Battery terminal holding component

Abstract

To achieve sharing between batteries with different figures.SOLUTION: A battery terminal holding component comprises: a terminal holding member 10 that holds a battery terminal 501, and is assembled to a battery post Pbt on a top face of a battery through the battery terminal connected to the battery post; and a locking member 20 that is assembled to the terminal holding member, and allows a locking part 21 to lock a part to be locked BTb on a lateral side of the battery to prevent the relative rotation around the battery post in the terminal holding member and maintain a connection posture of the battery terminal relative to the battery post. The locking member is provided with the locking parts 21 respectively for different size batteries that are different in the shortest distance between the axis of the battery post and the part to be locked. The locking member is assembled to the terminal holding member while changing the arrangement relative to the terminal holding member so that, in accordance with the shortest distance of an installation target battery selected from the plurality of different size batteries, the locking part corresponding to the installation target battery is locked to the part to be locked.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery terminal holding component. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in a battery, a terminal holding member holds the battery terminal and is attached to the battery post via the battery terminal connected to the battery post on the top surface of the battery, thereby maintaining the connection position of the battery terminal relative to the battery post. The battery terminal holding part is engaged with the side wall of the battery to prevent relative rotation around the axis of the battery post, thereby maintaining the connection position of the battery terminal that it holds. Such a battery terminal holding part is disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1 listed below. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-160990 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, batteries vary in size depending on their capacity, and the shortest distance between the axis of the battery post and the side wall of the battery varies depending on the size of the battery. Therefore, in the past, even if a battery terminal was to be shared between batteries of different sizes, a dedicated battery terminal holder had to be prepared for each battery size.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENTS An object of the present invention is to provide a battery terminal holding component that can be used in common among batteries of different sizes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention comprises a terminal holding member that holds a battery terminal and is attached to the battery post via the battery terminal connected to the battery post on the top surface of the battery, and a locking member that is assembled to the terminal holding member and prevents relative rotation around the axis of the battery post in the terminal holding member by engaging an engaging portion with an engaging portion on the side of the battery, thereby maintaining the connection posture of the battery terminal relative to the battery post, wherein the locking member has a locking portion for each different-sized battery that has a different shortest distance between the axis of the battery post and the engaging portion, and the locking member is assembled to the terminal holding member by changing its position relative to the terminal holding member so that the locking portion corresponding to the battery to be installed engages with the engaging portion to match the shortest distance of a battery to be installed selected from a plurality of different-sized batteries. Effect of the Invention

[0007] The battery terminal holding component of the present invention can switch the assembly positions of the terminal holding member and the locking member for each different size battery and lock the locking portion for the target battery to the locked portion of the target battery. In other words, by switching the assembly positions of the terminal holding member and the locking member for each different size battery, this battery terminal holding component can be shared between batteries of different sizes. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a battery terminal holding component according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the battery terminal holding component of the embodiment is attached to the battery. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a terminal holding member. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the terminal holding member as viewed from a different angle. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the locking member. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a plan view, seen from the side, of the assembled state of the battery terminal holding parts when the target battery is the first battery. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a plan view seen from above of the assembled state of the battery terminal holding parts when the target battery is the first battery. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a plan view, seen from the side, of the assembled state of the battery terminal holding component when the target battery is the second battery. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a plan view, seen from above, of the assembled state of the battery terminal holding parts when the target battery is the second battery. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a plan view seen from the side of the assembled state of the battery terminal holding parts when the target battery is the third battery. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a plan view, seen from above, of the assembled state of the battery terminal holding parts when the target battery is the third battery. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a plan view, seen from the side, of the assembled state of the battery terminal holding parts when the target battery is the fourth battery. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a plan view, seen from above, of the assembled state of the battery terminal holding parts when the target battery is the fourth battery. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a plan view seen from the side of the assembled state of the battery terminal holding parts when the target battery is the fifth battery. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a plan view, seen from above, of the assembled state of the battery terminal holding parts when the target battery is the fifth battery. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a plan view seen from the side of the assembled state of the battery terminal holding parts when the target battery is the sixth battery. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a plan view, seen from above, of the assembled state of the battery terminal holding parts when the target battery is the sixth battery. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a plan view seen from the side of the assembled state of the battery terminal holding parts when the target battery is the seventh battery. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a plan view seen from above of the assembled state of the battery terminal holding parts when the target battery is the seventh battery. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a battery terminal holding component according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these preferred embodiments.

[0010] [Embodiment] One embodiment of a battery terminal holding component according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0011] 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a battery terminal holding part of this embodiment. This battery terminal holding part 1 is a part for holding a battery terminal 501 attached to a battery post Pbt of a battery BT and for keeping the connection posture of this battery terminal 501 with respect to the battery BT in a specified posture (FIG. 2).

[0012] Here, the battery terminal 501 is formed from a conductive material such as metal, and is physically and electrically connected to the battery post Pbt. This exemplary battery terminal 501 is formed from a metal plate as a base material, and is assembled with a male screw member 511 and a female screw member 512 in a screwed state (FIG. 1). The battery terminal 501 is tightened to the truncated cone-shaped battery post Pbt by tightening the male screw member 511 and the female screw member 512, and is thus physically and electrically connected to the battery post Pbt (FIG. 2).

[0013] For example, an electronic component (not shown) of a battery connection unit is physically and electrically connected to the battery terminal 501. Therefore, the battery terminal 501 is provided with a male screw member 513 for screwing the electronic component (FIG. 1).

[0014] The battery terminal holding component 1 includes a terminal holding member 10 that holds the battery terminal 501, and a locking member 20 that is assembled to the terminal holding member 10 and locks onto the battery BT (FIGS. 1 to 19). The terminal holding member 10 and the locking member 20 are molded from an insulating material such as synthetic resin.

[0015] The terminal holding member 10 has a plate-shaped main body 11 and a plate-shaped extension portion 12 extending from the main body 11 (FIGS. 1, 3, and 4). The battery terminal 501 is arranged facing the first wall surfaces 11a, 12a of the main body 11 and the extension portion 12, and is held by holding portions 13 at multiple locations that rise from the first wall surfaces 11a, 12a (FIGS. 1 and 3). The holding portions 13 have, for example, claw portions or the like that hook onto the battery terminal 501 to hold the battery terminal 501. The terminal holding member 10 is attached to the battery post Pbt via the battery terminal 501 that is connected to the battery post Pbt on the upper surface BTa of the battery (FIG. 2).

[0016] The terminal holding member 10 holds a battery terminal 501 connected to a battery post Pbt with the second wall surface 11b of the main body 11 facing the battery upper surface BTa and the battery post Pbt inserted into the through hole 14 of the main body 11 (FIGS. 1 to 4). With the battery post Pbt inserted into the through hole 14, the terminal holding member 10 causes the extension portion 12 to protrude outward beyond the side wall of the battery BT (FIG. 2).

[0017] The locking member 20 is attached to the second wall surface 12b of the extension portion 12 of the terminal holding member 10, and the locking portion 21 is locked to the locked portion BTb on the side of the battery (FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18). With the terminal holding member 10 indirectly attached to the battery post Pbt, the locking member 20 locks the locking portion 21 to the locked portion BTb on the side of the battery, thereby preventing relative rotation of the terminal holding member 10 around the axis of the battery post Pbt. By preventing relative rotation of the terminal holding member 10, the locking member 20 maintains the connection posture of the battery terminal 501 with respect to the battery post Pbt.

[0018] The locked portion BTb shown here is a flat portion on a side wall of the battery BT. The locking portion 21 shown here is formed in a flat shape to be disposed opposite the locked portion BTb. The locking portion 21 is locked to the locked portion BTb by, for example, making surface contact with the locked portion BTb.

[0019] Incidentally, the size of the battery BT varies depending on its capacity, and the shortest distance Dmin between the axis of the battery post Pbt and the latched portion BTb on the side of the battery varies for each battery size (FIGS. 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18). Therefore, the latching member 20 is provided with latching portions 21 for each different-sized battery having a different shortest distance Dmin (FIGS. 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18). The latching member 20 is assembled to the terminal holding member 10 by changing its position relative to the terminal holding member 10 so that the latching portion 21 corresponding to the battery to be installed is latched to the latched portion BTb in accordance with the shortest distance Dmin of the battery to be installed selected from among a plurality of different-sized batteries (FIGS. 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18). This makes it possible for the battery terminal holding component 1 to be shared among batteries of different sizes having different physical configurations.

[0020] The locking member 20 has an opposing wall surface 22 that is disposed opposite the second wall surface 12b of the extension portion 12 after assembly with the terminal holding member 10 (FIG. 1). The locking member 20 shown here has an opposing wall body 23 on which the opposing wall surface 22 is provided, and standing walls 24 for each different-sized battery that stand up from the opposing wall body 23 (FIG. 5). The standing walls 24 have a locking portion 21 for each different-sized battery. In this locking member 20, the opposing wall body 23 and the standing wall body 24 are formed in a flat plate shape, and the standing walls 24 for each different-sized battery are vertically erected from the opposing wall body 23.

[0021] Here, a locking member 20 that can accommodate seven different-sized batteries (first to seventh batteries BT1-BT7) is illustrated (FIGS. 1, 5 to 19). This locking member 20 has first to seventh locking portions 21A-21G that respectively correspond to the first to seventh batteries BT1-BT7 as locking portions 21 for each different-sized battery (FIGS. 1 and 5). This locking member 20 also has first to seventh standing walls 24A-24G that correspond to the first to seventh locking portions 21A-21G, respectively (FIG. 5).

[0022] Between the terminal holding member 10 and the locking member 20, there is provided an inter-component connection structure 30 that can be assembled at an assembly position for each different size battery and can lock the locking portion 21 for the target battery to the locked portion BTb of the target battery (FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5). This inter-component connection structure 30 includes a first connection portion 31 and a positioning shaft 32 provided on one of the terminal holding member 10 and the locking member 20, and a second connection portion 33 and a fitting positioning portion 34 for each different size battery provided on the other of the terminal holding member 10 and the locking member 20 (FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5).

[0023] The first connecting portion 31 and the second connecting portion 33 are engaged with each other to hold them together, thereby maintaining the terminal holding member 10 and the locking member 20 in an assembled state. One of the first connecting portion 31 and the second connecting portion 33 is a connecting shaft, and the other is a fitting connecting portion into which the connecting shaft is fitted and locked.

[0024] In this example, the first connection portion 31 is formed on the extension portion 12 of the terminal holding member 10 as a fitting connection portion, and the second connection portion 33 protrudes from the opposing wall surface 22 of the locking member 20 as a connection axis.

[0025] The first connection part (fit-in connection part) 31 has a through hole 31a through which the second connection part (connection shaft) 33 is inserted from the second wall surface 12b side to the first wall surface 12a side of the extension part 12, and a locking part (hereinafter referred to as "first inter-member locking part") 31b which protrudes from the first wall surface 12a at the periphery of the through hole 31a and locks the second connection part (connection shaft) 33 inserted into the through hole 31a (FIGS. 3 and 4). Here, a circular through hole 31a is formed, and multiple arc-shaped pieces having flexibility like a cylinder coaxial with the through hole 31a divided into multiple pieces (four pieces in this example) around the axis are formed as the first inter-member locking part 31b. The second connection part (connection shaft) 33 has a shaft part 33a which is thinner than the through hole 31a and the inner diameter of the cylinder and has a tip which protrudes beyond the tip of each of the first inter-member locking parts 31b, and a locking part (hereinafter referred to as "second inter-member locking part") 33b which is provided at the tip of the shaft part 33a and locks with the tip of each of the first inter-member locking parts 31b (FIGS. 1 and 5). Here, the shaft part 33a is formed in a cylindrical shape with a shaft diameter thinner than the through hole 31a and the inner diameter of the cylinder, and the second inter-member locking part 33b which is hemispherical and larger than the inner diameter of the cylinder is formed at the tip of the shaft part 33a.

[0026] The second connecting portion (connecting shaft) 33 is inserted into the through hole 31a from the second inter-member locking portion 33b at its tip, and while the second inter-member locking portion 33b pushes each of the first inter-member locking portions 31b outward, the second inter-member locking portion 33b is caused to protrude beyond the tip of each of the first inter-member locking portions 31b, and the second inter-member locking portion 33b is locked to the tip of each of the first inter-member locking portions 31b that has returned to its original shape. As a result, the first connecting portion (fit-in connecting portion) 31 and the second connecting portion (connecting shaft) 33 are locked to each other, and the terminal holding member 10 and the locking member 20 are maintained in an assembled state.

[0027] The positioning shaft 32 engages the locking portion 21 for the target battery with the locked portion BTb of the target battery by combining with the fitting positioning portion 34 for the target battery. This positioning shaft 32 is arranged parallel to the axis of the first connection portion 31 and the second connection portion 33 in the fitted state. The fitting positioning portion 34 is arranged for each different size battery at an equal distance from the axis of the first connection portion 31 and the second connection portion 33 in the fitted state and around the axis. This fitting positioning portion 34 fits the positioning shaft 32 for each different size battery.

[0028] The positioning shaft 32 protrudes a predetermined distance from the axis of the first connection part (fit-in connection part) 31 and the second connection part (connection shaft) 33 in the fitted state (FIG. 4). The fitting positioning part 34 is formed for each different size battery at a position a predetermined distance away from the axis on the opposing wall surface 22 of the locking member 20 (FIG. 5). That is, here, the distance from the axis of the first connection part (fit-in connection part) 31 and the second connection part (connection shaft) 33 in the fitted state to the axis of the positioning shaft 32 is made to coincide with the distance from the axis of the first connection part (fit-in connection part) 31 and the second connection part (connection shaft) 33 in the fitted state to the axis of the fitting positioning part 34.

[0029] In this example, the positioning shaft 32 protrudes from the second wall surface 12b of the extension portion 12 of the terminal holding member 10, and a fitting positioning portion 34 is formed on the opposing wall surface 22 of the locking member 20 for each different size battery. The positioning shaft 32 shown here is formed as a cylindrical shaft portion. The fitting positioning portion 34 shown here is formed as a cylindrical through hole in the opposing wall 23 of the locking member 20. The opposing wall 23 is formed with first to seventh fitting positioning portions 34A-34G corresponding to the first to seventh batteries BT1-BT7, respectively (FIG. 5).

[0030] In the inter-member connection structure 30, the terminal holding member 10 and the locking member 20 are rotated relatively around the axis of the first connection part (fit-in connection part) 31 and the second connection part (connection shaft) 33, and the positioning shaft 32 is inserted into the fitting positioning part 34 for the target battery to be installed (FIGS. 6 to 26). As a result, the terminal holding member 10 and the locking member 20 are assembled at a position where the locking part 21 for the target battery can be locked to the locked part BTb of the target battery.

[0031] Here, each of the locking portions 21 (the first to seventh locking portions 21A-21G) is positioned for each different-sized battery around the axis of the first connection portion (insertion connection portion) 31 and the second connection portion (connection axis) 33 in the engaged state, at a position that matches the minimum distance Smin between the axis and the locked portion BTb of the battery to be installed (Figures 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19).

[0032] Furthermore, the terminal holding member 10 or the locking member 20 provided with the fitting positioning portion 34 is provided with an identification portion 41 for each different-sized battery that identifies the fitting positioning portion 34 for the battery to be installed (FIG. 5). For example, this identification portion 41 is formed for each different-sized battery adjacent to the fitting positioning portion 34 around the axis of the first connecting portion (fitting-in connecting portion) 31 and the second connecting portion (connecting axis) 33 in the fitted state. Here, as the identification portions 41 for each different-sized battery (first to seventh identification portions 41A-41G), markings such as letters indicating the battery to be installed (first to seventh batteries BT1-BT7) are formed on the opposing wall surface 22 of the locking member 20 (FIG. 5). In addition, in order to identify the fitting positioning portion 34 for the target battery into which the positioning shaft 32 is inserted, a through-hole shaped sight window 42 is formed in the extension portion 12 of the terminal holding member 10, through which only the identification portion 41 for the target battery can be visually observed (Figures 1, 3, 4, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19).

[0033] 6 and 7 show the assembled state of the terminal holding member 10 and the locking member 20 when the battery to be installed is the first battery BT1, and the locking portion 21A for the first battery BT1 is locked to the locked portion BTb of the first battery BT1. Figs. 8 and 9 show the assembled state of the terminal holding member 10 and the locking member 20 when the battery to be installed is the second battery BT2, and the locking portion 21B for the second battery BT2 is locked to the locked portion BTb of the second battery BT2. Figs. 10 and 11 show the assembled state of the terminal holding member 10 and the locking member 20 when the battery to be installed is the third battery BT3, and the locking portion 21C for the third battery BT3 is locked to the locked portion BTb of the third battery BT3. Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 show the assembled state of the terminal holding member 10 and the locking member 20 when the target battery to be installed is the fourth battery BT4, and the locking portion 21D for the fourth battery BT4 is locked to the locked portion BTb of the fourth battery BT4. Fig. 14 and Fig. 15 show the assembled state of the terminal holding member 10 and the locking member 20 when the target battery to be installed is the fifth battery BT5, and the locking portion 21E for the fifth battery BT5 is locked to the locked portion BTb of the fifth battery BT5. Fig. 16 and Fig. 17 show the assembled state of the terminal holding member 10 and the locking member 20 when the target battery to be installed is the sixth battery BT6, and the locking portion 21F for the sixth battery BT6 is locked to the locked portion BTb of the sixth battery BT6. Figures 18 and 19 show the assembled state of the terminal holding member 10 and the locking member 20 when the battery to be installed is the seventh battery BT7, and the locking portion 21G for the seventh battery BT7 is locked to the locked portion BTb of the seventh battery BT7.

[0034] As described above, the battery terminal holding part 1 of this embodiment can switch the assembly positions of the terminal holding member 10 and the locking member 20 for each different size battery and can lock the locking part 21 for the target battery to the locked part BTb of the target battery. In other words, this battery terminal holding part 1 can be shared between batteries of different sizes by switching the assembly positions of the terminal holding member 10 and the locking member 20 for each different size battery. Therefore, this battery terminal holding part 1 can suppress relative rotation around the axis of the battery post Pbt for each different size battery and maintain the connection posture of the battery terminal 501 with respect to the battery post Pbt. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 1 Battery terminal retaining parts 10 Terminal holding member 20 Locking member 21 Locking part 21A-21G 1st to 7th locking parts 30 Inter-component connection structure 31 First connection part 32 Positioning axis 33 Second connection part 34 Fitting positioning part 34A-34G 1st to 7th fitting positioning parts 41 Identification section 41A-41G 1st to 7th Identification Parts 501 Battery terminal BT1-BT7 Battery 1 to 7 BTb Locked part Pbt Battery Post

Claims

1. a terminal holding member that holds a battery terminal and is attached to the battery post via the battery terminal that is connected to the battery post on the upper surface of the battery; a locking member that is assembled to the terminal holding member and has a locking portion that locks with a locked portion on a side of the battery, thereby preventing the battery post from rotating relative to the terminal holding member about its axis, thereby maintaining a connection attitude of the battery terminal relative to the battery post; Equipped with the locking member is provided with the locking portion for each of the different size batteries, the shortest distance between the axis of the battery post and the locked portion being different; The battery terminal holding component is characterized in that the locking member is assembled to the terminal holding member by changing its position relative to the terminal holding member so as to match the shortest distance of the target battery selected from the plurality of different size batteries and to lock the locking portion corresponding to the target battery to the locked portion.

2. The battery terminal holding component described in claim 1, characterized in that an inter-component connection structure is provided between the terminal holding member and the locking member, which can be assembled at an assembly position for each of the different-sized batteries, thereby locking the locking portion for the battery to be installed to the locked portion of the battery to be installed.

3. the inter-member connection structure includes a first connection portion and a positioning shaft provided on one of the terminal holding member and the locking member, and a second connection portion and a fitting positioning portion for each of the different size batteries provided on the other of the terminal holding member and the locking member, one of the first connection portion and the second connection portion is a connection shaft, and the other of the first connection portion is a fitting connection portion into which the connection shaft is fitted and engaged; The positioning axis is arranged parallel to the axis of the connection axis and the fitting connection portion in a fitted state, The battery terminal holding component of claim 2, wherein the insertion positioning portion is disposed for each of the different-sized batteries at an equal distance from the axis of the connection shaft and the insertion connection portion in the fitted state and around the axis of the insertion positioning portion, and the positioning shaft is inserted for each of the different-sized batteries.

4. The battery terminal holding component of claim 3, wherein each of the locking portions is positioned for each of the different-sized batteries at a position that corresponds to the minimum distance between the axis of the connection shaft and the axis of the inserted connection portion in the fitted state and the locked portion of the battery to be installed.

5. The battery terminal holding part according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the terminal holding member or the locking member having the insertion positioning portion is provided with an identification portion for each of the different size batteries to identify the insertion positioning portion for the battery to be installed.

Images