Battery terminal connector

• US 6,764,353 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2002
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Royal Die & Stamping Co., Inc. (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Freitag, Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Lynn
• Assistant Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US10/177,289
• Publication Number:
  US 20030236033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 439/522, 439/762, 439/763, 439/764, 439/765, 439/766, 439/907
• US Class Current: 439/763
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/287 Intermediate parts between battery post and cable end piece
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/184 comprising a U-shaped wire-receiving portion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/907 Contact having three contact surfaces, including diverse surface

Abstract

A battery terminal connector having a body portion. The body portion has a front end and a back end, and a first and a second ferrule. The second ferrule is secured to the front end of the body portion, and the first ferrule is connected to the back end of the body portion. The first ferrule is separated from the second ferrule by an angle of between approximately 150-180 degrees. A line passing through the axis of the first ferrule and second ferrule passes through the battery terminal post to which the terminal connector is attached.

Claims

1. A battery terminal connector for securement to the battery post of an automotive storage battery, said connector having a body portion, the body portion having a front end and a back end, and a first and a second ferrule, the second ferrule being secured to the front end of the body portion, wherein said connector further includes an anti-rotation element including a generally linear lower flange that abuts against a side wall of the case of an automotive storage battery to which the connector is secured.

2. The battery terminal connector of claim 1, wherein the first ferrule is connected to the back end of the body portion.

3. The battery terminal connector of claim 2, wherein the first ferrule is separated from the second ferrule by an angle of approximately 180 degrees.

4. The battery terminal connector of claim 2, wherein the first ferrule is separated from the second ferrule by an angle of between approximately 150-180 degrees.

5. The battery terminal connector of claim 3, wherein a line passing through the first ferrule and the second ferrule define an axis, and wherein a line passing through the axis of the first ferrule and second ferrule passes through the battery terminal post to which the terminal connector is attached.

6. The battery terminal connector of claim 1, wherein the battery terminal connector is stamped of copper.

7. The battery terminal connector of claim 1, wherein the battery terminal connector is made of one piece.

8. The battery terminal connector of claim 6, wherein the battery terminal connector is made of one piece.

9. The battery terminal connector of claim 1, wherein the connector includes an auxiliary threaded rod-type terminal.

10. The battery terminal connector of claim 1, further including a tightening nut that may be accessed on either the right or left of the connector.

11. In a battery terminal connector having a front end and a back end, and further having a body portion folded from a single sheet of metal, the body portion including a contacting portion for engaging a battery terminal post and a first ferrule portion for attachment to a battery cable;

the contacting portion including a first side and an opposed second side;

a set of slotted openings formed within the first and second sides and asymmetrically aligned across from each other; and

end tab portions extending from a distal edge of each of the first and second sides and adapted for overlapping and receiving a fastening means for clamping the contacting portion to the terminal post of a battery, a second ferrule portion extending from the front end of said connector, wherein said connector further includes an anti-rotation element including a generally linear lower flange that abuts against a side wall of the case of an automotive storage battery to which the connector is secured.

12. A battery terminal connector having a front and a back end, and further having:

a body portion formed from a single sheet of metal, comprising a contacting portion for attachment to a terminal post of a buttery and a first ferrule portion adapted for receiving a battery cable;

the contacting portion including a base and a first and a second side disposed to a connecting portion, the sides adapted to receive the terminal post of the battery; and

the sides further including extending end tab portions the end tabs adapted for securing the sides into contact engagement with the terminal post of a battery;

a second ferrule portion extending from the front end of said connector;

and wherein said connector further includes an anti-rotation element including a generally linear lower flange that abuts against a side wall of the case of an automotive storage battery to which the connector is secured.

13. The battery terminal connector of claim 12 wherein each of the first and second aides include apertures for engagement with the terminal post of the battery.

14. The battery terminal connector of claim 12 wherein the end tabs are further adapted for overlapping relationship to one another and for receiving a fastener means for securing the sides into contact engagement with the terminal post of the battery.

15. The battery terminal connector of claim 14, wherein said battery terminal connector includes an upper flange.

16. The battery terminal connector of claim 15, wherein said upper flange includes an essentially continuous linear, shaped ridge.

17. The battery terminal connector of claim 15, wherein said upper flange has a generally circular configuration.