Battery terminal clamping device

• US 7,422,474 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2007
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sears Brands LLC (Sears Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sears Brands LLC (Sears Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Good, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US11/942,846
• Time in Patent Office: 294 Days
• Field of Search: 439/540, 439/506, 439/822, 439/829
• US Class Current: 439/504
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/24 with gripping jaws, e.g. crocodile clip

Abstract

A terminal clamping device has a first and second gripping members that are pivotably connected to each other about an axis in offset relation. Electrically conductive jaw members carried by each of the first and second gripping members are each provided with a side having an outwardly extending jog such that terminal gripping edges of the jaw members will be properly aligned when the terminal clamping device is disposed upon a battery terminal.

Claims

1. A terminal clamping device, comprising:

a first gripping member having a first jaw end and a first handle end;

a second gripping member having a second jaw end and a second handle end;

a first electrically conductive jaw member secured to the first jaw end of the first gripping member; and

a second electrically conductive jaw member secured to the second jaw end of the second gripping member;

wherein the first gripping member and the second gripping member are pivotably connected to each other about an axis in offset relation such that, on a first side of the terminal clamping device, a portion of a first side of the first gripping member overlays a portion of a first side of the second gripping member and, on an opposite side of the terminal clamping device, a portion of a second side of the second gripping member overlays a portion of a second side of the first gripping member; and

wherein a side of the first electrically conductive member that is in correspondence with the second side of the first gripping member is provided with an outwardly extending jog and a side of the second electrically conductive member that is in correspondence with the first side of the second gripping member is provided with an outwardly extending jog such that terminal gripping edges of the first jaw member and second jaw member will be properly aligned when the terminal clamping device is disposed upon a battery terminal;

wherein one of the first jaw member and the second jaw member comprises a stop plate which extends upwardly between the first and second jaw members and being positioned away from front ends of the first and second jaw members.

2. The terminal clamping device as recited in claim 1, wherein the terminal gripping edges of the first jaw member and the second jaw member comprises cooperating teeth.

3. The terminal clamping device as recited in claim 2, wherein the first jaw member and the second jaw member each comprise cooperating oval shaped portions for placing the terminal clamping device on a side battery terminal.

4. The terminal clamping device as recited in claim 1, wherein the first jaw member and the second jaw member comprises a copper material.

5. The terminal clamping device as recited in claim 4, wherein the first gripping member and the second gripping member comprises a plastic material.

6. The terminal clamping device as recited in claim 5, wherein the first handle end of the first gripping member and the second handle end of the second gripping member each comprise cooperating recesses and ridges for providing ergonomic hand grips.

7. The terminal clamping device as recited in claim 6, wherein at least one the first gripping member and the second gripping member carries an indicia of polarity.

8. The terminal clamping device as recited in claim 1, wherein the outwardly extending jog of the side of the first jaw member is disposed adjacent to the first jaw end of the first gripping member and the outwardly extending jog of the side of the second jaw member is disposed adjacent to the second jaw end of the second gripping member.