A battery terminal includes an undercut groove that provides a leak proof seal between a battery terminal and a plastic battery cover or housing. The leak proof seal prevents electrolyte from seeping from the interior of the housing as well as prevents electrolyte from seeping between the battery terminal and plastic housing when the battery housing is filled with electrolyte.
1. A battery terminal comprising:
a body having a top surface, an opposing bottom surface, and a first groove extending within the body proximate the bottom surface wherein the first groove extends 360 degrees about the body and includes a base portion having a first width and an opening having a second width less than the first width.
2. The battery terminal of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a longitudinal axis extending substantially perpendicular between the top and bottom surfaces, the first groove defining a first groove vector extending substantially perpendicular between the base and the opening, the first groove vector being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
3. The battery terminal of claim 2 wherein the distance between the base of the first groove and the bottom surface is less than the distance between the opening of the first groove and the bottom surface.
4. The battery terminal of claim 2 , wherein the distance between the base of the first groove and the bottom surface is greater than the distance between the opening of the first groove and the bottom surface.
5. The battery terminal of claim 1 , further including a second groove located closer to the top surface than the first groove.
6. The battery terminal of claim 5 , wherein the body includes a base portion with an insert embedded therein and bottom portion extending downward from the base portion, wherein the first and second grooves are located within the bottom portion and base portion respectively.
7. The battery terminal of claim 5 , wherein the body includes a frustum extending downward from the top surface, a bottom portion adjacent the bottom surface and a spline located between the frustum and the bottom portion, wherein the first groove is located in the bottom portion and the second groove is located proximate the spline.
8. The battery terminal of claim 7 , wherein the second groove is located within the spline.
9. A battery comprising:
a housing having an outer surface and an inner surface defining an interior; and
a terminal connected to the housing, having a first portion extending above the housing, a engagement portion engaged with the housing and a third portion in fluid communication with the interior of the housing, the terminal including a longitudinal axis extending through the terminal and substantially perpendicular to the portion of the housing through which the terminal is engaged, the terminal including a first groove within the engagement portion, the first groove including an opening having a first width, the first groove also including a portion having a width that is greater than the first width of the opening wherein the first groove includes a first groove vector extending from the base of the groove toward the opening of the groove, wherein the first groove vector is parallel to the longitudinal axis.
10. The battery of claim 9 , wherein the terminal includes a second groove including a second opening having a second opening width, the second groove includes a second portion having a second portion width that is greater than the second opening width.
11. The battery of claim 10 , wherein the second groove includes a second groove vector extending from the base of the second groove toward the opening of the second groove, wherein the second groove vector is parallel to the longitudinal axis.
12. The battery of claim 10 , wherein the second groove includes a second groove vector extending from the base of the second groove toward the opening of the second groove, wherein the second groove vector is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
13. The battery of claim 10 wherein the housing includes an edge proximate each groove.
14. The battery of claim 10 , wherein the second groove includes a second groove vector extending from the base of the second groove toward the opening of the second groove, wherein the second groove vector is parallel to the longitudinal axis.
15. The battery of claim 10 , wherein the second groove includes a second groove vector extending from the base of the second groove toward the opening of the second groove, wherein the second groove vector is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
16. A battery terminal comprising:
a body having a first portion extending from an engagement portion, the body including a longitudinal axis extending through the body, the body including a first groove within the engagement portion, the first groove extending substantially 360 degrees about a portion of the body and including an upwardly extending opening having a first width, the first groove also including a portion having a width that is greater than the first width of the opening.
17. The battery terminal of claim 16 , wherein a vector extending between the base of the first groove and the opening of the first groove is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body.
18. The battery terminal of claim 16 , further including a second groove including a second opening having a second opening width, the second groove includes a second portion having a second portion width that is greater than the second opening width.
19. The battery terminal of claim 18 , wherein a vector extending between the base of the first grooves and the opening of the first groove is parallel to the longitudinal axis and wherein a second vector extending between the base of the second groove of the body is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
20. A battery comprising:
a terminal including a groove extending 360 degrees therearound, the groove including a base and an opening;
a plastic housing having an outer surface and an inner surface defining an interior, the terminal being molded within the plastic housing and having a portion extending outwardly from one outer surface of the plastic housing, the plastic housing having a sealing bead extending into the opening of the groove and filling the area within the groove, the groove defining a groove vector extending substantially perpendicular through the area defined by the groove opening, the groove vector being substantially perpendicular to the one outer surface of the plastic housing, wherein the opening of the groove has a first width, the groove also including a portion having a width that is greater than the first width.
21. The battery of claim 20 , wherein the groove is proximate the outer surface of the container.
22. The battery of claim 21 , wherein the terminal includes a second groove proximate the inner surface of the container.
23. The battery of claim 20 , wherein, the plastic container includes an edge proximate the groove.
24. The battery of claim 23 , wherein, the edge of the plastic container is within 0.5 inches of the groove.
25. The battery of claim 23 , wherein, the edge of the plastic container is within 0.25 inches of the groove.
26. The battery of claim 23 , wherein the edge is less than 0.25 inches from the groove.