Battery cable clamp

• US 7,351,119 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Angus Bryden Mac Donald
• Original Assignee: Angus Bryden Mac Donald
• Inventors: Mac Donald, Angus Bryden
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, HIEN D
• Application Number:
  US10/858,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20050250390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,399 Days
• Field of Search: 439/759, 439/756, 439/772, 439/773, 439/774, 439/754, 439/816, 439/817
• US Class Current: 439/759
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/256 Carrying devices, e.g. belts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/543 Terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/281 for connections to batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/282 comprising means for facilitating engagement or disengagement, e.g. quick release terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

This invention is an improved battery booster cable and clamp apparatus that operates in conjunction with a two piece split electrically conductive housing that is adapted to allow a battery terminal to reside therein, the two pieces of the housing being slid into or away from gripping contact with the terminal along a connecting base plate by utilizing a spring energized buckle or clamp assembly.

Claims

1. A battery cable clamp that can be placed on a battery contact of a battery comprising:

a main body portion defining a battery contact receiving opening therein, the main body portion having a plurality of securing openings on a bottom surface thereof;

a sliding plate connected to the bottom surface of the main body portion, the sliding plate defining a battery contact receiving opening therein which corresponds substantially with the battery contact receiving opening in the main body portion, wherein the openings co-operatively enable the main body portion and the sliding plate to receive the battery contact of the battery, and wherein the sliding plate possesses a first set of securing openings defined therein which enable a first rivet to be passed therethrough to rigidly connect the sliding plate to the main body portion, and a second set of elongated securing openings defined therein which enable a second rivet to be passed therethrough to movably attach the sliding plate to the main body portion;

a handle which is pivotally connected to an upper surface of the main body portion; and

a clamping member having a distal and proximal end, the distal end of the clamping member being engaged with a front portion of the main body portion, and the proximal end of the clamping member being engaged with the handle, wherein when the handle is moved from an open position to a closed position the clamping member is biased downwardly in relation to the main body portion by the handle assuming the closed position, and the second securing means are operably able to slide withing the second set of elongated openings on the sliding plate and thus permit restricted movement of the sliding plate in relation to the main body portion so as to bring the battery cable clamp into tight connection with the battery contact of the battery wherein the handle is connected to an attachment block, the handle being pivotally connected to the attachment block;

wherein the attachment block is positioned on the upper surface of the main body portion.

2. The battery cable clamp of claim 1, wherein the battery contact receiving opening of the sliding plate is slightly larger in diameter than a diameter of the battery contact receiving opening of the main body portion so as to permit attachment of the battery cable clamp to accommodate dimensional variations in battery contacts.

3. The battery cable clamp of claim 1, wherein the first set of securing openings positioned at an upper end of the sliding plate and the second set of elongated openings are positioned towards a rear end of the sliding plate.

4. The battery cable clamp of claim 1, wherein the first and second rivets are passed through the first and second securing openings in the sliding plate and the plurality of securing openings in the main body portion to connect the sliding plate and the main body portion to each other.

5. The battery cable clamp of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the clamping member is engaged with an upwardly extending shoulder area formed on the front portion of the main body portion.

6. The battery cable clamp of claim 1, wherein an interior of the attachment block is substantially hollow.

7. The battery cable clamp of claim 6, wherein a tension spring is positioned within the interior of the attachment block, and underneath an end portion of the handle.

8. The battery cable clamp of claim 7, wherein the tension spring further comprises a first end having an opening defined therein, and a second end which is angled upwardly in relation to the first end, the second end being positioned underneath the end portion of the handle, and said tension spring is secured to the upper surface of the main body portion by inserting a securing member through the opening of the first end of the tension spring into the upper surface of the main body portion, whereby, when the handle is moved from the open position to the closed position the end portion of the handle engages the angled second end of the tension spring, creating a tension force as the end portion of the handle biases the angled second end of the tension spring downwardly towards an upper surface of the main body portion, the tension force locking the battery cable clamp into the tight connection with the battery contact of the battery as the handle assumes the closed position.

9. The battery cable clamp of claim 1, wherein a rear end of the main body portion receives a battery cable, the battery cable being secured to the main body portion of the battery cable clamp by a screw or rivet which is passed through an opening in the upper surface of the rear end of the main body portion to engagingly secure the battery clamp to the battery cable.

10. A battery cable clamp that can be placed on a battery contact of a battery comprising:

a main body portion defining a battery contact receiving opening therein at one end and a battery cable receiving opening for attachment to a battery cable at an opposite end, the main body portion having a plurality of securing openings on a bottom surface thereof;

a sliding plate connected to the bottom surface of the main body portion, the sliding plate defining a battery contact receiving opening therein which corresponds substantially with the battery contact receiving opening in the main body portion, the battery contact receiving opening of the sliding plate being slightly larger in diameter than a diameter of the battery contact receiving opening of the main body portion, wherein the battery contact openings co-operatively enable the main body portion and the sliding plate to receive the battery contact of the battery, and wherein the sliding plate possesses a first set of securing openings defined therein which enable a first securing means to be passed therethrough to rigidly connect the sliding plate to the main body portion, and a second set of elongated securing openings defined therein which enable a second securing means to be passed therethrough to movably attach the sliding plate to the main body portion,

a handle assembly which comprises a handle connected to an attachment block, the handle being pivotally connected to the attachment block, the attachment block being positioned on the upper surface of the main body portion;

a tension spring positioned within the interior of the attachment block, and underneath an end portion of the handle, further comprising a first end having an opening defined therein, and a second end which is angled upwardly in relation to the first end, the second end being positioned underneath the end portion of the handle, whereby, when the handle is moved from the open position to the closed position the end portion of the handle engages the angled second end of the tension spring, creating a tension force as the end portion of the handle biases the angled second end of the tension spring downwardly towards an upper surface of the main body portion, the tension force locking the battery cable clamp into the tight connection with the battery contact of the battery as the handle assumes the closed position;

a clamping member having a distal and proximal end, the distal end of the clamping member being engaged with a front portion of the main body portion, and the proximal end of the clamping member being engaged with the handle assembly, wherein when the handle assembly is moved from an open position to a closed position the clamping member is biased downwardly in relation to the main body portion by the handle assembly assuming the closed position, and the second securing means are operably able to slide withing the second set of elongated openings on the sliding plate and thus permit restricted movement of the sliding plate in relation to the main body portion so as to bring the battery cable clamp into tight connection with the battery contact of the battery.