Anti-theft battery disconnector apparatus

Claim 2

Anti-theft battery disconnect apparatus comprising: disconnect means connectible to a battery cable and to a battery post, and including a first electroconductive member adapted to be secured to the post, a second electroconductive member adapted for attachment to the cable, and a third electroconductive member electrically connected to one of said first and second members and shiftable into and from engagement with the other of said first and second members, a housing structure containing and enclosing said disconnect means and adapted to enclose the battery post with said first member secured to the battery post, whereby said housing structure prevents access to the post and disconnect means; and lock means in said housing structure including a bolt normally engageable with said third member to retain said third member disengaged from said first and second members, said lock means including key operable means for shifting said Bolt from retaining engagement with said third member to allow shifting of said third member into engagement with said other of said first and second members.

Claim 3

In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said bolt engaging said housing structure when in retaining engagement with said third member to prevent removal of said housing structure from the battery post.

Claim 4

In apparatus as defined in claim 1; spring means in said housing structure engaging said third member to urge said third member into engagement with said other of said first and second members when said bolt is shifted from retaining engagement with said third member; and means connected to said third member for shifting said third member from engagement with said other of said first and second members.

Claim 5

In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said third member being connectible to said second member and shiftable into and from engagement with said first member.

Claim 6

In apparatus as defined in claim 1; said third member being connectible to said second member and shiftable into and from engagement with said first member; spring means in said housing structure engaging said third member to urge said third member into engagement with said first member when said bolt is shifted from retaining engagement with said third member; and means connected to said third member for shifting it from engagement with said first member.

Claim 7

Anti-theft battery disconnect apparatus comprising: disconnect means connectible to a battery cable and to a battery post, and including an electroconductive shiftable member in the electric circuit between the battery cable and post and movable between a closed position at which the cable and the post are electroconductively connected, and an open position at which the cable and the post are disconnected; a housing enclosing said disconnect means; a fixed structure within and connected to said housing; and lock means within said structure for locking said shiftable member in its said open position and for locking said housing over said disconnect means; said lock means including a bolt; means normally biasing said bolt to an extended position wherein said bolt engages said fixed structure connected to said housing, thereby preventing removal of said housing; means for moving said shiftable member to its said open position; said shiftable member including keeper means for receiving said bolt and preventing movement of said shiftable member to its said closed position when said shiftable member is in its said open position and said bolt is in its extended position; and key-operable means for moving said bolt to its said retracted position, wherein said shiftable member may be moved to its said closed position and said housing may be removed from said disconnect means.

Claim 8

Anti-theft battery disconnect apparatus comprising: disconnect means connectible to a battery cable and to a battery post, and including an electroconductive shiftable member in the electric circuit between the battery cable and post and movable between a closed position at which the cable and the post are electroconductively connected, and an open position at which the cable and the post are disconnected; a housing enclosing said disconnect means; a fixed structure within and connected to said housing; and lock means within said structure for locking said shiftable member in its said open position and for locking said housing over said disconnect means; said lock means including a bolt; means normally biasing said bolt to an extended position wherein said bolt engages said fixed structure connected to said housing, thereby preventing removal of said housing; means for moving said shiftable member to its said open position; said shiftable member including keeper means for receiving said bolt and preventing movement of said shiftable member to its said closed position when said shiftable member is in its said open position and said bolt is in its extended position; and key-operable means for moving said bolt to its said retracted position, wherein said shiftable member may be moved to its said closed position and said housing may be removed from said disconnect means.

Claim 9

Anti-theft battery disconnect apparatus comprising: disconnect means connectible to a battery cable and to a battery post, and including an electroconductive shiftable member in the electric circuit between the battery cable and post and movable between a closed position at which the cable and the post are electroconductively connected, and an open position at which the cable and the post are disconnected; a housing enclosing said disconnect means; a fixed structure connected to said housing; and lock means for locking said shiftable member in its said open position and for locking said housing over said disconnect means; said lock means including a bolt; means normally biasing said bolt to an extended position wherein said bolt engages said fixed structure connected to said housing, thereby preventing removal of said housing; means for moving said shiftable member to its said open position; said shiftable member including keeper means for receiving said bolt and preventing movement of said shiftable member to its said closed position when said shiftable member is in its said open position and said bolt is in its extended position; and key-operable means for moving said bolt to its said retracted position, wherein said shiftabLe member may be moved to its said closed position and said housing may be removed from said disconnect means; and further comprising means for maintaining said bolt in a partially retracted position, between said extended and retracted positions, when said shiftable member is in its closed position; said bolt, when in its said partially retracted position, engaging said fixed structure connected to said housing for preventing removal of said housing.

Claim 10

Anti-theft battery disconnect apparatus comprising: disconnect means connectible to a battery cable and to a battery post, and including an electroconductive shiftable member in the electric circuit between the battery cable and post and movable between a closed position at which the cable and the post are electroconductively connected, and an open position at which the cable and the post are disconnected; a housing enclosing said disconnect means; a fixed structure connected to said housing; and lock means for locking said shiftable member in its said open position and for locking said housing over said disconnect means; said lock means including a bolt; means normally biasing said bolt to an extended position wherein said bolt engages said fixed structure connected to said housing, thereby preventing removal of said housing; means for moving said shiftable member to its said open position; said shiftable member including keeper means for receiving said bolt and preventing movement of said shiftable member to its said closed position when said shiftable member is in its said open position and said bolt is in its extended position; and key-operable means for moving said bolt to its said retracted position, wherein said shiftabLe member may be moved to its said closed position and said housing may be removed from said disconnect means; and further comprising means for maintaining said bolt in a partially retracted position, between said extended and retracted positions, when said shiftable member is in its closed position; said bolt, when in its said partially retracted position, engaging said fixed structure connected to said housing for preventing removal of said housing.

Claim 11

in a battery disconnect apparatus insertable between an electric battery and a battery cable for selectively interrupting the conductive path between the battery and the cable: a housing adapted to be secured over the terminal post of an electric battery and one end of a battery cable which is spaced from the terminal post; a fixed structure connected to said housing; a clamping member in said housing for electro-conductively engaging the terminal post of a battery over which said housing is secured; a conductive member in said housing and shiftable into and out of contact with said clamping member; means for electroconductively connecting said conductive member to the end of a battery cable over which said housing is secured; means normally biasing said conductive member into contact with said clamping member; actuator means for shifting said conductive member out of contact with said clamping member; anti-theft means for preventing removal of said housing and for preventing shifting of said conductive member into contact with said clamping member; said anti-theft means comprising a key-operable lock having a bolt movable between an extended position and a retracted position; keeper means on said conductive member for engaging said bolt when said bolt is in its said extended position for preventing shifting of said conductive member into contact with said clamping member; said fixed structure connected to said housing including means for engaging said bolt when said bolt is not in its retracted position for preventing removal of said housing; and key-operable means for moving said bolt to its said retracted position to permit removal of said housing.

Claim 12

in a battery disconnect apparatus insertable between an electric battery and a battery cable for selectively interrupting the conductive path between the battery and the cable: a housing adapted to be secured over the terminal post of an electric battery and one end of a battery cable which is spaced from the terminal post; a fixed structure connected to said housing; a clamping member in said housing for electro-conductively engaging the terminal post of a battery over which said housing is secured; a conductive member in said housing and shiftable into and out of contact with said clamping member; means for electroconductively connecting said conductive member to the end of a battery cable over which said housing is secured; means normally biasing said conductive member into contact with said clamping member; actuator means for shifting said conductive member out of contact with said clamping member; anti-theft means for preventing removal of said housing and for preventing shifting of said conductive member into contact with said clamping member; said anti-theft means comprising a key-operable lock having a bolt movable between an extended position and a retracted position; keeper means on said conductive member for engaging said bolt when said bolt is in its said extended position for preventing shifting of said conductive member into contact with said clamping member; said fixed structure connected to said housing including means for engaging said bolt when said bolt is not in its retracted position for preventing removal of said housing; and key-operable means for moving said bolt to its said retracted position to permit removal of said housing.

Claim 13

in a battery disconnect apparatus insertable between an electric battery and a battery cable for selectively interrupting the conductive path between the battery and the cable: an insulator housing having a first opening adapted to receive one of the terminal posts of an electric battery, and a second opening adapted to receive the end of a battery cable; an insulator connector block mounted in said housing; said connector block including a bore extending therethrough, a lock-receiving cavity spaced from said bore, and a connecting passage extending between said bore and said cavity; a clamp having an extension mounted in one end of said bore in said connector block; said clamp being disposed externally of said connector block in proximity to said first opening in said housing; said clamp being adapted to be electroconductively secured on a battery terminal post extending through said first opening in said housing; a conductor shaft extending through the other end of said bore in said connector block and slidably disposed therein; spring means normally biasing said conductor shaft into contact with said clamp; actuator means for moving said conductor shaft out of contact with said clamp, against the bias of said spring means; a cable connector mounted in said other end of said bore in sliding electroconductive contact with said conductor shaft; said cable connector being adapted to be electroconductively connected to the terminal end of a battery cable inserted through said second opening of said housing; anti-theft means for preventing removal of said housing and for preventing shifting of said conductive shaft into contact with said clamp; said anti-theft means comprising a key operable lock extending through one wall of said housing and into said lock receiving cavity in said insulative connector block; said lock including a bolt movable between an extended position wherein it extends through said connecting passage in said connector block and into said bore, and a retracted position within said lock-receiving cavity of said connector block; said conductor shaft including flange means adapted to engage said bolt and prevent movement of said conductor shaft into contact with said clamp when said bolt is in its said extended position; said bolt, when not in its said retracted position; cooperating with said connecting passage in said connector block to prevent removal of said housing; said lock further comprising key-operable means for moving said bolt to its said retracted position; said key-operable means including a key slot accessible from outside of said housing.

Claim 14

in a battery disconnect apparatus insertable between an electric battery and a battery cable for selectively interrupting the conductive path between the battery and the cable: an insulator housing having a first opening adapted to receive one of the terminal posts of an electric battery, and a second opening adapted to receive the end of a battery cable; an insulator connector block mounted in said housing; said connector block including a bore extending therethrough, a lock-receiving cavity spaced from said bore, and a connecting passage extending between said bore and said cavity; a clamp having an extension mounted in one end of said bore in said connector block; said clamp being disposed externally of said connector block in proximity to said first opening in said housing; said clamp being adapted to be electroconductively secured on a battery terminal post extending through said first opening in said housing; a conductor shaft extending through the other end of said bore in said connector block and slidably disposed therein; spring means normally biasing said conductor shaft into contact with said clamp; actuator means for moving said conductor shaft out of contact with said clamp, against the bias of said spring means; a cable connector mounted in said other end of said bore in sliding electroconductive contact with said conductor shaft; said cable connector being adapted to be electroconductively connected to the terminal end of a battery cable inserted through said second opening of said housing; anti-theft means for preventing removal of said housing and for preventing shifting of said conductive shaft into contact with said clamp; said anti-theft means comprising a key operable lock extending through one wall of said housing and into said lock receiving cavity in said insulative connector block; said lock including a bolt movable between an extended position wherein it extends through said connecting passage in said connector block and into said bore, and a retracted position within said lock-receiving cavity of said connector block; said conductor shaft including flange means adapted to engage said bolt and prevent movement of said conductor shaft into contact with said clamp when said bolt is in its said extended position; said bolt, when not in its said retracted position; cooperating with said connecting passage in said connector block to prevent removal of said housing; said lock further comprising key-operable means for moving said bolt to its said retracted position; said key-operable means including a key slot accessible from outside of said housing.

Claim 15

Anti-theft battery disconnect apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said lock and said lock receiving cavity are generally cylindrical; and further comprising a set screw extending through said housing and said connector block and into contact with said lock for preventing said lock from turning in said cavity when a key is inserted into said lock and turned to retract said bolt.