Abstract:
The present invention relates to a clamp for connecting the poles of a battery, the clamp being made of a cold-pressed brass material, so as to fit all the functional type of requirements while alleviating the environmental problems related to the making and use of the clamp.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a clamp for connecting the posts of storage batteries. 
     As known, prior clamps for connecting the posts of batteries, in particular in motor vehicles, are conventionally made of lead. 
     While these lead clamps have electric and mechanical characteristics suitable for such an application, lead is, however, a greatly polluting material and its use is increasingly forbidden. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide a clamp construction, which has suitable electric and mechanical characteristics, while having a very reduced environmental impact. 
     Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the present invention is to provide such a flexible clamp construction which can be indifferently used either for the negative or for the positive post of the battery. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide such a clamp construction which can be bilaterally assembled and which allows electric cables to easily pass on the top portion of the battery. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, the above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a clamp for connecting the posts of a battery, characterized in that said clamp is made of a cold-pressed brass material. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further characteristics and advantages of the clamp construction according to the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following detailed disclosure of a preferred embodiment of the subject clamp which is illustrated, by way of an indicative, but not limitative, example, in the figures of the accompanying drawings, where: 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the clamp construction according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the clamp shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a further side elevation view of that same clamp; 
     FIG. 4 is a partially cross-sectioned side elevation view of the clamp of FIG. 1, substantially taken along the section line IV--IV of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the clamp, as applied to the post of a battery; 
     FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the clamp shown in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the clamp shown in FIG. 5; and 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 5, substantially taken along the section line VIII--VIII thereof. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures, the clamp construction according to the present invention, which has been generally indicated by the reference number 1, is made by shearing and cold pressing a tinned brass plate, preferably galvanized brass, for example the brass material OT67, OT70 according to the UNI 4894 Standard Table. 
     The tin coating has preferably a thickness of 7 microns. 
     The subject clamp construction is provided with a substantially flat central portion 2 therefrom extends a substantially frustum of cone shaped mantle 3, defining a recess or seat 4 for receiving the pole or post of the battery. 
     The frustum of cone shaped mantle 3 extension is cut off at a set portion thereof, therefrom two facing legs 5a and 5b extend, which are so contoured as to define a passage 6 for a bolt 7 provided for clamping the clamp construction about the post 8 of the battery 15. 
     On the inner surface of the mantle 3, i.e. on the surface thereof provided for engaging with the pole or post 8 of the battery, are defined a plurality of coined portions 9, which are evenly spaced from one another. 
     The clamp construction according to the present invention comprises moreover, on the opposite side from the clamping bolt 7, a contoured leg 10, extending from the central portion 2 preferably up to a level higher than the top end portion of the mantle 3, with a portion 10a thereof on which a latching portion 11 is formed. 
     This latching or clamping portion 11 is provided for receiving electric cables, of different cross sections, typically from 10 to 35 mm 2 . 
     In this connection it should be pointed out that the clamping of the electric cable in the clamping or latching portion 11 is advantageously performed only on the inner leg, without the need of providing on the clamp additional fins, for also clamping the insulating material. 
     This will allow to greatly reduce the making cost, weight and size, so as to easily allow the clamp to be assembled, bilaterally or in two directions, on the novel standardized batteries, which were recently standardized according to the DIN Standards. 
     On the surface of the clamping portion 11 provided for contacting the electrically conductive part of the electric cable are defined a plurality of coined portions 12. 
     Moreover, on the portion 10a are provided throughgoing holes 13a and 13b, which can be used for connecting, for example by using bolts 14, the terminals of cables for power supplying additional services. 
     The overlaying position of the portion 10a of the leg 10 will allow both the cables connected to the clamping portion 11 and the cables for power supplying auxiliary services, to pass through the top portion of the battery 15. 
     In this connection it should be moreover pointed out that the central region 2 is provided, laterally, with a resting foot element 16 extending downwardly and provided for bearing, as shown in particular in FIGS. 7 and 8, on the top face of the battery 15, near the pole 8 thereof. 
     The clamp according to the present invention, moreover, can be used both as a clamp for the positive post of the battery, and as a clamp for the negative post of said battery, by simply changing the affixing hole for affixing the clamp on the battery post, whereas, by reversing the clamping bolt 7, the clamp can also be used as both a right or left clamp. 
     From the above disclosure and from the observation of the figures of the accompanying drawings, it should be apparent that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, since a clamp has been provided which has the required functional features, while providing a minimum impact on the environment, owing to the use of a tinned brass material instead of the conventionally used lead material. 
     A further advantage of the invention is that of a significative weight reduction, from 25% to 35% with respect to a conventional diecast lead alloy clamp. 
     It should be apparent that the size of the clamp can be any, depending on requirements and the intended technical application.