WO2000062374A1

WO2000062374A1 - Electrical connector apparatus and method

Info

Publication number: WO2000062374A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/009280
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dale C. Mccarthy
Original assignee: Centerpin Technology, Inc.
Priority date: 1999-04-13
Filing date: 2000-04-07
Publication date: 2000-10-19
Also published as: AU4078800A; EP1171931B1; EP1171931A1; DE60013267D1; ATE274757T1

Abstract

The subject invention relates to a method and apparatus for coupling an electrical conductor to a connector. A specific embodiment has a conductor housing having at least one bore therein and an electrical conductive prong mounted in the housing bore. An electrical conductor gripping collar is positioned in each conductor housing bore with gripping fingers extending from the housing bore. A collar driving member is used to push the gripping collar further into the housing bore to force the gripping fingers of the gripping collar onto the electrical conductor's insulation. The collar driving member is then fastened to the connector housing to couple the electrical conductor to the electrical connector.

Description

DESCRIPTION

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR APPARATUS AND METHOD

Background of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electrical connector apparatus and method and especially to an electπcal connector for coupling to an insulated electπcal conductor without stπppmg the end of the insulated electπcal conductor.

In the past, a wide variety of electπcal wire connectors have been provided for connecting to wire ends. In a typical connector, the end of the wire is stπpped of insulation and the bare wire is inserted into a connector where it can be soldered or clamped to or otherwise attached to the connector. It is also common to coat or tin the ends of an electrical conductor, with the insulation stπpped from the end thereof, with a thm coat of solder. A wide variety of connectors have also been provided which removably hold a wire end to a connector. My prior U.S. patent 5,704,814 for an Electπcal Connector provides an electrical connector for coupling to an insulated electπcal conductor which includes an insulated housing having threaded bores with a tapered portion therein. An electrical conductive prong extends into the housing bore for receiving an insulated electπcal conductor thereon. The compression collar is threadedly attached in the bore and has a bore extending axially therethrough for insertion of a wire into the housing bore and onto a pointed prong extending into the bore. The compression collar compresses into the tapered portion of the bore to grip the electπcal conductor extending therethrough.

Pπor wire connectors can be seen in the following U.S. patents. The Chang patent No. 4,013,333, is for a wire connector having two concentric sockets adapted to be assembled one into the other. The inner socket has a conductive needle mounted therein for sliding a wire end into each end of the connector. In the U.S. patent to Danner, No. 3,860,320, a cathode cable assembly is connected to a ball-like cathode member by stripping the end portion of the cable and inserting the end portion into a sleeve which is pressed into an undersized tapered socket and which has a pointed pm therein. The U.S. patent to Fπedhelm, No. 4,786,760, has a cable connector for a piezoelectric cable having an insulated cable end which is inserted into a sleeve.

In the U.S. patent to Berman, No. 4,091,233, an electπcal connector and a method of connecting an electπcal cable to the connector is provided for connecting one or more insulated electπcal cords or cables together. The insulated cable ends can be inserted into the receptacles on either end and onto a prong of elec tπcally conductive mateπal so that the prong is an electπcal contact with the wire of an insulated cord end. A container of adhesive mateπal on the end of the receptacle is released from the container to create a physical bond between the cord and the connector to hold the cord within the connector. In my prior U.S. Patent No. 5,403,201 an electπcal connector is coupled to an insulated electrical conductor without stripping the end of the insulated conductor. The insulated wire is held with a spring clamp which allows the wire to be released.

The Komada Patent No. 4,374,458 is for a method of connecting a co-axial cable to a connector having a plurality of connections. The Herrmgton Patent No. 916,313 is for a spark plug having a spark plug wire connector on the end thereof. The Despard Patent No. 3,097,035 is for another electric cable connector for use between sections of flexible multi-conductor cable as used with portable electric power consuming equipment and a fixed power outlet. The

Polidoπ Patent No. 3,633,147 has a connector for underground utility applications.

The Gutter et al U.S. Patent, No. 4,739,126, is for a panel mount ground termination apparatus for terminating the outer shielding conductor of an electπcal cable. A cable is passed through a closure member and through a compression member and through a termination member and into the housing to compress a plurality of prongs into the cable. The Horak U.S.

Patent, No. 3,744,007, is for a three-piece coaxial cable connector as is the Brush, Jr. et al. U.S. Patent, No. 4,561,179, for a method for electπcal connection to the center conductor of an insulated wire. The Song U.S. Patent No. 4,759,722 is for a plug for coaxial cable while the Gaver, Jr. et al. U.S. Patent No. 5,066,248 is for a manually installable coaxial cable connector. The Bielak U.S. Patent No. 5,362,251 is for a solderless coaxial connector plug while the Wπght

U.S. patent No. 5,607,320 is for a cable clamp apparatus.

Brief Summary of the Invention The present invention relates to an electπcal connector and method for coupling an insulated electπcal conductor to an electrical connector. In a specific embodiment, the subject electπcal connector has a conductor housing having at least one bore therein and an electrically conductive prong mounted m the housing bore. An electrical conductor gπppmg collar is positioned in each conductor housing bore and has associated therewith a corresponding collar dnvmg member. An insulated electπc conductor is inserted through an electπcal fastening cap, through the collar dnvmg member and through the gπppmg collar into the housing bore and onto the electπcal conductive prong. The collar driving member is pushed onto the gripping collar either independently or by the fastening cap to force the gπppmg fingers on the gripping collar onto the electrical conductor's insulation. The fastening cap is then fastened to the connector housing to secure the electπcal conductor to the electrical connector. The housing can have a plurality of bores therein each having a gπppmg collar attached thereto dπven by a single collar driving member having a plurality of openings therethrough for a plurality of electπcal conductors. A single fastening cap can push the collar driving member to dπve each of the gripping collars onto one of the insulated conductors. A method of connecting an electrical conductor to an electπcal connector in accordance with this embodiment includes selecting an apparatus as set forth and threading one or more electπcal conductors through the fastening cap collar driving member and gπppmg collars into the connector housing bores and onto the electπcal conductive prong in each bore and then pushing the collar dnvmg member onto each gripping collar to dnve each gripping collar into the housing bore and onto an electπcal conductor extending therethrough and then fastening the collar driving member to the housing. In another specific embodiment, the subject electrical connector has a housing having a bore therein which may also have a center prong protruding into the bore for coupling an insulated electncal conductor thereto. The connector has a housing cap having an aperture therethrough sized for an electrical conductor to pass therethrough and an electncal conductor gπppmg collar positioned between the housing and housing cap. A gnppmg collar for gripping an electrical conductor to the electπcal connector is formed from a single generally flat piece of matenal having at least one opening formed therein and having a plurality of gnppmg fingers extending at an angle from the edge of the opening. Each gripping finger has a gnppmg tip portion shaped to grip an electπcal conductor for holding the electπcal conductor to the electπcal connector. The electπcal connector allows an electπcal conductor to be threaded through the housing cap and through the gripping collar opening and into the housing bore so that the cap attached to the housing over the gπpping collar attaches and locks an electncal conductor to the electrical connector housing. The method of making an electncal connector having a gnppmg collar for gnppmg an electrical conductor through the electrical connector includes the selecting of an electncal connector in accordance with the apparatus and forming an electπcal conductor gnppmg collar in accordance with the apparatus. The gnppmg collar is then positioning between the housing and housing cap so that an electrical connector is made which can have an electπcal conductor threaded through the housing cap, through the gripping collar opening, and into the housing bore for locking the electπcal conductor to the electπcal connector housing with the gnppmg collar. The gnppmg collar can be formed with a plurality of openings for simultaneously attaching a plurality of electrical conductors to one electncal connector.

In another specific embodiment, the subject electrical connector can be utilized for coupling a single wire electncal cable to the terminal of an electrical appliance. The connector includes a body portion, a compression collar, and an end cap. The body portion has an elongated axis at one end of which is a battery terminal attaching portion and at the other end of which is a cable receiving portion that has a threaded outer surface and an internally positioned electrically conductive prong for penetrating the end of an electrical cable. The compression collar is sized to fit over an electπcal conductor and has gripping fingers for engaging the surface of an electrical conductor. The end cap has an opening through which a cable can be inserted and includes threads on the inner surface for mating with the threads on the body portion. In practice, an electncal conductor is inserted through the opening m the end cap and through the compression collar and impinged onto the conductive prong of the body portion. Then the end cap is threaded onto the body portion, engaging the compression collar and forcing the gnppmg fingers of the compression collar into engagement with the surface of the electncal conductor and thereby forcing the electncal conductor into tight engagement with the conductive prong of the connector.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electrical connector connected to a plurality of conductors in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a exploded perspective view of the connector in accordance with claim 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken through the electncal connector of Figures 1 and 2 with the electncal conductors not yet connected. Figure 4 is a sectional view of the electrical connector of Figures 1 and 2 having the conductor attached to the connector.

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a connector in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the connector of Figure 5 from the opposite end.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the connector of Figures 5 and 6 having a plurality of conductors attached thereto.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of another embodiment of an electrical connector m accordance with the present invention. Figure 9 is a side elevation of the electπcal connector of Figure 8 and the process of having electπcal conductors attached thereto.

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the electncal connector of Figures 8 and 9 having a pair of electncal conductors being attached thereto.

Figure 11 is an exploded perspective view of an electncal connector in accordance with the present invention; Figure 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an electπcal connector gnppmg collar m accordance with the present invention,

Figure 13 is a sectional view of an electrical conductor inserted into an electrical connector; Figure 14 is a sectional view m accordance with Figure 3 having the electncal conductor attached to the electrical connector;

Figure 15 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of an electrical connector m accordance with the present invention;

Figure 16 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a gripping collar for the electrical connector;

Figure 17 is a sectional view of a portion of an electncal connector having an electrical conductor inserted thereinto; and

Figure 18 is a sectional view in accordance with Figure 17 having the electncal conductor attached to the electrical connector. Figure 19 is an exploded sectional view of a battery terminal m accordance with the present invention.

Figure 20 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a battery terminal in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 21 is an exploded sectional view of a battery cable having battery terminal connectors attached thereto in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 22 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a battery terminal in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Disclosure of the Invention Referring to the drawings and especially to Figures 1 through 4, an electrical connector

10 is illustrated having a housing 11 having a plurality of electrical contacts 12 extending from one end thereof. The other end of the housing has a plurality of bores 13 extending thereinto with each bore having a conducting gπpping collar 14 inserted into the bore 13. Each collar 14 is split and has a plurality of gripping fingers 15 extending from one end thereof which are outwardly splayed and each gnppmg finger has a gripping tip 16 or edge 16. The housing 11 may have a first annular groove 17 and needs a second annular groove 18 therearound along with an edge 20 defining the reduced attaching portion 21 of the housing 11. A combined fastening cap and collar pushing member 22 has a fastening cap or side wall portion 23 and a collar pushing member of closure ring 24 with a plurality of apertures 25 therethrough. Each of the apertures 25 is positioned to align with one of the housing bores 13. The cap portion 23 is divided into a plurality of fastening arms 26 each having at least a first fastening snap ledge or nng 27 and may have a second snap ledge or ring 28 thereon. The connector 10, as seen in Figure 1 , has a plurality of insulated electrical conductors 30 attached thereto and extending through the collar pushing portion 24 apertures 25, although the embodiment may be scaled except for a single insulated electrical conductor.

In operation, the electrical connector 10 will have the conductor gnppmg collars 14 barrel portion 31 inserted into each bore 13 with the cap 22 being attached to the housing 11 by the arms 26 first fastening snap ledge 27 pushed into the first annular groove 17, as shown in Figure 3. The tip 27 has an angled surface 33 while the fastening snap ledge 28 has an angled surface 34 thereon. In the position as shown in Figure 3, the insulated electrical conductors 30 have each been inserted through the apertures 25 through a collar 14 into the bore 13 and impaled onto electncal conductive contact prongs or pms 35. Each electrical conductor 30 has an outer insulation 36 surrounding a conductor 37. The insulation has not been stripped on the conductors 30 since they are being pushed onto the prongs 35. Each prong 35 having a pointed tip 38. In Figure 3 it can be seen that the collars 14 gripping fingers 15 are splayed so that the conductor 30 can be inserted therethrough. Once the conductors are all inserted into the electrical connector, the fastening cap 26 along with the collar pushing portion 24 is forced against the ends 40 of the gnppmg fingers of the conductor gripping collars 14. Thus, the gripping collars 14 are each driven into their respective bores 13 forcing the fingers 15 to be driven onto each conductor 30 with the gnppmg tips 16 being driven into the insulation 36 of the electπcal conductor 30. The tips 16 can be dnven all the way through the insulation to make contact with the electπcal conductor 37 or can be dπven to compress onto the insulation 36. As the fastening cap 22 is forced onto the housing 11, the fastening snap ledge 27 is pushed from the groove 17 into the groove 18 while the fastening snap ledge 27 is pushed into the groove 17 to lock the cap 22 fastening portion to the housing 11, as seen m Figure 4.

The electrical connector, as illustrated in Figures 1-4, advantageously allows the electncal connector to be set up as illustrated in Figure 3 ready for a plurality of conductors 30 to be inserted into the connector for attachment thereto. The cap and collar pushing member 22 can then be driven from the first position, shown m Figure 3, to the second position, shown in Figure 4, to attach all of the conductors 30 simultaneously with electπcal contact with the prongs

35 and, if desired, with the gπpping teeth 16.

Turning now to Figures 5 through 7, an electπcal connector 40 is illustrated which operates in the manner of the connector of Figures 1 through 4 except with a threaded attachment on the cap for attaching all of the conductors to the connector. The electrical connector 40 has a housing 41 having a plurality of electrical contacts 42 extending from one end thereof and has an externally threaded portion 43 therearound. The housing has a plurality of bores 44 extending thereinto each having a conductor gripping collar 45 positioned therein which collar is the same as that illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4 and each collar having a plurality of fingers 46 with gripping tips 47. In this embodiment, the collar pushing member 48 is a separate component having a plurality of bores 50 extending therethrough and aligned with the bores 44 of the housing 41. The collar pushing member 48 has an annular flange 51 extending around one end thereof. The fastening cap, or side wall, 52 has an open passageway 53 therethrough with a plurality of internal threads 54 at one end thereof and an internal ledge 55 located theremside sized to fit over the collar pushing member, or closure nng 48, with the flange 51 being engaged by the ledge 55. The fastening cap 52 is threaded onto the threads 43 of the housing 41 over the collar pushing member 48. The aperture in the collar pushing member, or closure nng 48 are sized for a conductor 56 to past through but two small for the gnppmg fingers 46 of the conductor gnppmg collars 45 to fit into. The fastening cap 52 can be partially threaded onto the housing 41 over the collar pushing member 48 which is positioned against each of the conductor gnppmg collars 45. The conductors 56 can then be slid through the apertures 50 of the collar pushing member 48 and through the conductor gripping collars 45 into the bores 44 which may have the prong 35 of Figures 1 through 4 extending into each bore. Once the conductors are inserted into the connector 40, the collar pushing member 48 is pushed against the ends of each conductor either independently or by threading gripping collar 45 to dπve the fingers 46 into each conductor to lock the conductors 56 to the electncal connector 40 without having to strip the ends of the conductors 56 and without having to connect each separate conductor to the electrical connector. The fastening cap 52 can be tightened onto the housing by hand or with ordinary tools, such as a pair of pliers.

Turning now to Figures 8 through 10, another embodiment 60 of an electπcal connector m accordance with the present invention is illustrated having a connector for two conductors 61 and 62. Connector 60 has a connector body 63 having a collar 64 inserted in each end. Each collar has a tubular portion 65 with a plurality of fingers 66 which have also been split and splayed similar to the conductor gripping collars 14 of Figure 2 or 45 of Figure 5. Each collar finger 66, however, has a gripping tip or edge 67 and may have a locking edge 68 on the tip of each finger 66. The connector housing 63 can have a conductive center portion 70 with a prong or pm 71 extending into a bore 72 on one end and a prong or pin 73 extending into a bore 74 on the other end thereof. Each conductor 61 and 62 has a central conductive portion 75 with an outer insulation 76,

In operation, the collar pushing member or collar ring 77 is placed on each conductor 61 and 62, as seen m Figure 10, and then the conductor inserted through the collar 64 into the bore 72 and impaled onto the electncal conducive prong 71 to make electrical contact between the electπcal conductor 75 and the prongs 71 and 73. The collar pushing member 77, which can be made of a resilient mateπal, is then driven from one or both ends with a phers-hke tool 78, as illustrated in Figure 9. As the collar pushing member 77 is dnven on each conductor 61 and 62, it dnves against the ends of the collars 64 to dπve the collars further into the bore 72 forcing the gnppmg tips 67 into the conductors 61 and 62 to grip the conductors, as shown in Figure 8. Alternatively, the fingers 66 and gnppmg tips 67 may be manually squeezed onto the conductors before the pushing member 7 is dnven against, if included, the collars 64. As the collars 64 are dπven into the bore 72, the fastening tip 68, if included, is dπven into an annular groove 80, as shown m Figure 8, to thereby lock each collar in place withm the housing 63. The angled tips

81 allow the fastening tips to slide into the grooves 80 over the groove defining ledges 82. Simultaneously, the collar pushing member 77 is driven into an enlarged bore portion 83 to provide a locking seal between the collar finger 66, the conductor 62, and the connector body 63, as seen m Figure 8. Referring to Figures 11 through 14 of the drawings, an exploded view of an electrical connector 110 in Figure 11 has an electrical connector housing 111 having electrical contacts 112 extending from one end thereof and external threads 113 formed thereon. A housing cap 114 has an aperture 115 therethrough and has a plurality of internal threads 116 formed therein. A ledge 117 is formed in the cap 114. Conductor gripping collars 120 are mounted in the wall 118 of the housing 111 and each has an opening with a plurality of fingers 121 extending at an angle from the edge of an opening. Each finger 121 has a tip portion 122 positioned at an angle to the finger, such that the pointed tip 122 can be driven into an electπcal conductor. A compression ring or member 123 has a plurality of openings 124 sized for the passage of individual electπcal conductors therethrough and has an annular flange 125 for engaging the annular ledge 117 of the cap 114 when the cap is slid thereover and the internal threads 116 of the cap are attached to the external threads 113 of the housing 111. The cap 114 can be loosely attached to the connector housing 111 and electncal conductor inserted through the opening 115 in the cap 114 and through the compression nng 123 and through the gnpmg collar 120 and into the housing 111. The cap 114 can then be tightened to force the tips 122 of the fingers 121 into the conductor.

Figure 12 shows the gripping collar 120 in greater detail. It is formed of a single flat piece of mateπal 127 having an aperture 128 therethrough with a pair of angled fingers 112 extending at an angle from the edge of the opening 128. Each finger 121 has a finger tip portion 122 and, although it need not in this case, the finger tip 122 is shown with a pair of pointed gnppmg teeth 133 and 134. As can be seen from Figure 12, the collar 120 can be made of a single flat piece of mateπal which has been stamped with a cutting die to form the opening 128 and the fingers 121 from the same piece of material in a single operation. This allows for the manufacture of a simple and inexpensive gπppmg collar.

As seen m Figures 13 and 14, an electrical conductor 135 having a conductor 136 and an insulating cover 137, and has been inserted through the compression ring 123 and through the electncal conductor gnppmg collar 120 into a bore 141 of the housing 111. The housing 111 has an electrical conductive prong 142 extending axially into the bore 141. The connector housing 111 also has a recessed area 143 for receiving the gnppmg collar 120 therein. In Figure 13, the electncal conductor 135 has been inserted through the aperture 124 in the compression nng and through the gπppmg collar 120 into the bore 141 and pushed onto the conductive prong

142 in the housing 111.

In Figure 14, the compression ring 123 has been moved toward the connector housing 111 to collapse the gnppmg fingers 121 into a more flattened position and thus dπve the pointed teeth 133 through the insulation 137. If the teeth are long enough, they may contact with the conductor 136. This further secures the electrical conductor to the connector housing 111.

It will be clear that the embodiment of Figure 11 functions in the same manner as illustrates in Figures 12, 13 and 14 and descπbed above except that a plurality of conductors can be threaded through the opening 115 in the cap 114 and through individual openings 124 in the compression nng 123 and through the gnppmg collar 120. The compression ring 123 can then compress all of the fingers 121 of the collars 120 simultaneously by tightening the cap 114 onto the housing 111 over the compression ring 123. However, it is obvious that if the teeth 133 of the fingers 121 make contact with the connector 136, either the connector housing must be of electncal insulating matenal or electncal insulation provided between the gnppmg collar 120 and housing 111. Turning now to Figure 15, another embodiment of an electπcal connector 150 is shown in an exploded view having a housing 151 having a plurality of electncal contacts 152 extending from one end thereof and having external threads 153 therearound. The housing cap 154 has a passageway 157 therethrough along with a ledge 156 therein and internal threads 155 for threaded attachment to the threads 153 of the housing 150. The collar compression nng 158 has a plurality of openings 160 passing therethrough and an annular flange 161 therearound for compressing onto the electπcal conductor gripping collar 166 mounted in the wall 162 of the housing 151. The electrical connector 150, housing 151, housing cap 154, and collar compressing member 158 are all the same as illustrated in Figure 11. The gπpping collars 166 however has a plurality of fingers each with a blunted end for compressing against an electπcal conductor passing therethrough without penetrating the electncal conductor's insulation. Turning to Figures 16, 17 and 18, an electπcal conductor gripping collar 166 is formed for gnppmg a single electncal conductor withm an electrical connector gripping collar 166. A plurality of fingers 164 extend from one edge 163 of the gnppmg collar 166 and each finger has a curved or blunted end 165. The connector of Figures 17 and 18 shows the collar compression nng 158 in which the aperture 160 therethrough is sized for the electrical conductor 135 to pass therethrough. The electπcal conductor 135 has the conductor 136 having an insulator 137 therearound and has been inserted through the opening 160 of the collar compression nng 150 through the gnppmg collar 166 and into the bore 176 of the housing 151. The conductor 135 is pushed onto the electπcally conductive pointed prong 177 extending axially into the bore 176 to make electncal contact with the conductor 136 without having to trim the insulation 137 from the conductor. The gripping collar 166 is received in a recessed area 175 of the housing 151.

As seen in Figure 17, the opening 160 m the compression nng 158 is of a larger diameter so as to engage the sides and not the end of the fingers 164 and the fingers 164 of the gripping collar 166 are laying adjacent the electncal conductor 135 until the compression ring 150 is tightened against the sides to drive the fingers 164 against the insulation 137 of the conductor 135. As shown in Figure 18, the fingers 164 thereby gnp the conductor 135 without penetrating the insulation 137. Since the gripping collar 166 is not used to make or enhance an electπcal connection, it can be formed of any material desired, either electπcally conductive or non- conductive, and can be made of a polymer as well as a conductive metal without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Collar 166 would normally be made from a single flat piece of material which is stamped to form the opening 175 therethrough while shaping and driving the fingers 164, as shown in Figure 16. However, it should be clear that a polymer gnppmg member can be formed in a plastic mold but in either case, the gnppmg collar 166 can be formed m a one step operation.

The method of making an electncal connector having a gπpping collar for gnppmg an electrical conductor to the electrical connector in accordance with Figure 11 through 14 or Figures 15 through 18 includes the step of selecting an electrical connector having a housing having one or more bores therein and a housing cap having an aperture therethrough sized for an electπcal conductor to pass therethrough and then forming an electπcal conductor gnppmg collar for a single electπcal conductor or for a plurality of electπcal conductors from a generally flat piece of material having one or more openings therein and a plurality of gripping fingers extending from the edge of each opening and formed from a generally flat piece of mateπal. Each of the gπppmg fingers are formed with a gripping tip portion shaped to grip the electrical conductor, either through penetration or non-penetration into the electncal conductor insulation, for holding the electncal conductor to an electncal connector. The electncal conductor gπppmg collar is positioned between electrical conductor housing and housing cap and may have a compressed collar member positioned between the cap and the gnppmg collar in the case of a gripping collar with a plurality of openings therethrough for a plurality of conductors. In operation, the single or multiple conductors are threaded through the housing cap and through the gripping collar and into a bore of the electrical connector housing and onto an electrical connecting prong mounted in the bore. The housing cap is then tightened onto the housing to drive the gripping collar gripping fingers onto the electncal conductor inserted therethrough. For a plurality of conductors, a collar compressing member can be inserted between the connector housing cap and the connector for compressing a plurality of gripping fingers onto a plurality of conductors inserted through a single conductor gnppmg collar.

Refernng to Figure 19 of the drawings, an electncal connector 210 is illustrated having a connector body 211 with a battery terminal connecting portion 212 with an opening 213 which slips over the post of a battery terminal and allows the connector arm portions 214 to be pressed together to attach the body 211 to a battery terminal post. The terminal connector body 211 is generally made of an electncally conductive matenal, such as lead, and the body 211 has a bore 215 with internal threads 216 and a conductive prong 217 attached to or integral with the body 211 and extending axially into the bore 215. The terminal connector of Figure 19 has a locking end cap 218 with external threads 220 and having an opening 221 sized to receive a battery cable 222 therethrough. The cable 222 may be without or with an insulated cover 223 over an electncal cable conductor 224, as illustrated. A compression collar 225 has a plurality of tapered gnppmg fingers 226 and is sized to permit the cable 222 to pass therethrough.

In operation, the cable 222 is inserted through the cap 218, through the gnppmg collar 225, and into the bore 215 where it is dnven upon the electncal conductive prongs 217. The cap 218 has a tapered internal surface 227 which dnves against the tapered gripping fingers 226 of the compression collar 225 as the cap 218 is threaded onto the threads 216 of the body 211. This connector makes for a rapid connection of a battery cable to a battery terminal connector and allows for the rapid exchange of the terminal connector should the terminal connector become corroded. Turning to Figure 20, a cable connector 230 is illustrated for connecting two cables together end-to-end and includes a center cable body 231 having external threads 232 and 233 thereon and an electncally conductive prong 234 on one end of an electncally conductive prong 235 on the other end thereof. A pair of gnppmg collars 236 and 237 each has a plurality of gnppmg fingers 238 having pointed tips 240 for dnving into the insulation on a piece of cable 241 or 242 placed through the gnppmg terminals 236 and 237. The cutting edges 240 will cut through the insulation on the cables 241 and 242 to grip the electrical conductor mside the insulation as well as hold the cable to the central body portion 231. Locking caps 243 and 244 each have internal threads 245 which can be slid over the cable 241 and 242 Cable 241 can be passed through the gπppmg collar 236 and pushed against the conductive prong 234 to make for an electncally conductive connection. The fingers 238 can then be compressed to compress the cutting edges 240 into the cable 241. The cap 243 has its threads 245 attached to the threads 232 to lock one end of the cable 241 to the connector body 231. Similarly, the cable 242 is passed through the locking cap 244, through the gripping collar 237 and dπven onto the electrical conductive prong 235. The collar 237 can then be clamped onto the cable 242 and the cap 244 threadedly attached to the body 231 to connect two electncal conductive cables together.

Turning to Figure 21, a battery cable 250 has terminals on both ends. The terminal connector 251 at the one end of the cable 250 is for attaching to a battery terminal post and the electncal connector 252 on the other end of the cable 250 is used for attaching grounding cable to the automotive chassis or to an electrical conductor in the electrical system of a car. The battery cable 250 has an insulation 254 and an electπcal conductor 255 therein. The electrical connector 252 may be made of an electrical conductive material having a body 256 with an aperture 257 therethrough for attaching to the chassis of an automobile of the like. An internal bore 258 has internal threads 260 therein and an electrically conductive prong 261 protruding axially into the bore 258. A cable locking cap 262 has external threads 263 which mate with the internal threads 260 of the body portion 256. A gπpping collar 264 has a plurality of angled gnppmg fingers 265 and has a generally cylindrical body 266 extending through the bore 267 and passing through the cap 262. A flanged area of 268 holds the gπpping collar 264 along one end 270 of the cap 262 while a flared flange 271 extends over the edge 272 of the cap 262. Holding the gnppmg collar 264 to the cap 262 in this manner allows the gnppmg collar to rotate withm the cap 262 withm the bore 267. This m turn allows the cable 253, once attached, to have a small amount of rotational movement to prevent undue stresses from building up on the connection to the terminal portion 256. The cable 253 is inserted through the gnppmg collar 264 m cap 262 and is impaled on the prong 261. The cap 262 is then threadedly connected with the body 256. The battery terminal connector 251 has a battery terminal opening 273 and has a bolt 274 and a nut 275 for drawing the arms 276 together in the same manner as a conventional battery terminal.

Turning to Figure 22, a cable connector 280 for connecting to the end of an electrically conductive cable 281 includes a connector body 282 having an attaching aperture 283 and external threads 284. The body 282 also includes a plurality of gripping fingers 285 attached thereto and extending from one end thereof which defines a cylmdncal cavity 287 surrounding an electrically conductive prong 286 extends therefrom into a bore 287. A locking cap 288 has internal threads which mate with the threads 284 and has a bore 290 extending therethrough. The cap 288 also has a wrench gripping surface 291 thereon.

In operation, the cable 281 is passed through the bore 290 within the cap 288 and pass through the gripping fingers 285 and into the cylindrical cavity 287 where it is impaled on the conductive prong 286. Tightening the cap 288 onto the threads 284 of the body 282 then compresses the fingers 285 onto the cable 281 passing therethrough to grip the cable 281 and hold it to the terminal body 282 while providing an electrical contact between the prong 286 and the cable 281. The cable 281 may have outer insulation 292 with an internal electrically conductive cable 293 or can be bare cable 293 as desired.

It should be clear at this time, that an electrical connector and a method of attaching an electrical conductor to an electrical connector have been provided which allow one or more conductors to be attached to an electrical connector in a simplified and rapid manner. In addition, it should be clear at this time that an electrical connector has been provided which is especially adapted for attaching a battery cable to a battery cable terminal connector and which advantageously allows the cable to be connected and disconnected for replacement thereof as desired and which allows for the rapid assemble of a battery cable to any length desired without having to premake the cables in a wide variety of lengths.

However, it should also be clear that the present invention is not limited to the forms shown which are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.

Claims

Claims I claim.

1 An electncal connector comprising: a housing having a bore therein and a conductive pm in said bore; an electncal conductor gripping collar supported in said bore with one end extending outwardly from the bore and sized to receive an electncal conductor therethrough; a closure nng having an aperture sized for receiving an electrical conductor and a surface for engaging the outwardly extending end of said electrical conductor gripping collar; and means for securing said closure nng to said housing; wherein, with an electncal conductor inserted through the aperture of said closure ring and through said electπcal conductor gπpping collar and impaled onto said pm in said housing, forcible movement of said closure nng along the electrical conductor forces said electrical conductor gnppmg collar further into said bore and into gnppmg relation with the surface of the electrical conductor.

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the extending end of said electrical conductor gnppmg collar is split and splayed and wherein the splayed ends of said electrical conductor gripping collar has inwardly extending edges on the ends thereof for engaging the surface of an electrical conductor positioned therein.

3. The electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein the securing means is an enlarged bore portion of said bore sized to produce an interference fit with the outer surface of said closure nng, wherein with forcible movement of said closure ring along an electπcal conductor, said electrical conductor gnppmg collar is further recessed into the bore of said housing and said closure nng is seated in said enlarged bore portion of said bore.

4 The electncal conductor according to claim 2, wherein the secunng means is a cylindrical side wall that embraces said closure nng and fits over the outer surface of said housing and wherein the inner surface of said side wall and the outer surface of said housing are cooperatively threaded, wherein, with said side wall initially threaded onto said housing and with an electrical conductor inserted through the aperture of said closure ring and through said electncal conductor gnppmg collar and impaled onto said pm in said housing, further threaded movement of said side wall along the outer surface of said housing moves said closure nng against said electrical conductor gnppmg collar and forces said electrical conductor gripping collar into said bore and into gripping relation with the surface of the electrical conductor.

5. The electncal conductor according to claim 4, wherein said closure nng and said side wall are separate.

6. The electrical conductor according to claim 2, wherein the securing means is a cylindrical side wall that embraces said closure ring and fits over the outer surface of said housing and wherein the inner surface of said side wall includes a protruding ledge and the outer surface of said housing includes a groove complimenting said protruding ledge wherein with said side wall initially positioned onto the outer wall of said housing and with an electrical conductor inserted through the aperture of said closure nng and through said electπcal conductor gnppmg collar and impaled onto said pm in said housing, further forcible movement of said side wall along the outer surface of said housing moves said closure ring against said electrical conductor gnppmg collar and forces said electncal conductor gπpping collar into said bore and into gnppmg relation with the surface of the electncal conductor and forces the protruding ledge of said side wall into seating position with the groove in the outer surface of said housing.

7. The electncal conductor according to claim 6, wherein said closure nng and said side wall are integral and said closure nng forms a back wall to said side wall.

8. An electrical connector compπsmg: a housing having a plurality of bores therein and a corresponding plurality of conductive pms in each of said bores; a corresponding plurality of electrical conductor gripping collars supported m each of said bores with one end extending outwardly from the bore and sized to receive an electncal conductor therethrough; a closure nng having a corresponding plurality of apertures aligned with said bores and sized for receiving an electrical conductor and having a surface for engaging the outwardly extending ends of said electrical conductor gripping collars; and means for secunng said closure means to said housing; wherein, with electrical conductors inserted through the apertures of said closure nng and through said electrical conductor gnppmg collars and impaled onto said pms in said housing, forcible movement of said closure nng along the electrical conductors forces said electrical conductor gripping collars further in said bores and into gripping relation with the surface of the corresponding electrical conductor.

9. The electncal connector according to claim 8, wherein the extending end of each of said electrical conductor gripping collars is split and splayed and wherein the splayed ends of each of said electrical conductor gripping collars has inwardly extending edges on the ends thereof for engaging the surface of an electncal conductor positioned therein.

10. The electncal connector according to claim 8, wherein the securing means is a cylindrical side wall that embraces said closure ring and fits over the outer surface of said housing and wherein the inner surface of said side wall and the outer surface of said housing are cooperatively threaded, wherein, with said side wall initially threaded onto said housing and with electrical conductors inserted through the apertures of said closure ring and through said electπcal conductor gnppmg collars and impaled onto said pins in said housing, further threaded movement of said side wall along the outer surface of said housing moves said closure ring against said electrical conductor gripping collars and forces said electrical conductor gripping collars into said bore and into gnppmg relation with the surface of the associated electπcal conductors.

11. The electrical conductor according to claim 8, wherein said closure nng and said side wall are separate.

12. The electrical conductor according to claim 8, wherein the securing means is a cylindrical side wall that embraces said closure ring and fits over the outer surface of said housing and wherein the inner surface of said side wall includes a protruding ledge and the outer surface of said housing includes a groove complimenting said protruding ledge wherein with electrical conductors inserted through the apertures of said closure nng and through said electrical conductor gripping collars and impaled onto said pms in said housing, forcible movement of said side wall along the outer surface of said housing moves said closure nng against said electncal conductor gripping collars and forces said electπcal conductor gnppmg collars into said bores and into gripping relation with the surface of the associate electncal conductors and forces the protruding ledge of said side wall into seating position with the groove m the outer surface of said housing.

13. The electrical conductor according to claim 8, wherein said closure nng and said side wall are integral and said closure nng forms a back wall to said side wall.

14 A method of connecting an electrical conductor to an electrical connector comprising the steps of: selecting a connector housing having a bore therein and having an electπcal conductive prong mounted in said housing bore; selecting an electrical conductor gripping collar having a plurality of gripping fingers extending therefrom; attaching said selected gnppmg collar partially in said housing bore with said plurality of gripping fingers extending from said housing; selecting a collar driving member having an aperture therethrough sized for threading an electπcal conductor therethrough and for blocking the passage of said electπcal conductor gripping collar therethrough; threading an electrical conductor through said collar driving member aperture and through said electrical conductor gripping collar and into said housing bore and onto said electπcally conductive prong; and dnvmg said collar driving member against said electrical conductor gripping collar to dnve said gnppmg collar into the bore of said connector housing and the gnpping fingers thereof onto said electrical conductor.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of squeezing the gnpping fingers of said gnppmg collar onto the electrical conductor before the step of driving said collar driving member against said electrical conductor gripping collar.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of selecting said housing includes selecting a housing having a plurality of bores therein and the step of selecting a collar dnving member includes selecting a dnvmg member having a corresponding plurality of apertures therein positioned to align with said plurality of housing bores, wherein a corresponding plurality of electrical conductor gripping collars are positioned in the plurality of bores m said housing so that a plurality of electrical conductors can be coupled to said electncal connector at the same time by moving said collar driving member against a plurality of gripping collars having a plurality of electrical conductors threaded therethrough.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of selecting an electrical conductor gripping collar includes selecting a gripping collar having a plurality of gnppmg fingers extending therefrom with each said gnpping collar finger having a gnpping edge thereon

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the step of selecting an electrical conductor gripping collar includes selecting a conductive gripping collar having a conductive pointed gripping edge thereon for penetrating an elecfrical conductor insulation coating.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of selecting a housing cap apertured for passing a plurality of conductors therethrough and for securing said collar driving member to said connector housing.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the step of selecting a connector housing includes selecting a connector housing having two spaced grooves formed therein to form a two position housing fastener portion and wherein the step of selecting a housing cap includes selecting a housing cap having a plurality of fingers thereon, each finger having two spaced protruding ledges sized and positioned to snap into said two spaced grooves in said housing.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the step of selecting a connector housing includes selecting a connector housing having a threaded outer surface and in which the step of selecting a housing cap includes selecting a housing cap having a corresponding threaded inner surface for threadably attaching said housing cap to said housing.

22. The method according to claim 20, including the step of selecting a threaded housing cap and threadedly attaching said threaded housing cap to said housing.

23. An electrical connector for coupling a plurality of electrical conductors thereto comprising: a housing having a plurality of bores therein and having a two position fastener portion thereon; a plurality of conductor gπpping collars, each of said gnpping collars being supported adjacent one of said housing bores; a housing cap having a plurality of apertures therein sized for threading said plurality of conductors therethrough and blocking the passage of said plurality of conductor gnpping collars therethrough, said housing cap having a fastener portion thereon adapted to fit onto said housing two position fastener portion for connecting said housing cap to said housing two position fastener portion to push against said plurality of conductor gripping collars when said housing cap fastener portion is moved between positions of said housing two position fastener portions, wherein a plurality of conductors can be simultaneously connected to an electrical connector

24. The electπcal connector according to claim 23, wherein said housing has a plurality of conductive prongs, one said prong being mounted m each of said plurality of housing bores for driving each of a plurality of electncal conductors into one said conductive prong to make electrical contact between said electncal conductor and said conductive prong.

25. An electrical connector for coupling an electrical conductor thereto comprising: a connector housing having a bore therein and having an electrical conductive prong mounted in said housing bore; an electπcal conductor gnppmg collar having a plurality of gnppmg fingers extending therefrom attached in said connector housing bore and said plurality of gripping fingers extending therefrom; a collar dnvmg member having an aperture therethrough sized for threading an electncal conductor therethrough while blocking the passage of said electncal conductor gripping collar therethrough; an electrical conductor threaded through said collar driving member aperture and through said electπcal conductor gripping collar and into said housing bore and onto said electncally conductive prong; and fastening means for fastening said collar driving member to said housing wherein pushing said collar dnvmg member having an electncal conductor threaded therethrough against said electπcal conductor gπppmg collar dnves said gnppmg collar onto said threaded electncal conductor so that an electrical conductor is connected to an electπcal connector.

26. The electrical connector according to claim 25, wherein a conductive prong is mounted in said housing bore for dnvmg said electπcal conductor thereinto for making electncal contact between said electrical conductor and said conductive prong.

27. The electncal connector according to claim 25, wherein said housing compnses a plurality of bores therein and said collar driving member has a plurality of apertures therein positioned to align with said plurality of housing bores wherein a plurality of electrical conductors can be coupled to said electncal connector at the same time by moving said collar dnvmg member against a plurality of gnpping collars having a plurality of electncal conductors threaded therethrough.

28. The electrical connector according to claim 27, wherein each said electrical conductor gnppmg collar includes a plurality of gnpping fingers extending therefrom with each said gripping collar finger having a gnppmg edge portion thereon.

29. The electrical connector according to claim 28, wherein each said electπcal conductor gnpping collar has a conductive gnpping collar having a conductive pointed gπpping edge portion thereon for penetrating an electrical conductor insulation coating.

30. The electncal connector according to claim 25, wherein said connector housing has two spaced grooves formed thereon to form a two position housing fastener portion.

31. The electrical connector according to claim 30, wherein said housing cap has a plurality of fingers thereon, each finger having two spaced raised areas sized positioned to snap into said two spaced grooves in said housing.

32. The electrical connector according to claim 25, wherein said housing cap has an open portion for passing a plurality of conductors therethrough and which clamps down upon said collar clamping member to attach all of said electπcal conductors to said connector housing at one time.

33. The electrical connector according to claim 32, wherein said housing cap has threads thereon for threadedly attaching to said housing.

34. An electrical connector compnsing: a housing having a bore therein and a conductive p in said bore; a compression nng having an aperture sized for receiving an electrical conductor; an electrical conductor gnpping collar positioned between said housing and said compression nng and including an opening therein sized to receive an electncal conductor therethrough; and a housing cap for secuπng said compression ring to said housing; wherein, with an electncal conductor inserted through the aperture of said compression ring and through the opening in said electπcal conductor gπppmg collar and impaled onto said p in said housing, further movement of said compression ring along the electrical conductor forces said electrical conductor gripping collar into gripping relation with the surface of the electrical conductor.

35. The electrical connector according to claim 34, wherein said gripping collar is formed from a generally flat piece of deformable mateπal and has a plurality of gnpping fingers protruding upwardly from the flat piece and inwardly toward its opening for engaging the surface of an electrical conductor positioned therein.

36 The electrical connector according to claim 34, wherein said gripping collar is formed from a generally flat piece of deformable mateπal and has a plurality of gnpping fingers protruding upwardly from the flat piece and inwardly toward its opening and each have an inwardly projecting gripping tip portion for penetrating the surface of an electrical conductor positioned therein.

37. The electncal conductor according to claim 35, wherein said housing is cylindrical and said housing cap has a cylmdπcal side wall that embraces said compression nng and fits over the outer surface of said housing, wherein, with said side wall positioned on said housing and with an electπcal conductor inserted through the aperture of said compression nng and through the opening in said electncal conductor gnpping collar and impaled onto said pin in said housing, further movement of said compression nng along the outer surface of the electncal conductor deforms the fingers of said electrical conductor gripping collar for engaging the electrical conductor.

38. The electπcal conductor according to claim 37, wherein the protruding fingers of said gripping collar each have an inwardly projecting gripping tip portion and wherein the opening in said compression nng is sized to engage the protruding fingers of said gπpping collar, wherein, with said side wall positioned on said housing and with an electπcal conductor inserted through the aperture of said compressing nng and through the opening in said electncal conductor gπpping collar and impaled onto said pm in said housing, further movement of said compression nng along the outer surface of the electncal conductor deforms the fingers of said electncal conductor gnpping collar and forces the tip portion thereof to penetrate the surface of the electrical conductor.

39 The electrical conductor according to claim 37, wherein the opening in said compression ring is sized to lap over the protruding fingers of said gripping collar, wherein, with said side wall positioned on said housing and with an electncal conductor inserted through the aperture of said compressing nng and through the opening m said electncal conductor gnppmg collar and impaled onto said pm in said housing, further movement of said compression nng along the outer surface of the electncal conductor deforms the fingers of said electπcal conductor gnppmg collar into the opening said electncal gnppmg collar and against the surface of the electncal conductor.

40. The electncal conductor according to claim 35, wherein said housing is cylindrical and said housing cap has a cylindrical side wall that embraces said compression ring and fits over the outer surface of said housing, and wherein the inner surface of said side wall and the outer surface of said housing are cooperatively threaded, wherein, with an electπcal conductor inserted through the aperture of said compression nng and through the opening in said electrical conductor gnppmg collar and impaled onto said pin in said housing, threaded movement of said side wall along the outer surface of said electrical conductor against said compression ring deforms the fingers of said electrical conductor gnppmg collar into the opening in said compression nng and against the surface of the electrical conductor.

41. The electncal conductor according to claim 40, wherein said compression ring and said side wall are separate.

42. The electπcal conductor according to claim 35, wherein the housing is cylindrical and said housing cap has a cyhndncal side wall that embraces said compression nng and fits over the outer surface of said housing and wherein the inner surface of said side wall includes a protruding ledge and the outer surface of said housing includes a groove complementing said protruding ledge, wherein, with said side wall initially positioned onto the outer wall of said housing and with an electncal conductor inserted through the aperture of said compression ring and through the opening m said electrical conductor gnppmg collar and impaled onto said pm in said housing, further forcible movement of said side wall along the outer surface of said housing moves said compression ring against said electπcal conductor gripping collar and deforms the fingers of said electncal conductor gnpping collar into gripping relation with the surface of the electπcal conductor and forces the protruding ledge of said side wall into seating position with the groove in the outer surface of said housing.

43. The electncal conductor according to claim 42, wherein said compression ring and said side wall are integral and said compression ring forms a back wall to said side wall.

44. An electrical connector compnsing: a housing having a plurality of bores therein and a corresponding plurality of conductive p s in each of said bores, a compression nng having a plurality of apertures aligned with said bores and each sized for receiving an electrical conductor, a corresponding plurality of electrical conductor gripping collars positioned between said housing and said compression nng aligned respectively with said bores and each including an opening therein sized to receive an electrical conductor therethrough, and a housing cap for secunng said compression nng to said housing, wherein, with elecfrical conductors inserted through the apertures of said compression ring and through the openings in said electncal conductor gnpping collars and impaled onto said pms in said housing, further movement of said compression nng along the electrical conductors deforms said electrical conductor gnpping collars into gnpping relation with the corresponding electrical conductors, respectively.

45. The electπcal connector according to claim 44, wherein each said gnpping collar gripping finger has a pointed gripping tip angled to penetrate into the insulation cover of an elecfrical conductor attached to said electncal connector.

46. The electncal connector according to claim 44, wherein each said gnpping collar gripping finger gripping tip with a general flat portion for gπpping an electrical conductor attached to said electncal connector without penetrating into an insulation cover on an electrical conductor.

47. The electrical connector according to claim 44, wherein each said gripping collar gnpping finger is formed with an angle to said generally flat piece of material.

48. The electπcal connector according to claim 44, wherein said generally flat piece of mateπal is electrically conductive material.

49. The electncal connector according to claim 44, wherein said generally flat piece of material is an electrical insulating piece of mateπal.

50. The electncal connector according to claim 44, wherein said generally flat piece of material has four gripping fingers formed from said mateπal.

51. The electncal connector according to claim 44, wherein said generally flat piece of material has two gripping fingers formed from said material.

52. The electrical connector according to claim 44, wherein each said gnpping collar gπpping finger has two gπpping fingers each having a pointed gripping tip angled to penetrate into the insulation cover of an electrical conductor attached to said electrical connector.

53. The electncal connector according to claim 44, wherein said generally flat piece of material has a plurality of holes formed therein, each having a plurality of gripping fingers formed from said generally flat mateπal and extending from the edge of each said opening.

54. A gripping collar for gnpping an electrical conductor to an electrical connector compnsing: a flat piece of matenal having at least one opening therein and having a plurality of gnpping fingers extending at an angle from the edge of said opening, each said gnppmg finger having a gripping tip portion shaped to grip an electrical conductor for holding the electncal conductor to an electncal connector, wherein an electrical connector can hold an electrical conductor thereto when the conductor is passed through the gripping collar and gripped by the fingers of said gnpping collar.

55. A method of making an electπcal connector having a gπppmg collar for gnpping an electncal conductor to the electrical connector comprising the steps of: selecting an electncal connector having a housing having a bore therein and a housing cap having an aperture therethrough sized for an electncal conductor to pass therethrough; forming an electrical conductor gripping collar from a generally flat piece of mateπal with at least one opening therein and with a plurality of gnpping fingers extending from the edge of said opening and formed from said generally flat piece of material, each said gnppmg finger having a gripping tip portion shaped to grip an electrical conductor for holding the electncal conductor to an electrical connector; and positioning said formed electrical conductor gripping collar between said housing and housing cap wherein an electrical connector is made which can have an electrical conductor threaded through said housing cap, through said gripping collar opening and into said housing bore for locking said electncal conductor to said electπcal connector housing with said gnppmg collar.

56. The method according to claim 55, further compnsing the step of forming each said gnppmg collar gnpping finger with pointed gripping tip angled to penetrate into the insulation cover of an electrical conductor attached to said electπcal connector.

57. The method according to claim 55, further compnsing the step of forming each said gnppmg collar gnpp g finger gπppmg tip with a general flat portion for gripping an electncal conductor attached to said electrical connector without penetrating into an insulation cover on an electrical conductor.

58. The method according to claim 55, further compnsing the step of forming each said gnpping collar gripping finger with an angle to said generally flat piece of mateπal.

59. The method according to claim 55, wherein said generally flat piece of material is a piece of electπcally conductive material.

60. The method according to claim 55, wherein said generally flat piece of material is an electrical insulating piece of material.

61. The method according to claim 55, wherein said generally flat piece of mateπal has four gripping fingers formed from said mateπal.

62. The method according to claim 55, wherein each said generally flat piece of material has two gripping fingers formed from said matenal.

63. The method according to claim 55, further compnsing the step of forming each said gripping collar gnppmg finger with two gripping fingers each having a pointed gnppmg tip angled to penetrate into the insulation cover of an electncal conductor attached to said electrical connector.

64. The method according to claim 55, wherein said generally flat piece of mateπal has a plurality of holes formed therein each having a plurality of gripping fingers formed from said generally flat mateπal and extending from the edge of each said opening.

65. A battery cable connector comprising: a body having threads formed thereon and having an electrically conductive prong attached thereto along an elongated axis of said body and extending therefrom for piercing the end of an electncal cable; a cap having threads thereon removably attachable to said body threads and having an opening therethrough, said cap being aligned with said body electncally conductive prong when said body cap is attached to said body; and a compression collar sized to fit over said electrically conductive prong and over an electrical conductor passing through said cap, said compression collar having a conductor gnpping means for gnppmg and holding a conductor onto said body when said cap is attached to said body over said collar.

66. The battery cable connector according to claim 65, wherein said compression collar has a plurality of fingers extending from the end thereof compressible onto an electrical conductor passing therethrough.

67. The battery cable connector according to claim 66, wherein each of said collar plurality of fingers has an insulation penetrating point on the end thereof positioned to penetrate into the insulation on an insulated electrical cable passing therethrough.

68. The battery cable connector according to claim 67, wherein said collar is fixedly attached to said body and extends over said prong.

69. The battery cable connector in accordance with claim 67, wherein said collar is fixedly attached to said cap for compression onto an insulated conductor extending therethrough.

70. The battery cable connector m accordance with claim 67, wherein said body had a bore extending thereinto and said prong extends from said body into said bore along the center axis of said bore.

71. The battery cable connector in accordance with claim 65 , wherein said body has a pair of prongs thereon, one extending in a generally opposite direction from the other said prong.

72. The battery cable connector m accordance with claim 71 , wherein said body has two sets of threads and two threaded caps, one for threadedly attaching to each set of body threads on each end of said body over one of said pair of prongs.

73. The battery cable connector m accordance with claim 67, wherein said collar is shaped to fit over the end of an insulated electrical conductor and be compressed thereon.

74. The battery cable connector in accordance with claim 65, wherein said compression collar is rotatably mounted to said cap.

75. An electrical connector for coupling to an electncal conductor comprising: a body having an electπcally conductive prong attached thereto along an elongated axis of said body and extending therefrom for piercing the end of an electrical conductor being attached thereto; and a body cap removably attachable to said body and having an opening therethrough, said body cap having a compression collar rotatably mounted through said cap opening and sized to fit over an electrical conductor passing therethrough, said compression collar having a conductor gnppmg means for gnpping and holding a conductor thereto and onto said body when said cap is attached to said body, wherein an electrical conductor can be inserted through said body cap and compression collar and onto said electncally conductive prong and said body cap and collar attached to said body to form an electrically conductive connection to said electπcal connector.

76. The electπcal connector according to claim 75, wherein said compression collar has a flared end portion to hold said compression collar in said body cap from one end thereof.

77. The electncal connector according to claim 76, wherein said compression collar has a flange therearound along the center portion thereof to hold said compression collar in said body cap from the other end thereof.

78. An electrical connector for coupling to an electrical conductor, comprising: a body having an electrically conductive prong; a gripping collar having a plurality of gripping fingers; and a body cap attachable to the body, wherein, an end of an electrical conductor can be passed through the body cap and through the gripping collar and driven onto the elecfrically conductive prong such as to make electπcal contact between the electncal conductor and the electncally conductive prong, wherein said plurality of gnpping fingers can be clamped onto the electncal conductor and the body cap attached to the body such that the body cap secures the gnpping collar to the body and the elecfrical conductor to the electrical connector.

79. The electncal connector according to claim 78, wherein said body cap is threadably attachable to the body.

80. The electrical connector according to claim 78, further comprising: a second electπcally conductive prong attached to the body and in electπcal contact with said electπcally conductive prong; a second gnpping collar having a second plurality of gripping fingers; and a second body cap attachable to the body, wherein an end of a second electncal conductor can be passed through the second body cap and through the second gnpping collar and driven onto the second electrically conductive prong such as to make electncal contact between the second electncal conductor and the second electncally conductive prong and electrical contact between the elecfrical conductor and the second electncal conductor, wherein said second plurality of gnpping fingers can be clamped onto the second electπcal conductor and the second body cap attached to the body such that the second body cap secures the second gπpping collar to the body and the second electrical conductor to the electrical connector.

81. The electncal connector according to claim 78, wherein said gnpping collar and said body are separate.

82. The electrical connector according to claim 78, wherein said plurality of gripping fingers are splayed pπor to being clamped onto the electrical conductor, to allow the electπcal conductor to pass through the gripping collar.

83. The electncal connector according to claim 82, wherein at least one of said plurality of gnpping fingers has inwardly extending edges on the ends thereof for engaging the electrical conductor as the gnpping fingers are clamped onto the electrical conductor.