Terminal connector assembly

• US 5,024,619 A
• Filed: 10/22/1990
• Issued: 06/18/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Damian F. Caraballo
• Original Assignee: Damian F. Caraballo
• Inventors: Caraballo, Damian F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US07/601,446
• Time in Patent Office: 239 Days
• Field of Search: 439/754, 439/769, 439/772-774, 439/755, 439/770
• US Class Current: 439/755
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/282 comprising means for facilitating engagement or disengagement, e.g. quick release terminal

Abstract

A battery terminal connector includes a rotatable member having a first inclined surfaced offset from the axis of rotation and a fixed member with a second inclined surface. Rotation of the rotatable member relative to the fixed member causes contact between the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface to press the battery cable terminal to the battery terminal.

Claims

1. A tool-free assembly for connecting battery cable terminals to batteries having side post terminals with female fittings, comprising:

a male connector member adapted for engagement to said female battery terminal fitting;

a lever member having substantially at one end thereof an aperture dimensioned to permit the passage of a portion of said male connector member, said lever member having a first inclined surface;

a battery cable terminal having an aperture dimensioned to permit the passage of a portion of said male connector member, and having a second inclined surface;

said male connector member being positionable through said apertures of said lever member and said battery cable terminal, and connectable to said female fitting of said battery terminal, to secure said battery cable terminal and said lever member in an abutting relation adjacent to said battery terminal with said inclined surfaces being substantially juxtaposed and angularly offset from one another, whereby rotation of said lever member relative to said battery cable terminal will cause sliding contact between said inclined surfaces and will move said battery cable terminal against said battery terminal.

2. The tool-free assembly of claim 1, wherein said lever member comprises two arcuate inclined surfaces sloping outwardly in opposite angular direction about said lever aperture, and said battery cable terminal comprises two arcuate inclined surfaces sloping outwardly in opposite angular directions about said battery cable terminal aperture, whereby opposing pairs of inclined surfaces on said lever member and said battery cable terminal will permit operation of said assembly with rotation of said lever member in either angular direction about said connector member.

3. A tool-free assembly for tightening terminal connectors on batteries having side post mount terminals, with each of said battery terminals having an aperture adapted for the reception of fastening means, said assembly comprising:

a connecting shaft having a long axis adapted for placement through said aperture, said connecting shaft having a first end adapted to engage said aperture of said battery terminal, and having at a second end a stop member;

a lever member rotatably connected to said second end of said connecting shaft and substantially abutting said stop member, said lever member having a first inclined surface;

a battery cable terminal having a base with a portion for electrically engaging a battery conductor cable and having a flange portion adapted to abut a surface of said battery terminal, said flange portion having a second inclined surface substantially juxtaposed to said first inclined surface of said lever member, whereby when said connecting shaft is secured to said battery terminal, rotation of the lever member about the connecting shaft and through a throw path of less than about ninety degrees, will cause sliding contact between the first inclined surface of the lever member and the second inclined surface of the battery cable terminal, and will cause axial movement of said flange portion along the long axis of the connecting shaft, to force said flange portion towards said battery terminal to secure said battery cable terminal to said battery terminal.

4. The tool-free assembly of claim 3, wherein said flange portion of said battery cable terminal comprises a mounting aperture for reception of said connecting shaft.

5. The tool-free assembly of claim 3, wherein at least one of said inclined surface on said lever member and said inclined surface on said flange portion is arcuate and substantially concentric with said connecting shaft.

6. A tool-free assembly for tightening battery cable terminals to batteries having side post mount terminals, said battery terminals having a surface adapted to receive a flange portion of said battery cable terminal, with each of said battery terminal and said flange portion having an aperture adapted for the reception of fastening means, said assembly comprising:

a connecting shaft having a long axis adapted for placement through said apertures, said connecting shaft having a first end adapted to fit into said aperture of said battery terminal, and to engage said battery terminal, and having at a second end a stop member;

a lever member rotatably connected to said second end of said connecting shaft and substantially abutting said stop member, said lever member having a first inclined surface;

a wedge member on an outside surface of said battery cable terminal adapted to be substantially juxtaposed to said lever member, said wedge member having a second inclined surface substantially juxtaposed to said first inclined surface of said lever member, whereby when said connecting shaft is secured to said battery terminal, rotation of the lever member about the connecting shaft and through a throw path of less than about ninety degrees, will cause sliding contact between the first inclined surface of the lever member and the second inclined surface of the wedge member, and will cause axial movement of said wedge member along the long axis of the connecting shaft, to force said flange portion towards said surface of said battery terminal to secure said battery cable terminal to said battery terminal.

7. The tool-free assembly of claim 6, wherein at least one of said inclined surface on said lever member and said inclined surface on said flange portion is arcuate and substantially concentric with said connecting shaft.

8. The tool-free assembly of claim 6, wherein said lever member comprises two arcuate inclined surfaces sloping outwardly in opposite angular direction about said lever aperture, and said wedge member comprises two arcuate inclined surfaces sloping outwardly in opposite angular directions about said battery cable terminal aperture, whereby opposing pairs of said inclined surfaces on said lever member and said wedge member will permit operation of said assembly with rotation of said lever member in either angular direction about said connecting shaft.