US3764961A

US3764961A - Snap-p connector

Info

Publication number: US3764961A
Application number: US00225728A
Authority: US
Inventors: O Poitras
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-02-14
Filing date: 1972-02-14
Publication date: 1973-10-09
Anticipated expiration: 1990-10-09

Abstract

A storage battery terminal post connector of improved design so to be quickly and easily snapped on or off the terminal post; the device consisting of a pair of levers which are pivoted together at their one ends so that the opposite ends of the levers which form jaws can be brought together on opposite sides of the battery terminal post, the levers being supported between forked legs of a lever barrel connected to the end of a battery cable, and a compression coil spring normally urging the levers so that the jaws thereof firmly grasp the battery terminal post.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Poitras 51 Oct. 9, 1973 SNAP-P CONNECTOR [76] Inventor: Omer Poitras, Fort Nelson, B. C.,

Canada [22] Filed: Feb. 14, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 225,728

Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Lawrence J. Staab [57] ABSTRACT A, storage battery terminal post connector of improved design so to be quickly and easily snapped on or off the terminal post; the device consisting of a pair of levers which are pivoted together at their one ends so that the opposite ends of the levers which form jaws can be brought together on opposite sides of the battery terminal post, the levers being supported between forked legs of a lever barrel connected to the end of a battery cable, and a compression coil spring normally urging the levers so that the jaws thereof firmly grasp the battery terminal post.

2 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures SNAP-P CONNECTOR This'invention relates generally to storage battery accessories. More specifically the present invention relates to clamping devices such as battery terminal clamps.

It is generally well known to most motorist that-at times it is very hard to remove a battery cable connector from thebattery terminal post because it becomes corrated thereupon. Likewise it is difficult to mount the connector upon the terminal post properly so to make a good electrical connection. This situation is of course objectionable and therefore'in want of improvement.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a snap-p connector of improved design which is quick and easy to put on the terminal post and equally quick and easy to remove the same therefrom; either of which can be accomplished in about 2 seconds. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a snap-p connector which does not need any tools for securement or removal from'the terminal post.

Still another purpose of the present invention is to provide a snap-p connector which requires just a twist of the wrist so to put it on and another twist so to remove. t

Still another purpose of the present invention is to provide a snap-p connector which forms a positive contact electrically, which isself-adjusting and which is self-tighting.

Otherpbjectsof the present invention are to provide a snap-p connector which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of the working principal of the present invention,

- FIG. 2 is a side view of the snap-p lever lock connector shown per say,

. FIG. 3 is a side elevation view'of the present invention shown mounted on a battery terminal post,

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and showing the connector in a snap open position respective to a terminal post,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a lever barrel forming a component of the present invention and shown with related parts,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a plunger and spring for being mounted on the lever barrel,

FIG. 7 is a view of the top of the holding jaw,

FIG. 8 is a top view of the sliding jaw,

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the jaws, and

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the half moon jaws.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral 10 represents a snap-p connector according to the present invention wherein there is an assembly 11 that includes a lever barrel 12 having a pair of parallel spaced apart legs 13 between which a pair of

levers

14 and 15 are positioned, the levers at their one ends being attached pivotally together about a short pin 16, the opposite ends of the levers forming respectively a holding jaw 17 and a sliding jaw 18. The lever 14 along an intermediate portion thereof has a sidewardly extending lug 19 having anopening 20 therethrough for being aligned with openings 21 in each of the barrel legs 13 so that a long pin 22 can be fitted therethrough for supporting the levers on the barrel. I

The other lever 15 along an intermediate portion thereof is provided with a recess or depression 23 against which a plunger 24 forcably bearsdue to a compression coil spring 25 being located between the plunger and the end wall26 of the barrel, the end wall 26 forming the bottom end of a well or opening 27 into which a skinned end 28 of a battery cable 29'is receiv-- able and saudered therewithin.

It will now be evident that the levers can be positioned on opposite sides of a battery terminal post 30 and snapped thereupon or snapped off therefrom, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. t v

A stop 31 is formed on the lever 15, the stop being designed to abutt against a lip 32 of the barrel'so to limit the spreading apart distance between the lever aws.

vAs shown in FIG. 4, it is to be noted that the plunger hits the stop 31 when the barrel is flipped upwardly as shown by the arrow 32 so that the jaws of the levers spread apart automatically and quickly for easy removal of the snap-p connector from the battery post. When the barrel is pivoted in a downward position so to assume the position-shown in FIG. 3 with the jaws clamped upon the battery post, the plunger strikes into .the recess or depression 23 'so to lock the jaws hard against the side of the battery post. Thus a lever lock action is provided.

References now made to FIG. 10 wherein half moon jaws are provided, the half moon jaw 33 forming the holding jaw while the half moon jaw 34 forms the sliding jaw.

What I now claim is:

1. In a Snap-P Connector, the combination of an assembly for providing lever-lock action for snapping on and off a storage battery terminal post, said assembly being comprised of a barrel soldered on a terminal end of a flexible battery cable, said barrel supporting a pair of levers for positioning on opposite sides of said battery terminal post, said barrel at one end comprising a cable well into which said battery cable is fitted and soldered, the opposite end of said barrel being forked to form a pair of parallel spaced apart legs, said levers being positioned between said legs, said levers being connected pivotally together at their one ends by means of a short pin, the opposite ends of said levers forming jaws for placement against opposite sides of i said battery terminal post, one of said levers jaw forming a holding jaw while the other lever jaw forms a sliding jaw, an intermediate portion of said holding jaw having a transverse opening receiving a pin which at its opposite end is fitted through openings in the ends of said legs of said barrel, while the other of said levers along an intermediate portion thereof is provided with a recess or depression, a sliding plunger being supported within said barrel, one end of said plunger being normally urged against said recess or depression by means of a compression coil spring.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein an end of said sliding jaw is provided withfa stop adjacent which there is a second recess, said second recess being adaptable to receive the end of said plunger when said barrel is upwardly flipped so to cause said jaws to spread apart.

I! i k

Claims

1. In a Snap-P Connector, the combination of an assembly for providing lever-lock action for snapping on and off a storage battery terminal post, said assembly being comprised of a barrel soldered on a terminal end of a flexible battery cable, said barrel supporting a pair of levers for positioning on opposite sides of said battery terminal post, said barrel at one end comprising a cable well into which said battery cable is fitted and soldered, the opposite end of said barrel being forked to form a pair of parallel spaced apart legs, said levers being positioned between said legs, said levers being connected pivotally together at their one ends by means of a short pin, the opposite ends of said levers forming jaws for placement against opposite sides of said battery terminal post, one of said lever''s jaw forming a holding jaw while the other lever jaw forms a sliding jaw, an intermediate portion of said holding jaw having a transverse opening receiving a pin which at its opposite end is fitted through openings in the ends of said legs of said barrel, while the other of said levers along an intermediate portion thereof is provided with a recess or depression, a sliding plunger being supported within said barrel, one end of said plunger being normally urged against said recess or depression by means of a compression coil spring.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein an end of said sliding jaw is provided with a stop adjacent which there is a second recess, said second recess being adaptable to receive the end of said plunger when said barrel is upwardly flipped so to cause said jaws to spread apart.