# US 2004/0144908 A1 · Telescopically adjustable battery holddown

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- Number: US 2004/0144908 A1
- Document ID: US20040144908A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 10/349,818
- Filed: 2003-01-23
- Published: 2004-07-29
- Earliest claimed: 2003-01-23
- Assignees: Quick Cable Corporation
- Inventors: John K. Shannon JR.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20040144908A1

## CPC

- A47G 11/002: {comprising means for attaching to a diner's clothing (separate holding devices A47G21/165)}
- H01M 50/202: Casings or frames around the primary casing of a single cell or a single battery
- H01M 50/256: Carrying devices, e.g. belts
- H01M 50/264: for cells or batteries, e.g. straps, tie rods or peripheral frames
- H01M 10/06: Lead-acid accumulators (semi-lead accumulators H01M10/20)
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B)
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A telescopically adjustable holddown (10) is disclosed including first and second brackets (16,18) and drawing elements (12) adapted to extend between a battery tray (14) and the brackets for drawing the brackets toward the battery tray to hold a battery (2). The brackets each include a generally L-shaped clamp (20) having top (22) and side members (24) for abutting the top (3) and sides (4) of the battery. An ear (26) extends from each side member and includes an aperture (36) for receiving a bolt (12) extending from the battery tray. Each bracket includes a cross rod (17,19) with second cross rod (19) having a cavity (46) for slidably receiving the first cross rod (17). The cavity requires that relative movement of the first and second brackets be substantially along the cavity axis (50) to allow telescopic assembly of the first and second brackets. The brackets are drawn toward the battery tray by tightening nuts (13) on the bolts to prevent relative movement of the brackets.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A telescopically adjustable holddown for a battery positioned in a battery tray, the battery having a top and first and second opposite sides, the holddown comprising:
a first bracket having a first top member for abutting the top of the battery, a first side member for abutting the first side of the battery, and a first cross rod for extending over the top of the battery;
a second bracket having a second top member for abutting the top of the battery, a second side member for abutting the second side of the battery, a second cross rod for extending over the top of the battery, and a cavity for slidably receiving the first cross rod, the cavity defining a cavity axis;
a first drawing element adapted to extend between the battery tray and the first bracket for drawing the first bracket toward the battery tray to hold the battery between the battery tray and the first bracket; and
a second drawing element adapted to extend between the battery tray and the second bracket for drawing the second bracket toward the battery tray to hold the battery between the battery tray and the second bracket;
whereby, length adjustment of the holddown requires only relative movement between the first and second brackets substantially along the cavity axis.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The holddown of claim 1 wherein the first cross rod and cavity are formed to provide for infinite adjustment of distance between the first and second side members when the first and second brackets are assembled, thereby allowing use of the holddown with batteries of varying sizes.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The holddown of claim 2 wherein the second cross rod forms the cavity.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The holddown of claim 3 wherein the cavity is bounded on three sides by the second cross rod.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The holddown of claim 4 wherein the second cross rod includes a top wall and spaced side walls which bound the cavity, the first cross rod has a width, and the spacing between the side walls is at least equal to the width of the first cross rod.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The holddown of claim 5 further including a sleeve portion spaced from the top wall such that the top wall, side walls and sleeve portion define an opening to the cavity, the opening being completely bounded, wherein the first cross rod has a height and the spacing between the top wall and sleeve portion is at least equal to the height of the first cross rod.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The holddown of claim 4 wherein the second cross rod has a length, and the cavity extends substantially the entire length.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The holddown of claim 2 wherein the side members are substantially parallel and define a lateral direction, and wherein the cavity axis is substantially perpendicular to the lateral direction.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The holddown of claim 2 wherein:
the first bracket includes a first ear integrally formed as a single piece with the first cross rod and extending from the first side member in a direction opposite the first top member, the first ear including a first aperture; and
the second bracket includes a second ear integrally formed as a single piece with the second cross rod and extending from the second side member in a direction opposite the second top member, the second ear including a second aperture.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The holddown of claim 9 wherein:
the first drawing element includes a first bolt for connection with respect to the battery tray and for extending through the first aperture; and
the second drawing element includes a second bolt for connection with respect to the battery tray and for extending through the second aperture;
whereby the first and second brackets are drawn toward the battery tray to hold the battery between the battery tray and the brackets by inserting the first and second bolts through the first and second apertures, respectively, and tightening a nut on each of the first and second bolts.

### Claim 11

An adjustable holddown for a battery positioned in a battery tray, the battery having a top and first and second opposite sides, the holddown comprising:
a first bracket having a first top member for abutting the top of the battery, a first side member for abutting the first side of the battery, a first cross rod for extending over the top of the battery, and a first mount for connecting with a drawing element for drawing the first bracket toward the battery tray to hold the battery between the battery tray and the first bracket;
a second bracket having a second top member for abutting the top of the battery, a second side member for abutting the second side of the battery, a second cross rod for extending over the top of the battery, a cavity for slidably receiving the first cross rod, the cavity defining a cavity axis, and a second mount for connecting with a drawing element for drawing the second bracket toward the battery tray to hold the battery between the battery tray and the first bracket;
whereby, the first cross rod and cavity are dimensioned such that, upon receipt of the first cross rod within the cavity the first and second brackets remain engaged to one another without connection to the drawing element.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The adjustable holddown of claim 11 wherein length adjustment of the holddown requires only relative movement between the first and second brackets substantially along the cavity axis.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The holddown of claim 11 wherein the first cross rod and cavity are formed to provide for infinite adjustment of distance between the first and second side members when the first and second brackets are assembled, thereby allowing use of the holddown with batteries of varying sizes.

### Claim 14 (depends on 2)

The holddown of claim 2 wherein the second cross rod forms the cavity.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The holddown of claim 14 wherein the second cross rod includes a top wall and spaced side walls and a sleeve portion spaced from the top wall, the top wall and side walls defining the cavity and the top wall, side walls and sleeve portion defining an opening to the cavity, the opening being completely bounded, and wherein the first cross rod has a height and a width, the spacing between the top wall and sleeve portion is at least equal to the height of the first cross rod and the spacing between the side walls is at least equal to the width of the first cross rod.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The holddown of claim 11 wherein:
the first bracket includes a first ear integrally formed as a single piece with the first cross rod and extending from the first side member in a direction opposite the first top member, the first ear including the first mount, the first mount being a first aperture; and
the second bracket includes a second ear integrally formed as a single piece with the second cross rod and extending from the second side member in a direction opposite the second top member, the second ear including the second mount, the second mount being a second aperture.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The holddown of claim 16 wherein the drawing element includes a first bolt for connection with respect to the battery tray and for extending through the first aperture; a second bolt for connection with respect to the battery tray and for extending through the second aperture, whereby the first and second brackets are drawn toward the battery tray to hold the battery between the battery tray and the brackets by inserting the first and second bolts through the first and second apertures, respectively, and tightening a nut on each of the first and second bolts.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The adjustable holddown of claim 11 wherein the length of the holddown is adjustable when connected to the drawing element.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The adjustable holddown of claim 11 wherein the first cross rod and cavity are dimensioned such that, upon receipt of the first cross rod within the cavity unintentional separation of the first and second brackets is prevented.

### Claim 20

A method of holding a battery assembly in a battery tray, the battery assembly having a top and first and second opposite sides spaced apart by a distance, the method comprising:
providing a first bracket having a first top member for abutting the top of the battery assembly, a first side member for abutting the first side of the battery assembly, a first cross rod for extending over the top of the battery assembly, and a first mount;
providing a second bracket having a second top member for abutting the top of the battery assembly, a second side member for abutting the second side of the battery assembly, a second cross rod for extending over the top of the battery assembly, a cavity for slidably receiving the first cross rod, the cavity defining a cavity axis, and a second mount;
providing a drawing element;
inserting the first cross rod into the cavity a desired depth such that the space between the first and second side members is of a desired effective length substantially equal to the distance;
connecting the drawing element to the first and second mounts; and
tightening the drawing element such the brackets are drawn toward the battery tray to hold the battery assembly between the battery tray and the brackets;
whereby the first and second side members abut the opposite sides of the battery assembly, the first and second top members abut the top of the battery assembly and the battery assembly is sandwiched between the brackets and the tray.