Abstract:
A battery cover assembly for use with a battery cell structure having spaced apart positive and negative terminals along a given surface. The cover assembly includes a cover surface having a relief area and a wall depending from the cover surface. A support structure supports the cover surface relative to the given surface of a desired battery cell structure such that the open relief area is aligned with the negative terminal. At least a portion of the wall extends between the positive and negative terminals and the cover surface covers the positive terminal.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to battery covers. Battery covers are often used to protect a battery from experiencing a short circuit. For example, tools and objects are often stored inside the housing of construction equipment, such as compressors and generators. If the battery terminals are uncovered, one of the tools or other objects could bridge between the battery terminals and cause a short circuit. To prevent such, prior art battery covers typically include a housing that defines a separate compartment that encloses the battery to exclude foreign objects from the area around the battery. The battery cover may include a hinged or bolted cover to provide access to the battery. 
     While these prior art devices generally protect the battery from exposure to foreign objects, accessing the battery may be difficult, especially if tools or other objects have been placed on top of the battery cover. Such inaccessibility makes it difficult to disconnect the battery during repair, disuse, or transport. Battery disconnection is desirable when the equipment is not in use to provide safety, preserve battery life and to prevent inadvertent starting of the equipment. The inaccessibility may cause an operator to forego disconnection of the battery even though such may be desirable. Furthermore, the enclosed battery housing must be opened for an operator to access the battery and confirm that the battery has been properly disconnected. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention relates to a battery cover assembly for use with a battery cell structure having spaced apart positive and negative terminals along a given surface. The cover assembly includes a cover surface having a relief area and a wall depending from the cover surface. A support structure is configured to support the cover surface relative to the given surface of a desired battery cell structure such that the open relief area is aligned with the negative terminal. The first wall extends between the positive and negative terminals and the cover surface covers the positive terminal. The cover assembly reduces the risk of an inadvertent short circuit while allowing easy access to the negative battery terminal. 
     In a further embodiment of the present invention, the depending wall extends substantially about the perimeter of the cover surface such that the depending wall defines a substantially closed area in which the positive terminal is segregated. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top, rear isometric view of a battery cover assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom, front isometric view of a preferred battery cover according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a top, front oblique view of the battery cover assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view along line  4 — 4  in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a top, rear isometric view of a battery cover assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing figures wherein like numbers represent like elements throughout. Certain terminology, for example, “top”, “bottom”, “right”, “left”, “front”, “frontward”, “forward”, “back”, “rear” and “rearward”, is used in the following description for relative descriptive clarity only and is not intended to be limiting. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , a battery cover assembly  10  that is a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The battery cover assembly  10  is shown positioned about a pair of battery cells  12 , one of the battery cells having a negative terminal  14  and the other cell  12  having a positive terminal  16  (see  FIG. 3 ). The battery cells  12  are supported on a base surface  18 . The base surface  18  may be a part of the battery cover assembly  10 , or may be a separate structure, for example, a surface of the equipment in which the battery is utilized. 
     A support structure  21  extends between the base surface  18  and the battery cover  30 . The support structure  21  of the first embodiment  10  includes a plurality of support rods  22  positioned about the battery cells  12 . The support rods  22  are secured to the base surface  18  and are secured to and support, utilizing appropriate spacers  26  or the like (see  FIG. 4 ), the battery cover  30 . The support rods  22  are also preferably attached to a battery securing frame  20  that extends around the periphery of the battery cells  12  and holds the cells  12  relative to the base surface  18 . Clips  24  or the like may be utilized to secure the frame  20  to the rods  22  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1–3 , the preferred battery cover  30  includes a cover surface  32  configured to substantially cover the battery cells  12 , except for an open relief area  40  that is configured to align with the negative battery terminal  14 . The size of the relief area  40  is preferably minimal such that the cover surface  32  protects as much of the battery cells  12  as possible while maintaining accessibility. However, the relief area  40  may be any desired size and shape, for example, the cover surface  32  covering only the positive terminal cell  12  and the relief area  40  being above all of the negative terminal cell  12 . A side wall  34  depends from the cover surface  32  around its outer perimeter and inner walls  36  and  38  depend from the cover surface  32  about the relief area  40 . The cover surface  32 , side wall  34  and inner walls  36  and  38  define a substantially enclosed area  42 . When the battery cover  30  is supported by the support assembly  21 , the positive battery terminal  16  is segregated within the enclosed area  42  while the negative battery terminal  14  is accessible through the open relief area  40 . As such, the likelihood of an object simultaneously contacting both terminals  14  and  16  and creating a short circuit is greatly reduced, if not eliminated. Even with the battery cover  30  in place, the negative battery terminal  14  remains accessible in the open relief area  40 . As such, the negative battery cable (not shown) can easily be removed without removing the battery cover  30 . Additionally, the open relief area  40  allows a quick visual inspection to confirm disconnection of the negative battery cable. 
     While the preferred embodiment includes a substantially enclosed area  42 , such is not required. For example, the side wall  34  may be removed from the sides and back, with just the front side wall  34   a  and the inner walls  36  and  38  providing sufficient separation between the terminals  14  and  16 . In yet another alternative, the complete side wall  34  and inner wall  38  are removed with inner wall  36  extending from the front edge to the back edge of the cover surface  32 , as shown in phantom in  FIG. 2 . Additionally, while the walls  34 ,  36  and  38  preferably extend perpendicular to the cover surface  32 , they may extend at various angles to accommodate various configurations. Furthermore, while the cover  30  components are shown as solid, substantially continuous surfaces, such is not required. For example, angled cooling slots may be provided along any of the surfaces  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 . 
     The battery cover  30  may be manufactured from a non-conductive material, for example, a plastic material. Alternatively, the cover  30  may be manufactured from steel or the like. In such case, it is preferred to provide a space  50 , see  FIG. 4 , between the cover  30  surfaces  32 ,  34  and the positive battery terminal  16 . The support structure  21  is configured to support the cover  30  at a desired spacing from the battery cells  12 . The support structure  21  is preferably adjustable to allow the battery cover assembly  10  to be utilized with battery cells  12  of varying configurations. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a battery cover assembly  51  that is an alternate embodiment of the present invention is shown. The battery cover assembly  51  includes a battery cover  30  substantially the same as in the previous embodiment. The support structure  21 ′ in the present embodiment includes a walled housing  52  that completely encloses the sides and bottom of the battery cells  12 . The battery cover  30  is hingedly connected to the housing  52  at hinges  54 . The battery cover  30  has an open relief area  40  such that the cover assembly  51  operates in substantially the same manner as in the previous embodiment. A clip  60  is provided on the side of the housing  52  to maintain the negative battery cable (not shown) when it is disconnected from the battery terminal  14 . A similar clip  60  can be utilized in the first embodiment, for example, by attaching the clip  60  to the battery cover side wall  34 .