Abstract:
A device for covering a battery is disclosed having terminal connections projecting from an upper surface of the battery. The cover comprises an outer periphery configured to mate with the upper surface of the battery, a top surface facing away from the terminal connections, and a bottom surface facing toward the terminal projections. The device may also define at least one terminal opening configured to allow connection of a battery cable to at least one of the terminal connections when the device is in a mating position with respect to the battery.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to battery covers, and more particularly to battery covers used with vehicle batteries.  
           [0003]    2. Background of the Invention  
           [0004]    A car battery is a rechargeable electrochemical device that stores chemical energy and releases it as electrical energy upon demand. When a car battery is connected to an external circuit, chemical energy is converted to electrical energy and current flows through the circuit.  
           [0005]    Batteries are typically made of five basic components: a plastic container typically made of polypropylene, positive and negative internal plates typically made of lead, plate separators typically made of a porous synthetic material, an electrolyte such as a dilute solution of sulfuric acid and water, and lead terminals which form the connection points between the battery and the external circuit it powers.  
           [0006]    There are currently two primary types of vehicle batteries in wide spread use: the 6 volt battery used in motorcycles and the 12 volt battery used in automobiles, although other voltages will soon be in use. A standard 12-volt battery is made up of six cells connected in series. The cells are filled with an electrolyte and produce approximately two volts each. The cells are individually separated with thin sheets of electrically insulating plate separators that are used as spacers to keep them apart.  
           [0007]    Car batteries come in different sizes, with their terminals in different locations. FIGS. 1A-1E depict five types of batteries according to the location of the terminals: SAE post terminal  112 , “L” terminal  114 , combination SAE and stud terminal  116 , stud terminal  118 , and combination SAE post and GM side terminal  120 .  
           [0008]    A car battery can cause serious injuries. In addition to being an electrical shock hazard, the sulfuric acid electrolyte in a battery is a highly corrosive acid that can cause serious injuries. Sulfuric acid electrolyte also produces highly flammable gases, such as hydrogen. If a tool touches both battery posts or a battery post and metal parts of the vehicle, a short circuit might result, which, in turn, could cause a dangerous battery explosion. Further, when an electrolyte in a battery is mixed with even small quantities of salt water, a deadly chorine gas is produced.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The present invention is directed to a battery cover, which, among other things, helps to avoid accidental short circuits and to vent noxious gases. The cover comprises an outer periphery configured to mate with the upper surface of the battery, a top surface facing away from the terminal connections, and a bottom surface facing toward the terminal projections. The device may also define at least one terminal opening configured to allow connection of a battery cable to at least one of the terminal connections when the device is in a mating position with respect to the battery.  
           [0010]    According to another aspect of the invention, a battery cover comprises an outer periphery configured to mate with the upper surface of the battery, a top surface facing away from the terminal connections, and a bottom surface facing toward the terminal projections. The cover may also define at least one terminal opening configured to allow connection of a battery cable to at least one of the terminal connections when the device is in a mating position with respect to the battery. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIGS. 1A-1E are schematic diagrams illustrating different types of batteries.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is an orthogonal schematic diagram of a battery cover.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a plan view schematic diagram of the top of the cover of FIG. 2.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a plan view schematic diagram of the underside of the cover of FIG. 2.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is an orthogonal schematic view of the battery cover of FIG. 2 fitted on a battery having top mounted post terminals.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is an orthogonal schematic view of an alternative embodiment of the battery cover with a battery having side terminals.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is an orthogonal view of an alternative embodiment of a battery cover with a battery having both side and top terminals. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]    Reference will now be made in detail to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 2 shows a battery cover  200  in accordance with the present invention. As shown, battery cover  200  has a substantially rectangular shape with an outer periphery  212 . Although depicted as being substantially perpendicular to the upper surface of battery cover  200 , edges of battery cover  200  may also be slightly tapered or otherwise configured so that, for example, various battery sizes may be usable with a single cover. Cover  200  also includes apertures for venting and receiving cable that connects the battery to the circuits of the automobile when the battery cover is placed on the battery. Preferably, battery cover  200  includes multiple cable receiving apertures to accommodate different locations of terminals. The cable receiving apertures can assume any desired shape. In an exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, battery cover  200  includes cable receiving apertures  222 ,  224 ,  228 , and  230 .  
         [0020]    Battery cover  200  further comprises a plurality of planar surfaces  202 ,  204 , and  206 . Planar surfaces  202 ,  204 , and  206  are all substantially parallel to one another and lie in different planes spaced apart from one another. Such a configuration adds strength to cover  200  and may also provide a decorative aspect. Although three distinct planar levels are shown in FIG. 2, more or fewer planar surfaces could be used as desired. In addition, multiple layers such as this may assist in directing toxic gases toward the various ventilation holes.  
         [0021]    Each of surfaces  202 ,  204 , and  206  may also be constructed of differing thick nesses. For example, surface  202  may be thicker than surface  206 , which may in turn be thicker than surface  204 . With such a configuration, although vent openings  220  and  226  are at the lowest plane with respect to the upper surface of cover  200 , from an underside, these openings may be at a higher plane than the undersides of surfaces  202  and  206 . In this fashion, as described above, gases that are lighter than air would be inclined to move toward the topmost area, which would be the underside of surfaces  204  and thus be directed toward openings  220  and  226 .  
         [0022]    In addition to top vent openings, battery cover  200  may also include side vent openings  240 . Vent openings  240  are generally rectangular in shape and are located along one or more of the plurality of sides. Vent openings  240  allow for gases that may be heavier than air also to flow away from the battery. Gases may also vent from cable apertures  222 ,  224 ,  228 , and  230 .  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 is an underside view of the battery cover of FIG. 2. Comers  310 ,  312 ,  314 , and  316  of battery cover  200  are perpendicular to the upper surface of cover  200 , but may also be tapered so as to allow the battery cover to be able to fit onto different size batteries. Comers  310 ,  312 ,  314 , and  316  and sides  340 ,  342 ,  344 , and  346  of battery cover  200  may also be slightly curved to provide more universal fit to a range of vehicle batteries.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 shows battery cover  200  placed on a battery  810 . As shown, battery cover  200  provides the coverage for the top portion of battery  810 . As shown, battery cables  820  pass through apertures  228  and connect to terminals (not shown) located on an upper surface of battery  810 . By covering the terminals of battery  810 , battery cover  200  may prevent an electric shock hazard. Also, battery cover  200  may prevent a tool from accidentally touching both battery posts or a battery post and metal parts of the vehicle, thus reducing the possibility of a battery explosion caused by an accidental short circuit. Furthermore, battery cover  200  may prevent the foreign substances, such as salt water, from entering a battery and being mixed with battery electrolyte.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6 shows a battery cover  400  for use with a side terminal battery  910 .  
         [0026]    Battery cover  400  covers a top of the side terminal battery and outer periphery  212  (shown in FIG. 2) of the battery cover provides a roof over the terminals of the side terminal battery. When battery cover  400  is in place on battery  910 , battery cables  920  may be connected to the side terminals and are provided the necessary clearance by apertures  422  and  424 . Battery cover  400  also includes a decorative top surface which may be desirable for users who wish to customize their vehicles.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 7 shows a battery cover  500 , which is substantially the same as battery cover  200 . In addition to the features of battery cover  200 , battery cover  500  includes a plurality of spacer members  530  which may assist in mounting cover  500  to battery  1810 . Spacer members  530  are configured to mate with posts  1850  located on an upper surface of battery  500 . Spacer members  530  may, for example, affix to posts  1850  via a friction or interference fit. Spacers  530  additionally may be reversibly affixed to battery cover  500 , for example, by an adhesive s. Posts  1850  may be formed as part of the top surface of the battery or they may alternatively be affixed to the cover, for example by double sided tape. Other known methods may be used to affix spacers  530  to battery cover  500  or to affix posts  1850  to the battery. Additionally, spacers  530  may be formed integrally with battery cover  500 .  
         [0028]    The foregoing disclosure of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. For example, the present invention could be used with car batteries, truck batteries, van batteries, and boat batteries all of any voltage as may be used in the particular application. Many variations and modifications of the embodiments described herein will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above disclosure.