Battery terminal post clamp adapted for connection to an externa

Details Battery terminal post clamp adapted for connection to an externa Battery terminal post clamp adapted for connection to an externa

1991-06-20

1993-12-14

Bradley, Paula A.

Electrical connectors

Metallic clamp-type connector for storage battery terminal

Clamping lever, cam, or wedge

439522, 439773, H01R 450

Patent

active

052697096

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention concerns a battery terminal post clamp including a metallic quick coupling device for its connection to a battery terminal post and an operating means for operating the quick coupling device.
Battery terminal post clamps of this general kind are described in a. o. U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,930,722, 2,185,419, 2,257,013, 3,324,266 and SE-A-129 178.
Another example of such a battery terminal post clamp is described in European Patent EP-B-0 027 438 and corresponding Swedish and patents SE-C-7908486-9 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,796, respectively. The battery terminal post clamp of these patents includes a first substantially U-shaped part having a bottom portion and parallel legs extending therefrom, and a second likewise substantially U-shaped part having a bottom portion and parallel legs extending therefrom. The bottom portions of the two parts are complementary shaped so as to substantially conform to the shape of a battery terminal post in the operative position of the clamp, while the legs of the two parts are mutually parallel. The two parts are adapted to be displaced relative to each other to and from the operative position by means of an overcenter device connected to the two parts. The overcenter device includes a substantially U-shaped operating lever, by means of which the two parts are displaced relative to each other in order to make the clamp engage or disengage a battery terminal post.
Not only the two parts but also the operating lever are manufactured of metal. In order to protect a user against electric shocks and also to avoid inadvertent short circuits caused by e.g. dropped metallic tools, the operating lever, in a commercial embodiment this known battery terminal post clamp, is accomodated in a shell-like casing of insulating material, such as a molded synthetic resin. In the operative, closed position of the battery terminal post clamp, this casing, serving also as a handle for the lever, covers not only the operating lever, but also the two parts engaging a battery terminal post and portions thereof connected to an electric cable. The casing is rigidly attached to the operating lever such that movement of the casing is positively transferred to the operating lever.
In some instances, such as a low voltage condition in the battery to which the battery terminal post clamp is connected, or, in another, external battery, there is a need to temporarily connect a second cable (a so called starting-cable) to each of the battery terminal posts in order to connect them to the respective poles of an outer electric source, or, the terminal posts of the external battery, respectively. This may be the case when attempts to start the motor of a motor vehicle fail due to a low voltage condition in the battery of the vehicle.
In order to connect a second cable to the known battery terminal post clamp having a casing as described, or , to the battery terminal post to which it is connected, it is necessary to disengage the clamp by raising the casing and the lever attached thereto to make a metallic part of the clamp, or, the battery terminal post itself accessible. Apart from the work involved, such disengagement may cause serious damage to the electrical circuit of a motor vehicle if the electrical connection is interrupted, particularly in cases where such circuitry includes an alternating current generator, and the motor of the vehicle driving the generator is running.
Also the battery terminal post clamps described in the patents initially cited include metallic battery terminal post engaging parts as well as metallic operating levers or other operating means for engaging and disengaging the clamps. If these known battery terminal post clamps were provided with insulating handle means as described above they too would suffer from the same disadvantages.
Consequently, there is a need for a battery terminal post clamp enabling electrical connection of a second cable to a battery terminal post without disengaging the clamp.
The object of the present invention, thus, is to provide a battery

REFERENCES:
patent: 1930772 (1931-11-01), Richter et al.
patent: 2185419 (1939-07-01), Packard
patent: 2257013 (1941-04-01), Johnson
patent: 3324266 (1965-04-01), Evans
patent: 3568139 (1971-03-01), Delzer
patent: 3973820 (1976-08-01), Benson
patent: 4758188 (1988-07-01), Yates

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