. a negative probe receiver connected to the sixth end of the second charging transfer cable;

e. a first electrical circuit means to electrically interconnect the first and second charging transfer cables;

f. a first polarity-sensitive LED in the first circuit means;

g. a first circuitry test switch in the first circuit means;

h. a first current-limiting resistor in the first circuit means allowing current flow between the first switch and the first LED;

i. a first polarity-sensitive piezoelectric alarm in the first circuit means allowing and sensing reverse current flow between the first switch and the negative probe receiver;

j. a thermally-activated circuit breaker in the first circuit means allowing and limiting current flow between the negative probe receiver and the second charging transfer cable;

k. an incandescent lamp and a nonpolarity-sensitive alarm in the first circuit means allowing current flow when the circuit breaker interrupts current flow between the negative probe receiver and the second charging transfer cable;

l. the first switch in the first circuit means allowing selective current flow from the positive probe receiver, through the first switch, through the first current-limiting resistor, through the first LED, through the piezoelectric alarm and to the second charging transfer cable;

m. a positive probe connected to the seventh end of a third charging transfer cable;

n. a negative probe connected to the eighth end of a fourth charging transfer cable;

o. a second electrical circuit means to electrically interconnect the third and fourth charging transfer cables;

p. a second polarity-sensitive LED in the second circuit means;

q. a second circuitry test switch in the second circuit means;

r. a second current-limiting resistor in the second circuit means allowing current flow between the second switch and the second LED;

s. a second polarity-sensitive piezoelectric alarm in the second circuit means allowing and sensing reversed current flow between the second switch and the negative probe;

t. the second switch in the second circuit means allowing selective current flow from the positive probe, through the second switch, through the second current-limiting resistor, through the second piezoelectric alarm and to the negative probe;

u. an insulative translating block means in the second connecting means to reduce contact with an interior of the second connecting means;

v. the positive and negative probe receivers being selectively engaged with the positive and negative probes to allow transfer of current between a first battery and a second battery;

w. a fifth and sixth charging transfer cable;

x. a third connecting means for mating with the first connecting means attached to a ninth end of the fifth charging transfer cable and to a tenth end of the sixth charging transfer cable ;

y. a fourth connecting means for mating with the second connecting means attached to a eleventh end of the fifth charging transfer cable and to a twelfth end of the sixth charging transfer cable; and

z. the first, second, third and fourth attaching means being color coded to further assist and facilitate which attaching means is to be attached to a positive terminal of the first and second pair of battery terminals.