Bill Marchal, the former owner of the Bluffton Dari Freeze, has received a patent for his invention of an improved style battery clamp that can easily be attached and removed without tools.

When asked about his background as an inventor, Marchal noted that he’s always looking for ways to make things work better. As an ice cream shop owner, he invented a better way to heat up hot fudge, the No Water Bath thermal transfer pad. 

As a boy, he wanted to win a drawing for a bicycle at the local grocery store. To enter, you had to buy a box of laundry soap. He proceeded to buy boxes and sell them to neighbors; one bought twelve boxes. And he won the bicycle.

While working on the design of the improved battery clamp, Marchal worked with the Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs and patent attorney Jacob M. Ward of Tiffin. Marchal now plans to license his battery clamp for manufacturing.