Battery clamp

An improved battery clamp for a jumper cable set comprising:

• a pair of gripping members, each having a jaw end and a handle end, said pair gripping members being pivotably connected to each other about an axis between the jaw ends and the handle ends;
• spring means mounted on said pair of gripping members for normally urging the jaw ends toward each other and the handle ends away from one another;
• a first jaw member secured to the jaw end of one of said pair of gripping members;
• a second jaw member secured to the jaw end of the other of said pair of gripping members;
• a pressure switch positioned between said second jaw member and one of said pair of gripping members such that spring pressure provided by said spring means is operative for closing said pressure switch when said clamp is mounted on a battery terminal, said pressure switch being encapsulated using a flexible insulating material, said pressure switch having a first contact in electrical communication with said second jaw member, and further having a second contact in electrical communication with an electrically conductive cable wherein said encapsulated pressure switch comprises two conducting plates, a first conducting plate attached to one end of said electrically conductive cable, a first generally cylindrical insulating piece attached to said first conducting plate and a second generally cylindrical insulating piece attached to said second conducting plate in such a way that upon closing of said encapsulated pressure switch, said first and second conducting plates come in contact and said first and second insulating pieces mate so as to form gas isolated area around said first and second conducting plates to prevent arcing in said area thereof;
• and
• means for closing said pressure switch so as to provide a gas isolated area inside said pressure switch when said pressure switch is in a closed position.