US-12617359-B2 - Clamp assembly for vehicle battery configured to interface with locking lug nut key

Abstract

A clamp assembly configured to hold a battery in place is configured to interface with a locking lug nut key. The clamp assembly provides a balance between preventing unintended movement or displacement of the battery, without overly complicating the process of tightening or loosening the clamp assembly. Further, a number of component parts is reduced, as separate keys are not required for the locking lug nuts and the clamp assembly.

Inventors

• Miguel Ángel Figueroa Tamayo
• Oscar Xavier Hurtado Reynoso
• Luis Angel Mota Hernández
• Saulo Ivann García Vega

Assignees

• FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20240322

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A motor vehicle, comprising: a battery; and a clamp assembly configured to hold the battery in place, wherein the clamp assembly is configured to interface with a locking lug nut key.
2. 2 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the locking lug nut key is also configured to interface with a locking lug nut of the motor vehicle.
3. 3 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein: the clamp assembly includes a bolt, and a head of the bolt is configured to interface with the locking lug nut key.
4. 4 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 3 , wherein: the head of the bolt includes an inner wall providing a cavity, and the inner wall exhibits a pattern configured to interface with the locking lug nut key.
5. 5 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 4 , wherein the pattern of the inner wall includes one or more of splines, grooves, notches, lobes, points, projections, and indentations.
6. 6 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 4 , wherein an outer wall of the head of the bolt is substantially circular.
7. 7 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 4 , wherein: the locking lug nut key includes a first section and a second section, the first section includes a projection exhibiting a negative of the pattern, the projection is configured to project into the cavity of the head of the bolt and to interface with the inner wall of the head of the bolt, and when the projection projects into the cavity of the head of the bolt and interfaces with the inner wall of the head of the bolt, the bolt is configured to rotate with rotation of the locking lug nut key.
8. 8 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 7 , wherein an outer wall of the second section is configured to interface with a wrench.
9. 9 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 7 , wherein an outer wall of the second section is configured to interface with a standard socket.
10. 10 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 3 , wherein: the clamp assembly also includes a first jaw and a second jaw, and the bolt is configured to interface with the first jaw and the second jaw such that the clamp assembly selectively applies force to the battery.
11. 11 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein: the battery includes a projection, and the bolt is configured to interface with the first jaw and the second jaw to selectively apply force to the projection.
12. 12 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein: the first jaw includes a recess in a surface facing away from the second jaw, and the recess is configured to receive the head of the bolt such that the head of the bolt does not project beyond the surface of the first jaw in a direction away from the second jaw.
13. 13 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 10 , wherein the second jaw is configured to contact a battery tray and is located on an opposite side of the battery tray as the first jaw.
14. 14 . The motor vehicle as recited in claim 1 , wherein the battery is a 12 Volt battery.
15. 15 . A clamp assembly for holding a vehicle battery in place, comprising: a first jaw; a second jaw; a bolt configured to interface with the first and second jaw and further configured to selectively tighten and loosen the clamp assembly, wherein the bolt is configured to interface with a locking lug nut key.
16. 16 . The clamp as recited in claim 15 , wherein: a head of the bolt includes an inner wall providing a cavity, the inner wall exhibits a pattern configured to interface with the locking lug nut key the locking lug nut key includes a projection exhibiting a negative of the pattern, the projection is configured to project into the cavity of the head of the bolt and to interface with the inner wall of the head of the bolt, and when the projection projects into the cavity of the head of the bolt and interfaces with the inner wall of the head of the bolt, the bolt is configured to rotate with rotation of the locking lug nut key.
17. 17 . A method, comprising: tightening or loosening a clamp assembly using a locking lug nut key of a motor vehicle, wherein the clamp assembly is configured to hold a battery of the motor vehicle in place.
18. 18 . The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein: the clamp assembly includes a first jaw, a second jaw, and a bolt configured to selectively tighten and loosen the first jaw relative to the second jaw, and the bolt is configured to interface with the locking lug nut key.
19. 19 . The method as recited in claim 18 , wherein: a head of the bolt includes an inner wall providing a cavity, the inner wall exhibits a pattern configured to interface with the locking lug nut key, the locking lug nut key includes a projection exhibiting a negative of the pattern, the projection is configured to project into the cavity of the head of the bolt and to interface with the inner wall of the head of the bolt, and the tightening or loosening step is performed when the projection projects into the cavity of the head of the bolt and interfaces with the inner wall of the head of the bolt.
20. 20 . The method as recited in claim 17 , further comprising: tightening or loosening a locking lug nut of the motor vehicle using the locking lug nut key.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates to a clamp assembly for a battery of a motor vehicle. The clamp assembly is configured to interface with a locking lug nut key. BACKGROUND Motor vehicles are known to include batteries located under the hood of the motor vehicle, for example. Such batteries typically include a voltage level of 12 Volts, and are configured to power auxiliary systems and/or facilitate starting of an engine of the motor vehicle. Some motor vehicles include clamp assemblies configured to stabilize the battery and hold the battery in place. SUMMARY In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a motor vehicle, including: a battery; and a clamp assembly configured to hold the battery in place, wherein the clamp assembly is configured to interface with a locking lug nut key. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a motor vehicle, wherein the locking lug nut key is also configured to interface with a locking lug nut of the motor vehicle. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a motor vehicle, wherein: the clamp assembly includes a bolt, and a head of the bolt is configured to interface with the locking lug nut key. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a motor vehicle, wherein: the head of the bolt includes an inner wall providing a cavity, and the inner wall exhibits a pattern configured to interface with the locking lug nut key. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a motor vehicle, wherein the pattern of the inner wall includes one or more of splines, grooves, notches, lobes, points, projections, and indentations. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a motor vehicle, wherein an outer wall of the head of the bolt is substantially circular. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a motor vehicle, wherein: the locking lug nut key includes a first section and a second section, the first section includes a projection exhibiting a negative of the pattern, the projection is configured to project into the cavity of the head of the bolt and to interface with the inner wall of the head of the bolt, and when the projection projects into the cavity of the head of the bolt and interfaces with the inner wall of the head of the bolt, the bolt is configured to rotate with rotation of the locking lug nut key. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a motor vehicle, wherein an outer wall of the second section is configured to interface with a wrench. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a motor vehicle, wherein an outer wall of the second section is configured to interface with a standard socket. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a motor vehicle, wherein: the clamp assembly also includes a first jaw and a second jaw, and the bolt is configured to interface with the first jaw and the second jaw such that the clamp assembly selectively applies force to the battery. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a motor vehicle, wherein: the battery includes a projection, and the bolt is configured to interface with the first jaw and the second jaw to selectively apply force to the projection. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a motor vehicle, wherein: the first jaw includes a recess in a surface facing away from the second jaw, and the recess is configured to receive the head of the bolt such that the head of the bolt does not project beyond the surface of the first jaw in a direction away from the second jaw. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a motor vehicle, wherein the second jaw is configured to contact a battery tray and is located on an opposite side of the battery tray as the first jaw. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a motor vehicle, wherein the battery is a 12 Volt battery. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a clamp assembly for holding a vehicle battery in place, including: a first jaw; a second jaw; a bolt configured to interface with the first and second jaw and further configured to selectively tighten and loosen the clamp assembly, wherein the bolt is configured to interface with a locking lug nut key. In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a clamp, wherein: a head of the bolt includes an inner wall providing a cavity, the inner wall exhibits a pattern configured to interface with the locking lug nut key the locking lug nut key includes a projection exhibiting a negative of the pattern, the projection is configured to project into the cavity of the head of the bolt and to interface with the inner wall of the head of the bolt, and when the projection projects into the cavity of the head of the bolt and interfaces with the inner wall of the head of the bolt, the bolt is configured to rotate with rotation of the locking lug nut key. In some aspects, the techniques descr