Battery terminal connection with quick-release lever

• US 20030232546A1
• Filed: 06/13/2002
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Greg Davis
• Original Assignee: Greg Davis
• Inventors: Davis, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 6,773,310 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/773
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/282 comprising means for facilitating engagement or disengagement, e.g. quick release terminal

Abstract

A battery terminal connector that requires no tools to engage or remove uses a quick-release system in order to increase efficiency. The use of a lever (which makes up an important part of the quick-release system) with a varying radius is used to engage or release the battery terminal connector. The connector is made of an electrically conductive material and connects the battery terminal to the battery cable.

Claims

1. A battery connector comprising:

a clamp for securing said connector to a battery; and

a lever for applying pressure to engage said clamp;

wherein said battery connector is installed or removed by operation of said lever to engage or release said clamp on a terminal of said battery.

2. The battery connector of claim 1, further comprising:

a tension shaft running between two arms of said clamp; and

a cross shaft connected at an end of said tension shaft;

wherein said lever rotates on said cross shaft.

3. The battery connector of claim 2, wherein said tension shaft runs through holes in said arms of said clamp;

said tension shaft further comprising a stop on an end of said tension shaft opposite said cross shaft, said stop abutting an arm of said clamp.

4. The battery connector of claim 3, wherein said stop comprises a nut threaded onto said tension shaft.

5. The battery connector of claim 2, wherein:

said lever further comprises an enlarged portion with a curved edge;

said enlarged portion having a hole through which said cross shaft is disposed;

said enlarged portion having a varying radius between said cross shaft and said curved edge such that rotation of said lever about said cross shaft selectively brings a greater or smaller radius of said enlarged portion between said cross shaft and an arm of said clamp to engage or release said clamp.

6. The battery connector of claim 1, wherein said clamp is made of an electrically conductive material, said connector further comprising a cable connected to said clamp for connecting said battery to an electrical system.

7. The battery connector of claim 1, wherein said clamp comprises a hole sized to receive a battery terminal of an automobile battery.

8. A method of securing a battery connector comprising:

applying pressure with a lever to engage a clamp of said battery connector, wherein said battery connector is installed or removed by operation of said lever to engage or release said clamp on a terminal of said battery.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

extending a tension shaft between two arms of said clamp; and

connecting a cross shaft at an end of said tension shaft;

wherein said lever rotates on said cross shaft.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising extending said tension shaft through holes in said arms of said clamp.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising threading a nut onto said tension shaft, said nut abutting an arm of said clamp to secure said tension shaft between said arms of said clamp.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising rotating said lever about a cross shaft secured to a tension shaft running between arms of said clamp wherein:

said lever further comprises an enlarged portion with a curved edge;

said enlarged portion having a hole through which said cross shaft is disposed;

said enlarged portion having a varying radius between said cross shaft and said curved edge such that rotation of said lever about said cross shaft selectively brings a greater or smaller radius of said enlarged portion between said cross shaft and an arm of said clamp to engage or release said clamp.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising forming said clamp of an electrically conductive material.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising connecting a cable to said clamp for connecting said battery to an electrical system.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising forming a hole in said clamp that is sized to receive a battery terminal of an automobile battery.