Patent ID: 6709287
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: H01R,H02G,Y02T,Y10S

Abstract:
A vehicle, comprising:(a) a frame, to which a large percentage of components of said vehicle are engaged directly or indirectly, and from which a large percentage of components of said vehicle derive support directly or indirectly; (b) a suspension system that is engaged to and provides support for said frame; (c) one or more body structures engaged to and supported by said frame directly or indirectly; (d) an electrical system engaged to said vehicle; (e) a module mounting component engaged to said vehicle; (f) wherein said electrical system comprises a first electrical component engaged to said vehicle and disposed generally upon a first side of said module mounting component; (g) wherein said electrical system comprises a second electrical component engaged to said vehicle and disposed generally upon a second side of said module mounting component; (h) wherein said electrical system comprises an electrical connection assembly that is electrically connected to and extends between said first electrical component and said second electrical component; (i) wherein said electrical connection assembly comprises an electrical connection module; (j) wherein said electrical connection module comprises a rigid body that is fixedly mounted to said module mounting component and is disposed primarily upon said second side of said module mounting component; (k) wherein said electrical connection module comprises a first electrical terminal that is of rigid construction and that extends from a point of fixed engagement of said first electrical terminal to said rigid body disposed upon said second side of said module mounting component, through a passageway defined through said module mounting component, to a free end of said first electrical terminal that is disposed upon said first side of said module mounting component; (l) wherein said first electrical component is electrically connected to said first electrical terminal at a point disposed upon said first side of said module mounting component; (m) wherein said electrical connection module comprises a second electrical terminal that is of a rigid construction and that is fixedly engaged to said rigid body of said electrical connection module; (n) wherein said second electrical terminal extends from a point of engagement to said rigid body of said electrical connection module to a free end of said second electrical terminal that is disposed upon said second side of said module mounting component; (o) wherein said second electrical component is electrically connected to said second electrical terminal at a point disposed upon said second side of said module mounting component; (p) wherein said electrical connection module is constructed such that said first electrical terminal and said second electrical terminal are or may be electrically connected to one another so that electricity may flow between said first electrical terminal and said second electrical terminal; (q) said rigid body comprises a rigid metallic member; (r) said first electrical terminal is rigidly engaged to said rigid metallic member in a manner such that said first electrical terminal is electrically connected to said rigid metallic member so that electrically may flow between said first electrical terminal and said rigid metallic member; (s) said second electrical terminal is engaged to said rigid metallic member in a manner such that said second electrical terminal is electrically connected to said rigid metallic member so that electricity may flow between said second electrical terminal and said rigid metallic member; (t) said first electrical terminal and said second electrical terminal are always electrically connected to one another by said rigid metallic member such that electricity may flow between them through said rigid metallic member that they are both electrically connected to; (u) said electrical connection module further comprises electrical insulation material that has a relatively high electrical resistance and that is engaged to said electrical connection module in locations such that said electrical insulation material is diseased between electrically conducting components of said electrical connection module and adjacent portions of said module mounting component that said electrically conducting components of said electrical connection module might otherwise contact and electrically connect to; (v) said rigid metallic member is constructed with a strength and is engaged to other portions of said rigid body in a manner such that said rigid metallic member provides substantial reinforcement for said rigid body; (w) said electrical connection module comprises first terminal electrical insulation material that radially surrounds a portion of said first electrical terminal that protrudes through said passageway defined through said module mounting component; (x) said electrical connection module comprises body electrical insulation material that is engaged to said electrical connection module at a position such that said rigid metallic member is disposed upon a side of said body electrical insulation material opposite said free end of said first electrical terminal; (y) said body electrical insulation material is disposed between said rigid metallic member and said module mounting component; (z) said body electrical insulation material comprises a structural insulation member; (aa) said structural insulation member is positioned such that substantially all components of said electrical connection module other than said first electrical terminal are disposed upon a side of said structural insulation member opposite said free end of said first electrical terminal; (bb) said structural insulation member is constructed and engaged to other portions of said rigid body of said electrical connection module in a manner such that said structural insulation member, in conjunction with said rigid metallic member, provides substantial reinforcement for said rigid body of said electrical connection module; (cc) one only of said first electrical component and said second electrical component of said vehicle comprises an engine starter motor; (dd) whichever of said first electrical component and said second electrical component does not comprise an engine starter motor, comprises one or more automotive type electrical batteries; (ee) said electrical connection assembly further comprises first side electrically conducting components that are electrically connected to said first electrical terminal of said electrical connection module and that are also electrically connected to said first electrical component; (ff) said electrical connection assembly further comprises second side electricity conducting components that are electrically connected to said second electrical terminal of said electrical connection module and that are also electrically connected to said second electrical component; (gg) whichever of said first side electricity conducting components and said second side electricity conducting components is electrically connected to said automotive type electrical batteries that either said first electrical component or said second electrical component comprises, comprises automotive type battery cables; (hh) whichever of said first side electricity conducting components and said second side electricity conducting components is electrically connected to said engine starter motor that either said first electrical component or said second electrical component comprises, comprises large gauge electrical cables that are similar in construction to said automotive type battery cables; (ii) said frame of said vehicle comprises two frame rails that are disposed such that they extend substantially parallel to one another and also substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of said vehicle; (jj) one of said frame rails of said frame of said vehicle is said module mounting component to which said electrical connection module is fixedly mounted; (kk) said passageway defined through said module mounting component through which said first electrical terminal protrudes is defined through a web portion of said frame rail that is said module mounting component; (ll) said engine starter motor, that either said first electrical component or said second electrical component comprises, is disposed generally between said two frame rails that said frame of said vehicle comprises; and (mm) said automotive type electrical batteries, that either said first electrical component or said second electrical component comprises, are located generally upon a side of said frame rail that is said module mounting component, opposite said engine starter motor.