Patent ID: 8120350

Claim:
A clamp meter with a safe trigger mechanism, said clamp meter comprising a cover housing, a base housing, a clamp housing, a trigger arrangement, wherein said cover housing and said base housing enclosing a display screen, a function selection switch, and a set of push buttons to select testing parameters electrically connected to the measurement circuitry that is housed in the housings; and wherein said clamp housing houses a plurality of clamp jaws, preferably two clamp jaws, wherein said clamp jaws are connected to said clamp housing through an arrangement comprising a pivot sleeve and a pivot screw for each of the clamps, further wherein said two jaws are connected to each other through a central hinge arrangement wherein each of said two jaws has a loop, the two loops being positioned together axially thereby forming a single opening, through which said opening a pin, made out of metal or any other suitable material such as hard plastic or hard rubber, or wood, passes to form said central hinge arrangement; and further wherein said trigger arrangement comprises: a. a trigger arm that has a protruding end and a hinge end; said trigger arm being rotatably connected with the help of a hinge connection to said base housing, said hinge connection comprising a hinge screw and a hinge C-clip; b. a pusher with two ends such that said hinge end of the trigger is in contact with the trigger-end of said pusher, the other end of said pusher being simultaneously connected to each of said clamp jaws through said metal pin that is fixedly attached to said other end of said pusher, such that said metal pin operates both of said clamp jaws simultaneously; wherein when said trigger is pressed, said protruding end pushes the spherical end of said pusher along its axis, said pusher in turn pushing said metal pin in the same direction; and wherein said pin, through said central hinge arrangement, makes both of said clamp jaws rotate in their own plane, thereby opening them, such that in their open position, said clamp jaws press against the respective compression springs that are provided inside said base housing, and such that upon the release of the trigger, the compression springs push the clamp jaws back into their closed position.