Battery side-terminal adapter and Kelvin connector

• US 6,254,438 B1
• Filed: 10/21/1999
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Tools Company LLC (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Tools Company LLC (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gaunt, Bruce W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEBB, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US09/422,678
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 439/755, 439/759, 439/522, 439/175
• US Class Current: 439/755
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/06788 Hand-held or hand-manipulated probes, e.g. for oscilloscopes or for portable test instruments end pieces terminating in a probe H01R11/18
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/287 Intermediate parts between battery post and cable end piece
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/289 characterised by the shape or the structure of the battery post

Abstract

A battery connector (20) is provided that can be especially useful as a side-terminal adapter for use with a Kelvin connection. In one form, the connector comprises an insulator (70) sandwiched between an elongated first conductor (30) having a longitudinal axis and an elongated second conductor (50), wherein the first conductor and second conductor are slidably movable relative to each other. The first and second conductors respectively include first and second battery-terminal contact portions (38, 58) which are opposite each other and slidable relative to each other. A biasing member (48) biases the battery-terminal contact portions toward each other and a handle (90) is provided to exert a pressure against the bias to move the battery-terminal contact portions apart.

Claims

1. A battery terminal connector comprising:

(a) an elongated first member having a longitudinal axis;

(b) an electrically conductive first contact portion coupled to the first member proximate a first end of the first member;

(c) a second member coupled to the first member for non-pivotal movement with respect thereto;

(d) an electrically conductive second contact portion opposing the first contact portion and coupled to the second member, the second contact portion being non-pivotally movable toward and away from the first contact portion with the second member;

(e) the first and second contact portions cooperating to define an electrically-conductive terminal connector;

(f) a biasing member coupled to the first and second members and biasing the first and second contact portions toward each other, and

(g) an insulator electrically isolating the first contact portion from the second contact portion.

2. The battery terminal connector of claim 1, further comprising an electrically-conductive first clamp-connecting portion electrically coupled to at least one contact portion and engageable by a first jaw-type clamp jaw and disposed above a top of an associated battery when at least one contact portion is connected to a side terminal of the battery.

3. The battery terminal connector of claim 2, wherein the first clamp-connecting portion is electrically coupled to the first contact portion and the battery connector further comprises

an electrically-conductive second clamp-connecting portion electrically coupled to the second contact portion and engageable with a second jaw-type clamp jaw, the insulator electrically isolating the first contact portion and the first clamp-connecting portion from the second contact portion and the second clamp-connecting portion.

4. The battery terminal connector of claim 1, wherein the first member is a first electrically-conductive plate electrically coupled to the first contact portion and the second member is an elongated second electrically-conductive plate electrically coupled to the second contact portion.

5. The battery terminal connector of claim 4, wherein the first contact portion and the second contact portion are disposed substantially in a common plane.

6. The battery terminal connector of claim 4, further comprising a friction-reducing structure between the first member and the second member.

7. The battery terminal connector of claim 6, wherein the friction-reducing structure includes a raised portion of at least one of the first member and the second member.

8. The battery terminal connector of claim 4, wherein the insulator includes an elongated insulating panel coupled between the first member and the second member, the insulating panel having a longitudinal edge and an insulating sidewall coupled thereto.

9. The battery terminal connector of claim 1, wherein the second member is coupled to the first member for movement longitudinally thereof.

10. The battery terminal connector of claim 1, further comprising a handle coupled to the biasing member and structured to permit manual application of a force that moves the first and second contact portions away from each other, wherein the handle is located above a top of an associated battery when the terminal connector is connected to a side terminal.

11. A side-terminal adapter for use with a Kelvin connector, the side-terminal adapter comprising:

(a) an elongated first member having a longitudinal axis;

(b) an electrically-conductive side-terminal connector coupled at a first end of the first member, the side-terminal connector comprising an electrically-conductive first contact and an electrically-conductive second contact opposite the first contact;

(c) an electrically-conductive first clamp-connecting portion electrically coupled to the first contact and engageable by a first jaw-type clamp jaw and disposed above a top of an associated battery when the first contact engages a side terminal of the battery;

(d) an electrically-conductive second clamp-connecting portion electrically coupled to the second contact and engageable by a second jaw-type clamp jaw and disposed above the top of the associated battery when the second contact engages the side terminal of the battery; and

(e) an insulator electrically isolating the first clamp-connecting portion and the first contact from the second clamp-connecting portion and the second contact.

12. The side-terminal adapter of claim 11, wherein the first and second contacts are non-pivotally movable toward and away from each other.

13. The side-terminal adapter of claim 12, wherein the first contact and the second contact are disposed in a common plane.

14. The side-terminal adapter of claim 12, further comprising a second member coupled to the first member for movement longitudinally thereof, wherein the second terminal contact is coupled to the second member and movable toward and away from the first contact portion with the second member.

15. The side-terminal adapter of claim 14, further comprising a friction reducing structure defined by a raised portion of one of the first member, the second member and the insulator.

16. The side-terminal adapter of claim 14, wherein the insulator is coupled between the first member and the second member, the insulator including a longitudinal edge and a sidewall coupled thereto.

17. A battery terminal connector comprising:

(a) a conductor;

(b) a first electrically conductive contact coupled to the conductor and engageable with a first battery-terminal surface;

(c) a member coupled to the conductor for non-pivotal movement with respect thereto;

(d) a second electrically conductive contact coupled to the member and engageable with a second battery-terminal surface, wherein the second contact is movable toward and away from the first contact with the member;

(e) wherein at least one of the first and second contacts is electrically coupled to the conductor;

(f) a spring coupled to the conductor and the member and biasing the second contact in a first direction;

(g) a handle, coupled to the spring and structured to permit manual application of a force to move the second contact in a second direction opposite the first direction; and

(h) an insulator structured to electrically isolate the first contact from the second contact.

18. The battery connector of claim 17, wherein the first and second contacts are engageable with the first and second battery-terminal surfaces located on a single terminal.