Abstract:
A vehicle jumper cable system, kit and charging kit, for permanent installation on a new vehicle, retrofitting an older vehicle, and charging a deenergized vehicle battery, including at least a detachable section for connecting the deenergized vehicle battery with an auxiliary battery source to “jump-start” or “boost” the deenergized battery. The system and kits include at least cable sections connected together by hermaphroditic connectors for ensuring proper polarity, and safe connections. Additional extension cables are provided which include the hermaphroditic connectors on each end. Also, a fusible component is provided in at least one conductor of the various cable sections for additional safety in preventing damage, injury and death. The battery charger has a hermaphroditic connector for connecting to the deenergzed battery via one of the cable sections.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 10/345,983, filed Jan. 17, 2003, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to jumper cable system for vehicles. More specifically, the jumper cable system is modular and has a safety feature. In addition, the jumper cable system is provided in a kit form. Finally, the system includes a battery charging component.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Invention  
         [0005]     Vehicle “jumper” cables are well known for “jump starting” or “boosting” undercharged vehicle batteries, such as cars, motorcycles, boats, etc. “Jump-starting” involves transferring electrical energy from a charged battery to an undercharged or discharged battery so that the electrical starter can be operated to turn over an engine. The jump start may be supplied from (1) a second vehicle with a fully charged battery; (2) an A.C. battery charger which may be switchable between a trickle charge mode and a high amperage starting mode; and (3) a battery booster having a rechargeable battery which may be used for jump starting a vehicle or as a D.C. power supply for twelve volt accessories. Once the engine on the vehicle having the undercharged or discharged battery is started, the vehicle can then begin generating its own power using its generator or alternator and the cables are then removed.  
         [0006]     Motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, jet-skis, as well as a host of other larger type vehicles such as automobiles, semi-tractors, farm tractors, trucks, cargo and passenger vans, are equipped with batteries that are generally inaccessible to jumper cables. That is, substantial effort must be expended to remove obstructing structures (such as a seat) to reach the battery terminals in order to connect jumper cables to the battery terminals. In addition, it is commonly understood that the standard lead-acid batteries widely used in automotive vehicles produce highly volatile vapors, which can ignite upon the presence of a spark. When deenergized batteries are coupled to an energizing battery source (such as another vehicle), an electrical spark is generated, possibly causing an explosion, which may lead to damage, injury, or death.  
         [0007]     Several attempts have been made in the prior art to attain easy access to the non-easily accessible battery of modern automotive vehicles, however, no other device appears to codify the aspects of safely and unmistakingly connect a deenergized battery to a charging source.  
         [0008]     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a jumper cable system, jumper cable system kit, and battery charging system solving the aforementioned safety problems is desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The invention is directed to vehicle jumper cables, and to a battery charger having a connector, which is attachable to the jumper cables. In particular, the inventive cable includes a hermaphroditic connector that ensures proper polarity when the cable is connected either to another vehicle or other vehicle battery, or to the battery charger.  
         [0010]     Moreover, the inventive cable can be provided in a kit form to include a first cable section connected permanently at one end to the terminals of a vehicle battery and having a hermaphroditic connector at its opposite end, a second cable section equipped with a hermaphroditic connector at one end and clamps at its opposite end for connecting to the terminal posts of a standard post-type battery, and a third cable section equipped with hermaphroditic connectors at both ends for connecting the first and second cable sections, e.g., as for boosting a vehicle battery from a car battery or for boosting one vehicle from another vehicle equipped with the same cable section. Thus the j ump-starting any currently marketed vehicle has become a labor-intensive activity.  
         [0011]     The present invention reduces or removes the labor-intensive aspect of jump-starting vehicles by providing a readily connectable modular jump starting cable, one part of which is permanently installed on the vehicle and having at least one other part that connects the vehicle in distress to the power-supplying vehicle, e.g., to a battery of another passenger vehicle similarly equipped with a permanently installed cable part, or to a non-similarly equipped vehicle with the appropriate connector, or battery charging device. Furthermore, the inventive cable is provided with hermaphroditic connectors that ensure proper polarity when connected.  
         [0012]     Additionally, the risk of damage, injury, or death reduction due to the highly volatile environment of conventionally automotive vehicular battery jump-starts is accomplished by providing the remote cable connections using the hermaphroditic connector so that when the cables are connected, any arcing is produced internally of the connectors, away from the generally vicinity of the batteries where the explosive vapors may be present. Also, a safety factor encompassed in the present embodiments is a fusing link to prevent over current from causing damage to either the deenergized battery of the energizing battery source. The fusing link is provided in at least one cable conductor, and causes an open circuit if the electrical parameters exceed a predetermined operational limit.  
         [0013]     The aspects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1A  is a fragmented, environmental, perspective view showing a vehicle mounted jumper cable system according to the present embodiment.  
         [0015]      FIG. 1B  is an environmental, perspective view showing a vehicle with a deenergized battery receiving a jump start from another energizing battery source according to the present embodiment.  
         [0016]      FIG. 1C  is an environmental, perspective view showing a vehicle with a deenergized battery receiving a jump start from another energizing battery source according to the present embodiment.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the jumper cable system kit according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2B  is an environmental view of the jumper cable system kit according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the battery charger including the hermaphroditic connection. 
     
    
       [0020]     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]     The present invention is directed to a multi-part jumper cable for boosting the battery of a vehicle or for charging a vehicle battery using hermaphroditic connectors. The jumper cable system and battery charging system of the present invention are used by a myriad of vehicles, including motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, jet-skis, as well as a host of other larger type vehicles such as automobiles, semi-tractors, farm tractors, trucks, cargo and passenger vans, all of which utilize an electric battery source for starting an internal combustion engine.  
         [0022]      FIGS. 1A, 1B , and  1 C illustrate the disposition and operational uses of the embodiment of the invention. Specifically,  FIG. 1A  shows a cutaway view of a vehicle  10  showing a vehicle battery  80 , a first portion  12  of the multi-part jumper cable connected at one end to the battery terminals  34 , and a housing  90  containing a second portion  14  and a third portion  16  of the jumper cable.  FIGS. 1B and 1C  show the versatility of the jumper cable system, by interchangeably jump starting various vehicles, equipped with the permanently installed cable portion, or not equipped with the permanently installed cable portion.  FIGS. 1B and 1C  show the vehicle  10  having a deenergized battery being connected to an energized battery source, from at least another vehicle, with the modular cable connection therebetween. By utilizing the hermaphroditic connectors on the various cable portions, the polarity of the cable conductors is maintain between the batteries. Thus ensuring the jump-start of the deenergized battery as a quick and ‘foolproof’ with reduced risk to damage, injury, and death.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2A  shows a detailed view of a kit including all three sections that make up the multi-part jumper cable, i.e., sections  12 ,  14 , and  16 .  
         [0024]     The permanently installed cable section  12  includes two electrical cables  32  color-coded to distinguish between the positive cable (typically red in color) and the negative cable (typically black in color), so that a person using the cable will maintain proper polarity during use, i.e., when “jumping” or “boosting” the deenergized battery. However, it is well known in the art that the specific color coding is solely arbitrary, so long as the two colors are individually distinguishable from each other.  
         [0025]     The housing  90  defines a storage compartment for the second and third portions,  14  and  16 . Depending upon the type of vehicle, the storage compartment may be located under the seat as shown. Alternatively, the storage compartment may be elsewhere, such as to the rear or either side of the seat. In other words, the storage compartment  
         [0026]     The second portion  14  of the multi-part jumper cable has first and second ends including hermaphroditic connectors,  42  and  48 , respectively, and a fuse  50  intermediate the two ends on one of the two cables, generally the positive cable  22 , the rating of the fuse should be on the order of  30  amperes. It, is noted that the fuse is disclosed in the second section  14 , however, it is well within the purview of the scope of the embodiments of the invention, that the fuse may be in any one or more of the segments. In this manner, the overall safety features would be a self-backup variation on the use of a defective fuse having an improper rating.  
         [0027]     The third portion  16  of the jumper cable is provided at one end with a hermaphroditic connection  46 . The opposite end of the third portion  16  of the jumper cable has positive and negative cables,  36  and  38 , respectively, and terminates in alligator type clamps  72  and  74  which are adapted for attachment to the terminal posts of a post-type charging battery, such as the type commonly used on passenger vehicles.  
         [0028]     As seen in  FIG. 2B , the kit may include a myriad of connectors for the first section  12  and third section  16 . Typically, the ends may have alligator clips  72 ,  74 , additional end type connectors may be selected from the types of eyelets  34  or forked connectors  34 a, or any other type of end connectors available in the automotive industry for making temporary or permanent battery connections.  
         [0029]     When the battery  80  is undercharged and requires a “jump” or a “boost” from another battery, such as from a car battery, the vehicle is placed in relative proximity to the car (or other vehicle). Jumper cable section  16  is removed from the storage compartment  90  and clamps  72  and  74  are attached to the respective positive and negative terminal posts of the post-type charging battery. Then cable section  14  is removed from the storage compartment and one end (i.e., either connector  42  or  48 ) is connected to connector  40  of the first section and the opposite end (i.e., remaining connector  48  or  42 ) is connected to connector  46  of the second section, thereby completing the boosting circuit.  
         [0030]     Hermaphroditic connectors  40  and  42  may be any known type of hermaphroditic connector in which the connectors are identical, and which can only be connected in a manner in which the polarity is ensured, i.e., in which the positive terminal of the fully charged battery is directly connected with the positive terminal of the undercharged battery and the shape of the positive terminal on each connector is identical. Preferably the hermaphroditic connector is of a type exemplified by the connector taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,963,102, previously incorporated herein. It is noted that although the reference teaches a three-conductor cable, the same connector is used herein for connecting a two-connector cable, i.e., a cable having a positive and a negative cable corresponding to the positive and negative poles of a vehicle battery.  
         [0031]     On the positive cable wire  22  a fuse  52  is provided. The fuse is contained in its own housing  50  with a protective cap  54 . The fuse is preferably a thirty ampere ( 30 A) blade fuse that corresponds with the wire gauge size capable of “jumping” batteries, e.g., ten gauge AWG.  
         [0032]     Thus, the second section  14  may be used either to connect a first jumper cable section  12  fixed to the battery of the vehicle receiving the jump start to a another first jumper cable section  12  attached to the charging battery on a second vehicle, or as an extension cable between the first jumper cable section  12  and third jumper cable section  16  to extend the length of the jumper cable when charging from a passenger car or other vehicle. A general length of the cable portions  12  and  16  should be approximately 3 feet, while cable portion  14  has general length of approximately 6 feet.  
         [0033]     When two vehicles are equipped with a 3-piece kit as shown in  FIGS. 1B and 1C , one of the vehicles can then be used to “jump-start” the second by simply connecting the installed cable section  12  of the two vehicles together with the second section  14 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 3  shows an optional battery charger  120  including a hermaphroditic connector  44  that ensures proper polarity in the wires  56  and  58  during use. The battery charger  120  shown in  FIG. 3  is switchable between a trickle charge mode for deep charging of the battery, and a starting mode for providing a current boost to the dead battery during starting of the vehicle. The hermaphroditic connector  44  may be attached directly to connector  40  of the first jumper cable section  12 , or indirectly through connector  42  or  48  of extension cable  14 . Battery charger  120  may be included with the kit  110  ( FIG. 2 ). Alternatively, a rechargeable battery booster equipped with cables,  56  and  58 , and hermaphroditic connector  44  may be substituted for battery charger  120 .  
         [0035]     The jumper cable kit may be provided with as little as two parts, for example, the kit may be included as a accessory item for a model vehicle having a permanently connected first section manufactured in the vehicle, as seen in  FIG. 1 . The accessory item kit would therefore include the second section cable portion and the third section cable portion having only a single connection adapter (e.g., alligator clamps). The jumper cable kit may include a myriad of components, making the versatility of the kit useable for virtually every battery powered electric starter internal combustion engine. In addition, a total kit may further include a battery charging device (see  FIG. 3 ), including the three jumper cable portions, first section  12 , second section  14  and third section  16 . Both the first and third sections  12  and  16  may each include plural segments having the various end connections as alternatives.  
         [0036]     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.