US3670297A - Battery connector assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to electrical connectors and more particularly to electrical connectors for storage batteries and the like. The illustrated embodiment includes a tapered plug member adapted to contact an internal complementary surface of a metallic battery insert. An internally threaded cap swively supports the upper extremity of the tapered plug member, and a spring washer is interposed between the underside of the cap and an upper surface of the tapered plug.

Description

0 United States Patent [151 3,670,297 Erlenbach 1 June 13, 1972 [54] BATTERY CONECTOR ASSEMBLY FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [72] Inventor: Walt E n Selma, 665,834 9/1929 France ..339/232 [73] Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc., Chicago, Ill.

Prlmary Examiner-Joseph l-l. McGlynn Filed: March 1970 Attorney-Olson, Trexler, Wolters & Bushnell [2i] Appl. No.: 16 420 [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. ....339/232, 339/268 R The present invention relates generally to electrical connec- [51] Int. Cl ..H0lr 7/08 tors and more particularly to electrical connectors for storage [58] Field of Search ..339/224240, 268 batteries and the like. The illustrated embodiment includes a a tapered plug member adapted to contact an internal comple- References cued mentary surface of a metallic battery insert. An internally UNITED STATES PATENTS threaded cap swively supports the upper extremity of the tapered plug member, and a spring washer is interposed Schneider between the underside of the cap and an upper surface of the 1,791,470 l Runkle t tapered 1,852,366 4/1932 Pietenpol et al. .....339/232 3,372,361 3/1968 Wengen 339/97 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 BATTERY CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY a SUMMARY The invention contemplates a battery connector including a pre-assembled cap and connector plug in which the threaded cap is rotatably connected to the plug by means of an axially extending shank. The cap member may be rotated independently of the connector plug supported thereby when the plug is nonrotatably applied to a complementary externally threaded metallic battery insert.

.It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and very practical electrical connector for storage batteries and the like in which a connector plug and cap therefore present a pre-assembled connector unit.

More specifically, the present invention contemplates a preassembled cap and connector plug, in which a threaded cap supporting an electrical connector plug may be applied to a complementary externally threaded metallic battery insert.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an assembly unit of the type set forth above wherein the cap membermay be rotated independently of the connector plug supported thereby and wherein the plug is non-rotatable.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will be more apparent inthe following detailed description whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an electrical connector assembly of the type contemplated by the present invention, said assembly being shown partly in section, and the connector plug is in contact with the complementary internal surface of a metallic battery insert;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1, portions of the' cap being broken away to disclose structures otherwise hidden; in

FIG. 3 is a central vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, with the connector plug shown in a position prior to contact thereof with a complementary internal surface of the battery insert; and,

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially annular surface of the plug and the underside of the cap 26.

along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, with a portion of the battery casing broken away more clearly to illustratethe battery insert and connector plug associated therewith.

ikefe'rringnow to the drawing more in detail, wherein like numerals have been employed to designate similar parts of the various figures, it will be seen that one embodiment of an electrical connector of the type contemplated by the present invention is disclosed generally by the numeral l0.'The connector arrangement 10 is disclosed in association with the upper wall of a battery casing 12. The electrical connector device 10 includes a metallic or lead insert 14 mounted in a fixed position within the battery casing 12. The upper extremity of the insert 14 projects above the battery casing and is provided with external thread convolutions 16. The insert 14 is centrally apertured so as to provide an internal tapered surface 18 for accommodating a complementary frustoconical peripheral surface of an electrical connector plug 20.

The upper portion of the connector plug 20 is formed with an annular flange 22, and an integral upwardly extending stud 24 of reduced-diameter. The upper free extremity of the stud shaft 24 is swively coupled with the underside of a closure member or cap 26. This swivel coupling is formed by a peripheral groove 28 in the stud shaft 24 which swively accommodates an annular flange 30 formed integral with the cap 26. Extending radially outwardly from the flange 22 of the connector plug 20 is a cable accommodating extension or shank 32. The extension 32 is axially apertured to receive one extremity of an electrical cable 34. It will be noted that the shank 32 extends within and completely traverses a vertical recess 36 formed in the upper margin of the insert 14. By this arrangement the stud 20 is secured against rotation with respect to the insert M.

The cap 26 is internally threaded to accommodate the external thread convolutions 16 of the insert 14. A spring or An annular section 40 formed integral with and depending from the underside of the cap 26 is designed to clampingly engage the upper surface of the spring washer 38 as the cap 26 is rotated in a tightening direction.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that as the cap 26 is rotated in a tightening direction from the position shown in FIG. 3, to the position shown in FIG. 1, the advancing surface of the annular depending member or rib 40 will impinge the upper surface of the resilient washer member 38. Suflrcient axial clearance in the swivel coupling between the cap 26 and the upper free extremity of the stud shaft 24 is provided to assure subjection of the spring washer 38 to lateral stress when the periphery of the connector lug 20 is in contact with the complementary tapered surface 18 of the insert 14. Thus the stressed washer serves to counteract tendencies for the cup 26 and consequently the connector plug 20 to loosen as a result of vibration to which the associated parts may be subjected. As previously mentioned, the engagement of the lateralcable accommodating extension 32 with the walls defining the vertical recess or slot 36 prevents rotation of the connector plug 20 with respect to the insert 14. By having the cap and the connector plug pre-assembled as a unit, the ease with which these parts may be manually manipulated is greatly facilitated. The cap which may be made of suitable electrically non-conductive plastic material, protects the plug and insert against the accumulation of foreign matter which might impair the functioning of the connector parts. It will also be apparent that the connector parts are of relatively simple construction and capable of being produced very economically.

I claim:

1. An electrical connector for storage battieres and the-like including a metallic connector plug having a tapered peripheral surface for contacting a complementary internal surface of a metallic battery insert, a rotatable internally threaded cap member for threaded association with complementary external thread convolutions of a battery insert, said plug including a central upwardly extending shank, the upper extremity of Said shank being coupled with the underside of the cap member, an integral cable accommodating means projecting radially from the periphery of said plug, a complementary recess in said battery insert adapted to receive said radially extending cable means.

2. An electrical connector for storage batteries and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein a conical type spring washer is interposed between the underside of the cap member and an upper surface of the plug, said spring washer including a central aperture surrounding said upwardly extending shank with said washer being captured on said shank between the underside of the cap member and the upper surface of the plug.

3. An electrical connector for storage batteries and the like including an externally threaded, metallic insert internally apertured to accommodate a complementary tapered connector plug, said insert havinga longitudinal recess, a metallic connector plug having a tapered peripheral surface for contacting the complementary internal surface of said metallic battery insert, a-rotatable internally threaded cap member for threaded association with the external thread convolutions of said battery insert, means coupling the upper extremity of said plug with said cap member, and integral cable accommodating means protecting radially from the periphery of said plug and extending through the recess in said battery insert.

4. An electrical connector for storage batteries and the like as set forth in claim 3, wherein the battery insert is substantially'cylindrical and wherein the threads thereof are adapted for positioning externally of the upper surface of the battery case, the wall of said insert in the vicinity. of the external thread convolutions being traversed by said recess.

5. An electrical connector for storage batteries and the like as set forth in claim 3, wherein the longitudinal recess is in the nature of an open ended slot extending from the upper extremity of a wall of the insert to a depth which is sufficient to accommodate the radially projecting cable accommodating means.

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Claims (5)

1. An electrical connector for storage battieres and the like including a metallic connector plug having a tapered peripheral surface for contacting a complementary internal surface of a metallic battery insert, a rotatable internally threaded cap member for threaded association with complementary external thread convolutions of a battery insert, said plug including a central upwardly extending shank, the upper extremity of said shank being coupled with the underside of the cap member, an integral cable accommodating means projecting radially from the periphery of said plug, a complementary recess in said battery insert adapted to receive said radially extending cable means.

2. An electrical connector for storage batteries and the like as set forth in claim 1, wherein a conical type spring washer is interposed between the underside of the cap member and an upper surface of the plug, said spring washer including a central aperture surrounding said upwardly extending shank with said washer being captured on said shank between the underside of the cap member and the upper surface of the plug.

3. An electrIcal connector for storage batteries and the like including an externally threaded, metallic insert internally apertured to accommodate a complementary tapered connector plug, said insert having a longitudinal recess, a metallic connector plug having a tapered peripheral surface for contacting the complementary internal surface of said metallic battery insert, a rotatable internally threaded cap member for threaded association with the external thread convolutions of said battery insert, means coupling the upper extremity of said plug with said cap member, and integral cable accommodating means protecting radially from the periphery of said plug and extending through the recess in said battery insert.

4. An electrical connector for storage batteries and the like as set forth in claim 3, wherein the battery insert is substantially cylindrical and wherein the threads thereof are adapted for positioning externally of the upper surface of the battery case, the wall of said insert in the vicinity of the external thread convolutions being traversed by said recess.

5. An electrical connector for storage batteries and the like as set forth in claim 3, wherein the longitudinal recess is in the nature of an open ended slot extending from the upper extremity of a wall of the insert to a depth which is sufficient to accommodate the radially projecting cable accommodating means.

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