Battery clamp for use with top post and side post batteries and methods for using the same

• US 7,909,662 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2010
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auto Meter Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Auto Meter Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Richard S., Gathman, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NASRI, JAVAID H
• Application Number:
  US12/700,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20100136854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 439757-759
• US Class Current: 439/759
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/24 with gripping jaws, e.g. crocodile clip

Abstract

A battery clamp for use with (a) top post terminal connections and (b) batteries with side post terminal connections includes a first and a second jaw handle. The first and second jaw handles each have a handle portion and a clamping portion. The first and second jaw handles are pivotally coupled to each other and are biased with the clamping portions in a closed position. The battery clamp further includes a side post adapter. The side post adapter is coupled to the handle portion of one of the jaw handles. The side post adapter includes a load pad and a volt rod. The load pad has an aperture, through which a portion of the volt rod protrudes.

Claims

1. A battery clamp for use with (a) batteries with top post terminal connections and (b) batteries with side post terminal connections, comprising:

a first jaw handle and a second jaw handle, the jaw handles each having a handle portion and a clamping portion, the jaw handles being pivotally coupled to each other, the jaw handles being biased with the clamping portions being in a substantially closed position, the clamping portions being configured to be coupled to a top-post terminal of a top-post battery;

a jaw member insulator coupled to the clamping portion of the first jaw handle;

a jaw member coupled to the jaw member insulator, the jaw member being electrically insulated from the first and the second jaw handles; and

a side post adapter, the side post adapter being coupled to the handle portion of the second jaw handle, the side post adapter including a load pad and a volt rod, the load pad having an aperture therein, a portion of the volt rod protruding through the aperture of the load pad.

2. The battery clamp of claim 1, further comprising a first jaw handle cover and a second jaw handle cover, the first jaw handle cover being coupled to the first jaw handle, the second jaw handle cover being coupled to the second jaw handle, the jaw handle covers being formed from an insulating material.

3. The battery clamp of claim 1, further comprising an insulating disk positioned to electrically insulate the load pad from the second jaw handle and the volt rod.

4. The battery clamp of claim 3, wherein the volt rod has a threaded end and an opposing second end, the volt rod further including a flange.

5. The battery clamp of claim 4, further comprising an insulating plate with an aperture and a recess, the second end of the volt rod fitting through the aperture in the insulating plate such that the recess receives the flange of the volt rod, the insulating plate positioned to aid in providing an electrical connection between the volt rod and the second jaw handle.

6. The battery clamp of claim 4, further comprising a handle connected to the second opposing end of the volt rod, whereby the handle is coupled to the volt rod such that the volt rod rotates in response to the handle being rotated thereby permitting the threaded end of the volt rod to be screwed into a battery terminal by rotating the handle.

7. The battery clamp of claim 5, further comprising a first insulating bushing and a second insulating bushing, each of the insulating bushings having an extended sleeve portion, the extended sleeve portions being positioned to fit through respective apertures in the insulating plate, the second jaw handle, and the insulating disk.

8. The battery clamp of claim 7, further comprising a pair of electrically conductive screws, the screws being positioned through the extended sleeve portions of the insulating bushings so as to grip threads in a pair of respective threaded apertures in the load pad, the screws being electrically insulated from the first jaw handle, the second jaw handle, and the volt rod.

9. The battery clamp of claim 8, further comprising a load wire electrically coupled to the load pad and electrically connected to a device configured to at least measure current.

10. The battery clamp of claim 9, further including a load jumper wire that electrically couples the jaw member to the load pad, the load wire, or both.

11. The battery clamp of claim 9, wherein the device measures current levels between about 0 amps and about 40 amps.

12. The battery clamp of claim 10, wherein the load wire and the load jumper wire are electrically coupled to the load pad via at least one of the screws.

13. The battery clamp of claim 1, further including a volt wire electrically coupled to the volt rod and electrically connected to a device configured to at least measure a voltage potential.

14. The battery clamp of claim 1, wherein the first jaw handle further includes a first aperture and a second aperture, and the second jaw handle further includes a third aperture and a fourth aperture, the first aperture and the third aperture are positioned adjacent each other and form a first pivot point, and the second aperture and the fourth aperture are positioned adjacent each other and form a second pivot point.

15. The battery clamp of claim 1, further including a stopping mechanism, the stopping mechanism configured to prevent the jaw member from contacting the clamping portion of the second jaw handle when the first and second jaw handles are in the substantially closed position.

16. A battery clamp comprising:

a first jaw handle and a second jaw handle, the jaw handles being pivotally coupled to each other and biased in a substantially closed position;

a jaw member coupled to the first jaw handle or the second jaw handle, the jaw member being electrically insulated from the first and the second jaw handles; and

a side post adapter coupled to the first jaw handle or the second jaw handle, the side post adapter including a load pad and a volt rod,

wherein the side post adapter is configured to mate with a side post terminal of a battery.

17. The battery clamp of claim 16, wherein the load pad has an aperture therein and a portion of the volt rod protrudes through the aperture.

18. The battery clamp of claim 16, further comprising a jaw member insulator, the jaw member insulator being positioned between the jaw member and the first jaw handle or the second jaw handle.

19. The battery clamp of claim 16, further comprising a second jaw member, the second jaw member being electrically insulated from the first and the second jaw handles.

20. The battery clamp of claim 16, wherein the first jaw handle and the second jaw handle are made from an electrically conducting material.