WO2000065694A1

WO2000065694A1 - Electrical connector

Info

Publication number: WO2000065694A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2000/000076
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jacobus Nicolaas Heyneke
Original assignee: Van Heerden, Hendrik, Jacobus
Priority date: 1999-04-28
Filing date: 2000-04-28
Publication date: 2000-11-02
Also published as: AU5643100A

Abstract

The invention provides an electrical connector including a shackle means (12) defining a zone for receiving an electrical connecting means (16); a pivotable clamping means (46) for at least partially opening or closing the shackle means; and a connecting means (110) for connecting the clamping means (46) to the shackle means (12). An arm portion (30) extending from the shackle means may be provided, and a second clamping means may be provided to clamp an elongate object, typically an electrical wire, to the arm portion (30).

Description

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an electrical connector, and more particularly to an electrical connector for a battery terminal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The applicant is aware of conventional electrical connectors which connect an electrical cable to a motor vehicle battery. These connectors have the shape of an incomplete circle which partially surrounds a terminal of the battery. In order to ensure good electrical contact and also to secure the connection, a bolt is usually inserted through apertures in flanges extending from open ends of the connector and a nut is then screwed onto the bolt to draw the ends of the connector closer together, thereby tightening the connector around the battery terminal.

This arrangement, however, has obvious disadvantages. For example, the nut and bolt may loosen, thereby causing the connector to become disconnected from the battery. In the loosening process, or when the battery is being replaced, the nut and/or bolt may also fall out from the connector and become lost. Also, a spanner is needed to connect or disconnect the connector, making it more difficult to quickly connect or disconnect the battery, for example, in the case of a fire. A further disadvantage is that the electrical connecting wire is usually soldered directly onto the connector, thus making it difficult to replace the wire and/or the connector. Therefore a need exists to provide an electrical connector which is easy to connect to or disconnect from an electπcal source, which is simple in design and which requires no extraneous parts or tools when connecting or disconnecting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first embodiment of the invention there is provided an electrical connector including: a shackle means defining a zone for receiving an electrical connecting means; a pivotable clamping means for at least partially opening or closing the shackle means; and a connecting means for connecting the clamping means to the shackle means.

An arm portion may extend from the shackle means, and a second clamping means may be provided for clamping an elongate object to the arm portion.

At least the shackle means may be manufactured from an electrically conductive material.

The shackle means may be open-ended with a leg extending from each open end.

The shackle means may be configured to receive an electrical connecting means in the form of a battery terminal.

The connecting means may be selected from the group including a pin, a bolt, a screw a stud, and a plate. The connecting means may extend through apertures in both legs of the shackle means, the connecting means having a head portion at a first end which cannot pass through the apertures. Alternativley, the first end of the connecting means may be attached to a first leg of the shackle means and a second end may extend through an aperture in a second leg. Preferably, however, the first end of the connecting means may be attached to the first leg of the shackle means and the second end may extend beyond the second leg.

The clamping means may be pivotably connected to the second end of the connecting means. A cam-shaped portion of the clamping means may be engageable with the second leg of the shackle means, and the clamping means may include a handle portion.

The clamping means may be pivotable in a first direction about the connecting means so that the cam-shaped portion exerts a force on the second leg, thereby causing the shackle means to at least partially close and the terminal-receiving zone to become restricted. The cam-shaped portion of the clamping means may be configured to hold the shackle means in the at least partially closed position.

The clamping means may be pivotable in a direction reverse to the first direction so as to relieve the force exerted on the second leg by the cam- shaped portion and at least partially open the shackle means.

The second clamping means may be configured to clamp an electrical wire or a cable containing an electrical wire to the arm.

According to a second embodiment of the invention there is provided a battery including an electrical connector substantially as described above. According to a third embodiment of the invention there is provided a motor vehicle including an electrical connector substantially as described above.

According to a fourth embodiment of the invention there is provided an electrical appliance including an electrical connector substantially as described above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described further with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a plan view of a first embodiment of an electrical connector according to the invention; and

Figure 2 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of the electrical connector.

In the drawings, reference numeral 10 is used to refer generally to an electrical connector according to the invention.

Referring to Figure 1 , the electrical connector 10 has a shackle means in the form of a shackle body 12 having a substantially "c"-shaped collar 14 defining a terminal-receiving zone 16, and two legs 18 and 20 which extend from ends 22 and 24 of the collar 14, respectively. The legs 18 and 20 define transverse apertures 26 and 28, respectively.

A connecting means in the form of a first pin 40 extends through the apertures 26 and 28. A head portion 42 ensures that a first end 44 of the pin 40 does not pass completely through the aperture 26. A clamping means in the form of a clamping member 46 is pivotally connected to a second end 48 of the first pin 40 by a second pin 50. The clamping member has a finger actuatable handle portion 52 and a cam- shaped portion 54.

An arm portion 30 extends from a closed end 32 of the shackle body 12. The arm portion has a groove 38 and transverse apertures 34 and 36 are defined on either side of the groove 38. A second clamping means in the form of a complementarily shaped clamping portion (not shown) is also provided. The clamping portion has a groove and two apertures such that when the clamping portion is attached to the arm portion 30, the groove and apertures are in register with the groove and apertures 34 to 38 of the arm portion 30.

The shackle body 12 and arm portion 30 are manufactured from any suitable electrically conductive material, for example, cast iron or brass.

In use, a user inserts the shackle body 12 over a battery terminal (not shown) so that the collar 14 substantially surrounds the terminal. The user, using one or more fingers, then pivots the clamping member 46 about pin 40 by pushing handle portion 52 in direction A, causing the cam-shaped portion 54 to rotate and bear down on leg 20. As the cam-shaped portion 54 rotates, the camming action increases the force exerted on leg 20, thereby causing leg 20 to be displaced inwardly in direction C, closer to leg 18. The clamping member 46 has a similar effect to a third order lever in that the force exerted by the cam-shaped portion 54 on leg 20 is greater than the force applied to the handle portion 52 by the user. The resultant effect of the inward displacement of leg 20 is that the shackle body 12 tightens about the terminal, thus securing the connector 10 to the terminal and also facilitating optimal electrical connection between the collar 14 and the terminal. When the user releases the handle portion 52, the cam-shaped portion 54 continues to exert pressure on leg 20. An electrical wire or a cable including an electrical wire (not shown) is clamped onto the arm portion 30 by positioning the wire in the groove 38, with at least a portion of the wire in contact with the arm 30 being electrically conductive. The clamping portion then clamps the wire to the arm portion 30 by having a bolt or screw inserted through each of the apertures 34 and 36 of the arm portion and the corresponding apertures of the clamping portion. Transverse ridges (not shown) in the groove 38 serve to inhibit displacement of the wire from the groove 38.

The battery terminal is now in electrical communication with the electrical wire.

In order to disconnect the connector 10 from the battery terminal, the user pivots the clamping member 46 in direction B. The cam-shaped portion 54 rotates in an opposite direction to the earlier rotation, and the cam-shaped portion 54 is configured so that rotation in this direction relieves the pressure exerted on leg 20, permitting leg 20 to be displaced in direction D and so returning to its initial position. Displacement of leg 20 in direction D causes the shackle body 12 to be similarly displaced, thereby loosening the collar 14 about the battery terminal. The connector 10 is now easily removable from the terminal.

In order to remove the wire from the connector 10, the clamping portion is loosened or removed from arm portion 30, so that the wire can slide out of the groove 38.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention, wherein the connecting means comprises an elongate plate 110 which extends between the first leg 18 and the clamping member 46. Legs 18 and 20 each define a transverse groove into or through which the plate 110 is inserted. A pin 100 is used to attach a first end 104 of the plate 110 to leg 18, and a pin 102 pivotally connects the clamping member 46 to a second end 106 of the plate 110. The plate 110 is not attached to leg 20, and the leg 20 is able to slide along at least a portion of the length of the plate 110. The pin 102 is positioned off-centre in the cam-shaped portion 54 so as to have the effect of a cam.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the shackle means may comprise at least one pair of jaws closed at one end and having legs extending from an opposite open end.

The invention is not limited to the precise constructional details as herein described. For example, the shapes of the shackle body and collar may vary from those shown and described herein.

The applicant believes that the invention is advantageous in that it provides an easily connectable and disconnectable electrical connector. The electrical connector is also cost-efficient and easy to manufacture.

Claims

1. An electrical connector including: a shackle means defining a zone for receiving an electrical connecting means; a pivotable clamping means for at least partially opening or closing the shackle means; and a connecting means for connecting the clamping means to the shackle means.

2. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an arm portion extends from the shackle means.

3. An electrical connector as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2, which includes a second clamping means for clamping an elongate object to the arm portion.

4. An electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least the shackle means is manufactured from an electrically conductive material.

5. An electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the shackle means is open-ended with a leg extending from each open end.

6. An electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the shackle means is configured to receive an electrical connecting means in the form of a battery terminal.

7. An electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the connecting means is selected from the group including a pin, a bolt, a screw a stud, and a plate.

8. An electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the connecting means extends through apertures in both legs of the shackle means, the connecting means having a head portion at a first end which cannot pass through the apertures.

9. An electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a first end of the connecting means is attached to a first leg of the shackle means and a second end extends through an aperture in a second leg.

10. An electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a first end of the connecting means is attached to a first leg of the shackle means and a second end extends through a slot in a second leg.

11. An electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the clamping means is pivotably connected to the second end of the connecting means.

12. An electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein a cam-shaped portion of the clamping means is engageable with the second leg of the shackle means.

13. An electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the clamping means includes a handle portion.

14. An electrical connector as claimed in either of claims 12 or 13, wherein the clamping means is pivotable in a first direction about the connecting means so that the cam-shaped portion exerts a force on the second leg, thereby causing the shackle means to at least partially close.

15. An electrical connector as claimed in claim 14, wherein the cam- shaped portion of the clamping means is configured to hold the shackle means in the at least partially closed position.

16. An electrical connector as claimed in either of claims 14 or 15, wherein the clamping means is pivotable in a direction reverse to the first direction so as to relieve the force exerted on the second leg by the cam-shaped portion and at least partially open the shackle means.

17. An electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 16, wherein the second clamping means is configured to clamp an electrical wire or a cable containing an electrical wire to the arm.

18. A battery including an electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. A motor vehicle including an electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17.

20. An electrical appliance including an electrical connector as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17.

21. An electrical connector according to the invention, as hereinbefore generally described.

22. An electrical connector as specifically described with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

23. An electrical connector, battery, motor vehicle or electrical appliance including any new and inventive integer or combination of integers, substantially as herein described.