U.S. patent application number 12/924365 was filed with the patent office on 2011-10-06 for magnetic jumper for bypassing electrical circuits.
Invention is credited to Steve Fischer, Steve Melby.
Application Number | 20110244697 12/924365 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44544713 |
Filed Date | 2011-10-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110244697 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Melby; Steve ; et
al. |
October 6, 2011 |
MAGNETIC JUMPER FOR BYPASSING ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS
Abstract
A magnetic jumper for bypassing electrical circuits. The jumper
includes a magnet at each end of a wire. Each magnet can be
attached to a terminal of a low voltage electrical circuit in order
to bypass that circuit for testing and troubleshooting purposes.
The magnetic jumper works with almost any terminal that has steel
screws.
Inventors: |
Melby; Steve; (Newport,
MN) ; Fischer; Steve; (Mahtomedi, MN) |
Family ID: |
44544713 |
Appl. No.: |
12/924365 |
Filed: |
September 27, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61341339 |
Mar 30, 2010 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
439/39 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01R 1/06 20130101; H01R
13/6205 20130101; G01R 1/06788 20130101; H01R 2201/20 20130101;
H01R 11/30 20130101; H01R 4/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
439/39 |
International
Class: |
H01R 11/30 20060101
H01R011/30 |
Claims
1. A magnetic jumper for bypassing electrical circuits, said jumper
comprising: at least one wire, each of said wires having a barrel
attached at each end; a magnet disposed at each end of each of said
wires, each of said magnets being fitted into one of said barrels;
means for non-conduction of electricity provided at each end of
said wires.
2. The jumper of claim 1 wherein said jumper comprises one wire
having a magnet at each end.
3. The jumper of claim 1 wherein said jumper comprises a first wire
having a magnet at each end and a second wire having a magnet at
each end, one of said magnets being in common on said first wire
and said second wire.
4. The jumper of claim 1 wherein said magnets protrude beyond the
ends of said barrels so as to allow said magnets to be attached to
recessed terminals as well as to exposed terminals.
5. The jumper of claim 1 wherein said magnets extend only slightly
beyond the ends of said barrels.
6. The jumper of claim 1 wherein said means for non-conduction is a
molded end of non-conductive material disposed at each end of said
wire.
7. The jumper of claim 1 wherein said means for non-conduction is a
heat-shrink tube fitted over said barrel at each end of said
wire.
8. The jumper of claim 1 wherein said means for non-conduction is a
non-conductive coating applied to said barrel and to part of said
wire at each end of said wire.
9. A magnetic jumper for troubleshooting low voltage terminals,
said jumper comprising: a single conductor multi-strand wire; a
magnet attached at each end of said wire, each of said magnets
being pressed into a barrel that is crimped over said wire at each
end thereof, each of said magnets protruding beyond an end of its
respective barrel that is distal to said wire so as to allow each
of said magnets to be adapted for temporary attachment to either a
recessed terminal or an exposed terminal of a low voltage
electrical circuit to provide an alternate electrical path in order
to bypass said circuit for testing and troubleshooting purposes;
means for non-conduction of electricity provided at each end of
said wire, said non-conduction means being selected from a group
that includes a molded end of non-conductive material, a
heat-shrink tube fitted over said barrel, and a non-conductive
coating applied to said barrel and to an adjacent part of said
wire.
10. The magnetic jumper of claim 9 adapted to be a three-way
jumper, said jumper comprising a first wire having a magnet at each
end as in claim 9, and additionally having a second wire connected
to said magnet at one of said ends of said first wire in a
configuration known as a daisy chain or Y-configuration, said
second wire having an additional magnet connected thereto at an end
opposite said magnet that said second wire has in common with said
first wire.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent
Application No. 61/341,339, filed Mar. 30, 2010, which is
incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Alligator clip jumpers are used today to clip onto terminals
in order to bypass electrical circuits for testing and
troubleshooting purposes. Alligator clips have several
disadvantages. They pop off easily and cannot be clipped onto
recessed terminals as are found on thermostat sub-bases, for
example.
[0003] Also known in the prior art is a test lead for a meter, the
test lead having only one magnetic end, in a flush configuration.
This lead also cannot be used with recessed terminals.
[0004] No jumpers having magnets at both ends are known to exist in
the prior art, and no prior art jumpers suitable for use with
recessed terminals are known to exist.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention is a magnetic jumper for bypassing electrical
circuits. The magnetic jumper is used to test electrical circuits
by providing an alternate electrical path to bypass a switching
device that has steel terminals or contact points. The magnetic
jumper is a piece of wire that has a magnet at each end. The
magnets attach to the terminals of the electrical circuit to be
bypassed. This type of jumper has applications in many industries
including heating, electrical, automotive, and electrical
controls.
[0006] An advantage of the invention is that it is easier to use
than prior art devices and adheres more securely to most types of
terminals. The magnets do not stick to brass but adhere very well
to steel. Approximately eighty percent of terminals today have
steel screws.
[0007] Another advantage of the invention is that it works just as
well with recessed terminals as with exposed terminals.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the
invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a detail view wherein the non-conductive means has
been partially cut away to reveal the brass barrel underneath.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken along line 3-3 of FIG.
1.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken along line 4-4 of FIG.
1.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the
invention, showing a three-way jumper.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The magnetic jumper comprises a wire 4 having a magnet 2 at
each end. A neodymium magnet 2 is pressed into a brass barrel 1
that is crimped over a single conductor multi-strand wire 4 that
has a copper conductor 5 folded over within the wire 4. A magnet 2
is attached in this manner at each end of the wire 4. A means 3 for
non-conduction of electricity is provided at each end of the wire
4. The non-conductive means 3 can be any of several alternatives.
The non-conductive means 3 can be a molded end of vinyl, silicon,
or other non-conductive material, which can be made by injection
molding. Alternatively, the non-conductive means 3 can be a
heat-shrink tube fitted over the brass barrel 1 at each end of the
wire 4, leaving the magnet 2 exposed. In still another alternative,
the non-conductive means 3 can be a dipped vinyl coating or other
non-conductive coating at each end of the wire 4, the coating
covering the barrel 1 and a part of the wire 4 that extends from
the barrel 1 at the opposite end of barrel 1 from magnet 2 as seen
in FIG. 2.
[0014] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the magnets 2
protrude from the ends of the barrels 1, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
This configuration is especially good for attaching the magnets 2
to recessed terminals. Common devices that have recessed terminals
include sub-bases for thermostats, relays, and automation controls.
Alternatively, the magnets 2 could be made so that they extend only
slightly beyond the ends of the barrels 1. Either version would
work for attaching the magnets 2 to exposed terminals.
[0015] The magnets 2 can be made in different sizes for different
applications. For example, larger ones can be used for furnace
control boards, smaller ones can be used for thermostat sub-bases,
and other sizes can be used for automation and hydronic heating
controls. Similarly, the length and/or diameter of the wire 4 can
vary for different applications.
[0016] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the jumper
comprises one wire 4 having a magnet 2 at each end, as shown in
FIG. 1. Alternatively, the jumper can be made into a three-way
jumper by adding another wire and magnet in daisy chain style
(Y-configuration), by connecting a second wire to the magnet 2 at
one end of the first wire 4 and then adding another magnet at the
opposite end of the second wire.
[0017] The magnetic jumper is suitable for use as test leads for
troubleshooting low voltage circuits, up to a maximum of thirty
volts or five amps current draw. The magnets 2 are not intended to
remain in contact with the terminal permanently. To use the
magnetic jumper, it is recommended to hold one end in each hand and
place each end in contact with the desired terminal, in order to
avoid having the magnets 2 adhere to each other or to unintended
surfaces.
[0018] The foregoing examples were presented only by way of
illustrating the best mode for carrying out the invention, and not
by way of limitation, the scope of the invention being limited only
by the appended claims.
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