Battery terminal

• US 5,486,434 A
• Filed: 05/09/1994
• Issued: 01/23/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Aoyama, Masahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Bowers, Jr., Charles L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McPherson, John A.
• Application Number:
  US08/239,875
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 429/65, 429/121, 429/178, 439/765, 439/756, 439/762, 439/766, 439/772, 439/758, 439/759, 439/769, 439/770
• US Class Current: 429/178
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/283 Bolt, screw or threaded ferrule parallel to the battery post

Abstract

A battery terminal includes a main member and ring member, each made from a conductive metal. A stud bolt for cable connection projects from the main member. A post fitting is provided in the ring member. The ring member is placed on top of the main member with one end of the ring member supported by the main member and the other end at an angle floating free above the main member. This other end is passed over the stud bolt and the post fitting of the ring member is fit over the battery post. The battery cable terminals are fit onto the stud bolt. When the nut is tightened on the stud bolt, the terminals are tightened against the ring member, which is at an angle to the battery post, and the post fitting of the ring member is forced down and clamped against the battery post. Thus, securing the battery terminal to the battery post and securing the cable terminals to the battery terminal can be simultaneously completed by a single thread tightening operation.

Claims

1. A battery terminal for connecting a battery post to a cable, comprising:

(A) a substantially flat main member comprising;

a first post fitting portion having a first battery post fitting hole for receiving the battery post therein;

a ring support provided at a first side of the first post fitting portion;

a cable connector portion provided at a second side of the first post fitting portion; and

a stud bolt projecting vertically upward from said cable connector portion;

(B) a ring member placed over said main member, comprising;

a second post fitting portion having a second battery post fitting hole for receiving the battery post and a cone-shaped clamping piece projecting upward around an inside edge of the second battery post fitting hole;

a clamping member on one side of the second post fitting portion; and

;

a cable connector portion with a bolt hole on an other side of the second post fitting portion through which said stud bolt is inserted, said cable connector portion being bent at a predetermined angle with respect to said second post fitting portion; and

(C) a nut mounted onto said stud bolt, whereby the battery terminal is assembled such that the end of the clamping member of the ring member is supported by the ring support of the main member, and the second post fitting portion and the cable connector portion of the ring member are inclined to the main member, and wherein tightening of the nut onto the stud bolt clamps the cable terminal to the ring member and simultaneously pushes the clamping piece of the ring member at an angle over the battery post and down against the battery post;

said main member and said ring member being constructed and arranged such that said first battery post fitting hole is separately formed in and defined by said main member and said second battery post fitting hole is separately formed in and defined by said ring member.

2. A battery terminal according to claim 1, wherein said second post fitting portion of the ring member includes a first slit along a side of the clamping member, and wherein said clamping member includes a second slit continuous to said first slit along a widthwise center axis of the clamping member to divide the clamping member into first and second clamping members, whereby, when the nut is tightened onto the stud bolt with the second post fitting portion of the ring member over and at an angle to the battery post, the first and second slits open as the post fitting portion of the ring member is pushed down and is deformed coaxially to the battery post.

3. A battery terminal according to claim 1, further comprising a seal member on which said main member is placed, said seal member including engaging members at opposite sides for engaging opposite edges of said clamping member.

5. A battery terminal according to claim 1, wherein said bolt hole of said cable connector portion is oval.

6. A battery terminal according to claim 1, wherein said post fitting portion of said ring member and said cable connector portion of said ring member are in different planes with respect to each other.

7. A battery terminal according to claim 3, wherein said substantially flat main member, said ring member, and said seal member are constructed and arranged to permit the battery terminal to be placed over the battery post after said terminal is assembled.

8. A battery terminal according to claim 1, wherein said cone-shaped clamping piece of said ring member is dimensioned to contact the outside face of the battery post when said cone-shaped clamping piece is fully seated on said post.

9. A battery terminal according to claim 1, wherein said cone-shaped clamping piece projects upward from said post fitting portion of said ring member.

4. A battery terminal for connecting a battery post to a cable, comprising:

(A) a substantially flat main member comprising;

a first post fitting portion having a first battery post fitting hole for receiving the battery post therein;

a first semiconical clamping piece projecting at one side of an inside face of the first battery post fitting hole and projecting vertically upward from said first post fitting portion of said main member;

a ring support provided at a first side of the first post fitting portion;

a cable connector portion provided at a second side of the first post fitting portion; and

a stud bolt projecting vertically upward from said cable connector portion;

(B) a ring member placed over said main member, comprising;

a second post fitting portion having a second battery post fitting hole for receiving the battery post therein and a second semiconical clamping piece projecting at one side of an inside edge of the second battery post fitting hole on a side opposite that of the first semiconical clamping piece of the main member and projecting vertically upward from said second post fitting portion;

a clamping member on one side of the second post fitting portion; and

a cable connector portion with a bolt hole on an other side of the second post fitting portion through which said stud bolt is inserted, said cable connector portion being bent at a predetermined angle with respect to said second post fitting portion; and

(C) a nut mounted onto said stud bolt, whereby the battery terminal is assembled such that the end of the clamping member of the ring member is supported by the ring support of the main member, and the second post fitting portion and the cable connector portion of the ring member are inclined to the main member, and such that tightening of the nut onto the stud bolt clamps the cable terminal to the ring member and simultaneously pushes the second semiconical clamping piece of the ring member, which is at an angle over the battery post, and moved down to clamp the battery post between the first and second clamping pieces of the ring member and the main member;

said main member and said ring member being constructed and arranged such that said first battery post fitting hole is separately formed in and defined by said main member and said second battery post fitting hole is separately formed in and defined by said ring member.