AU9726298A - Battery terminal clamp - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: BATTERY TERMINAL CLAMP The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: GH REF: P50648D/DCW 2 FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a clamping device for use in a battery terminal clamp.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Battery terminal clamps typically comprise a substantially circular clamp which is capable of receiving a battery terminal, a battery terminal clamp bolt and associated nut and an electrical attachment portion. The battery terminal clamp is usually positioned over the battery terminal and clamped relative thereto by threading a nut onto the threaded end of the battery terminal clamp bolt and tightening the nut against one of the ends of the battery terminal clamp to result in both ends of the battery terminal clamp being forced together over the shaft of the battery terminal clamp bolt.

Because of the method by which battery terminal clamps are typically clamped with respect to the associated battery terminal it is necessary to have a spanner or some similar tool to enable the battery terminal clamp to be unclamped for removal from the battery terminal. There are presently available a number of alternative quick release battery terminal clamps which obviate the need for the aforementioned spanner or similar tool. However, such quick release battery terminal clamps appear to introduce problems in terms of durability.

It is therefore preferable to provide an alternative form of quick release battery terminal clamp which is both of simple construction and durable. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide a modified bolt and nut which can be used in association with a standard battery terminal clamp to enable the standard battery terminal clamp to be converted to a quick release battery terminal clamp.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a device for clamping a horseshoe clamp comprising an elongate member which is arranged to be inserted through the holes of a horseshoe S:50648D/704 3 clamp with its distal end having a retaining member against which one arm of the horseshoe clamp is arranged to abut, a clamping member which has a lever pivotally attached and located at a proximal end of the elongate member and locating means for locating the clamping member against another arm of the horseshoe clamp with the lever in a first position such that movement of the lever to a second position results in the distance between arms of the horseshoe clamp being reduced.

The retaining member may be a retaining portion of the distal end of the elongate member.

It is preferred that upon rotation of the lever from the first position to the second position the necessary rotational force required to rotate the lever passes through a maximum.

Preferably the maximum rotational force corresponds with a minimum distance between the arms of the horseshoe clamp.

It is preferred that the rotational movement of the lever from the first position to a maximum compression position, the distance between the arms of the horseshoe clamp at the maximum compression position being a minimum, is substantially greater than the rotational movement of the lever from the maximum compression position to the second position.

Preferably the distance between the clamping member and retaining member of the clamp, when the lever is in the second position is only marginally greater than the distance between the clamping member and retaining member of the clamp when the lever is in the maximum compression position.

Preferably the clamp opens resiliently when its ends are being forced between positions corresponding to the first and second positions of the lever.

It is preferred that the lever of the clamping member is prevented from rotating past the second position when rotated in a direction from the first position to the second position.

S:50648D/704 4 It is preferred that a surface of the lever contacts a surface of one of the arms of the clamp when the lever is rotated to the second position.

Preferably the clamping member is forced toward the retaining member.

The locating means may be integrally formed with the clamping member, the locating means having a thread for threadingly receiving a corresponding thread of the proximal end of the elongate member wherein location is provided by threading the clamping member onto the proximal end of the elongate member until the clamping member contacts the other arm of the clamp.

Alternatively, the locating means may comprise a clip which clamps around the clamping member end of the elongate member to prevent the clamping member moving longitudinally with respect to the elongate member away from the other arm of the clamp.

In a further alternative embodiment the locating means comprises a pin which passes through holes in both the clamping member and the clamping member end of the elongate member to prevent the clamping member moving longitudinally with respect to the elongate member.

The clamping member end of the elongate member may contain one or more grooves which enable the clip to be located longitudinally relative to the elongate member.

Alternatively the clamping member end of the elongate member may contain one or more holes which pass through the clamping member end of the elongate member substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the elongate member and are suitable for receiving the pin.

The clamping member may be located at the distal end of the elongate member wherein the clamping member pivotably attaches to the retaining member by at least partially enclosing the retaining member.

The clamping member may have opposed arms for receipt therebetween of the retaining member.

It is preferred that the lever provides an arcuate S:50648D/704 I I 5 extension which increasingly depresses against the one arm or other arm of the clamp in a direction which is towards the other arm or one arm respectively of the clamp as the lever is rotated from the first position to the second position such that the one arm and other arm of the clamp are forced toward each other.

Location of the retaining member at the distal end of the elongate member may be achieved by attaching the retaining member thereto.

The retaining member may be permanently attached to the distal end of the elongate member wherein the retaining member is an end portion of the elongate member.

The retaining member and distal end of the elongate member may have mating threads such that attachment of the retaining member to the distal end of the elongate member may be achieved by threading the retaining member onto the distal end of the elongate member.

Preferably the device is adaptable for use in a battery terminal clamp which has a bolt wherein the clamping member is retrofittable to an end of the bolt which corresponds to either the proximal or distal end of the elongate member.

It is preferred that a clamping force exerted by the clamp on a corresponding battery terminal is a maximum when the lever is in the maximum compression position.

In the claims which follow and the preceding summary of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprising" is used in the sense of "including"; that is, the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective assembly drawing of the S:50648D/704 6 device according to the present invention in an unlocked position along with a battery terminal clamp and associated bolt; Figure 2 is a perspective drawing of the device according to the present invention in a maximum compression position as assembled with the bolt of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a front view of the assembled components of Figure 1 wherein the device according to the present invention is in the maximum compression position; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 wherein the device according to the present invention is in a locked position; Figure 5 is a plan view of the device according to Figure 3; and Figures 6 and 7 are views similar to Figures 3 and respectively wherein the lever is in the unlocked position; Figure 8 is a perspective assembly drawing corresponding to that of Figure 1 of an alternative device; and Figure 9 is a front view corresponding to that of Figure 6 of the alternative device.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION By referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2 it can be seen that a clamping device 10 of the present invention typically comprises a nut 12 and lever 14 which is pivotally attached to the nut 12. The clamping device can be used to clamp a battery terminal clamp 16 about a battery terminal (not shown) by following the below sequence pass a bolt 18 through holes 20 and 22 of the clamp 16 until a surface 24 of the bolt 18 meets an outside surface (not shown) of a first end 26 of the battery terminal clamp 16; thread the nut 12 of the clamping device 10 onto an end 28 of the bolt 18 (an internal thread of the nut 12 and external thread of the bolt 18 are not shown) S:50648D/704 7 until a lower surface of the nut 12 contacts an upper surface 30 of a second end 32 of the battery terminal clamp 16; move the lever 14 from an unlocked position as shown in Figure 1 to a locked position as shown in Figure 4.

As the lever 14 is moved from the unlocked to the locked position, arcuate surfaces 34 and 36 of the lever 14 increasingly depress against the upper surface 30 of the battery terminal clamp 16 which forces the first end 26 and second end 32 of the battery terminal clamp 16 towards each other over the shaft 38 of the bolt 18.

This is because rotation of the lever 14 toward the locked position results in contact points between the arcuate surfaces 34 and 36 and the upper surface moving further below axes of pivots 42 and 44 of Figure as shown in Figure 3 such that the upper surface 30 is forced away from, a lower surface 40 of the nut 12.

Figure 3 shows the maximum depression of the upper surface 30 of the battery terminal clamp 16 with respect to the lower surface 40 of the nut 12 as the lever 14 approaches the locked position. The lowermost surface of the arcuate surfaces 34 and 36 (see Figure 1) as shown in Figure 3 are directly below axes of pivots 42 and 44 of Figure 5 by a distance of 5.5mm wherein the centre of curvature of the aforementioned arcuate surfaces coincides with the aforementioned axes of the pivots 42 and 44.

Continued rotation, in the same direction, of the lever 14 from a position of Figure 3 to the locked position of Figure 4 results in the depression of the upper surface 30 with respect to the lower surface (see Figure 4) decreasing marginally which in turn results in the distance between the first end 26 and second end 32 of the battery terminal clamp 16 increasing marginally. Because an inside surface 45 (see Figures 3 and 4) of the battery terminal clamp 16 is fixed relative to a battery terminal (not shown) the length of the S:50648D/704 8 battery terminal clamp increases and decreases as the distance between the first end 26 and second end 32 of the battery terminal clamp 16 decreases and increases respectively as the lever 14 is rotated from the locked position of Figure 4 to that of Figure 3 and back to the locked position of Figure 4. The material from which the battery terminal clamp 16 is produced is such that the battery terminal clamp 16 extends elastically in moving from the locked position of Figure 4 to that of Figure 3.

Furthermore, the material of the clamp 16 is such that the clamp 16 increasingly resists the elastic extension which occurs in moving from the locked position of Figure 4 to that of Figure 3. As a result, the clamping force required to hold the first end 26 and second end 32 of the clamp 16 in the position of Figure 3 is marginally greater than the clamping force required to hold the ends of the clamp 16 in the locked position of Figure 4.

Because the clamping force which is required to be exerted by the lever 14 is marginally less in the locked position of Figure 4 than the position of Figure 3, rotation of the lever 14 from the locked position of Figure 4 toward the position of Figure 3 is impeded due to the fact that the required clamping force increases with such rotation of the lever 14. Furthermore, contact between a lower surface 47 of the lever 14 and the upper surface 30 of the clamp 16 prevents the lever 14 rotating past the locked position of Figure 4 when rotating the lever 14 from the position of Figure 3 to the locked position of Figure 4. The lever 14 therefore remains in the locked position of Figure 4 unless it is rotated through the position of Figure 3. Such an overcentring mechanism prevents the lever 14 moving unaided from the locked position of Figure 4.

A cut-away portion 46 (see Figures 1, 2 and 5) of the lever 14 enables the lever 14 to move from the unlocked position as shown in Figure 1 to the locked position as shown in Figure 4 unimpeded by the end 28 of the bolt 18. The cut away portion 46 comprises S:50648D/704 -9substantially parallel sides 48 and 50 which are substantially parallel with edges 52 and 54 of the lever 14 as shown in Figure 5. The substantially parallel sides 48 and 50 extend for a distance of 7mm to the left of the axes of the pivots 42 and 44 as shown in Figure T-he parallel sides 48 and 50 are joined by a semicircular arc with a radius of 4.5mm whose centre of curvature is 7mm to the left of the axes of the pivots 42 and 44 as shown in Figure By referring to Figures 5 and 6 it can be seen that the end 56 of the lever 14 is flush with the bottom surface 40 of the nut 12 when the lever 14 is in the unlocked position as shown in Figures 6 and 7. It should be noted that in Figure 6 the nut 12 is only partially threaded onto the shaft 38 of the bolt 18 such that the lower surface 40 of the nut 12 is not contacting the upper surface 30 of the clamp 16.

To unclamp the battery terminal clamp 16 from the battery terminal (not shown) the lever 14 is rotated from the locked position as shown in Figure 4 to the unlocked position as shown in Figures 1, 6 and 7 enabling the battery terminal clamp 16 to be removed from the battery terminal (not shown) Referring to Figures 8 and 9, an alternative clamping device 60 comprises a clamping member in the form of a lever 62, elongate member in the form of a bolt 64 and a retaining member in the form of a nut 66. The lever 62 is pivotally attached to a head 68 of the bolt 64. External dimensions of the nut 66 are such that rotation of the nut 66 is not inhibited by a recess 69 which is formed at a lower, outer surface of one arm of the battery terminal clamp 16. That is, the nut 66 is freely rotatable along a shank of the bolt 64 when an inside surface 71 of the nut 66 is proximal an outer surface 73 of the arm 75. With the lever 62 in a position corresponding to that of Figure 9, the nut 66 can be threaded along the bolt 64 toward the bolt head 68 and lever 62 until surfaces 70 of the lever 62 and bolt S:50648D/704

I

10 head 68 contact an outer surface 72 of another arm 77 of the battery terminal clamp. Because, in contrast to the clamping device of Figures 1-7, the locating means provided in the form of the nut 66 is positioned at an end of the bolt 64 opposite that which is attached to the lever 62, the nut 66 can be adjusted to appropriately locate surfaces 70 of the lever 62 and bolt head 68 against the outer surface 72 of the battery terminal clamp with the lever 62 rotatably orientatable relative to the battery terminal clamp such that movement from the unlocked position to the locked position can be effected in any desired orientation.

S:50648D/01704

Claims (14)

1. A device for clamping a horseshoe clamp comprising an elongate member which is arranged to be inserted through the holes of a horseshoe clamp with its distal end having a retaining member against which one arm of the horseshoe clamp is arranged to abut, a clamping member which has a lever pivotally attached and located at a proximal end of the elongate member and locating means for locating the clamping member against another arm of the horseshoe clamp with the lever in a first position such that movement of the lever to .a second position results in the distance between arms of the horseshoe clamp being reduced.

2. A device for clamping a horseshoe clamp comprising an elongate member which is arranged to be inserted through the holes of a horseshoe clamp with its distal end having a retaining member against which one arm of the horseshoe clamp is arranged to abut, a clamping member which has a lever pivotally attached to the retaining member by at least partially enclosing the retaining member and locating means located at a proximal end of the elongate member for locating the clamping member against another arm of the horseshoe clamp with the lever in the first position such that movement of the lever to a second position results in the distance between arms of the horseshoe clamp being reduced.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the retaining member is a retaining portion of the distal end of the elongate member.

4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein upon rotation of the lever from the first position to the second position the necessary rotational force required to rotate the lever passes through a maximum.

5. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the maximum rotational force corresponds with a minimum distance between the arms of the horseshoe clamp. S:50648D/704 12

6. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the rotational movement of the lever from the first position to a maximum compression position wherein the distance between the arms of the horseshoe clamp at the maximum compression position is a minimum, is substantially greater than the rotational movement of the lever from the maximum compression position to the second position.

7. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the clamp opens resiliently when its ends are being forced between positions corresponding to the first and second positions of the lever.

8. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein a surface of the lever contacts a surface of one of the arms of the clamp when the lever is rotated to the second position.

9. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locating means is integrally formed with the clamping member, the locating means having a thread for threadingly receiving a corresponding thread of the proximal end of the elongate member wherein location is provided by threading the clamping member onto the proximal end of the elongate member until the clamping member contacts the other arm of the clamp.

10. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the clamping member has opposed arms for receipt therebetween of the retaining member.

11. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1-10 wherein the lever provides an arcuate extension which increasingly depresses against the one arm or other arm of the clamp in a direction which is towards the other arm or one arm respectively of the clamp as the lever is rotated from the first position to the second position such that the one arm and other arm of the clamp are forced toward each other.

12. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1-11 wherein the retaining member is permanently attached to the distal end of the elongate member wherein the S:50648D/704 13 retaining member is an end portion of the elongate member.

13. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1-12 wherein the device is adaptable for use in a battery terminal clamp which has a bolt wherein the clamping member is retrofittable to an end of the bolt which corresponds to either the proximal or distal end of the elongate member.

14. A device as claimed in claim 13 wherein a clamping force exerted by the clamp on a corresponding battery terminal is a maximum when the lever is in the maximum compression position. S:50648D/704