Patent Publication Number: US-2011068734-A1

Title: Battery maintenance kit

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a battery maintenance kit and more particularly to a battery maintenance kit which includes a carrying case formed with a plurality of individualized form fitting compartments for carrying tools and devices associated with the maintenance of a vehicle battery, such as a 12 volt sealed lead acid battery. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Battery maintenance kits (also known as battery servicing kits) are known in the art. Examples of such battery maintenance kits are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,191,837; 2,205,495; 2,633,237; 2,646,873 and US Patent Application Publication No. US 2005/0070155 A1, all hereby incorporated by reference. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,191,837; 2,205,495; 2,633,237; 2,646,873 relate to battery maintenance kits. The battery maintenance kits disclosed in the aforementioned patents are for serviceable wet cell lead acid vehicle batteries. Such lead acid batteries were formed with removable caps which allowed external access to each of the battery cells. The liquid electrolyte in such lead acid batteries was known to become depleted over time for various reasons and require replenishment with distilled water. The removable caps allowed the liquid electrolyte in each cell to be replenished and the condition of each battery cell to be tested by way of a hydrometer. Hydrometers were known to be used to measure the specific gravity of the electrolyte in a cell and provide an indication of the condition or state of charge of the cell based upon the specific gravity reading. 
     In general, the battery maintenance kits for use with the serviceable wet cell lead acid vehicle batteries described in the above mentioned patents included a carrying case for carrying distilled water and various devices required for servicing such serviceable wet cell lead acid vehicle batteries. For example, such battery maintenance kits were known to include hydrometer and battery filler. Such battery fillers are similar to a syringe and were used for withdrawing distilled water from the carrying case and discharging it into individual battery cells having low liquid electrolyte levels. 
     The carrying case was formed as a box open on top with a handle. The box was formed with one dedicated compartment and one or more non-dedicated compartments. The dedicated compartment was closed on top with a cover for carrying distilled water. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,191,837; 2,205,495 and 2,646,873 disclose two apertures were formed in the cover. These apertures provided a dual function. First the apertures provided access to the distilled water in the dedicated compartment. Second, the apertures were used for carrying the battery filler and the hydrometer. More particularly, both the hydrometer and the battery filler are comprised of elongated tubes with a rubber bulb at one end. The apertures in the cover were configured to receive these devices in a vertical position, immersed in the distilled water. 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,191,837 and 2,205,495 disclose open top non-dedicated compartments formed in the carrying case. These non-dedicated compartments were for loosely carrying tools involved in servicing such serviceable wet cell lead acid vehicle batteries, such as wrenches, battery post cleaners and meters for measuring the battery voltage, such as a voltmeter or multi-meter. Unfortunately, such meters were loosely carried in the non-dedicated compartments and were known to become damaged during transport. As such, battery maintenance kits were formed with a dedicated compartment for a meter, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,633,237. As disclosed therein, the dedicated meter compartment was formed with a relatively complex mechanical arrangement for releasably securing the meter within carrying case. The carrying case included a cover, apportion of which is hinged for providing access to the meter within the carrying case. The carrying case was also formed with an additional non-dedicated compartment for loosely carrying tools. An aperture of sufficient size for a man&#39;s hand was formed in a sidewall of the carrying case to provide access to the non-dedicated tool compartment. 
     Even though, battery maintenance kit disclosed in &#39;237 patent provided protection to the meter in the carrying case, there were other problems with such a battery maintenance kit. First, the non-dedicated tool compartment with a sidewall access allowed tools to be dropped and lost. Second, the relatively complex mechanical arrangement for releasably securing the meter was cumbersome to use and mechanically complex, thus increasing the cost of such maintenance kits. Third, most modern vehicles are provided with lead acid batteries with newer sealed battery cells, so called sealed batteries, and are therefore not serviceable. As such, the battery maintenance kits described above are not completely useful with the newer sealed batteries. 
     As such, battery maintenance kits for newer batteries with sealed cells have been developed. An example of such a battery maintenance kit is disclosed in German published patent application publication no. DE 102006038048 A1, published Feb. 21, 2008. The battery maintenance kit disclosed in the German publication includes sensors for monitoring the voltage and temperature of a battery. The battery maintenance kit further includes an electronic circuit for processing the signals from the sensors. A Bluetooth device is included in the kit for receiving the signals from the electronic circuit and converting those signals to radio signals to enable the sensor signals to be displayed on a personal digital assistant (PDA). 
     Even though, the battery maintenance kit disclosed in the German publication is useful with newer sealed batteries, it is only useful for determining the state of charge of the battery. That kit is not otherwise useful in performing maintenance on the battery. For example, the battery terminals on sealed batteries are known to oxidize and corrode over time. In addition, when the charge on such sealed batteries is relatively low, vehicles with such sealed batteries are known to require jump starting. 
     Thus there is a need for a battery maintenance kit for newer sealed batteries that solves the problems in the prior art. Specifically there is a need for a battery kit which is useful in servicing sealed batteries as well as determining the state of charge of such batteries. There is also a need to provide a battery maintenance kit which overcomes the problems associated with battery maintenance kits for serviceable wet cell lead acid vehicle batteries. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a battery maintenance kit for servicing sealed 6 volt/12 volt lead acid batteries that is useful for servicing a 6 volt/12 volt sealed lead acid battery and optionally determining the state of charge of such a battery. In exemplary embodiment of the invention, the battery maintenance kit is configured as a universal kit for servicing sealed batteries used in a variety of 6 volt DC/12 volt DC vehicle applications, such as applications for automobiles and trucks, motorcycles, lawn tractors and all terrain vehicles (ATVs). For example, the battery maintenance kit may be equipped with a 6/12 volt DC compact battery charger with a quick disconnect harness. Various termination assemblies may be provided including battery clamps, a cigarette lighter adapter and ring terminals, which enable the battery charger to be used in various applications. The battery maintenance kit may also include a voltmeter, wrenches, a flashlight, battery side mount conversion terminals and a battery post cleaner. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention. The interior of the carrying case is formed with a dedicated compartment for each item in the kit that is segregated from all other compartments. The compartments for some items are form fitting compartments and are thus configured to the shape of the item to be carried. One or more studs is provided in one dedicated compartment for securely carrying the battery clamps. The carrying case allows all of the items to be carried securely in a closed carrying case and transported without movement in the carrying case. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       These and other advantages of the present invention will be readily understood with reference to the following specification and attached drawing wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of the battery maintenance kit in accordance with the present invention, shown with the carrying case open and an exemplary set of items installed in the carrying case. 
         FIG. 2  is similar to  FIG. 1  but with all of the items removed from the carrying case. 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of an alternate embodiment of the battery maintenance kit in accordance with the present invention, shown with the carrying case open and an exemplary set of items installed in the carrying case. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention relates to a battery maintenance kit for servicing sealed batteries that is useful for servicing a 6 volt/12 volt sealed lead acid battery and optionally determining the state of charge of such a battery. In exemplary embodiment of the invention, the battery maintenance kit is configured as a universal kit for servicing sealed batteries used in a variety of 6 volt/12 volt DC vehicle applications, such as applications for automobiles and trucks, motorcycles, lawn tractors and all terrain vehicles (ATVs). For example, the battery maintenance kit may be equipped with a 6/12 volt DC compact battery charger with a quick disconnect harness. Various termination assemblies may be provided including battery clamps, a cigarette lighter adapter and ring terminals, which enable the battery charger to be used in various applications. The battery maintenance kit may also include a voltmeter, wrenches, a flashlight, battery side mount conversion terminals and a battery post cleaner. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention. The interior of the carrying case is formed with a dedicated compartment for each item in the kit that is segregated from all other compartments. The compartments for some items are form fitting compartments and are thus configured to the shape of the item to be carried. One or more studs is provided in one dedicated compartment for securely carrying the battery clamps. The carrying case allows all of the items to be carried securely in a closed carrying case and transported without movement in the carrying case. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a first exemplary embodiment of the battery maintenance kit in accordance with the present invention.  FIG. 3  illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of the invention. Both embodiments are illustrated and described below with an exemplary set of items. It is understood that more or fewer items can be included in the battery maintenance kit and still fall within the scope of the present invention. 
     Referring first to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an exemplary battery maintenance kit is illustrated and generally identified with the reference numeral  20 . As shown, the battery maintenance kit includes a two piece carrying case, generally identified with the reference numeral  22  having a base  24  and a cover  26 . The cover  26  is formed with the same general shape as the base  24  to secure all items in the carrying case  22  when the cover is in a closed position. 
     In the exemplary embodiment shown, the carrying case  22  is configured to carry items in both the cover  26  as well as the base  24 . In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the carrying case  22  is configured with a plurality dedicated compartments. Specifically, a dedicated compartment may be provided for each item or each type of item in the carrying case  22 . All of the compartments are segregated from each other. The compartments are formed as recessed volumes in the carrying case  22 . In order to make the battery maintenance kit relatively compact, in one exemplary embodiment as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , compartments are formed in both the base  24  and the cover  26 . In other embodiments (not shown), compartments may be formed in one or the other of the base  24  or the cover  26 . 
     Various types of compartments may be formed in the base  24  and cover  26  depending on the item to be carried. Both the base  24  and the cover  26  may be formed in a generally rectangular or square shape and include sidewalls, generally identified with the reference numerals  25  and  27 , respectively, forming pan like devices. The base and  24  and the cover  26  are formed with complementary shapes so that when the cover is in a closed position the interior of the carrying case  22  is inaccessible. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, various types of compartments are formed in both the base  24  and the cover  26 . These compartments may be recessed with respect to a plane (not shown), generally perpendicular to the sidewalls  25  and  27  and juxtaposed adjacent thereto. For example, a first type of compartment, identified with the reference numerals  28 ,  29 ,  30 ,  31 ,  32  and  34  ( FIG. 2 ) may be configured to be form fitting and configured to the shape of the item to be carried and held in place by friction. For example, the carrying case  22  may be molded from a plastic material and configured with tabs, generally identified with the reference numeral  36 , that project into the compartment and enable items to snap in and snap out. The first type of compartment defines an accessory compartment. 
     A second type of compartment, generally identified with the reference numeral  38 , may be provided with one or more studs  40 . The studs  40  are used to enable battery clamps  42  ( FIG. 1 ) to be secured thereto. The open space in the compartment  38  is for carrying a wire harness  44  that is tethered to a quick connect connector  46  on one end and connected to the battery clamps  42  on the other end. The quick connect connector  46  is configured to mate with a complementary connector (not shown) tethered to a battery charger  50 , as described below The second type of compartment defines a battery clamp compartment. The second type of compartment defines a battery clamp compartment. 
     A third type of compartment may be formed from cooperating complementary recesses  46  and  48  in both the base  24  and the cover  26 , respectively. The recess  46  in the base  24  is for receiving a 6 volt/12 volt DC battery charger  50  ( FIG. 1 ), for example, a Schumacher Electric, Model No. SC 200A or other battery charger. The recess  48  in the cover  26  provides clearance in the cover  26  to enable it to be fully closed. The recesses  46  and  48  have generally equal areas and may be configured with the same or different depths. Depending on the actual thickness of the charger  50  and the desired thickness of the carrying case  22 , the recess  48  may not be required. The third type of compartment defines a charger compartment. 
     A fourth type of compartment may be formed from a compartment formed from cooperating recesses  52  in the base  24  and a recess  54  in the cover  26 . These recesses  52  and  54  may be used to carry a meter  56  ( FIG. 1 ) with a protruding knob  58 . The area of the recess  52  ( FIG. 1 ) is sized to receive to receive the meter  56 , for example, a voltmeter, such as a Schumacher Electric Model BT-50 or other voltmeter or other meter, such as a multi-meter. Depending on the thickness meter used and whether the meter has any protruding knobs, the recess  54  may not be required. If the recess  54  is required, the area of the recess  54  may be selected to provide clearance for the knob  58  or clearance for the entire meter  56 . The fourth type of compartment defines a meter compartment. 
     As mentioned above, in the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the battery maintenance kit  20  may include various accessory compartments, for example, the compartments  28 ,  29 ,  30 ,  31 ,  32  and  34 . One or more compartments  28 ,  29  and  30  can be used to carry various non-adjustable open end and/or box wrenches, generally identified with the reference numeral  60 . The wrenches  60  may be coated with a dielectric material, such as PVC, and include sizes useful in servicing sealed lead acid batteries. For example, the wrenches  60  may be sized to enable loosening and tightening battery post clamps used to secure a battery cable to a battery post. Alternatively, a single compartment may be provided for carrying an adjustable wrench or pliers. 
     The compartments  32  and  34  may be used for carrying accessories for the battery charger  50 . In particular, the exemplary battery charger  50  includes multiple battery termination accessories each tethered to a quick connect connector  46 , as described above. 
     For example, in addition to the battery clamps  42 , the compartment  32  ( FIG. 2 ) may be for a ring connector accessory  62  ( FIG. 1 ) for the battery charger  50 , used to attach one or more ring or equivalent connectors to a vehicle battery terminal. This accessory is known to be used to permanently connect the one or more ring connectors to batteries in vehicles in which the batteries are in hard to access locations. Once the one or more ring connectors are permanently connected to the battery terminals or alternatively to one battery terminal and system ground, the battery can easily be charged by connecting the quick connect connector  63  connected to the one or more ring terminals to a mating quick connect mating connector (not shown) attached to the battery charger  50 . 
     The compartment  34  ( FIG. 2 ) may be used to carry a cigarette lighter adapter accessory  64 . The cigarette lighter adapter  64  is also connected to a wire harness and a quick connect connector  65 . The cigarette lighter accessory allows a battery to be charged by the battery charger  50  by way of a cigarette lighter receptacle, available in most automobiles and trucks. In this application, the battery charger  50  is plugged into a conventional AC receptacle, for example a 120 volt AC receptacle. The cigarette lighter accessory  64  is connected to the battery charger  50  by way of the mating quick connect connectors. The battery is then charged by pumping charging current from the cigarette lighter receptacle to the battery. The quick connect connector  65  for the cigarette lighter adapter accessory  64  as well as the quick connect connector  63  for the ring connector accessory  62  and the respective wire harnesses may be stored in the recess  48 , as generally shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     The compartment  31  ( FIG. 2 ) may be used to carry a conventional battery post cleaner  68 . Such battery post cleaners are extremely well known in the art and include a generally cylindrical housing for carrying a circularly wire brush that is configured to receive a conventional automobile or truck battery post. The wire brush is used to remove corrosion from the battery post to provide a good electrical connection to a battery post clamp on a battery cable. 
     The carrying case  22  may be formed with a handle  70  and one or more latch assemblies  72  and  74 . An exemplary handle  70  is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . As shown an elongated slot  76  is formed along a front edge of the base  24 , opposite a hinge  78  that rotatably connects the cover  26  to the base  24 . The slot defines the handle  70  as shown. A complementary notch  78  is formed in the cover  26  in order to provide access to the handle  70  when the cover  26  is closed. 
     Various conventional means can be used to secure the cover  26  to the base  24  in a closed position. As shown, one or more conventional latch assemblies, generally identified with the reference numerals  72  and  74  may be used. All conventional latch assemblies are considered to be within the scope of the invention. 
     As mentioned above, the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is merely exemplary. Alternate embodiments with more or fewer compartments are considered to be within the scope of the invention. For example, additional accessories may be included. For example a flashlight (not shown) and/or safety goggles (not shown) may be included. Fewer wrenches  28 ,  29  and  30  may be included. 
     An alternate embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . This embodiment is generally identified with the reference number  100 . This embodiment is contemplated for use with relatively larger size battery chargers, such as a DieHard® Model No. 71227 battery charger. The battery charger kit  100  includes a carrying case, generally identified with the reference numeral  102  which includes a base  104  and a hinged cover  106 . A number of dedicated compartments are formed in the carrying case  102 . 
     A first type of compartment is a dedicated battery charger compartment. The battery charger compartment may be formed as a recessed volume  108  in the base  104  which receives the battery charger  109  and a corresponding recessed volume  110  formed in the cover  106 . The recessed volume or compartment  110  may be formed with a profile, such as a sloped profile, to match the vertical profile of the battery charger. Additional compartments may be provided for accessories. For example one or more recessed volumes  112  and  114  may be provided in the cover  106  to provide compartments for one or more battery post cleaners  116  and  118 . These compartments  112  and  114  may be countersunk relative to the compartment  110 . One or more additional countersunk compartments  120  and  122  may countersunk in the compartment  110  in the cover  106 . These compartments  120  and  122  may be formed as snap in compartments and used to carry tools, such as wrenches. 
     One or more complementary compartments may be provided for receiving battery side terminal conversion terminals. The battery side mount conversion terminals are conventional and include a post on one end for connecting to a battery clamp and threaded studs on the other end for screwing into a battery side mount terminal. Four such battery side mount conversion terminals are shown and identified with the reference numerals  124 ,  126 ,  128  and  130 . However, only one or more of such battery side mount conversion terminals are required. These battery side mount conversion terminals  124 ,  126 ,  128  and  130  are carried in compartments (not shown) formed in the base. Clearance for these battery side mount conversion terminals  124 ,  126 ,  128  and  130  may be provided by complementary compartments  136  and  138  formed in the cover  106 . 
     The battery maintenance kit  100  may include fewer accessories than shown in  FIG. 3 . The battery maintenance kit  100  may include additional accessories and compartments as described above in connection with  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The carrying case  102  may also be configured with one or more conventional latch assemblies, generally identified with the reference numerals  140  and  142  and a handle (not shown). 
     Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Thus, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described above.