Storage battery with auxiliary terminals

• US 7,358,702 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2003
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GS Yuasa International Ltd. (GS Yuasa Corporation)
• Original Assignee: GS Yuasa Corporation
• Inventors: Tanaka, Susumu, Yamauchi, Kenji, Kawada, Hiroyasu, Imamura, Tomohiro, Kawakita, Kenzo, Inakura, Masamichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Berhane; Adolf
• Assistant Examiner(s): PIGGUSH, AARON C
• Application Number:
  US10/517,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20050175893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,798 Days
• Field of Search: 320/112, 320/107, 320/104, 307/46, 429/121, 429/123
• US Class Current: 320/112
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/364 Battery terminal connectors with integrated measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/528 Fixed electrical connections, i.e. not intended for disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/55 on the same side of the cell
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/553 Terminals adapted for prismatic, pouch or rectangular cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

There is provided a storage battery for supplying power to an engine starting circuit and plural electrical parts and accessories, which is structured to prevent all the cords for various circuits and the like from being jammed to a single pair of terminals of the storage battery and prevent power loss during the operation, as well as provide an excellent appearance. The storage battery of the present invention includes a container for accommodation of a plate pack, a lid for covering an opening of the container, main positive and negative terminals connected to the plate pack, and at least one auxiliary terminal connected to at least one of the main positive and negative terminals via a connection member, in which at least a portion of the connection member is embedded in the inside of the lid or located in a recess on the top of the lid.

Claims

1. A storage battery comprising:

main positive and negative terminals that are connected to a plate pack;

at least one auxiliary terminal that is connected via a connection portion to at least one of the main positive and negative terminals, said at least one auxiliary terminal having a shape smaller than the shape of each of the main positive and negative terminals;

a container for accommodation of the plate pack; and

a lid for covering an opening of the container;

wherein

said lid has on its top a recess that has an area greater than the at least one auxiliary terminal and a closed side wall having an upper peripheral edge connected to a top surface of the lid,

at least one of said main positive and negative terminals are partly embedded in the lid,

said connection portion has a part embedded inside of the lid that extends from the at least one of the main positive and negative terminals embedded in the lid, and has an end protruding from the inside of the lid to the inside of the recess, and

said at least one auxiliary terminal is located at the protruding end.

2. The storage battery according to claim 1, wherein the end of the connection portion that protrudes to the inside of the recess on the top of the lid is embedded in resin filled and cured in the recess, so that said at least one auxiliary terminal is exposed on the surface of said resin.

3. The storage battery according to claim 2, wherein said part of the connection portion embedded inside of the lid has on its side a ring-shaped protrusion.

4. The storage battery according to claim 1, further comprising a bushing monolithically formed with each of the main positive and negative terminals, wherein said connection portion is connected via the bushing to each of the main positive and negative terminals.

5. The storage battery according to claim 4, wherein the connection portion has a proximal end, said proximal end being a downwardly extending portion obliquely extending from an upper portion of the bushing.

6. The storage battery according to claim 5, wherein the connection portion is monolithically formed with the bushing.

7. The storage battery according to claim 1, wherein said recess on the top of the lid extends between the main positive and negative terminals, and said at least one auxiliary terminal inside of the recess comprises a pair of auxiliary terminals that are respectively connected to the main positive and negative terminals, and said main positive and negative terminals and said pair of auxiliary terminals are aligned in a substantially straight line.

8. The storage battery according to claim 1, wherein said at least one auxiliary terminal in the recess on the top of the lid is disposed so as not to protrude outward from the top of the lid.

9. The storage battery according to claim 1, wherein the recess on the top of the lid provides a space, through which any one of a device for announcing the life of the battery and an automobile antitheft device is incorporated with the storage battery.

10. The storage battery according to claim 1, wherein the at least one auxiliary terminals is located within the recess.

11. The storage battery according to claim 1, wherein the majority of the top of the lid is flat.