Abstract:
A magnetic alligator clip is described. The alligator clip comprising, a pair of conductive gripping jaws attached to each other, biasing means for biasing a first end of the conductive gripping jaws towards each other, and a magnet disposed at the first end of one of the conductive gripping jaws. Also described is an electrical lead having at least one wire, each of the wires having a magnetic alligator clip electrically connected at each end. An extension for the magnetic alligator clip is also described.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to alligator clips, and to alligator clips used for electrical leads, in particular the present invention relates to alligator clips that can be clipped or magnetically connected to a terminal and the use of such clips with an electrical lead and/or electrical test leads, an extension for the magnetic alligator clip is also described. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electrical jumper or test leads are used to connect to terminals. They may be used in order to form electrical connections, bypass electrical circuits for testing and for other troubleshooting purposes. Jumper leads using alligator clips can be clipped onto terminals formed of any material. Also known are test leads having magnetic ends that can be magnetically attached to ferromagnetic materials, some allowing connection to recessed ferromagnetic screws. No leads facilitating mechanical and magnetic connection are known to exist in the prior art. 
     Thus there is a need for an electrical connector that allows a user to clip onto a terminal, magnetically connect to a terminal or both clip and magnetically connect to a terminal or to at least provide the public or industry with a useful choice. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is acknowledged that the terms “comprise”, “comprises” and “comprising” may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, these terms are intended to have an inclusive meaning—i.e. they will be taken to mean an inclusion of the listed components that the use directly references, but optionally also the inclusion of other non-specified components or elements. 
     In one embodiment the invention consists in an alligator clip comprising a pair of conductive gripping jaws attached to each other, biasing means for biasing a first end of the conductive gripping jaws towards each other, and a magnet disposed at the first end of one of the conductive gripping jaws. 
     The magnet is preferably in electrical connectivity with the conductive gripping jaw and preferably secured at the first end of one of the conductive gripping jaws. 
     In one embodiment the magnet is preferably secured using adhesive including an epoxy adhesive. 
     In an alternative embodiment each of the conductive gripping jaws is substantially ‘U’ shaped, having first and second opposite side walls and a bottom wall and the magnet is an interference fit between the first and second side walls. 
     In a further embodiment each of the conductive gripping jaws is substantially ‘U’ shaped, having first and second opposite side walls and a bottom wall and wherein at least one sidewall has at least one protrusion that assists in securing the magnet between the first and second opposite side walls. 
     Preferably the at least one protrusion protrudes into an indent in the magnet. 
     In a further embodiment each of the conductive gripping jaws is substantially ‘U’ shaped, having first and second opposite side walls and a bottom wall and wherein the magnet is staked to the conductive gripping jaw. 
     In a further embodiment the alligator clip has an extension, the extension being attached at a first end of the extension to the first end of the alligator clip and wherein the second opposite end of the extension extends beyond the first end of the clip, the extension being electrically connected to the conductive gripping jaws. 
     Preferably the extension is in the form of a rod. 
     Preferably the extension is secured to the alligator clip by the magnetic force of the magnet. 
     Alternatively the extension is held between the conductive gripping jaws thereby being secured to the alligator clip. 
     Alternatively the extension is threaded at a first end and at least a part of the thread is screwed into a threaded socket in the magnet thereby being secured to the alligator clip. 
     Preferably the magnetic force of the magnet passes through the extension thereby creating a magnetic attraction at the second end of the extension. 
     In further embodiment the invention consists in an electrical lead having at least one wire, each of the wires having an alligator clip electrically connected at each end. The alligator clip comprising a pair of conductive gripping jaws attached to each other, biasing means for biasing a first end of the conductive gripping jaws towards each other, and a magnet disposed at the first end of one of the conductive gripping jaws. 
     In a yet further aspect there is provided an electrical connector comprising:
         a. a mechanical attachment mechanism for mechanically gripping a terminal; and   b. a magnet for facilitating attachment of the connector to a ferromagnetic terminal.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of the electrical lead in one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a front view of an alligator clip with the jaws shown open; 
         FIG. 3A  shows a perspective view of the bottom jaw of the alligator clip in one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3B  shows a perspective view of the bottom jaw of the alligator clip of another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3C  shows a perspective view of the bottom jaw of the alligator clip of another embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a front view of the bottom jaw of the alligator clip; 
         FIG. 5A  shows a cross section of the bottom jaw of the alligator clip of one embodiment of the invention along the line A-A of  FIG. 3B ; 
         FIG. 5B  shows a cross section of the bottom jaw of the alligator clip of an alternative embodiment of the invention along the line A-A of  FIG. 3C ; 
         FIG. 6  shows a top view of part of the bottom jaw of the alligator clip of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of an electrical ‘Y’ lead in a further embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of an electrical lead set in a further embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a clip extension; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an alternative clip extension; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of further alternative clip extension; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of further alternative clip extension; 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of clip of the present invention with the extension installed; and 
         FIG. 14  is a partial side view of clip of the present invention with the extension installed showing the clip and clip extension insulators. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  the present invention provides an improved alligator clip  1 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  a first member  10  and a second member  11  are pivotally connected to each other. In one embodiment the first member  10  and the second member  11  are pivotally connected using a pin  12 . The clip members or gripping jaws  10 ,  11  are made of an electrically conductive material such as steel. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2  the alligator clip  1  further comprises a biasing member  13  to bias the first  10  and second  11  members towards each other at one end  36  of the alligator clip  1  to provide the clipping function of the allocator clip  1 . 
     In one embodiment the biasing member  13  is a resilient member furnished on the pin  12 . The resilient member  13  would typically be a spring but any other suitable device could be used. The resilient member  13  has two opposite ends  14  and  15  in contact with the interior surfaces of the first  10  and second  11  clip members. 
     Referring to the Figures the first  10  and second  11  members each have two parallel rows of teeth or serrations  18 ,  19 . When the first  10  and second  11  members are biased towards each other at the end  36  the teeth  18 ,  19  mate in an interlocking fashion. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B and  3 C a magnet  33  is attached at the end  36  of the alligator clip  1  that provides the clipping function. The magnet  33  may be in electrical connectivity with the clip member  11  to which the magnet  33  is attached. 
     The magnet  33  may be attached or secured to the clip member using an adhesive or glue. An epoxy adhesive may for example be used but any suitable adhesive may be used. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4  in an alternative embodiment the magnet  33  may be an interference fit in the clip member  11  to which the magnet is placed or secured. The clip member when viewed from the end  36  is typically ‘U’ shaped, having two substantially parallel sides  34 ,  35  and a bottom  37 . The magnet  33  is sized such that it is a tight or interference fit between the sides  34 ,  35 , so that in use the magnet  33  is held securely in place. 
     In another further embodiment the magnet  33  may be an interference fit between the sides  33 ,  34  and additionally be attached to the clip member  11  using an adhesive. 
     Referring specifically to  FIG. 5A  in a further alternative embodiment the magnet  33  may be held in place by protrusions  38 ,  39  in the side walls  34 ,  35  of the clip member  11  and optionally additional protrusions  63  and  64 . 
     In yet a further embodiment seen in  FIG. 5B  the protrusions  38 ,  39  would protrude into an indent or hole  61 ,  62  in the magnet  33  so as to hold and secure the magnet  33  in place. The insertion or squeezing of a protrusion  38 ,  39  formed in one part inside a hole  61 ,  62  in the second part is generally known in engineering as fastening one part to another by staking. Optionally additional protrusions  63  and  64  may be provided. 
     In a further embodiment seen in  FIG. 6  the magnet  33  has slots  61  and  62  on either side of the magnet  33 . There are protrusions  38 ,  39  in the side walls  34  and  35  respectively of clip member  11  and optionally additional protrusions  63  and  64 . The magnet is inserted into the clip member  11  so that the protrusions  38 ,  39  are within the slots  61 ,  62  of the magnet  33  to secure the magnet within the clip member. The additional protrusions  63 ,  64  provide additional support in securing the magnet. 
     Optionally and in a further embodiment seen in  FIGS. 3B and 3C  the magnet  33  may additionally be secured within the clip member  11  at end  36 . In one embodiment seen in  FIG. 3C  the magnet  33  could be secured by tabs  66  and  67  that fold from the sides  10 ,  11 . In another embodiment seen in  FIG. 3B  an elongated tab  65  substantially extending the width of the bottom  37  assists in securing the magnet  33 . 
     Having a magnet  33  at the end of the jaws/clip member means that the alligator clip  1  of the present invention can be connected to a terminal by being clipped onto the terminal or by being magnetically attached to the terminal. In some cases the alligator clip  1  of the present invention could be both clipped and magnetically attached a terminal. 
     Having the ability to either clip on, magnetically attach or clip and magnetically attach has advantages. In some case the terminals will not be suitable for the clip to magnetically attach as the terminal may not have sufficient or any magnetic attraction, in those cases the alligator clip  1  can be clipped on. This is advantageous in that the same lead can be used whether or not the lead needs to be clipped on or magnetically attached. 
     The alligator clip  1  of the present invention can be made in different sizes for different applications and a magnet of the appropriate size and magnetic strength would be used depending on the size of the alligator clip and the use the clip is to be put too. In one embodiment a neodymium magnet such as an NdFeB magnet with a material property of 50 MGOe (N50 magnet) would be used. 
     The magnetic alligator clip  1  of the present invention would typically be used for electrical leads, typically these would be test or jumper leads that are used to connect to terminals in order to bypass electrical circuits for testing and other troubleshooting purposes. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 to 14  the magnetic alligator clip  1  of the present invention may further include an extension  50  in the form of a cylindrical rod. The extension  50  is electrically attached to the alligator clip  1 . In addition it is physically attached to the alligator clip  1 , the attachment could be magnetic, or the extension may include a tab  51  or  52  as particularly seen in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . In use the jaws  10 ,  11  of the clip  1  would clamp on the tab  51  or  52  of the extension to hold and electrically connect the extension to the alligator clip  1 . 
     In a further embodiment the extension  50  has a threaded part  53  that screws into the end of the clip  1 . Such an extension is useful for countersunk terminals such as countersunk screws. 
     The extension  50  may be magnetic or may allow the magnetic force of the magnet  33  to pass through. 
     The extension  50  may be insulated and as seen in  FIG. 14  the insulation  55  may assist in securing the extension  50  to the clip  1  as the insulation may include a cup  56  that extends over the jaws  10 ,  11 . 
     The length of the extension  50  would vary depending on the application the extension is to be used for but in one embodiment the extension would extend 1 cm from the end  36  of the clip  1   
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  7  and  8  the magnetic alligator clip  1  of the present invention may be used in pairs electrically connected together via a lead or cable  30 . The clip members or gripping jaws II,  12  at one end of the lead/cable are electrically connected to like clip members with gripping jaws II,  12  at the other end of the lead or cable  30 . 
     The lead or cable  30  would typically be an insulated lead/cable and in one embodiment of the present invention the alligator clip  1  would be partially insulated so that a user could connect the alligator clip  1  to a terminal (not shown) insulated from the electrical current. Referring to  FIG. 14  the insulation could be a sheath  60  that covers a substantial part of the clip  1 . The sheath  60  could be made of rubber or plastic or any other suitable electrically insulating material. 
     In an alternative embodiment seen in  FIG. 7  one magnetic alligator clip  41  would be connected via two separate cables  30 ,  31  to two separate alligator clips  42 ,  43 . Such a ‘Y’ shaped cable would be used for connecting a single terminal to two other terminals. 
     While not illustrated it is understood the cable could be made in any form, for example having a third or fourth cable/lead connected to a single connector at one end for connecting a single terminal and at the other end having a clip on each lead for connection to multiple terminals. 
     In another embodiment seen in  FIG. 8  multiple magnetic alligator clips leads could be run in parallel and the multiple cables  30 ,  31  of the multiple leads could be contained within an outer sheath  45  so that there are multiple test leads in one sheath. Each lead  30 ,  31  connects to independent terminals at one end  41 ,  44  and to the same number of independent terminals at the other end  42 ,  43 . 
     In another embodiment the leads could be individually coloured so that it was easy to identify which magnetic alligator clips  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  match. In another embodiment the insulation of the clips  41 ,  42 ,  43 ,  44  in addition to the leads being coloured or instead of the leads being coloured could be used to identify which alligator clip pairs  41 ,  41  and  43 ,  44  match. 
     It will be understood that the embodiments of the present invention described herein are by way of example only, and that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of invention.