Engine starting apparatus

• US 6,020,716 A
• Filed: 12/07/1998
• Issued: 02/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James P. Dunn
• Original Assignee: James P. Dunn
• Inventors: Dunn, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUK, LAWRENCE W
• Application Number:
  US09/206,795
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 320/103, 320/104, 320/105, 320/107
• US Class Current: 320/105
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/005 Control of transmission; Equalising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/061 providing hard decisions only; arrangements for tracking or suppressing unwanted low frequency components, e.g. removal of dc offset removal of dc offset in coupling arrangements H04L25/029, H04L25/0296

Abstract

An emergency engine starting apparatus locates the batteries or other power source(s) with respect to a current carrying cable to provide high conformability between extended and storage configurations. High conformability of an apparatus is defined herein as being configurable between a greatest extended configuration having a length (l_e) and a storage configuration having a length (l_s), wherein l_e ≧3 l_s. Preferred apparatus have conformability ratios of ≧3, ≧4, ≧5, ≧7.5, and ≧10. Preferred power sources provide an electrical potential of at least 6 volts, and a current of at least 20 amps. More preferable power sources provide sustainable currents of at least 40 amps, and even more preferable power sources provide sustainable currents of at least 60 amps. Preferred cables are relatively long, measuring up to 6 feet or more.

Claims

1. An emergency engine starting apparatus comprising:

an electrically conducting cable having at least two connectors;

a power source providing an electrical potential of at least 6 volts and a current of at least 20 amps across the at least two connectors; and

the apparatus configurable between a first configuration in which the apparatus has a length and a second configuration in which the apparatus has a length, wherein l_e ≧

3 l_s, and the length of the apparatus is equal to the greatest distance between any two points on the apparatus.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the cable comprises a wire.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the cable comprises a metallic wire.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the power source comprises a battery.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the power source detaches from the cable in configuring the device in the second configuration.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the cable is at least 8 inches in length.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the cable is at least 24 inches in length.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the cable is at least 36 inches in length.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the cable is at least 24 inches in length, and the power source provides a current of at least 40 amps across the at least two connectors.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the cable is at least 24 inches in length, and the power source provides a current of at least 60 amps across the at least two connectors.

11. The device of any of claims 1-10 wherein l_e ≧

4 l_s.

12. The device of any of claims 1-10 wherein l_e ≧

5 l_s.

13. The device of any of claims 1-10 wherein l_e ≧

7.5 l_s.

14. The device of any of claims 1-10 wherein l_e ≧

10 l_s.