Fastener for battery connector

• US 4,983,086 A
• Filed: 11/25/1988
• Issued: 01/08/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David L. Hatrock
• Original Assignee: David L. Hatrock
• Inventors: Hatrock, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Gary L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Redman, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US07/276,310
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 269/271, 269/273, 269/274, 269/277, 411/368, 411/369, 411/908, 411/432, 411/533, 411/371, 411/366, 411/427, 411/166, 411/176, 439/757, 439/758
• US Class Current: 411/259
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/282 comprising means for facilitating engagement or disengagement, e.g. quick release terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/42 Clamping area to one side of screw only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 411/908 Resinous material

Abstract

A manually manipulatable nut and bolt fastener for a battery terminal clamp provides an nut configured to engage one of the fingers of a typical bifurcated battery terminal clamp and a bolt engaging the other finger to move the fingers relatively responsive to nut-bolt motion. The nut-bolt combination is formed of flexibly resilient polymeric material to deform to accommodate axial and lateral repositioning and alignment of the bolt as the battery clamp fingers move relatively to each other. The fastener eliminates normal corrosion associated with metallic fasteners for battery terminal clamps.

Claims

1. A fastener for a "U" shaped bifurcated battery connector, having paired opposed fastening fingers each defining aligned bore holes to accept an elongate fastener therebetween, to connect that battery connector upon a battery terminal, comprising in combination;

an elongate bolt fastening member formed of semi-rigid, resilient non-metallic material that deforms to allow battery connector fingers carrying the bolt fastening member in the bores defined therein to move toward and away from each other without deforming the bores in said fingers, said bolt fastening member having

an enlarged head portion, with means to aid rotation thereof, structurally communicating with an axially aligned diametrically smaller medial medial shank portion of predetermined length, configured to fit through a bore defined in a first finger of the bifurcated battery connector, with a locking device releasably securable on the shank at a spaced distance from the head to prevent axial movement of the fastening member relative to the said first finger when the reduced portion is positioned within the bore of the first finger, and a forward threaded portion at the end opposite the head; and

a nut member, formed of semi-rigid resilient non-metallic material, defining a cavity bounded by a flange on one end and by a floor on the other end, said floor defining a threaded bore and said cavity configured to accept the end part of a second finger of a bifurcated battery terminal connector in mating relationship with said threaded bore aligned with a bore defined in the second finger to accept the threaded end portion of the bolt member is threaded engagement therethrough, the nut member formed with relief cuts in at least one corner and in the floor thereof to allow the nut member to fit upon the end part of a fastening finger of a battery connector defining a boss.