Patent Publication Number: US-5026307-A

Title: Battery terminal clamp

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,923,415 and 4,975,089. In the present specification, there is disclosed a battery terminal clamp which has a sliding clip movably secured at one side of a conventional terminal clamp and retained in a working position by a screw for clamping on a side mounted battery terminal. 
     Battery failure has been known as one of the most common reasons which cause a motor vehicle to be unable to start. Under emergency conditions, jumper cable is commonly used to connect the car battery in trouble to the car battery of other car. A jumper cable is generally comprised of two battery terminal clamps connected through a cable. However, conventional battery terminal clamps are not suitable for use to clamp on the side mounted battery terminal of the battery which is set in the engine compartment of a motor vehicle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been accomplished to eliminate the aforesaid problem. According to the present invention, there is provided a battery terminal clamp having a sliding clip movably secured in a conventional terminal clamp at one side, which sliding clip can be moved back in a received position or pushed out and then fixed by a screw at a clamping position for clamping on the side mounted terminal of a car battery. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a battery terminal clamp embodying the present invention wherein the sliding clip is disposed at a received position; 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 1 wherein the sliding clip is pushed into a clamping position; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an alternate form of the present invention wherein the sliding clip is disposed at a received position; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 3 wherein the sliding clip is pushed into a clamping position; 
     FIG. 5 is a side view of the present invention wherein the sliding clip is pushed into a clamping position; and 
     FIG. 6 is another side view of the present invention wherein the sliding clip is disposed at a received position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 through 4, the present invention is generally comprised of a conventional terminal clamp 1, and a sliding clip 2 secured to said terminal clamp 1 at one side by a screw 3. 
     As illustrated, the sliding clip 2 is secured to the clamping element 101 of the terminal clamp 1 at the outer side by the screw 3. Loosening the screw 3 permits the sliding clip 2 to be pushed to project over the top edge of the terminal clamp 1 into a clamping position. The clamping element 101 has a side projection 102 for stopping the bottom edge 201 of the sliding clip 2 when the sliding clip 2 is moved into a clamping position, so as to stop the sliding clip 2 from moving backward (see FIG. 5). As soon as the sliding clip 2 is moved into a clamping position, the screw 3 is fastened up again to fixedly secure the sliding clip 2 in position. When not in use, the sliding clip 2 can be moved back to closely attach to the clamping element 101 and fixedly secured thereto by the screw 3 (see FIG. 6). 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 again, the sliding clip 2 has an opening 203 at the front end thereof for retaining a battery terminal, a closed, elongated sliding slot 205 longitudinally disposed at a lower end through which the screw 3 is inserted to secure the sliding clip 2 to the clamping element 101 of the terminal clamp 1 permitting the sliding clip 2 to slide in longitudinal direction on the clamping element 101, and two opposite edges 206 at two opposite sides which are bent downward through 90° angle for retaining the two opposite side walls of the clamping element 101. By means of the effect of the two opposite edges 206, the sliding clip 2 is permitted to slide in longitudinal direction on the clamping element 101 and protected against torsional force. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is illustrated an alternate form of the sliding clip 2. In this embodiment, the sliding clip 2 has an opening 203 at the front end thereof for retaining a battery terminal, an elongated sliding slot 207 extending downward from said opening 203, and two opposite hooked portions 204 bilaterally disposed at the front end thereof. When the sliding clip 2 is moved back into a received position, the two opposite hooked portions 204 are respectively engaged in the front end of the clamping element 101 so that the sliding clip 2 will not drop from the clamping element 101 after it is secured in position by a screw 3. Similar to the aforesaid first embodiment, the two opposite sides of the sliding clip 2 are respectively bent downward through 90° angle to firmly retain the two opposite side walls of the clamping element 101 against torsional force.