GB1579720A - Carrying handle for electric storage batteries - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to create a carrying device which is suitable for lifting heavy accumulator batteries, a plastic carrying cord (3) is provided with a flattened plastic handle strip (1) which is extrusion coated non-detachably around the carrying cord. The plastic used for the cord (3) and handle strip (1) is preferably polypropylene. The flattened shape of the handle strip (1) allows it to be stowed in a recess (16) in the housing wall of the accumulator container (7), as a result of which the stacking capability of the accumulators is not adversely affected. The non-displaceable attachment of the flattened handle strip (1) to the cord (3) results in improved carrying properties and a reduced manufacturing cost. <IMAGE>

Description

N (54) CARRYING HANDLE FOR ELECTRIC STORAGE BATTERIES (71) We, VARTA BATTERIE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, a German company, of 3000 Hannover, Am Leineufer 51, Federal Republic of Germany do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to a carrying handle made of a synthetic resin especially suitable for electric storage batteries, particularly lead-acid starter batteries.

A wide variety of carrying handles and lifting devices for electric storage batteries are known to be used for the purpose of facilitating the carrying of batteries, for example in motorvehicle plant, workshops and charging stations.

Thus, for example, British Patent Specification No. 1 222 062 discloses a plaited carrying cord made of polypropylene the ends of which are accommodated in bores provided in the container cover in which they are securely sealed-in with a casting resin.

Another carrying cord which is also made of polypropylene and has thickened ends is disclosed in United States Patent Specification No. 3 797 876. The thickened ends are passed through two wide holes and two narrow holes provided in a specially-constructed gripping border at the edge of the box in such a way that the thickened ends lie above the narrow holes which are smaller in diameter than the ends and into which the carrying cord can be threaded through a lateral slot only.

The disadvantage which these known carrying cords have in common resides in their cutting into the palm of the hand carrying a battery which is generally very heavy. Attempts have been made to remove this disadvantage by fitting metal sleeves. However, these sleeves which are usually drawn over a carrying cord may easily be displaced sideways from a central position on the cord and thus impair the carrying properties of the cord. Moreover, the corrodibility of metal sleeves make it necessary for them to be coated with a synthetic resin.

It is an object of the invention to provide a carrying handle which can be produced at minimum cost, requires the minimum of space and is suitable for lifting heavy storage batteries.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a carrying handle, for attachment to an electric storage battery, the handle comprising a cord of a synthetic plastics material for attachment by means of its ends to the battery, and a flat-shaped hand grip of a synthetic plastics material undetachably connected to the cord intermediate its said ends by being injection-moulded around the cord. The flatness of the grip, which may be provided with rounded-off edges, permits it to be conveniently held by the hand. In a preferred construction of a battery provided with the handle, the handle has an additional advantage in that it can be lowered, for example, into a recess provided in the battery container when not in use so as to lie flush with the surface thereof. The carrying cord is preferably a plaited polypropylene cord, the grip being produced from polypropylene injection-moulded around the carrying cord.

An embodiment of the invention together with an apparatus used in its manufacture is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of a carrying handle according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an apparatus for producing the handle; and Figure 3 is a perspective view, partly in section and cut-away, of a battery container of a lead-acid starter battery provided with two carrying handles according to the invention, the figure showing only one such handle.

Referring now to the drawings, the grip 1 is flat with rounded edges and may have a length of, for example, 8 cm and a width of 0.5 cm.

The grip 1 is provided with recesses or closed slots 2 formed during the production of the grip when it is injection-moulded around the carrying cord 3. Both the grip 1 and cord 3 are made of polypropylene. Preferably, the cord is of plaited polypropylene. The grip is produced by means of an injection-moulding die consisting of two mould parts 5 and 6, Figure 2. The cord 3 is inserted into the mould parts 5 and 6 in which it is fixed by opposed, staggered webs 4 provided in the two mould parts 5 and 6. The mould is closed and polypropylene is then injection-moulded around the carrying cord, the webs 4 thus forming the closed slots 2 appearing in the finished grip 1 shown in Figure 1. The presence of these webs is indispensable for a satisfactory injectionmoulding around the carrying cord. It will be apparent that the slots 2 do not extend right through the thickness of the grip 1 and therefore they are termed closed slots.

A battery is provided with two such cords 3 and grips 1 and, as shown in Figure 3, each carrying cord 3 including the grip 1 is preferably secured to the battery in such a way as to permit the grip, when not in use, to be accommodated in a recess (described later) provided in the battery container 7 and cover 15, so as not to impede the stackability of the battery.

The lowerable version of the grip mounting as shown has the advantage of making it possible for the user to make use of a frame bracing for the battery in the motor vehicle. The possibility of lowering the grip is indispensable when using the frame bracing. For this purpose, two hollow ledge-like projections 8 are provided at opposite positions on the battery container, for example one at each end of the battery container 7, Figure 3 showing one of the two projections for receiving one of the grips 1. The bottom 9 of each projection 8 is provided in its end portions with a plurality of apertures, the thick ends 11 of the carrying cord 3 being passed down-wardly through the holes 10 and then introduced upwardly into inlet holes 12 of slots 13 which terminate in locating holes 14. The locating holes 14 have a smaller diameter than the thick ends 11 of the carrying cord with the result that the carrying cord is held securely in position. The ends 11 of the carrying cord are prevented from escaping accidentally from the slots 13 since the central part of the bottom 9 of the ledge-like projection 8 with the inlet holes 12 is at a higher level than the end zones.

The cover 15 of the container 7 is so designed as to ensure that it covers the projections 8 as well, the cover being provided at each end with a continuous slot 16 with the result that each projection 8 and the associated slot 16 together form a receptacle for accommodation of the grip 1 of the carrying cord 3, and the grip and the cord may thereby be fully received within the contours of the battery.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A carrying handle, for attachment to an electric storage battery, the handle comprising a cord of a synthetic plastics material for attachment by means of its ends to the battery, and a flat-shaped hand grip of a synthetic plastics material undetachably connected to the cord intermediate its said ends by being injection-moulded around the cord.

2. A handle, according to claim 1, in which the synthetic plastics material of the cord and of the hand grip is polypropylene.

3. A handle, according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the injection-moulding is performed using a two-part mould having webs for locating the cord extending at right angles to the cord axis.

4. A carrying handle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

5. An electric storage battery provided with at least one carrying handle according to any

Claims (1)

1. preceding claim.

   6. A lead-acid battery provided with two carrying handles each according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

   7. A lead-acid starter battery provided with carrying handles substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.