Automatic battery disconnect connection

• US 5,779,487 A
• Filed: 05/28/1996
• Issued: 07/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Len W. Gatin
• Original Assignee: Len W. Gatin
• Inventors: Gatin, Len W.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US08/652,676
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 439/38, 439/39, 439/40, 439/754, 439/755, 439/756, 439/757, 439/758, 439/522
• US Class Current: 439/39
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/287 Intermediate parts between battery post and cable end piece
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/30 End pieces held in contact by a magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6205 Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet

Abstract

An electrical connector to attach a first and second conductor. The electrical connector has first and second members. The first member can be attached to the first conductor and the second member can be attached to the second conductor. These first and second members are in turn magnetically attachable to each other. In this way, the first conductor can be held in electrical conducting relationship to the said second conductor by the magnetic attraction of the first and second members. At least one of the first and second members is a permanent magnet. The arrangement may be one member being a permanent magnet and the other a ferromagnetic material or both members may be permanent magnets.

Claims

1. A quick disconnect connector for electrically connecting an electrical cable to a terminal of a battery comprising a flat surfaced electrically conductive magnetic member connected to said electrical cable, a flat surfaced metal disc adapter connected to said battery terminal, said magnetic member and metal disc adapter being magnetically attachable to each other through abutting engagement of their respective flat surfaces to maintain said electrical conducting relationship unless the magnetic contact between said magnetic member and said metal disc adapter is broken by relative movement laterally thereof, and an insulating flap extending over said connector to provide a shield for said magnetic member and said metal disc adapter from being short-circuited when disengaged from electrical conduction between said magnetic member and metal disk.

2. A quick disconnect connector in accordance with claim 1, further characterized by said magnetic member comprising an annular-shaped magnet comprising a flat annular base plate attached to said annular-shaped magnet so as to define the flat surface of said magnetic member, said annular-shaped magnet including a centrally located electrically conductive boss for attachment to said electrical cable.

3. A quick disconnect connector in accordance with claim 2 wherein said insulting flap is resilient whereby said flap will resile to a position closer to said battery terminal when said member and adapter are disengaged from said electrical conduction.