Battery clamp

• US 5,154,646 A
• Filed: 11/12/1991
• Issued: 10/13/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kenneth E Shoup
• Original Assignee: Kenneth E Shoup
• Inventors: Shoup, Kenneth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bradley, Paula A.
• Application Number:
  US07/790,817
• Time in Patent Office: 336 Days
• Field of Search: 439/765, 439/768, 439/770, 439/772, 439/863, 439/502, 439/504
• US Class Current: 439/772
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/503 characterised by the shape of the interconnectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/51 Connection only in series
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/517 by fixing means, e.g. screws, rivets or bolts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/522 Inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/282 comprising means for facilitating engagement or disengagement, e.g. quick release terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/288 Interconnections between batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A quick connect/disconnect coupler for dry cell batteries including a flexible metal strap of copper, silver or alloys thereof having quick connect/disconnect clamps at each end. Each of the clamps has a base plate with a first aperture defining an inner surface complementary in shape to an electrode post of a dry cell battery and a second aperture intersecting the first aperture. A cylindrical stub shaft having a flat area thereon is rotatably mounted with respect to the base plate and extends into the second aperture. When the flat area of the stub shaft is aligned with the inner surface of the first aperture, the clamp may be easily slipped onto or off of an electrode post of the associated dry cell battery, but when the stub shaft flat is out of alignment with the inner surface of said first aperture the stub shaft contacts the electrode post and forces same into contact with the inner surface of the first aperture to establish good electrical contact between the clamp and the associated electrode.

Claims

1. A quick connect/disconnect coupler for dry cell batteries comprising a flexible strap having quick connect/disconnect clamps at either end thereof, each clamp including an end piece with a circular aperture therein defining an inner surface complementary in shape to an electrode post of a dry cell battery, a locking member cooperating with each of said end pieces rotatable between an unlocked position wherein said end piece easily slips onto and off of the associated electrode post and a locked position wherein the associated end piece is frictionally engaged with the associated electrode, wherein rotation between the locked and unlocked position is accomplished by rotation of said locking member through an angle of less than 360°

, whereby when both end pieces of said coupler are locked on electrodes of different polarity the dry cells are connected in series in condition to be charged.

2. The coupler of claim 1, wherein each of said end pieces is copper or an alloy thereof or silver or an alloy thereof.

3. The coupler of claim 2, wherein said flexible strap is a mesh of copper or an alloy thereof.

4. The coupler of claim 2, wherein said flexible strap is a mesh of silver or an alloy thereof.

5. The coupler of claim 2, wherein each of said locking members is steel.

6. A quick connect disconnect coupler for dry cell batteries comprising a flexible strap having quick connect/disconnect clamps at either end thereof, each clamp including an end piece with a circular aperture therein defining an inner surface complementary in shape to an electrode post of a dry cell batter, a locking member cooperating with each of said end pieces shiftable between an unlocked position wherein said end piece easily slips onto and off of the associated electrode post and a locked position wherein the associated end piece is frictionally engaged with the associated electrode, wherein each of said locking members is rotatable about an axis of rotation parallel to the center axis of the associated circular aperture in said end piece, whereby when both end pieces of said coupler ar locked on electrodes of different polarity the dry cells are connected in series in condition to be charged.

7. The coupler of claim 6, wherein each of said locking members has a portion thereof which upon rotation extends into the associated circular aperture in said end piece frictionally contacting the electrode post positioned therewithin to force the electrode post against said end piece.

8. A quick connect/disconnect coupler for dry cell batteries comprising a flexible metal strap of copper, silver or alloys thereof having quick connect/disconnect clamps at either end thereof, each clamp including a base plate having a first aperture therein defining an inner surface complementary in shape to an electrode post of a dry cell battery and a second aperture intersecting the first aperture, a cylindrical stub shaft rotatably mounted with respect to said base plate extending into said second aperture, said stub shaft having a flat which when aligned with said inner surface of said first aperture permits said clamp to be easily slipped onto or off of an electrode post of the associated dry cell battery, when said stub shaft flat is out of alignment with said inner surface of said first aperture said stub shaft contacts the electrode post and forces same into contact with the inner surface of said first aperture to establish good electrical contact between said clamp and the associated electrode, whereby said coupler may be used rapidly to establish series connection between dry cell batteries of various sizes.

9. The quick connect/disconnect coupler of claim 8, wherein said stub shaft is steel.

10. The quick connect/disconnect coupler of claim 8, wherein each of said end pieces is copper or an alloy thereof or silver or an alloy thereof.

11. The quick connect/disconnect coupler of claim 10, wherein said flexible strap is a mesh of copper or an alloy thereof.

12. The quick connect/disconnect coupler of claim 10, wherein said flexible strap is a mesh of silver or an alloy thereof.

13. The quick connect/disconnect of claim 8, wherein said stub shaft has an integral actuator hexagonal in cross-section.

14. The quick connect/disconnect coupler of claim 13, and further including an apertured spacer plate between said stub shaft actuator and said clamp base plate and a retaining member operationally associated with said stub shaft maintaining said stub shaft extending through an aperture in said spacer plate.

15. The quick connect/disconnect coupler of claim 14, wherein said retaining member is a snap ring mounted within a groove in said stub shaft

16. An end clamp comprising a base plate having a first aperture therein defining an inner surface complementary in shape to an electrode of a dry cell battery and a second aperture intersecting the first aperture, a cylindrical stub shaft rotatably mounted with respect to said base plate extending into said second aperture, said stub shaft having a flat which when aligned with said inner surface of said first aperture permits said clamp to be easily slipped onto or off of an electrode post of the associated dry cell battery, when said stub shaft flat is out of alignment with said inner surface of said first aperture said stub shaft contacts the electrode and forces same into contact with the inner surface of said first aperture to establish good electrical contact between said clamp and the associated electrode.

17. The end clamp of claim 16, wherein said end piece is copper or an alloy thereof or silver or an alloy thereof.

18. The end clamp of claim 16, wherein said stub shaft is steel.

19. The end clamp of claim 16, and further including an apertured spacer plate between said stub shaft actuator and said clamp base plate and a retaining member operationally associated with said stub shaft maintaining said stub shaft extending through an aperture in said spacer plate.

20. The end clamp of claim 16, wherein said retaining member is a snap ring mounted within a groove in said stub shaft.