Terminal cover with hinge

• US 7,361,841 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2005
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yazaki North America Incorporated (Yazaki Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yazaki North America Incorporated (Yazaki Corporation)
• Inventors: Takahashi, Takeshi, Smolen, Eric Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Estrada; Angel R.
• Application Number:
  US11/159,716
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/53, 174/57, 174/58, 174/66, 174/67, 174/135, 174/138.F, 174/137.R, 174/188, 439/535, 439/536, 439/522, 439/904, 439/763, 439/521, 439/202, 439/76.1, 439/76.2, 429/65, 220/3.2, 220/3.3, 220/3.8, 220/4.02, 220/241, 220/242
• US Class Current: 174/138.00F
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/284 comprising means for preventing corrosion, e.g. covers, enclosures filled with gel
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/447 Shutter or cover plate
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/506 assembled by snap action of the parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/621 Bolt, set screw or screw clamp
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/70 Insulation of connections end caps H01R4/22

Abstract

A bussed electrical center (BEC) has a lateral appendage for a positive battery terminal to be used for jump starting purposes. A cover for the terminal is hingedly attached to the lateral appendage of the BEC by way of a relatively rotatable axle and bearing combination as well as facially abutting complemental locking surfaces each having alternatively raised and unraised sectors which interfit in each of two locking positions 180 degrees apart so that the cover can be locked fully open or fully closed.

Claims

1. A hinge lock comprising:

a stator structure including two oppositely facing, coaxial lock forming surfaces, each surface having alternating axially raised and non-raised sectors formed thereon;

a rotor structure including two oppositely facing coaxial lock forming surfaces, each surface having alternating axially raised and non-raised sectors which are complemental to the sectors of said rotor structure; and

a bearing structure for resiliently mounting the stator and rotor structures such that the sectors are in facially abutting relationship whereby rotation of the rotor relative to the stator causes the sectors to assume a complemental locking relationship in at least one angular position.

2. The hinge lock defined in claim 1, wherein the stator surfaces are oppositely outwardly facing and the rotor surfaces are oppositely inwardly facing.

3. The hinge lock defined in claim 2, wherein the bearing structure comprises an axle shaft extending between and joined to the stator surfaces, and the rotor structure includes a semi-cylindrical hinge disposed between the space from the rotor surfaces and bearing against said axle shaft.

4. The hinge lock defined in claim 1, wherein the sectors of the stator structure are essentially joined at the center points thereof.

5. A hinge lock defined in claim 1, wherein the sectors of the rotor structure define a gap between the center points thereof.

6. A rigid container for an electrical terminal element and a cover member mounted on the rigid container for rotation between at least one open position and a closed position;

a hinge lock comprising two oppositely outwardly facing coaxial surfaces formed on said rigid container, each surface having alternately axially raised and non-raised sectors formed thereon;

a rotor structure integral with said cover including two oppositely inwardly facing coaxial surfaces, each surface having alternating axially raised and non-raised sectors formed thereon;

the sectors of said rigid container being complemental to the sectors of said cover; and

a bearing structure for mounting the cover on the container such that the complemental lock forming surfaces are in facially abutting relationship whereby relative rotation of the cover and the container causes the sectors to assume a complemental locking relationship in at least one open position.

7. The structure defined in claim 6, wherein the bearing structure comprises an axle shaft extending between and joined to the coaxial surfaces of the cover and a semi-cylindrical hinge disposed between the space from the oppositely facing lock forming structures of the cover and bearing against the axle shaft.