US2772112A

US2772112A - Battery strap

Info

Publication number: US2772112A
Application number: US303901A
Authority: US
Inventors: Theodore J Grypma
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1952-08-12
Filing date: 1952-08-12
Publication date: 1956-11-27
Anticipated expiration: 1973-11-27

Description

T. J. GRYPMA Nov. 27, 1956 BATTERY STRAP Filed Aug. 12, 1952 INVENTOR Y THEODORE J. GRYPMA ATTORNEY United States Patent BATTERY STRAP Theodore J. Grypma, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Application August 12, 1952, Serial No. 303,901

2 Claims. (Cl. 294103) This invention relates to a particularly novel, simple and effective battery strap which is easily secured to the two upstanding spaced posts of the usual and conventional storage battery, large numbers of which are used in motor vhicles, for carrying the battery from one place to another and for removing and replacing it. It is an object and purpose of the present invention to provide a battery strap which when connected to the posts has an exceptionally secure and positive connection, irrespective of wear or indentations or other surface damage which may occur to said posts in batteries after a considerable length of use, and which insures positively against accidental or other unwanted disconnection of the strap from the posts, which if it occurs will result in damage because of dropping of the battery or in other undesired happenings.

A further object of my invention is to provide a battery strap used in the manner indicated, which is simple, but exceptionally sturdy in its construction, may be manufactured at a low cost and which will have a long life of usefulness.

An understanding of the invention may be had from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one end of a battery strap having my invention applied thereto and showing the position of the parts when the strap has been positively connected to a battery post.

Fig. 2 is a similar plan view, showing the position of the parts when the strap has been applied to the post but not yet positively connected therewith.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section, substantially on the plane of line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an edge elevation of the battery strap and post with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the manually operated, positive securing means used with the post attaching mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modification in structure, and

Fig. 7 is an edge view thereof.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawing.

With my invention, at each end of the battery strap a fiat metal strap is bent back upon itself to provide upper and lower sides 1 and 2 between which an end of the battery strap 3 is inserted and has a riveted or other equivalent permanent connection therewith. The upper and lower sides 1 and 2 are integrally connected by a loop 4 having a generally cylindrical form which extends from one side of the upper and lower members 1 and 2 toward the opposite side thereof, a part of the loop 4 adjacent one side being cut away, as shown, leaving a vertical shoulder 5 on the upper side 1 and a shoulder 6 in the partial loop extension of the lower side 2 as shown in Fig. 4.

The two upper and lower sides 1 and 2 have circular openings 7 therethrough in vertical alignment which, at one side, extend partially into the loop 4 and through which the vertical battery post 8 is adapted to extend.

. .are worn oif and rounded, avoiding excess indentation.

2,772,112 Patented Nov. 27, 1956 ice That is, each end of the battery strap structure is applied to the two spaced apart posts 8 by bringing the metal post engaging means, one at each end of the strap, down to and over the posts. The diameter of the openings 7 may be the same or may vary slightly in diameter to accommodate posts 8 which may have a slight upward taper.

A length of rod is bent between its ends to provide two

sections

9 and 10 at right angles to each other. The section 9 is a shaft and is inserted through the loop 4 while the section 10 provides an operating handle for manually turning such shaft 9. Such section 9 at a side thereof is machined to cut away a part of the metal leaving a recess which in practice has substantially two fiat bottom surfaces 11 and 12 disposed at an obtuse angle to each other as shown in Fig. 3. This is conveniently done by using a rotating cutting tool, having an end cutting surface, such as an end drill and the like to cut the metal away to the depth of the surface 11 and then turning the section 9 about its longitudinal axis through a predetermined arc and again cutting by the end drill until the surface 12 is reached. Adjacent the free end of the shaft section 9 a groove 14 is made peripherally therearound, in which, after the parts have been assembled, a split clinching ring 15 is placed and compressed and clinched into the groove so as to be inseparable therefrom.

The location of the intermediate recessed portion on shaft 9 with relation to the openings 7 and handle 10 is such that when the handle 10 extends vertically, as in Figs. 2 and 4, space is provided so that the openings 7, when the upper and lower sections 1 and 2 are moved downward, freely receive the post. Then by manually moving the handle 10 counter-clockwise (Fig. 4), the rotative section or shaft portion 9 of the rod is turned through an arc and the recessed portion of the shaft section 9 swung away from the post and the corner portion at 13 between the surface 11 and the outer curved surface of the shaft 9 brought to bear against the post forcing it against the edges of the opening 7 diametrically opposite the engagement of the corner portion 13 with the post. Such corner portions 13 in the manufacturing process used in connection .with the shaft 9 and handle 10 is not left sharp, but in a tumbling operation, in which large numbers of the shaft and handle members are tumbled in a rotating tumbling barrel, the edges. at 13 or gouging in of a sharp corner into a battery post.

A battery strap connected at both ends to the two posts of a storage battery is .very securely and positively held against accidental or other disconnection from the posts. In many types of battery straps the connection with the post is automatic, the lifitng of the battery by an upward lift on the middle portion of the strap 3 causing a biting into or gripping of the post by the end connections on the strap, but if the battery is lowered on a supporting surface such connection does not remain positive and upon relifting the strap frequently disconnects, also wear and damage to the posts causes ineifective strap connection thereto. With my invention, because of the manual operation of the handle 10 from vertical to or toward horizontal position, a positive and inseparable connection is made and one which will remain until the handle is operated manually back to its initial vertical position.

In Figs. 6 and 7, a spring is provided acting upon the rock shaft 9. The split ring 15 is replaced by a wire hook 16 which fits the groove 14 in the projecting end portion of shaft 9. The hook is continued integrally in an arm 17 alongside and at the adjacent edges of the plates 1 and 2, and terminates in a transverse end section 18 which passes between the plates and is securely clamped in place when the plates 1 and 2 are riveted to the adjacent end of the strap 3.

The -end"of' the loop 4--at -the handle portion 10 is cutat an-aoutean gleto-the-len gth-ofthestrap "as shown at 4a in Fig. 6. The arm 17,normally, when it was free from connection to the shaft"*9 would swing outwardly away=frorn -said-shaft so that when connected to the 5 shaft it is be'n't-i from" its -normal free position and de--' velo'ps' a force '---whi'chpullsthe handle -10 1 into' engage ment with' the-loop edge 4a; It is of course -to-beun-" de'rstood that the edge 4a may take an indefinite number of positions-ofgreatenor less angles, may be a straight angle as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with respect to the length of the-batterystrap, and may be'carried across tofthe other side, that is, the inclination of the edge 4a be opposite that-shown in Fig. '6- without departing from the invention With such structure, a braking action isprovided by the bearing of thehandle lfl againstthe edge 4a." As an equivalent, a coiled spring under compression may be placed between the ring 15 in the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the adjacent end of the loop 4. In the turning of the rock shaft there is, with the angular position of the edge as at 4a or'in a reverse position thereof as described, a simultaneous rocking and longitudinal movement of the-shaft 10' which helps to engage" the'central'portion of the shaft 9 with the battery post 8."

With a new battery where the posts'have undergone substantially no service, and with'the dimensions 'of the openings at 7 through thepl'ate's'l and 2closely cor-1 responding to the exterior dimensions of the post, merely placing the strap in place with the post connectors "thereof over the posts, as in Fig. 3, will, upon an upward pull on the battery strap between its ends, cause a con nection to the posts without requiring any operation of the rock shaft. But in time as th'ebattery posts become" worn, sometimes intended or otherwise worn ordamaged a positive connection is made and one which will 'not' accidentally release.

The structure describedis sturdy and durable in use; is economical to make, is readily and easily operated and is certain and surein positiveness of connection 'to th'e1'40 battery post under all conditions 'of'carrying the battery, removing it or replacing'it in a motor vehicle, or in other.

physical movement of the battery.

strap aligned--therewith is inserted and secured, said bent-- portion of the strap having a generally cylindrical form adapted to receive a generally cylindrical shaft, and said sides having aligned post receiving openings extending partly into said connecting portion, said connecting portion and post openings being beyond the adjacent end of said strap, a shaft extending-through and rockingly mounted in said connecting portion, having a recess in a side thereof adaptedtobe turned totwo different positions, in one *of which: a battery post may freely pass into and through said openings, and in another of which the shaft is forced against the adjacent side of said"-='post, and manually operable means for rocking the shaft, said means comprising an operating handle extending from one end of said shaft at an angle to the length thereof and providing a stop means engaging one of said sides when said shaft is in the first mentioned position.

2. 'A' battery "post engaging-attachment "permanently secured one at ea'ch-en'd 0f a 'flexibleastrap comprising, a length of'flat -metal' bent back upon itself having upperand' lower spaced-"parallel fiat' "sides integrally-'- connected at' one end bye-generally cy'lindricalsh'aft receiving-, connecting portion-said sides having vertically aligned open'irigs' through which a battery'post is adapted to pass;

said openings *extendingpartly" into said connecting portioii, and-said connect-ing portion-and post openings b' ing 'beyon'dthe adjacent end of said strap, a shaft re cessed -in one 'sidebetween its ends rockingly mounted in and passingthrough saidconnecting portion, a handle" at -on'e:cn'd of t-he sha'ft generally at rightangles thereto;

andstop means onfone of said sides-against which saidhandle 'ehgages with e=handle in generally vertical'po'si tionand said sides in "generally 'horizontal' positiori," said opposite therefrom.

Rferences'Cited in'llhe' file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 583,316 ueafieiw'uur June 1, 1897 1,876Q'834" Ber'ge 2 Sept-13, 1932' 1,927,920 Colley; Sept. 26,- 193 3 2,011,531 Ellis etal r Aug. 13; 1935 2,271,692 Hewel Feb.-3, 1942