Top clamping battery terminal connector

• US 20040087219A1
• Filed: 11/05/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Royal Die & Stamping Co., Inc. (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Freitag, Erik
• Granted Patent: US 6,817,908 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/763
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/283 Bolt, screw or threaded ferrule parallel to the battery post
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/285 Battery post and cable secured by the same locking means

Abstract

A battery terminal connector having a body portion, and an intermediate aperture for engaging a battery post. The size of the intermediate aperture is variable from a size well in excess of the diameter of the battery post to which it is to be connected, to a size somewhat smaller than the diameter of the battery post to which it is to be connected. A base plate is positioned along a line extending generally from one side surface of the connector to the other side surface of the connector. A threaded rod extends upwardly from the base plate. The connector further includes at least one vertically-movable element, including an upper and a lower wedge-shaped element. A threaded nut is preferably rotatably secured to the threaded rod. The threaded nut is positioned above and abuts against the upper of the two wedge-shaped elements. As the threaded nut is moved downward along the threaded rod, the nut pushes upon that upper wedge-shaped element. In turn, the upper wedge-shaped element forces the lower wedge-shaped element down and in. This inward movement pressures one of the side surfaces on the connector, and as a result the intermediate aperture becomes reduced in size.

Claims

1. A battery terminal connector having a body portion;

the body portion having a top, bottom, and a pair of opposite side surfaces, and an intermediate aperture for engaging a battery post;

the size of said intermediate aperture being variable to accommodate the placement of the connector onto, and the removal of the connector from, said battery post;

a base plate along a line extending generally from one side surface to the other side surface;

a threaded rod extending upwardly from said base plate;

an upper and a lower wedge-shaped element, said elements positioned generally along said threaded rod for movement along said threaded rod; and

a threaded nut rotatably secured to said threaded rod, positioned above and abutting against the upper of said wedge-shaped elements, wherein said downward movement of said threaded nut imparts downward movement of said wedge-shaped elements; and

wherein said downward movement of said wedge-shaped elements imparts pressure against one of said side surfaces so that said intermediate aperture becomes reduced in size.

2. The battery terminal connector of claim 1, wherein the said connector is made of a copper alloy.

3. The battery terminal connector of claim 1, wherein the bottom of said upper wedge-shaped element is initially spaced apart from said base plate by a gap, and wherein the extent of downward movement of said upper wedge is essentially limited to the size of said gap.

4. The battery terminal connector of claim 1, wherein said gap is approximately one-eighth of an inch.

5. The battery terminal connector of claim 1, wherein the battery terminal connector is stamped of copper.

6. The battery terminal connector of claim 1, wherein the battery terminal connector is made of one piece.

7. The battery terminal connector of claim 6, wherein the battery terminal connector is made of one piece.

8. A battery terminal connector having a body portion;

the body portion having a top, bottom, and a pair of opposite side surfaces, and an intermediate aperture for engaging a battery post;

the size of said intermediate aperture being variable to accommodate the placement of the connector onto, and the removal of the connector from, said battery post;

a base plate along a line extending generally from one side surface to the other side surface;

a threaded rod extending upwardly from said base plate;

an upper and a lower wedge-shaped element, said elements positioned generally along said threaded rod for movement along said threaded rod; and

a threaded nut rotatably secured to said threaded rod, positioned above and abutting against the upper of said wedge-shaped elements, wherein said downward movement of said threaded nut imparts downward movement of said wedge-shaped elements; and

wherein said downward movement of said wedge-shaped elements imparts pressure against one of said side surfaces so that said intermediate aperture becomes reduced in size.

9. A battery terminal connector having a body portion with a first and a second side surface, and an intermediate aperture for engaging a battery post;

the size of said intermediate aperture being variable to accommodate the placement of the connector onto, and the removal of the connector from, said battery post;

a base plate;

a downwardly movable wedge-shaped element, said element being upwardly and downwardly movable, wherein said wedge-shaped element imparts pressure against one of said side surfaces so that said intermediate aperture becomes reduced in size.

10. The battery terminal connector of claim 9, wherein said base plate extends along a line extending generally from one side surface to the other side surface.