US3572806A

US3572806A - Storage battery carriers

Info

Publication number: US3572806A
Application number: US812546A
Authority: US
Inventors: John F Sivadon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-03-13
Filing date: 1969-03-13
Publication date: 1971-03-30
Anticipated expiration: 1988-03-30

Abstract

A storage battery carrier having a pair of members pivotally connected to each other and, if desired, with one of the members being of greater length and projecting above the pivot point to provide a handle. The members may be biased toward each other and have laterally or inwardly directed, angular lower end portions in which openings are formed for engagement with the terminal posts of a battery. The openings have transverse dimensions substantially equal to the post diameter whereby cramping engagement is provided when lifting force is applied to the handle of the carrier and, preferably, are polygonal. The major portions of the members may be slotted longitudinally for slidable as well as pivotal connection by the handle whereby the resultant vector of forces holds the openings at the lower ends of said members engaged with the terminal posts.

Description

United States Patent [72] lnvcntor John F. Sivadon 704 N. Robinson Drive, Waco, Tex. 76706 [21] Appl. No. 812,546 [22] Filed Mar. 13, 1969 145] Patented Mar. 30, 1971 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 790,559, Jan. 13, 1969, now abandoned.

[54] STORAGE BATTERY CARRIERS 2,323,094 6/1943 Levin 3,226,148 12/1965 Wiora ABSTRACT: A storage battery carrier having a pair of members pivotally connected to each other and, if desired, with one of the members being of greater length and projecting above the pivot point to provide a handle. The members may be biased toward each other and have laterally or inwardly directed, angular lower end portions in which openings are formed for engagement with the terminal posts of a battery. The openings have transverse dimensions substantially equal to the post diameter whereby cramping engagement is provided when lifting force is applied to the handle of the carrier and, preferably, are polygonal. The major portions of the members may be slotted longitudinally for slidable as well as pivotal connection by the handle whereby the resultant vector of forces holds the openings at the lower ends of said members engaged with the terminal posts.

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SHEET 2 UF 2 VII Tiff?? 28 INVENTOR. JOHN F .S/VADO/V ATTORNEYS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A storage battery carrier havinga pair of elongate members or arms pivotally connected to each other. If desired, one of the arms may be of greater length and have its medial portion pivotally attached to the upper end of the shorter arm whereby the upper end portion of the longer arm provides a handle. The arms may be biased toward'each other and have gripping elements in the form of angular brackets or clips at their lower ends. One of the flanges of each bracket extends transversely inward so as to underlie one of the arms and has an opening, preferably polygonal, for engagement with one of the terminal posts of a storage battery. The openings have transverse dimensions substantially equal to the diameter of the terminal posts whereby opposed marginal portions of said openings cramp against opposed portions of said posts when sufficient lifting force is appliedto the handle of the carrier so as to cant or tilt the brackets relative to said posts. It is desirable to provide the openings with sharp edges for more positive or biting engagement with the terminal posts. Preferably, the brackets are formed separately of the arms and are secured thereto to permit at least one of said brackets'to be electrically insulated from its arm.

The carrier is of inexpensive, simple construction which is sufficiently rugged to permit lifting and handling of batteries, of different sizes and having different posts spacings, with minimum effort. Even though the cramping action provides positive connection between the carrier and terminal posts, said carrier is readily engageable with and disengageable from said posts. Due to the inward biasing of the arms, accidental disengagement of the carrier is substantially prevented when said carrier is inadvertently lowered relative to said battery.

Instead of being formed by the upper end portion of one of the arms of the battery carrier, the handle may be'separate of said arms and extend laterally thereof. In this embodiment, each carrier arm has a longitudinal slot extending throughout its major portion for engagement by one end of the handle so as to be slidably as well as pivotally connected to the other arm. One of the gripping elements may be in the form of a flat plate or flange extending laterally from the lower end of one of the arms in the same direction as the handle, while the other gripping element may be in the form of an angular bracket or clip, similar to the brackets of the first embodiment, having an upstanding flange secured to and insulated from the lower end of the other or second arm and a lateral flange parallel tothe lateral gripping plate or flange of the first arm and extending in the same direction. Openings, substantially identical to the gripping openings of the first embodiment, are provided in the lateral gripping flanges for cramping engagement with the battery terminal posts upon the application of sufficient lifting force to the handle. Due to the pivotal and slidable connection of the carrier arms by the handle and the consequent inclination of said arms, the gripping openings are held in engagement with the terminal posts by the resultant vector of forces.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a battery carrier, constructed in accordance with the invention, in lifting engagement with the terminal posts of a storage battery;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the carrier in nonlifting engagement with the battery which is shown in broken lines;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the carrier in expanded position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, horizontal, cross-sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2, the negative terminal post being shown in broken lines;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, transverse, vertical, sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3, of the noninsulated gripping element of the carrier in nonlifting engagement with the negative terminal post which is shown in broken lines;

FIG. 6 is a view, similar to FIG. 5 and taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 3, showing the insulated gripping element of the carrier in nonlifting engagement with the positive terminal post;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side elevational view of the noninsulated gripping element in lifting engagement with the negative terminal post;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of the invention in battery lifting position;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken on the line IO-IO of FIG. 8; and

FIG. II is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 11-11 ofFIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawing, the numeral ll designates a battery carrier embodying the principles of the invention and including a pair of elongate members or

arms

2 and 3 having gripping

elements

4 and 5 at their lower ends for engagement with the negative and positive terminal posts N and P of a storage battery B. The

arm 2 is of greater length than the arm 3 and has its medial portion pivotally attached to the upper end of said arm 3 by suitable means, such as by a clevis 6 and pivot pin 7 (FIGS. 1- 3). A handle 8, which may be angular, is provided by the upper end portion of the arm 2 which overlies the shorter arm 3. For constantly urging the shorter arm toward the lower portion of the longer arm, a suitable spring 9, preferably helical, extends between and is connected to said arms below their point of connection and closer to such point than to the

gripping elements

4 and 5. Preferably, the arms are cylindrical and may be formed from metal rods or similar material.

Each of the gripping elements is identical and is in the form of an L-shaped bracket or clip having a pair of flat flanges I0 and II disposed in right angular relationship. The lower extremities of the

arms

2 and 3 are bent inwardly at an obtuse angle, as shown at 12 and I3, and terminate in flattened portions I4 and 15 for parallel engagement with the upstanding flanges 10 of the

brackets

4 and 5, respectively. The bracket flanges III are suitably secured, such as by pairs of rivets I6 and 17, to the flattened arm portions 14 and IS in external relationship and the bracket flanges II extend transversely inward so as to underlie the arms. If desired, the brackets may be made integral with the lower end of the arms. As shown in FIG. 6, a pad 18 and grommets 19 of dielectric material insulate the flattened portion I5 of the arm 3 from the flange 10 of the bracket 5 and said portion and flange from the rivets 17 to prevent the flow of current between the terminal posts N and P or other short circuiting of the battery B when the carrier 1 is engaged therewith. A polygonal opening 20 is formed in each bracket flange II for engagement with one of the terminal posts and has transverse dimensions substantially equal to the diameter of said posts. Preferably, each opening 20 is diamond shaped and has its greatest dimension extending longitudinally of the flange. For more positive engagement with the terminal posts when the brackets are formed of relatively thick material as illustrated, the perimeter of each opening is provided with a continuous sharp edge 21 which may be formed by complementary beveled surfaces (FIGS. il).

In using the battery carrier I, the

brackets

4 and 5 are engaged with the terminal posts N and P of the storage battery B (FIGS. 4-6) by threading the openings 20 of said brackets over said posts. Due to the pivotal connection of the

arms

2 and 3, various spacings of the terminal posts may be accommodated by the carrier. Although either bracket may be engaged with either terminal post, it is desirable to connect the insulated bracket 5 to the positive terminal post P to prevent any possibility of short circuiting the battery. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the tension of the spring 9 maintains the brackets in engagement with the terminal posts. Upon lifting of the carrier by the handle 8, the arms swing inwardly so as to cant or tilt said brackets and incline the flanges 11 thereof relative to the posts (FIGS. 1 and 7). Since the openings have transverse dimensions substantially equal to the diameter of the posts, opposed portions of the edges 21 of said openings are cramped against opposed portions of said posts to provide connections sufi'icient to permit lifting and handling of the battery by the carrier. This engagement is more positive when the edges of the openings 20 are sharp since such edges tend to bite into the terminal posts.

Although of inexpensive, simple construction, the battery carrier of this invention is most efficient and facilitates lifting and handling of storage batteries with minimum effort as well as minimizes damaging of said batteries. It is noted that the spring tends to prevent accidental disengagement of the carrier from the battery when said carrier is inadvertently moved downwardly relative to said battery.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 8- 11 and includes a battery carrier 31 having a pair of relatively flat, elongate rectilinear arms or

members

32 and 33 having

gripping elements

34 and 35 at their lower ends for engagement with the negative and positive terminal posts N and P of the storage battery B. The

arms

32 and 33 are substantially identical and have longitudinal slots or

elongated openings

36 and 37, respectively, extending throughout the major portions thereof from their upper end portions to points above their lower end portion. As shown, the carrier arm 32 may be of less length than the arm 33 and its gripping element 34 may be in the form of an L-shaped bracket or clip which is similar to the gripping elements 4 and which has similar upstanding and lateral, flat flanges or

plates

38 and 39 disposed in right angular relationship. Suitable fasteners 40, such as rivets, secure the upstanding flange 38 of the gripping element to the lower end portion of the shorter arm (FIG. in overlying, parallel relationship, insulating pads 41 of dielectric material being interposed between and overlying said flange and arm lower end portion, whereby the combined length of said arm and flange are substantially equal to the length of the other arm. Also, the portions of the rivets 40 extending through the gripping element flange and arm lower end portion are insulated therefrom by surrounding grommets 42 of dielectric material whereby the flow of current between the terminal posts N and P or other short circuiting of the battery B is prevented when the carrier 31 is engaged with said posts. The gripping element 35 may be in the form of a flat plate or flange extending laterally from the lower end of the arm 33 parallel to and in the same direction as the lateral flange 39 of the gripping element 34 as well as in approximately the same relation to its arm and the longitudinal slot thereof.

Due to the upward convergence of the carrier arms and consequent inclination thereof, it is readily apparent that the lateral flanges of the

gripping element

34 and 35 extend at acute angles to said arms. Openings 43, identical to the openings of the transverse bracket flanges 11, are provided in the lateral flanges of the gripping elements and have indentical, continuous, sharp marginal edges 44 (FIGS. 10 and 11) when said gripping elements are formed of relatively thick material. For pivotally and slidably connecting the

arms

32 and 33 as well as providing a handle for the carrier 31, a relatively short, cylindrical rod 45 extends laterally from said arms and, preferably, parallel to and in the same direction as the lateral

gripping element flanges

35 and 39. The inner end of the handle-forming rod 45 bears against one of the carrier arms (FIG. 9) and has a cylindrical, coaxial bore or opening 46 for receiving a headed, complementary fastening pin 47 which extends through the

slots

36 and 37 and which may be pressfitted in the bore to prevent its separation from said rod. Due to this connection of the handle-forming rod to the

arms

32 and 33, the vector of forces resulting from the upward movement of said rod when the openings 43 are engaged with the battery terminal posts causes the marginal edges 44 of said openings to crampmgly engage the battery terminal posts N and P so as to positively connect the carrier to the battery.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials. as well as the details of the illustrated construction may be made, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

lclaim:

1. A storage battery carrier including:

a pair of elongate upright rectilinear members having slots extending longitudinally thereof;

handle-fonning means extending transversely of the elongate members and having a portion thereof slidably engaged in the slots so as to pivotally connect said members to each other;

a gripping element rigidly secured to the lower end portion of each member and having at least a portion thereof ex tending transversely of the member;

the transverse portion of each gripping element having an opening for engagement with one of the posts of a storage battery;

the openings having transverse dimensions substantially equal to the diameter of the battery terminal posts whereby opposed marginal portions of said openings are cramped against opposed portions of the posts when the handle-forming means is slid upwardly within said slots so as to pivot the lower portions of said members toward each other and cant the gripping elements relative to the posts; and

the slots being of extended length to permit said gripping elements to maintain the same relative positions with respect to the terminal posts regardless of the distance between said posts.

2. A storage battery carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein the transverse portions of the gripping elements are disposed in substantially parallel relation to the handle-fonning means.

3. A storage battery as defined in claim 1 wherein the handle-forming means includes a cylindrical rod having an axial pin at one end slidably confined in the slots of the elongate members.

4. A storage battery carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein:

at least one of the gripping elements is in the form of an angular bracket having a pair of flat flanges;

one of the flanges of the bracket extending diagonally of the other flange in parallel overlapping relation to the lower end portion of one of the elongate members for rigid attachment thereto; and

said other bracket flange forming the transverse portion of said gripping element.

5. A storage battery carrier as defined in claim 1 including means for insulating the attached flange of the gripping element bracket from the elongate member to which it is rigidly secured.

Claims

1. A storage battery carrier including: a pair of elongate upright rectilinear members having slots extending longitudinally thereof; handle-forming means extending transversely of the elongate members and having a portion thereof slidably engaged in the slots so as to pivotally connect said members to each other; a gripping element rigidly secured to the lower end portion of each member and having at least a portion thereof extending transversely of the member; the transverse portion of each gripping element having an opening for engagement with one of the posts of a storage battery; the openings having transverse dimensions substantially equal to the diameter of the battery terminal posts whereby opposed marginal portions of said openings are cramped against opposed portions of the posts when the handle-forming means is slid upwardly within said slots so as to pivot the lower portions of said members toward each other and cant the gripping elements relative to the posts; and the slots being of extended length to permit said gripping elements to maintain the same relative positions with respect to the terminal posts regardless of the distance between said posts.

2. A storage battery carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein the transverse portions of the gripping elements are disposed in substantially parallel relation to the handle-forming means.

4. A storage battery carrier as defined in claim 1 wherein: at least one of the gripping elements is in the form of an angular bracket having a pair of flat flanges; one of the flanges of the bracket extending diagonally of the other flange in parallel overlapping relation to the lower end portion of one of the elongate members for rigid attachment thereto; and said other bracket flange forming the transverse portion of said gripping element.