Electrical connectors – Metallic clamp-type connector for storage battery terminal
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-07
2001-05-08
Abrams, Neil (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Metallic clamp-type connector for storage battery terminal
C439S766000, C439S805000, C439S957000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227914
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to power distribution devices and more particularly to vehicle battery power distribution devices used in vehicle high fidelity sound systems with components of varying power necessities.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Sound systems in present day automotive vehicles are important options in the minds of vehicle owners. Before some buyers will purchase an automobile or other vehicle, they will investigate whether the sound system is modem and can produce the sound fidelity at a level acceptable to the purchaser. In many instances the sound system for a vehicle may include an AM/FM stereo radio, a cassette tape player, a CD player, along with high fidelity electronics and multiple speakers within the vehicle. While most sound and radio systems that accompany new cars are adequate for most purchasers, certain discriminating buyers desire a higher fidelity system including larger amplifiers to drive the bigger speakers necessary to accommodate the improved sound system desired. Many purchasers of third party sound systems for vehicles desire bigger and more powerful amplifiers and speakers so that the sound and fidelity level is higher than can be accomplished by the systems from the vehicle manufacturer and add an improved fidelity level. Bigger speakers and amplifiers of necessity will draw more power from the electrical system in the vehicle.
The wiring in an automobile or other vehicle is usually designed for normal current distribution for the sound system that accompanies a new vehicle from the factory. However, when larger amplifiers and speakers are desired and purchased for installation in the vehicle, many times the electrical power system must be upgraded so that the sound system will receive the electric current necessary to produce the sound at the increased level. Larger gauge wire is sometimes necessary to conduct the required current from the battery and generator in the vehicle to the electronics and speakers which comprise this upgraded sound system. In addition, certain vehicles may need increased generator and battery power if the sound system installed utilizes too much current and power from the existing vehicle supply.
In order to bypass the installed wiring in the vehicle, it is sometimes desirable to connect power wiring directly to the battery of the vehicle so as not to overload the existing wiring in the vehicle. The wiring, therefore, of the new power cable or cables to the battery is important so that good contact can be made with the battery terminal post, as well as having the power cable include a wire gauge sufficient to carry the necessary current for the installed sound system. U.S. Pat. No. 5,266,057, issued Nov. 30, 1993, assigned to the same assignee as the present application, and herein incorporated by reference, discloses a similar electronic power distributor as set forth in this application. The patent discloses a power distribution device, which is primarily designed for mounting on a vehicle battery, but which may be used in other applications where multiple gauges of wire are desired for distributing power. These other application would have mechanical interfaces which adapt to structure of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment the device of the present invention is shaped as a bilaterally truncated cylinder, like a hockey puck, and preferably constructed of brass. On the top surface of the patented electronic power distributor, there are a number of holes which extend into the base unit. These holes have a threaded portion for engaging with a power bolt. The side circular surface contains a number of holes which extend into the base unit and are positioned to perpendicularly intersect the holes which extend from the top surface. The holes on the side are capable of receiving strands of wire conductor or an adapter of other size conductors. The power puck of the patent contains a clear encasing to protect it from the outside environment. It would be desirable, however, to provide a more modem, improved operational battery connector block.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, an electrical connector block assembly is disclosed for distributing electric power from a power source, such as a vehicle battery to attached wire conductors of possible varying size gauge wires. The assembly includes a conductive base unit having a top and bottom surface and having a first opening in said base unit which extends through to the bottom surface, where the base unit is essentially fan shaped with extended portions radiating from the vertex of the base unit. A battery clamp portion is positioned in said conductive base unit in the first opening in said base unit where the battery clamp portion is positioned from the bottom surface of said base unit and extends out past the top surface of said base unit. A master ring assembly attaches to at least one of the extended portions of the base unit, where the master ring assembly is utilized to attach a wire conductor to the base unit. A master nut is provided for attachment to the portion of the battery clamp extending into the lower portion of said conductive base unit to maximize the contact of said battery clamp to the base unit. The battery clamp comprises a first portion including a tubular portion extending longitudinally from the middle of the length of the battery clamp and comprises an inner diameter which increasingly expands to an outer diameter along the axis of said battery clamp to accommodate the tapered post of a vehicle battery. The battery clamp also includes a second portion which extends longitudinally along the longitudinal axis of the battery clamp and includes inner threads which extend from the upper end partially into the upper portion of said battery clamp, and an outer threaded portion along the outer surface of said battery.
A master ring assembly comprises a tubular circular head member with a first portion having a first external diameter and a second portion with a second external diameter, where the second portion has an external threaded portion and includes a longitudinal axial opening through the master ring of a predetermined diameter, where the circular tubular member is adapted for manual or physical tightening movements thereon. Further, the master ring assembly includes a collet member which comprises a circular tubular portion with at least a first and second outer diameters wherein the first diameter is approximately the same as the diameter of the longitudinal axial opening in the master ring, the second diameter of a dimension to be positioned within one of said extended portions of said conductive base. The collet portion includes a longitudinal opening along the axis thereof to match that of a conductive wire cable to be connected to said electrical connector block assembly. The master nut comprises a tubular portion of the first diameter and a longitudinal axial opening defining said tubular portion where the tubular portion includes inner threads which extended least partially through said longitudinal axial opening.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4380291 (1983-04-01), Shannon
patent: 4405196 (1983-09-01), Fulton
patent: 4747793 (1988-05-01), Fakula et al.
patent: 5266057 (1993-11-01), Angel, Jr. et al.
Lee Kendrew
Martin Demian
Abrams Neil
Duverne J. F.
LaRiviere Grubman & Payne, LLP
Monster Cable Products, Inc.
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