Vehicle battery plug-in connection arrangement

• US 20010023037A1
• Filed: 03/09/2001
• Published: 09/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hans Kieninger, Rudolf Andraschko
• Original Assignee: Hans Kieninger, Rudolf Andraschko
• Inventors: Kieninger, Hans, Andraschko, Rudolf
• Granted Patent: US 6,629,863 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/100
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/282 comprising means for facilitating engagement or disengagement, e.g. quick release terminal

Abstract

A connection arrangement enables rapid connection and disconnection of a cable wire (11) to a post-shaped automobile battery terminal (12). A battery terminal connector (16), has a platform (17) with a front end forming a post-receiving hole (18) that receives the battery terminal, the platform having a rear end with a pair of stationary shoulders (21) and a pin contact (22) lying between the shoulders. A cable connector (25) includes a socket contact (26) that can connect to the battery connector, and a locking device. The locking device has a pair of clamp arms (31) that are resiliently biased together but that are deflected apart by a separator (38) until the arm shoulders (35) snap behind the stationary shoulders.

Claims

1. Vehicle battery connecting apparatus for connection of a cable conductor to a vehicle battery terminal, comprising:

an electrically conductive battery connector having a front end constructed to be fixed to the vehicle battery terminal, said battery connector having a rear end with a mateable first contact;

an electrically conductive cable connector with a rear end that is connectable to said cable conductor and a front end that forms a second contact that is mateable with said first contact, one of said contacts comprising a pin contact and the other comprising a socket contact that receives the pin contact, to connect the cable to the vehicle battery terminal;

a locking device which includes a first locking element on one of said connectors and forming a pair of first shoulders, and a second locking element mounted on the other of said connectors and having a pair of catch arms with a pair of arm shoulders that can be deflected in a lateral direction that is primarily perpendicular to said front and rear directions to move against said first shoulders, with one of said pair of shoulders facing in a first direction and the other pair of shoulders facing opposite to said first direction, to hold said pin contact mated to said socket contact.

2. The apparatus described in

claim 1

wherein said vehicle battery terminal comprises a primarily cylindrical post, and wherein:

said battery connector includes an electrically conductive platform having a front end forming a post-receiving hole and a rear end, and said first locking element is part of said battery connector, said platform rear end having opposite sides forming said first shoulders with said first shoulders facing primarily forwardly, and said platform rear end having opposite sides forming separating parts extending rearward of said first shoulders, with said first contact lying between said sides;

said second locking element is fixed to said cable connector and said cable connector front end forms said second contact;

said catch arms lie at opposite sides of said second contact and have front ends, said catch arms being resilient to allow said catch arm front ends to be deflected apart as they move along said separating parts and to then snap toward each other and immediately forward of said first shoulders to prevent separation of connectors.

3. The apparatus described in

claim 2

wherein:

said platform rear end has an upward projection forming said stationary shoulders, and said first contact lies above said platform front end.

4. The apparatus described in

claim 1

wherein:

a first of said connectors has a guide strip that is elongated along the direction of mating of said connectors and projects toward the second connector, and the second said connectors has a slot that opens towards said guide strip and that receives said guide strip as said connectors approach each other and before said pin and socket contact mate, with said guide strip and said slot each lying at one side of the contacts.

5. The apparatus described in

claim 1

wherein said vehicle battery includes a battery case with a top wall, and a pair of primarily cylindrical posts extending upwardly from said top wall, and wherein:

said battery connector includes an electrically conductive platform having a front end forming a vertical post-receiving hole and a rear end, and said first locking element is part of said battery connector, said platform rear end having opposite sides forming said first shoulders;

said first shoulders face primarily upwardly, and said platform rear end forms separating part extending downwardly of said first shoulders, with said first contact forming a pin contact that projects downwardly;

said second locking element is fixed to said cable conductor and said cable connector front end forms said socket contact;

said catch arms lie at opposite sides of said socket contact and said catch arms have upper ends forming said arm shoulders, said catch arms being resilient to allow said catch arm shoulders to move apart as they move upward along said separating parts and then snap toward each other and immediately above said first shoulders to hold said connectors together.

6. Vehicle battery connecting apparatus for connection of a cable conductor to a vehicle battery terminal, comprising:

an electrically conductive battery connector constructed to be fixed to the vehicle battery terminal, said battery connector having a mateable first contact;

an electrically conductive cable connector with a rear end that is connectable to said cable conductor and with a front end that forms a second contact that is mateable with said first contact, one of said contacts comprising a pin contact and the other comprising a socket contact that receives the pin contact, to connect the cable to the vehicle battery terminal;

a locking device which includes first and second locking elements mounted respectively to said first and second connectors, said first locking element comprising a bayonet thread surrounding the contact of said first connector and said second locking element comprising a sleeve rotatably mounted on said second connector and having an internal bayonet thread.

7. Vehicle battery connection apparatus for connection of a cable conductor to a vehicle battery terminal, comprising:

a conductive battery connector having a front end fixed to said battery terminal and having a rear end forming a first contact, said battery connector forming a pair of forwardly-facing shoulders;

a cable connector having a rear end fixed to said cable and having a front end forming a second contact that is mateable to said first contact;

a housing that includes an insulative sleeve that surrounds said conductive insert, and a pair of catch arms extending largely forwardly from locations at opposite sides of said sleeve, said catch arms having rearwardly-facing shoulders that snap in front of said forwardly-facing shoulders as said contacts become fully mated.

8. The apparatus described in

claim 7

wherein:

each of said catch arms have rearwardly-extending handles with rear handle ends lying rearward of said locations, and with each catch arm including a mount part extending partially sidewardly to said sleeve.

9. The apparatus described in

claim 7

wherein:

said battery rear end includes a largely cylindrical portion that surrounds said battery terminal and that has a plurality of teeth forming said forwardly-facing shoulders.

10. The apparatus described in

claim 7

wherein:

said battery connector rear end forms a platform with a hole to surround said battery terminal;

said first contact comprises a pin with a front end that lies at the height of said platform and that extends horizontally when said battery terminal extends upward, said pin having a rear end that lies above said pin front end and that extends horizontally, and said pin having a middle with two bends of about 90°

each.