Patent Publication Number: US-6334797-B1

Title: Battery terminal connector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a battery terminal connector adapted to connect electric wires to a terminal of a battery, and more particularly to a simple structure of battery terminal, which is inexpensive to manufacture and, can positively be secured to the terminal of the battery. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 show a battery terminal connector according to the prior art. This structure of battery terminal connector comprises a wire distribution part  3  adapted to receive electric wires  4 , and two clamping arms  31  adapted for fastening to a battery terminal  21 . The wire distribution part  3  has a plurality of screw holes at the top for the mounting of screws  41  to secure respective electric wires  4 . The clamping arms  31  each have an arched rear portion respectively extended from the wire distribution part  3 , and a free end terminating in an extension portion  32 . The arched rear portions of the clamping arms  31  define split mounting hole  311  adapted to receive the battery terminal  21 . After attaching the split mounting hole  311  to the battery terminal  21 , a screw bolt  33  is fastened to the extension portions  32  of the clamping arms  31  to secure the clamping arms  31  to the battery terminal  21 . This structure of battery terminal connector has drawbacks. Because the arched rear portions of the clamping arms  31  are connected to each other and formed integral with the solid wire distribution part  3 , the clamping arms  31  have less resilient power, and a gap may be left between the clamping arms  31  and the battery terminal  21  after installation of the battery terminal connector. Because the clamping arms  31  have less resilient power, much effort should be employed when fastening the clamping arms  31  to the battery terminal  21 . During installation, it is complicated to fasten up the screw bolt  33 . If the screw bolt  33  is not tightly fastened up, the battery terminal connector may be forced out of position. Further, when fastening up the screw bolt  33  with force, the threads of the screw bolt  33  may be damaged. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is one object of the present invention to provide a battery terminal connector, which can easily be installed with less effort. It is another object of the present invention to provide a battery terminal connector, which can positively be secured to the battery terminal to achieve satisfactory electric conducting effect. To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, there is provided a battery terminal connector, which comprises a mounting part and a wire distribution part integral with the mounting part. The mounting part comprises two clamping arms adapted for securing to a terminal of a battery by a screw bolt. The wire distribution part comprises a forwardly extended opening, and two wire distribution portions formed integral with the clamping arms and separated by and displaceable into the forwardly extended opening for receiving a respective electric wire. The forwardly extended opening greatly increases the resilient power of the clamping arms, enabling the clamping arms to be turned inwards and outwards within a wide range for easy installation without causing damage. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a battery terminal connector according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional assembly view of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an alternate form of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of another alternate form of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a battery terminal connector according to the prior art. 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the prior art battery terminal connector installed. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a battery terminal connector  1  is shown comprising a metal mounting part  11 , and a metal wire distribution part integral with the mounting part  11 . The mounting part  11  comprises two clamping arms  111  arranged in parallel. The clamping arms  111  define a circular mounting hole  12  and a narrow gap  121  in communication with the circular mounting hole  12 , each having a front extension portion  112 . A through hole  1121  is made through the front extension portion  112  of one clamping arm  111 , and a screw hole  1122  is made through the front extension portion  112  of the other clamping arm  111 . When in use, the circular mounting hole  12  is coupled to the terminal  21  of the battery  2 , and then a screw bolt  13  is inserted into the through hole  1121  and threaded into the screw hole  112  to secure the clamping arms  111  firmly to the terminal  21  of the battery  2 . The aforesaid wire distribution unit comprises a forwardly extended opening  15 , which divides the wire distribution unit into two wire distribution portions  14 . The wire distribution portions  14  each comprise a front wire hole  141 , which receives a respective electric wire  16 . A tightening up screw  142  is threaded into a respective screw hole on each wire distribution portion  14  to secure the respective electric wire  16  to the respective wire hole  141 , keeping the conductors of the respective electric wire  16  in close contact with the inside wall of the respective wire distribution portion  14 . As indicated, the two wire distribution portions  14  are formed integral with the clamping arms  111  of the mounting part  11  and separated by and displaceable into the opening  15 . This design enables the clamping arms  111  to be turned outwards and inwards relative to each other without causing damage. 
     FIG. 3 shows an alternate form of the present invention. According to this alternate form, notches  122  are formed on the clamping arms  111  around the circular mounting hole  12  for enabling the clamping arms  111  to be positively secured to the terminal  2  of the battery  2  (see also FIG.  1 ). 
     FIG. 4 shows another alternate form of the present invention. According to this alternate form, a notch  123  is formed in the mounting part  11  backwardly extended from the circular mounting hole  21  toward the opening  15  of the wire distribution part and opposite to the narrow gap  121 . The notch  123  enables the clamping arms  111  to be opened wider without causing damage. 
     It is to be understood that the drawings are designed for purposes of illustration only, and are not intended for use as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed.