Abstract:
A hold down apparatus for clamping a battery within a motorized vehicle for preventing movement thereof particularly during sudden accelerations and decelerations of the vehicle. The hold down apparatus includes a non-metallic tray mounted to the motorized vehicle and a strap having a two-part quick disconnect buckle for anchoring a battery within the tray.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to a clamping apparatus, and more particularly to that class of apparatus useful as a battery tie down device. The present invention has application in all situations wherein a battery should be tied down to prevent movement thereof, but it has particular application for tying down batteries in boats, automobiles, trucks, and other vehicles which are subject to sudden accelerations and decelerations. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The prior art abounds with apparatuses useful for retaining devices such as batteries and the like. The most conventional of all such prior art devices comprises a metal tray anchored to the frame or floor of a vehicle for supporting the battery, a metallic cover for fitting over and engaging the top of the battery, and two metallic rods each having a hook at its lower end for engaging the walls of openings in opposite edges of the tray and being threaded at its upper end for insertion through an opening in the cover for receiving a nut, which when tightened, closes the cover against the top of the battery to anchor the battery to the tray and the frame or floor of the vehicle. The cover, in this most conventional prior art device, is either a metallic cross piece that straddles the battery between its cell groups or is a rectangular metallic member having a large rectangular opening in its center which forms a L-shaped cross-sectional border on its outer edges for surrounding and engaging the upper edges of the battery. The principal disadvantage of most such prior art devices is that the metal parts corrode when coming in contact with the acid electrolyte of the battery. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,367,572 discloses a tie down device for a battery comprising a rectangular tray for supporting the battery, two openings in opposed edges of the rectangular tray, and an elastic hold down member having a hook adjacent each of its ends for insertion into the openings of the tray to engage the walls of each opening. In use, the battery is placed into the tray, a hook on one end of the elastic member is inserted into one opening in said tray, the elastic member is stretched up the side of the battery, over the top of the battery between its cell groups, and down the other side of the battery where the other hook is inserted into the other opening in the tray to engage the walls of the opening, thus securing the battery to the tray. 
     There have also been prior art devices which include a container for housing a battery within a vehicle, which container has bottom and top portions secured together by a belt wrapped around the container. U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,052,449 and 3,437,164 are exemplary of such prior art devices. 
     The instant invention relates to a clamping apparatus made substantially of non-metallic material for holding down a battery in a motorized vehicle such as a boat, automobile or truck to prevent the battery from moving particularly during sudden accelerations and decelerations, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art devices. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a clamping apparatus primarily adapted to hold down devices, such as batteries in motorized vehicles, in an effective, efficient, and economical manner. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a hold down apparatus which engages the device to be held down in a manner such that the device cannot move about. 
     A still further object of the invention is to provide a hold down apparatus which is substantially entirely non-metallic, and impervious to the acid electrolyte of the battery thereby precluding corrosion of the hold down apparatus. 
     Another further object of the invention is to provide a hold down apparatus for devices, such as batteries for use in motorized vehicles, which is easy to install and maintain and permits ready and quick removal or replacement of the device being held down. 
     These objects as well as other objects of the present invention will become more readily apparent after reading the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hold down apparatus of the present invention with the buckle of the strap in an unbuckled condition. 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom elevational view of the base or tray of the hold down apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view of a separable buckle utilized with the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the most common of all prior art battery hold down devices. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The prior art devices generally clamp the battery and prevent movement thereof through rigid metallic elements. Thus, on shock of large magnitude, the upper edges of the battery are subjected to substantial stresses which might cause the casing of the battery to crack. In prior art devices, acid electrolyte from the battery often comes into contact with the metallic elements to cause the metallic elements to corrode. 
     The present invention contemplates the above mentioned and other deficiencies of prior art devices and also considers the desirability of providing a battery hold down device which permits the installation and removal of a battery from a motorized vehicle quickly and without the use of tools. The present invention relates to a battery hold down device which may be manufactured inexpensively, is durable, and useful for its purpose. 
     FIG. 1 illustrates, by way of example, the preferred embodiment of the invention having a battery mounted therein in an unbuckled or unrestrained condition. FIG. 2 illustrates, by way of example, the preferred embodiment of the tray or base of the present invention. 
     Now referring to the drawings, the present invention comprises a tray 12, a strap 32, and a two-part quick disconnect buckle 34 attached to strap 32. The tray 12 is shown as supporting a battery, depicted by dotted lines 52, and is molded from any suitable plastic material, such as polypropylene or polycarbonate which resists or is not affected by battery acid. Tray 12 includes a base 13, upstanding side walls 14, 16, 18 and 20, a plurality of projections 22 extending from the base 13, each having an opening 23 therein, a horizontal groove 24 (FIG. 2) extending between side walls 16 and 20 of tray 12, vertical grooves 26 and 28 in side walls 16 and 20 of tray 12 in communication with horizontal groove 24 of tray 12, and a plurality of structural ribs 30 on the bottom of base 13. 
     The strap 32 for clamping battery 52 to tray 12 is made from any suitable material, such as polypropylene, which is not subject to corrosion by battery acid. Strap 32 has a two-part quick disconnect buckle 34 associated therewith, made of any suitable material, such as polypropylene, which is not subject to corrosion by battery acid, and comprises a male connection member 36 and a female receptacle member 38. The female receptacle member 38 is fixed to one end of strap 32 and comprises a generally rectangular opening 48, a guide groove 50, and a latch aperture 52. Male connection member 36 comprises a frame like body portion 37 defined by sides 39 which are interconnected by a plurality of transversely extending bars 41, 43 and 45, a flexible arm 40 connected to bar 41 having on its upper surface a tapered locking portion 42 and a locking extension 44 on its free end and a guide protrusion 46 adjacent bar 41. Male connection member 36 further includes two side guide members 47 extending from bar 41 for stabilizing the buckle when male connection member 36 and female receptacle 38 are engaged. The free end 33 of strap 32 is fed around center bar 43 to slidably mount male member 36 on strap 32. The terminals of the battery are designated by dotted lines 54. 
     The tray 12 of the battery hold down device is mounted to a motorized vehicle through use of any conventional means, such as screws or bolts inserted through openings 23 of projections 22 extending from tray 12. Prior to anchoring tray 12 to the motorized vehicle, strap 32 is placed within horizontal groove 24 of tray 12. Alternatively, strap 32 may be secured within horizontal groove 24 in the bottom of tray 12 by any conventional means, such as glue. 
     In operation, battery 52 is placed into tray 12, the free end 33 of strap 32 is pulled upward such that strap 32 is centered within vertical groove 28 of tray 12 and wrapped up one side of battery 52 and around the top upper edge of battery 52 so that it rests upon the top surface of battery 52 between the two cell groups, the female receptacle member 38 fixed to one end of strap 32 is pulled upward such that strap 32 centers itself within vertical groove 26 and engages the other side of battery 52 until the female receptacle member 38 is brought within the proximity of male connection member 34 at which time arm 40 of male connection member 34 is inserted and pushed into opening 48 of female receptacle member 38, thus depressing locking portion 42 and locking extension 44 on flexible arm 40 of male connection member 34, until locking portion 42 and locking extension 44 snap into opening 52 of female receptacle member 38 to interlock the male and female members 36 and 38. A simple pull upon free end 33 of strap 32 tightens the strap around battery 52 causing bar 45 to bite into strap 32 to secure battery 52 within tray 12 and to the motorized vehicle. 
     While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the accompanying claims.