Battery terminal

{
  "publication_number": "US5851129A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Battery terminal",
  "abstract": "A terminal main body 3 has a supporting member 2 that clamps the periphery of a battery post P, and a pair of clamp arms 7. Each arm 7 has two angled bolt through holes 6. When a bolt 4 is attached, the attachment axis L and the attachment axis M of the post P are inclined at an angle thus increasing access possibilities for a wrench 15.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A battery terminal comprising a clamp for substantially encircling a battery post, the clamp having protruding arms facing each other and adapted to be drawn together to tighten the clamp about the post, the clamp having an axis coincident in use with the axis of symmetry of said post, and further including a bridging screw between said arms, said screw being operable to tighten or loosen the clamp, wherein the bridging screw acts at an acute angle to a plane perpendicular in all directions to said axis, said clamp being provided with at least two alternative orientations for said screw relative to said arms, and the orientations being substantially symmetrical about said plane, whereby the screw can be oriented upwardly on either side of the clamp.",
    "2. A terminal according to claim 1 wherein said arms each have a plurality of bridging faces, each face being substantially perpendicular to a respective bridging direction of said screw.",
    "3. A terminal according to claim 2 wherein said arms provide a further location for said screw to act in said plane.",
    "4. A terminal according to claim 3 wherein said arms have the appearance of an incomplete polygon in section.",
    "5. A terminal according to claim 1 wherein said arms are arcuate in cross-section.",
    "6. A terminal according to claim 1 wherein said locations are defined by a slot of each of said arms.",
    "7. A terminal according to claim 1 wherein said locations are individually defined by apertures of said arms.",
    "8. A terminal according to claim 1 wherein a wire connecting member is provided on said clamp opposite to said arms."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to a battery terminal used for connecting electric wires to terminal posts of a battery provided on automobiles and the like.\n\nConventional battery terminals include the one described in the Japanese Patent Publication 4-7567 (see FIGS. 6 and 7 of this specification). A battery terminal 30 comprises a tubular member 31 for engaging a terminal post P protruding from a battery B, a pair of arms 32 for closing the tubular member 31, and a bolt 33 and nut 34 between the arms 32. An electric wire connecting member 36 for connecting an electric wire terminal 35 is provided on the opposite side to the arms 32.\n\nIn this battery terminal 30, it is arranged so that the bolt 33 is diagonal, and it is thereby made easier to attach a wrench 40 to tighten the nut.\n\nHowever, in the conventional battery terminal 30, the axis of the bolt 33 is unidirectional; that is, as shown in FIG. 7, only one direction, which extends from the upper right diagonal as illustrated. For this reason, it can be difficult for the tightening operation to be carried out depending on the type of battery B or on the location in the vehicle.\n\nThe present invention has been developed after taking the above problem into consideration, and aims to present a battery terminal wherein the attachment problem is solved.",
  "cpc": [
    "H01R 11/282",
    "H01R 11/283"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "H01M 2/30",
    "H01R 11/12",
    "H01R 11/28"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Hideki Matsunaga",
    "Takao Hata",
    "Nori Inoue"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1997-08-21",
  "publication_date": "1998-12-22",
  "grant_date": "1998-12-22",
  "priority_date": "1996-08-21",
  "application_number": "US-91593597-A",
  "family_id": "16745731",
  "cited_by_count": 23,
  "citations": [
    "JPH047567A",
    "US5087214A",
    "US5302143A",
    "US5302142A",
    "US5492780A"
  ]
}