Battery clamp

• US 7,896,713 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2009
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Jensen, Robert, Opsahl, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; T C
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUONGCHI T
• Application Number:
  US12/394,978
• Publication Number:
  US 20100221961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 439/759, 439/799, 439/754, 439/716, 439/762, 439/773, 439/755
• US Class Current: 439/759
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/24 with gripping jaws, e.g. crocodile clip
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 11/281 for connections to batteries

Abstract

An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a battery clamp with a universal design for coupling to a vehicle battery with either a top-mounted terminal or a side-mounted terminal. The present invention includes a clamp body having a top portion and a bottom portion, a clamp axle coupling the top portion of the clamp body to the bottom portion of the clamp body, top terminal contacts positioned at the clamping end of each of the top portion and the bottom portion of the clamp body, and side terminal contacts positioned adjacent to the clamp axle.

Claims

1. A battery clamp for clamping to a vehicle battery, comprising:

a clamp body having a top portion and a bottom portion and each of the top portion and the bottom portion having a clamping end to clamp to the vehicle battery and a compression end;

a clamp axle connecting the top portion of the clamp body to the bottom portion of the clamp body;

a plurality of top terminal contacts positioned at the clamping end of each of the top portion and the bottom portion of the clamp body;

a toggle clamp connected to an end of the clamp axle; and

a plurality of side terminal contacts positioned at the clamp axle, wherein when the toggle clamp, when rotated, tightens the clamp axle onto a threaded side terminal of the battery and press the plurality of side terminal contacts onto a side terminal of the battery.

2. The battery clamp of claim 1, wherein the clamp axle is threaded at one end such that it mates with the threaded side terminal of the battery, such that the plurality of side terminal contacts are pressed to the side terminal of the battery.

3. The battery clamp of claim 1, wherein the toggle clamp is depressed to tighten the clamp axle onto the threaded side terminal of the battery and press the plurality of side terminal contacts onto the side terminal of the battery.

4. The battery clamp of claim 1, wherein the clamp axle comprises a rod extending from one side of the battery clamp and threaded such that it connects to the threaded side terminal of the battery with the compression of the clamp body such that the plurality of side terminal contacts are pressed to the side terminal of the battery.

5. The battery clamp of claim 1, wherein the top portion is received within the bottom portion.

6. The battery clamp of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion is received within the top portion.

7. The battery clamp of claim 1, wherein the compression end include a grip region.

8. The battery clamp of claim 7, wherein the grip region is made from an elastomeric material.

9. The battery clamp of claim 7, wherein the grip region includes ridges.

10. A battery clamp for clamping to a vehicle battery, comprising:

a clamping means having a top portion and a bottom portion and each of the top portion and the bottom portion having a clamping end to clamp to the vehicle battery and a compression end;

an axle means for connecting the top portion of the clamping means to the bottom portion of the clamping means;

a plurality of first contacting means positioned at the clamping end of each of the top portion and the bottom portion of the clamping means;

a toggle means is configured to be connected to an end of the axle means; and

a plurality of second contacting means positioned at the axel means, wherein the axel means is threaded at one end such that it can be coupled to a threaded side terminal of the battery, and the toggle means, when rotated, tightens the axle means onto the threaded side terminal of the battery and press the plurality of second contacting means onto the side terminal of the battery.

11. The battery clamp of claim 10, wherein the toggle means is depressed to tighten the axle means onto the threaded side terminal of the battery and press the plurality of second contacting means onto the side terminal of the battery.

12. The battery clamp of claim 10, wherein the axle means comprises a rod extending from one side of the battery clamp and threaded such that it connects to the threaded side terminal of the battery with the compression of the clamping means, such that the plurality of second contacting means are pressed to the side terminal of the battery.

13. The battery clamp of claim 10, wherein the top portion is received within the bottom portion.

14. The battery clamp of claim 10, wherein the bottom portion is received within the top portion.

15. The battery clamp of claim 10, wherein the compression end include a grip region.

16. The battery clamp of claim 15, wherein the grip region is made from an elastomeric material.

17. The battery clamp of claim 15, wherein the grip region includes ridges.

18. A method of clamping a battery clamp to a vehicle battery, comprising:

providing a clamp body having a top portion and a bottom portion connected together by a clamp axle and a plurality of side terminal contacts positioned at the sides of the clamp axle, wherein the clamp axle includes a clamping means, a pin connected to the clamping means at one end and is threaded at a second end;

positioning the clamp body next to a terminal of the vehicle battery to be charged;

clamping a plurality of contacts of the top portion and the bottom portion onto a top terminal of the battery, if it is a top terminal vehicle battery; and

rotating the clamping means in a first direction so that the threaded end of the pin mate mates with a threaded portion of a side terminal battery, if it is a side terminal battery and so that the plurality of side terminal contacts mates with the side terminal battery.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein clamping means is a toggle.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the clamping means is a knurled nut.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

unclamping the plurality of contacts of the top portion and the bottom portion from the top terminal of the battery.

22. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

rotating the clamping means in a second direction so that the threaded end of the pin releases from the threaded portion of the side terminal battery and the plurality of side terminal contacts releases from the side terminal battery.