Patent claim: A battery pack comprising a battery array 100 comprising a plurality of battery cells 10 a pair of end plates 200 one of the pair of end plates 200 at each end of the battery array 100 a pair of side plates 300 300a 300b one of the pair of side plates 300 300a 300b on each side of the battery array 100 and a top cover 400 400a 400b generally covering the battery array 100 and containing a reinforcing frame 440 440a 440b 440c 440d therein.

Related passage: Fig.7 illustrates a schematic perspective view showing with apportion cut out a module body 47 which is a major component of the battery module B and is accommodated within the casing 9 shown in Fig.1.It is to be noted that in the description that follows a positive electrode side of the cell stacked body 1 a region forwardly of Fig.7 is referred to as a front side whereas a negative electrode side thereof a region opposite to the forward region of Fig.7 is referred to as a rear side.Opposite side faces of the cell stacked body 1 with respect to the direction X of stacking has respective side face plates3 arranged thereat as a set of face plate members each extending in a direction along the direction X of stacking so as to cover the associated side faces of the cell stacked body 1.Each of the side face plates 3 and 3 has upper and lower edge portions 3a and 3b opposed to each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction X of stacking bent to protrude in a direction inwardly of the cell stacked body 1 at right angles relative to the remaining portion of the respective side face plates 3 and accordingly each side face plate 3 has a sectional shape representing a generally Usectioned configuration having a shallow recess.In the vicinity of front and rear end portions 3c and 3d of the side face plates 3 with respect to the direction X of stacking platelike compressing members in the form of compressing plates 5 are secured by means of front and rear sets of side bolts 32 such that front and rear faces of the cell stacked body 1 with respect to the direction X of stacking are covered by the front and rear compressing plates 5 and 5.Also upper and lower face plates 33 and 34 each being a plateshaped member extending in the direction X of stacking are arranged respectively upper and lower regions of the cell stacked body 1 with respect to the direction X of stacking.Each of the upper and lower face plates 33 and 34 has its left and right side edge portions bent at right angles relative to the remaining portion of the respective face plate 33 or 34 to allow each face plate 33 or 34 to have a sectional shape representing a generally Usectioned configuration having a shallow recess.The upper and lower face plates 33 and 34 having the respective side edge portions so bent at right angles as hereinabove described are capped onto the cell stacked body 1 with those bent side edge portions overlapping the upper and lower edge portions 3a and 3b of the side face plates 3 and 3.The upper and lower face plates 33 and 34 are firmly secured to the side face plates 3 and 3 with those bent side edge portions connected with the upper and lower edge portions 3a and 3b of the side face plates 3 and 3 by means of set of bolts.