Vehicular power cut off apparatus

• US 5,401,930 A
• Filed: 04/19/1993
• Issued: 03/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edgar H. Eastlund
• Original Assignee: Edgar H. Eastlund
• Inventors: Eastlund, Edgar H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luebke, Renee S.
• Application Number:
  US08/047,981
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 200/331, 200/330, 200/43.03, 200/48 RB, 200/254, 200/313, 200/314, 200/61.7, 200/61.85, 200/52 R, 200/538, 200/543, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.2, 307/10.7, 74/501.6, 180/287
• US Class Current: 200/543
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/42 Knife-and-clip contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 17/16 having a single flexible operating part adapted for pulling at one end only
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2001/5877 with provisions for direct mounting on a battery pole
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/161 comprising light emitting elements

Abstract

A switch member mechanically operatively functional through a cable directed into the passenger compartment of the associated motor vehicle is arranged to effect discontinuance of grounding to the battery of the associated vehicle, wherein the switch member includes a pivotal blade mounted in selective electrical communication between first and second bifurcated contact posts. A mounting bracket within the passenger compartment directs illumination onto a pull handle that in turn is secured to the cable.

Claims

1. A vehicular power cut off apparatus in combination with a vehicular engine compartment having a battery therewithin, the battery including at least a negative terminal, the vehicular engine compartment further having an electrical ground, wherein the apparatus comprises,

a knife switch member having a support plate, the support plate including a first bifurcated contact post spaced from and aligned with a second bifurcated contact post, a first electrical cable is mounted in electrical communication with the first contact post and to the battery negative terminal, and

a second electrical cable is secured to and directed from the second bifurcated contact post to the electrical ground within the vehicular engine compartment, and

a vehicular dashboard spaced from the vehicular engine compartment, and a guide sheath directed from the vehicular dashboard into the vehicular engine compartment, the guide extends through the vehicular dashboard in adjacency to the switch member, wherein a cable mounting plate is mounted to the dashboard, and the sheath having a sheath first end mounted to the cable mounting plate,

at least one guide clamp mounted within the vehicular engine compartment in adjacency to the switch member, and the sheath having a sheath second end mounted to the guide clamp, and

a flexible control cable slidably directed through the guide sheath, the control cable having a handle secured to the control cable in adjacency to the cable mounting plate, and

the cable having a distal end secured to the switch member, with the switch member having a knife blade having a first end axle pivotally mounting the knife blade to the second bifurcated contact post, the knife blade having a knife blade second end, with the control cable distal end mounted to the knife blade second end for selective displacement of the knife blade relative to the first bifurcated contact post, and

the support plate includes a support plate bottom wall and a support plate top wall, the support plate top wall has secured thereto the first bifurcated contact post and the second bifurcated contact post, wherein the support plate bottom wall includes a resilient mounting block, and the resilient mounting block is arranged in continuous and fixed communication to the support plate bottom wall, and an externally threaded clamp rod directed through the mounting block, with the clamp rod including a first clamp plate and a second clamp plate arranged in a spaced parallel relationship relative to one another on opposed sides of the mounting block, with the clamp rod directed through the first clamp plate and the second clamp plate, with a first fastener mounted to the clamp rod in communication with the first clamp plate, and a second fastener mounted to the clamp rod in adjacency and in communication with the second clamp plate, whereupon securement of the first fastener and the second fastener to the clamp rod effects securement of the clamp rod to the battery, wherein the battery is positioned between the first clamp plate and the second clamp plate.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cable mounting plate includes an aperture directed therethrough, the cable mounting plate including a housing mounted to the cable mounting plate, with the housing including an illumination bulb, and the illumination bulb positioned in adjacency to the aperture, and the handle formed of a translucent material, with the handle having a handle planar base positioned in adjacency to the aperture when the handle is in the first position and the second contact post is in contiguous communication to the knife blade, and the handle displaced relative to the cable mounting plate effecting discontinuous electrical energy to the illumination bulb when the knife blade is displaced from the second contact post.