Battery post clamp

DETAILED DESCRIPTION I claim: 1.
In a battery terminal clamp of the type in which a pair of conductive clamping members have cooperable recesses for engaging a battery terminal and the clamping members are pivoted at and biased towards a grouping relationship with respect to a battery terminal by a spring and are maintained in alignment by an alignment member coupling both clamping members together, the improvement therein of maintaining the functions of the spring and alignment member while combining the same in a single element, comprising: a V-shaped spring connecting both clamping members and providing a holding connection therebetween, while simultaneously providing the bias and the alignment of the clamping members, a slot in each of said clamping members, and said V-shaped spring including a pair of flat legs each press fit in a respective slot.
2.
The improved battery terminal clamp of claim 1, wherein: one of said clamping members includes contacting means for receiving and electrically contacting a conductor.
3.
The improved battery terminal clamp of claim 2, wherein said contacting means comprises: a ridged surface; and a clamping plate secured to said one clamping member for clamping the conductor against said ridged surface.




Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.
Field of the Invention The present invention relates to battery terminal clamps, and more particularly to battery terminal clamps in which a single spring member is employed for effecting the clamping action and preventing misalignment due to relative twisting movement between two clamp members.
2.
Description of the Prior Art Clamp structures employing two separate clamping members have been disclosed in, for example, U.
S.
Pat.
Nos.
2,285,545 and 2,020,220.
Both of these arrangements employ two clamp members and utilize springs for providing clamping forces on a battery terminal or the like.
However, both of these structures require tools to effect a disconnection or connection.
In U.
S.
Pat.
No.
2,285,545, a screwdriver or similar tool is required, for disposition between the two, free ends of the clamp members adjacent the jaws of the same, whereby the latter may be separated by twisting the blade of the screwdriver