Battery terminal harness having improved fastening means for preventing application of reverse polarity voltage

• US 4,226,497 A
• Filed: 01/08/1979
• Issued: 10/07/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RCA Licensing Corporation
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Polonsky, Samuel, Pomponio, Edward V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lake, Roy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desmond, Eugene F.
• Application Number:
  US06/001,550
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 429/1, 429/121, 339/184 R, 339/154 R, 339/105, 339/116 R, 339/258 R, 339/258 T, 339/258 TC, 339/228-237, 339/152, 339/256 RT, 339/128, 339/184 M, 46/45, 46/228, 46/248
• US Class Current: 439/677
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/281 for connections to batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/20 Pins, blades, or sockets shaped, or provided with separate member, to retain co-operating parts together
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/64 Means for preventing incorrect coupling

Abstract

A battery terminal harness for connection with a predetermined polarity to the dissimilar terminals of a battery is provided with insulating cover means for preventing inadvertent short-term reverse polarity contact between the battery terminals and the connectors of the harness. Fastening means are provided for securing the cover means to a support member, the fastening means including aligned openings in a tab to the cover member and the support member and securing means passing through the aligned openings.

Claims

1. An improved battery terminal harness for connection to a battery having a first terminal coupled to a first polarity of the battery and a second terminal coupled to a second polarity of the battery, the second terminal having at least one dimension substantially larger than the corresponding dimension of the first terminal, said improved battery terminal harness comprising:

an insulating support member having an opening therein;

a first terminal connector mounted on said support member and adapted to electrically mate with the first terminal of a battery;

a second terminal connector mounted on said support member and adapted to electrically mate with the second terminal of a battery;

an insulating cover member covering said first terminal connector, said cover member having an opening therein, the configuration of said opening in said cover member being such that the first terminal of the battery is sufficiently small to pass therethrough to mate with the first terminal connector and the second terminal of the battery is too large to pass therethrough to contact said first terminal connector; and

fastening means comprising;

a tab member connected to said cover member and extending across said opening in said support member, said tab member having an opening therein

aligned with said opening in said support member when said cover member is covering said first terminal connector, and

electrical leads connected to said first and second terminal connectors and passing through said aligned openings in said tab member and said support member to secure said cover member in position over said first terminal connector;

whereby inadvertent reverse polarity contact of said battery terminal harness to the battery terminals is prevented.

2. An improved battery terminal harness as defined by claim 1 in which said fastening means further comprises an extension of said cover member diametrically opposed to said tab member, said extension of said cover member comprising means for engaging said insulating support member.

3. An improved battery terminal harness for connection to a battery having a first terminal of cylindrical stud configuration coupled to a first polarity of the battery and a second terminal coupled to a second polarity of the battery, the second terminal being of annular resilient configuration for peripherally engaging a cylindrical stud member having substantially the configuration of the first terminal, said improved battery terminal harness comprising:

an insulating support member having an opening therein;

a first terminal connector mounted on said support member and having substantially the configuration of the second terminal for electrically mating with the first terminal of a battery;

a second terminal connector mounted on said support member and having substantially the configuration of the first terminal for electrically mating with the second terminal of a battery;

an insulating cover member covering said first terminal connector, said cover member having a circular opening therein sufficiently large to pass the first terminal of the battery and too small to pass the second terminal of the battery; and

fastening means comprising;

a tab member connected to said cover member and extending across said opening in said support member, said tab member having an opening therein aligned with said opening in said support member when said cover member is covering said first terminal connector, and

electrical leads connected to said first and second terminal connectors and passing through said aligned openings in said tab member and said support member to secure said cover member in position over said first terminal connector;

whereby inadvertent reverse polarity contact of said battery terminal harness to the battery terminals is prevented.

4. An improved battery terminal harness as defined by claim 3 in which said fastening means further comprises an extension of said cover members diametrically opposed to said tab member, said extension of said cover member comprising resilient means for engaging said insulating support member.