Hand lever battery terminal connector

• US 7,189,122 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2005
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• 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): Gilman; Alexander
• Application Number:
  US11/073,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20060199442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 439/773, 439759-765, 439/761, 439/762
• US Class Current: 439/773
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/282 comprising means for facilitating engagement or disengagement, e.g. quick release terminal

Abstract

A battery terminal connector, especially for securement to the battery terminal post of an electrical storage battery. The battery terminal connector includes at least a body portion, a generally circular opening within that body portion for receiving the battery terminal post, and a horizontal bar extending transversely along the body portion. The connector further includes a movable lever for effecting two-way lateral movement of that horizontal bar. Lateral movement of the horizontal bar in one direction effects the opening of the generally circular opening, and lateral movement of the horizontal bar in a second direction effects the closing of the generally circular opening.

Claims

1. A battery terminal connector for securement to the battery terminal post of an electrical storage battery, the battery terminal connector including at least:

a body portion, the body portion having at least an outer wall, an inner wall, and a generally circular opening for receiving the battery terminal post;

the battery terminal connector further comprising a horizontal bar extending through the body portion, said horizontal bar having a head generally perpendicular to the main axis of the horizontal bar;

the horizontal bar extending through both the outer and inner walls; and

a movable lever, a portion of that lever extending through the horizontal bar, for effecting two-way linear movement of that horizontal bar, and wherein the lever includes a cam, the cam being contained within the confines of the body portion.

2. The battery terminal connector of claim 1, wherein the generally perpendicular head abuts against the outer wall of the body portion.

3. The battery terminal connector of claim 1, wherein the cam abuts against the perimeter of an orifice in that horizontal bar.

4. The battery terminal connector of claim 1, wherein the lever is movable from a first position in which the generally circular opening of the battery terminal connector tightly grips the battery terminal post, to a second position in which the generally circular opening of the battery terminal connector is spaced a relatively small distance away from the battery terminal post, to a third position in which the battery terminal connector is spaced a relatively greater distance away from the battery terminal post.

5. The battery terminal connector of claim 1, wherein the lever includes an insulating cover.

6. A battery terminal connector, including at least:

a body portion;

a generally circular opening within that body portion for receiving the battery terminal post;

a generally horizontal bar extending transversely along the body portion;

a movable lever for effecting two-way linear movement of that generally horizontal bar, wherein the lever includes a cam, the cam being contained within the confines of the body portion, the movable lever being movable in a plane substantially parallel with the horizontal bar, wherein lateral movement of the generally horizontal bar in one direction effects the opening of the generally circular opening, and wherein lateral movement of the generally horizontal bar in a second direction effects the closing of the generally circular opening.

7. The battery terminal connector of claim 6, wherein the cam abuts against the generally horizontal bar to effect that lateral movement.

8. The battery terminal connector of claim 6, wherein the body portion further comprises an outer wall, and wherein the generally horizontal bar further includes a generally perpendicular head that abuts against the outer wall of the body portion.

9. The battery terminal connector of claim 6, wherein the lever is movable from a first position in which the generally circular opening of the battery terminal connector tightly grips a battery terminal post, to a second position in which the generally circular opening of the battery terminal connector is spaced a relatively small distance away from that battery terminal post, to a third position in which the battery terminal connector is spaced a relatively large distance away from that battery terminal post.

10. The battery terminal connector of claim 6, wherein the lever includes an insulating cover.

11. The battery terminal connector of claim 6, wherein the generally perpendicular head is adjacent a lateral end of the generally horizontal bar.

12. The battery terminal connector of claim 11, wherein the generally perpendicular head includes a sloped top portion.

13. The battery terminal connector of claim 12, wherein the sloped top portion serves as a ramping surface.

14. The battery terminal connector of claim 12, wherein the head includes an indentation.

15. The battery terminal connector of claim 14, wherein the lever includes a curled end for locking interengagement with the indentation.