Patent Publication Number: US-11024928-B2

Title: Battery terminal

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application is a Divisional application and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S. application Ser. No. 14/932,264 filed on Nov. 4, 2015, which in turn claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-224556 filed in Japan on Nov. 4, 2014 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-025635 filed in Japan on Feb. 12, 2015, which are all incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a battery terminal. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Conventionally, a battery terminal to be mounted on a battery post that is provided to stand on a battery installed in a vehicle and the like has been known. As a conventional battery terminal, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H09-245767 discloses the configuration of a battery terminal that can be mounted on a battery post by being fastened while the battery post is inserted to a through-hole thereof, for example. As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H09-245767, in general, the conventional battery terminal is mounted on the battery post by tightening a bolt and a nut that are arranged with the horizontal direction as an axis direction so as to reduce the diameter of the through-hole to which the battery post is inserted and ensure a fastening force to the battery post (hereinafter, this method is described as “lateral tightening method”). 
     In such a conventional battery terminal of the lateral tightening method, it is necessary to rotate the bolt and the nut around the axis line in the horizontal direction for fastening. Consequently, when mounting the terminal on the battery post, it has been necessary to set a tool for rotating the bolt and the nut from the lateral side of the battery post, that is, the lateral side of the battery, and perform rotating operation. Hence, it has been necessary to take up a large work space to insert and operate the tool on the lateral side of the battery. 
     Meanwhile, in recent years, the application of an EN battery, which is being the mainstream in Europe, to automobiles has begun to be examined. In the EN (European Norm, European Standards) battery, the battery post on which the battery terminal is mounted is positioned lower than the upper surface of the battery. Thus, conceivable is a situation in which, when the conventional battery terminal of the lateral tightening method is used, the work using a fitting tool is difficult. 
     In addition, the conventional battery terminal disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H09-245767 has room for further improving its fastening performance when fastened to the battery post. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in consideration of the foregoing, and an object of the present invention is to provide a battery terminal capable of reducing the work space required in the periphery of the battery when fastened to the battery post. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a battery terminal capable of improving its fastening performance when fastened to a battery post. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a battery terminal includes an annular portion on which a post insertion hole to which a battery post is inserted and a slit that continues to the post insertion hole are formed; a penetration plate that is arranged to penetrate through from one end portion of the annular portion to another end portion of the annular portion interposing the slit along a width direction that is a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the battery post and a direction of traversing the slit; a retaining portion that is provided on one end portion of the penetration plate and prevents the penetration plate from coming off from the annular portion; a fastening-member support portion provided on another end portion of the penetration plate; a fastening member supported to be rotatable around the axial direction by the fastening-member support portion; a fastened member that screws together with the fastening member; and a pressing-force conversion member that is arranged in contact with the annular portion from the other end portion side of the penetration plate, and converts a tightening force in the axial direction that arises between the fastening member and the fastened member along with rotation of the fastening member around the axial direction into a pressing force in the width direction that presses the annular portion in a direction of reducing an interval of the slit of the annular portion out of the width direction, wherein the annular portion is a pair of annular portions arranged to face each other along the axial direction, the penetration plate is arranged to penetrate through a clearance of the pair of annular portions, and the pair of annular portions includes a clearance reduction portion that reduces the clearance in at least a part of a penetration area of the penetration plate. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, in the battery terminal, it is preferable that the clearance reduction portion includes a first projecting portion that is provided to project from one of the pair of annular portions toward the penetration plate side. 
     According to still another aspect of the present invention, in the battery terminal, it is preferable that the clearance reduction portion includes a second projecting portion that is provided to project from the other of the pair of annular portions toward the penetration plate side and is arranged to face the first projecting portion. 
     According to still another aspect of the present invention, in the battery terminal, it is preferable that the fastened member includes a threaded hole provided to run through in the axial direction at the other end portion of the penetration plate, the fastening member includes a bolt supported to be rotatable around the axial direction by the threaded hole, the fastening-member support portion includes the threaded hole, the pressing-force conversion member includes a spacer that is arranged being penetrated by the bolt between the bolt and the penetration plate and is restricted to rotate around the axial direction, the spacer includes a first tapered surface formed to come in contact with the other end portion that is an end portion of the annular portion in the width direction and is on the opposite side of the one end portion held by the retaining portion, the other end portion of the annular portion in the width direction includes a second tapered surface formed to come in contact with the first tapered surface, and the first tapered surface provided on the spacer and the second tapered surface provided on the annular portion include an inclination in a direction of converting a tightening force in the axial direction, which arises between the bolt and the threaded hole when the bolt comes closer to the threaded hole side along the axial direction along with the rotation around the axial direction, into a pressing force in the width direction in which the spacer presses the annular portion in a direction of reducing an interval of the slit of the annular portion. 
     According to still another aspect of the present invention, a battery terminal includes an annular portion on which a post insertion hole to which a battery post is inserted and a slit that continues to the post insertion hole are formed; a penetration plate that is arranged to penetrate through from one end portion of the annular portion to another end portion of the annular portion interposing the slit along a width direction that is a direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the battery post and a direction of traversing the slit; a retaining portion that is provided on one end portion of the penetration plate and configured to prevent the penetration plate from coming off from the annular portion; and a pressing-force applying portion that is provided on another end portion of the penetration plate and configured to apply a pressing force in the width direction that presses the annular portion in a direction of reducing an interval of the slit of the annular portion out of the width direction, wherein the penetration plate includes a pair of longitudinal side end surfaces that extends along the width direction and is arranged to face each other in a short-side direction orthogonal to the width direction and the axial direction, and includes, at least at a portion exposed from the slit in one longitudinal side end surface arranged outside of the annular portion out of the pair of longitudinal side end surfaces, a recessed portion that is formed so as to reduce a size of the penetration plate in the short-side direction to another longitudinal side end surface side. 
     According to still another aspect of the present invention, in the battery terminal, it is preferable that the annular portion is a pair of annular portions arranged to face each other along the axial direction, the pair of annular portions is coupled together by a bent coupling portion that extends in the axial direction at an end portion positioned at an outer edge of the slit, and the recessed portion is formed such that, when compared with a clearance between the one longitudinal side end surface of the penetration plate on which the recessed portion is provided and the bent coupling portion, a clearance between a bottom of the recessed portion and the bent coupling portion becomes wide. 
     According to still another aspect of the present invention, in the battery terminal, it is preferable that the pressing-force applying portion includes a fastening-member support portion provided on the other end portion of the penetration plate, a fastening member supported to be rotatable around the axial direction by the fastening-member support portion, a fastened member that screws together with the fastening member, and a pressing-force conversion member that is arranged in contact with the annular portion from the other end portion side of the penetration plate, and converts a tightening force in the axial direction that arises between the fastening member and the fastened member along with rotation of the fastening member around the axial direction into a pressing force in the width direction that presses the annular portion in a direction of reducing an interval of the slit of the annular portion out of the width direction. 
     The above and other objects, features, advantages and technical and industrial significance of this invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view schematically illustrating the configuration of a battery terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the battery terminal illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the battery terminal illustrated in  FIG. 1  is mounted on a battery post; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view illustrating the state in which the battery terminal illustrated in  FIG. 1  is mounted on the battery post; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view viewed along the V-V line in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating a state before fastening the battery terminal according to the first embodiment to the battery post; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram illustrating a state after having fastened the battery terminal according to the first embodiment to the battery post; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view schematically illustrating the configuration of a battery terminal according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the battery terminal illustrated in  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view illustrating the state in which the battery terminal illustrated in  FIG. 8  is mounted on the battery post; and 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram viewed from the arrow direction L 1  in  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following describes embodiments of a battery terminal according to the present invention based on the accompanying drawings. In the following drawings, identical or equivalent portions are given identical reference numerals and their descriptions are not repeated. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view schematically illustrating the configuration of a battery terminal according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the battery terminal illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the battery terminal illustrated in  FIG. 1  is mounted on a battery post.  FIG. 4  is a plan view illustrating the state in which the battery terminal illustrated in  FIG. 1  is mounted on the battery post.  FIG. 5  is a sectional view viewed along the V-V line in  FIG. 3 . 
     A battery terminal  1  in the first embodiment is, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , fitted to a battery post  51  of a battery  50 . The battery terminal  1  is a component to electrically connect, by being mounted on the battery post  51 , the battery  50  with a metal fitting and the like that is provided at the end portion of an electrical wire on the main body side of a vehicle and the like in which the battery  50  is installed. 
     In the following description, the direction along the central axis line X of the battery post  51  is referred to as “axial direction.” Furthermore, for making the following description easy to understand and for the sake of convenience, one of two directions orthogonal to the axial direction is referred to as a long-side direction (width direction) and the other is referred to as a short-side direction. The axial direction, the long-side direction, and the short-side direction are orthogonal to one another. 
     The battery  50  to which the battery terminal  1  is applied is installed in a vehicle and the like as a power storage device, for example. The battery  50  is configured with, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a battery housing  52  that accommodates therein battery fluid and various components constituting the battery  50 , the above-described battery post  51  provided on the battery housing  52 , and others. The battery housing  52  is configured with a substantially rectangular box-shaped housing body of which any one of the surfaces is open and a cover member that closes the foregoing open surface, and is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole. 
     While the battery housing  52  here has long sides in the direction along the long-side direction and has short sides in the direction along the short-side direction, it is not limited to this. The battery post  51  is composed of lead and the like, and is provided to stand on a post standing surface  53  of the cover member. The post standing surface  53  is the surface in the battery housing  52  on which the battery post  51  is provided to stand. The post standing surface  53  here is the upper surface of the cover member on the upper side in the vertical direction in a state of the battery  50  being installed in the vehicle and the like, for example. The battery post  51  is in a substantially columnar shape, and is provided to stand on the post standing surface  53  so as to project in such a positional relation that the central axis line X is orthogonal to the post standing surface  53 . In more detail, the battery post  51  in the first embodiment is provided to stand in a recessed portion  54  formed near a corner position of the post standing surface  53 . The recessed portion  54  is a portion caved in a substantially rectangular shape near the corner position of the post standing surface  53 . That is, the battery post  51  is provided to stand on the bottom surface of the recessed portion  54  formed on the post standing surface  53  that is the upper surface of the battery housing  52 . The battery post  51  is typically tapered such that the diameter becomes smaller toward the distal end side in the axial direction. That is, the battery post  51  is in a tapered shape in which the outer diameter at the distal end is smaller than the outer diameter at the base end. In the following description, explained is such a situation that, in a state in which the battery  50  is installed in the vehicle and the like, the axial direction of the battery post  51  is in a direction along the vertical direction, and the foregoing long-side direction and the short-side direction are in directions along the horizontal direction. The battery terminal  1  is fastened to the battery post  51  configured as in the foregoing. 
     The battery terminal  1  in the first embodiment is a terminal that is in a type of tightening a fastening member (a later-described fastening bolt  27 ) from the upper side in the vertical direction when fastened to the battery post  51 . The battery terminal  1  in the first embodiment is fastened to the battery post  51  by converting a tightening force by the fastening member that arises in the direction along the axial direction into a pressing force in a tightening direction (width direction) intersecting the axial direction and pressing a portion of the battery terminal  1 , to which the battery post  51  is inserted, by the pressing force. At this time, by configuring the fastening member to be tightened from the upper side in the vertical direction and making a work space for a tool for tightening the fastening member above the battery  50 , the battery terminal  1  in the first embodiment achieves the reduction of the work space on the lateral side of the battery  50 . 
     Specifically, the battery terminal  1  in the first embodiment includes, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a main body  21 , a stud bolt  22 , and a tightening portion  23 . In the following description, the directions to be the axial direction, the long-side direction, and the short-side direction in a state in which the battery terminal  1  is mounted on the battery post  51  may simply be referred to as “axial direction”, “long-side direction”, and “short-side direction”, respectively. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in the main body  21  in the first embodiment, an upper segmented body  24  and a lower segmented body  25  are coupled together by a bent coupling portion  29  at the end portions on the short-side direction side of plate-like projecting portions  24   e  and  25   e . In the main body  21 , in a state in which the battery terminal  1  is mounted on the battery post  51 , the upper segmented body  24 , which is on the upper side in the vertical direction, and the lower segmented body  25 , which is on the lower side in the vertical direction, are in a state of facing each other and being stacked in the axial direction (vertical direction). The stacking direction of the upper segmented body  24  and the lower segmented body  25  is a direction along the axial direction of the battery post  51 , in a state in which the battery terminal  1  is mounted on the battery post  51 , and the side that a later-described shank  22   a  of the stud bolt  22  projects is defined as the upper side in the stacking direction, and the opposite side is defined as the lower side in the stacking direction. The upper side in the stacking direction corresponds to the distal end side of the battery post  51 , and the lower side in the stacking direction corresponds to the base end side of the battery post  51 . That is, in the main body  21 , the upper segmented body  24  is on the upper side in the stacking direction and the lower segmented body  25  is on the lower side in the stacking direction. 
     A pair of annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  is formed in a substantially annular shape, and on the respective annular portions  24   a  and  25   a , substantially round-shaped post insertion holes  24   c  and  25   c  to which the battery post  51  is inserted are formed, and slits  24   d  and  25   d  that continue to the post insertion holes  24   c  and  25   c  are formed. 
     The post insertion hole  24   c  and the post insertion hole  25   c  are formed in the respective annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  so as to be in a positional relation of facing each other in the stacking direction, in a state in which the upper segmented body  24  and the lower segmented body  25  are vertically stacked and mounted on the battery post  51 . In the post insertion holes  24   c  and  25   c , respective inner circumferential wall surfaces are formed by folding back a plate in the directions of facing each other. That is, the plate is folded back to the upper side in the post insertion hole  24   c  and the plate is folded back to the lower side in the post insertion hole  25   c . The post insertion holes  24   c  and  25   c  have, on the respective inner circumferential wall surfaces, a taper that corresponds to the above-described taper of the battery post  51 . Out of the post insertion hole  24   c  and the post insertion hole  25   c  here, the inner diameter on the side that the later-described shank  22   a  of the stud bolt  22  projects, that is, the post insertion hole  24   c  side, becomes the smallest, and the inner diameter on the post insertion hole  25   c  side of the opposite side becomes the largest. In the post insertion holes  24   c  and  25   c , the respective inner circumferential wall surfaces come in contact with the battery post  51 , in a state in which the battery post  51  is inserted thereto. 
     The slit  24   d  and the slit  25   d  are formed in the respective annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  so as to be in a positional relation of facing each other in the stacking direction, in a state in which the upper segmented body  24  and the lower segmented body  25  are vertically stacked and mounted on the battery post  51 . The slits  24   d  and  25   d  here are formed so as to sever a part of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  from the respective post insertion holes  24   c  and  25   c . The annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  further have, at the end portion on the side on which the slits  24   d  and  25   d  are formed, the plate-like projecting portions  24   e  and  25   e  that are held and tightened by the later-described tightening portion  23 . The plate-like projecting portion  24   e  is integrally formed so as to be continuous with a portion of the annular portion  24   a  in which the post insertion hole  24   c  is formed, without any stepped portion and others. In the same manner, the plate-like projecting portion  25   e  is also integrally formed so as to be continuous with a portion of the annular portion  25   a  in which the post insertion hole  25   c  is formed, without any stepped portion and others. The slit  24   d  runs through the plate-like projecting portion  24   e  from the post insertion hole  24   c . The slit  25   d  runs through the plate-like projecting portion  25   e  from the post insertion hole  25   c.    
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the plate-like projecting portion  24   e  of the annular portion  24   a  and the plate-like projecting portion  25   e  of the annular portion  25   a  are arranged leaving a substantially certain clearance C in the axial direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the plate-like projecting portion  24   e  is bent at one end in the long-side direction toward the lower side, and at an edge portion  24   h  bent toward the lower side, a through-hole  24   i  is provided to let a later-described penetration plate  26  penetrate through. Meanwhile, the plate-like projecting portion  25   e  is bent at the one end in the long-side direction toward the upper side, and at an edge portion  25   h  bent toward the upper side, a through-hole  25   i  is also provided to let the later-described penetration plate  26  penetrate through. The edge portion  24   h  of the upper segmented body  24  and the edge portion  25   h  of the lower segmented body  25  are formed such that, in a state in which the upper segmented body  24  and the lower segmented body  25  are joined together, they overlap each other and such that the through-hole  24   i  and the through-hole  25   i  provided thereon run through in the long-side direction. 
     That is, the plate-like projecting portion  24   e  severed by the slit  24   d  can also be expressed as one end portion of and the other end portion of the annular portion  24   a . In the same manner, the plate-like projecting portion  25   e  severed by the slit  25   d  can also be expressed as one end portion of and the other end portion of the annular portion  25   a.    
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a pair of bolt-holding portions  24   b  and  25   b  is formed in a substantially rectangular shape. In the bolt-holding portion  24   b , a substantially round-shaped bolt insertion hole  24   g  to which the stud bolt  22  is inserted is formed. The bolt-holding portions  24   b  and  25   b  are integrally formed on the side on which the slits  24   d  and  25   d  of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  are formed, that is, the opposite side of the side on which the plate-like projecting portions  24   e  and  25   e  are formed, so as to be continuous via stepped portions  24   f  and  25   f  and others. 
     The stud bolt  22  that the bolt-holding portions  24   b  and  25   b  hold is exposed in a state of being held between the bolt-holding portion  24   b  and the bolt-holding portion  25   b  such that the shank  22   a  projects from the bolt insertion hole  24   g . In the stud bolt  22 , a metal fitting and the like provided at the end of an electrical wire is electrically connected to the shank  22   a  that is exposed from the bolt insertion hole  24   g . In the bolt-holding portions  24   b  and  25   b , certain folded portions are formed such that a rectangular plate-like pedestal portion on which the shank  22   a  of the stud bolt  22  is provided to stand can be held. 
     The main body  21  can be made in the structure illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2 , and others, by integrally forming the upper segmented body  24  and the lower segmented body  25  via the bent coupling portion  29 , and bending the upper segmented body  24  and the lower segmented body  25  in a state in which the stud bolt  22  is inserted through the bolt insertion hole  24   g  of the bolt-holding portion  24   b , for example. Note that the main body  21  in the first embodiment may be in a divided structure with the upper segmented body  24  and the lower segmented body  25 . 
     The tightening portion  23  fastens the pair of annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  onto the battery post  51  in a state in which the battery post  51  is inserted into the post insertion holes  24   c  and  25   c . The tightening portion  23  includes the penetration plate  26 , the fastening bolt  27  (a fastening member), and a spacer  28  (a pressing-force conversion member). 
     The penetration plate  26  is a plate-like member that is arranged to penetrate through the slits  24   d  and  25   d  and the plate-like projecting portions  24   e  and  25   e  along the long-side direction. The penetration plate  26  penetrates through from one end portions (the end portions on which the edge portions  24   h  and  25   h  are formed) of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  to the other end portions of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  interposing the slits  24   d  and  25   d . The penetration plate  26 , by making it penetrate through the through-hole  24   i  provided on the edge portion  24   h  of the upper segmented body  24  and the through-hole  25   i  provided on the edge portion  25   h  of the lower segmented body  25 , is attached to the main body  21  along the long-side direction, so as to traverse the slits  24   d  and  25   d.    
     The penetration plate  26  includes a retaining portion  26   a  at one end portion  26   c  in the long-side direction thereof. The retaining portion  26   a  prevents the penetration plate  26  from coming off from the main body  21  to an other end portion  26   d  side that is an opposite side of the one end portion  26   c  on which the retaining portion  26   a  is provided, in a state in which the penetration plate  26  penetrates through both ends of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a , that is, in a state in which the penetration plate  26  is attached to the main body  21  penetrating through the through-holes  24   i  and  25   i . Specifically, the retaining portion  26   a  is formed, at the one end portion  26   c  in the long-side direction of the penetration plate  26 , in a size longer than the inner diameter of the through-holes  24   i  and  25   i  in the short-side direction, and is configured to abut on the edge portions  24   h  and  25   h  when the penetration plate  26  enters and passes through the through-holes  24   i  and  25   i  by a certain amount toward the other end portion  26   d  side. 
     The penetration plate  26  is further provided with, at the other end portion  26   d  that is on the opposite side of the one end portion  26   c  on which the retaining portion  26   a  is provided, a threaded hole  26   b  (a fastening-member support portion, a fastened member) running through in the axial direction. The threaded hole  26   b  further has a function of supporting the fastening bolt  27  at a certain position in the axial direction. 
     The fastening bolt  27  includes a shank  27   a  on which a threaded groove is formed, and a head  27   b  integrally formed with the shank  27   a  at one end portion thereof. The shank  27   a  is a portion that screws together with the threaded hole  26   b  of the penetration plate  26 . The head  27   b  is a portion that is held by a tool and the like in order to rotate the fastening bolt  27  around the shank  27   a . The fastening bolt  27  is supported to be rotatable around the axial direction by the threaded hole  26   b  of the penetration plate  26  at a certain position along the axial direction, and the shank  27   a  screws together with the threaded hole  26   b  along the axial direction. The fastening bolt  27  may simply be described as “bolt.” 
     The spacer  28  is arranged, being penetrated by the fastening bolt  27 , between the fastening bolt  27  and the penetration plate  26 . The spacer  28 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , includes a square-shaped base portion  28   a  including a through-hole that the shank  27   a  of the fastening bolt  27  penetrates, and includes a pair of upright portions  28   b  and  28   c  that extends toward the lower side in the vertical direction from two sides facing each other out of the four sides of the base portion  28   a . In the base portion  28   a , as illustrated in  FIG. 2  and others, the two sides that include the upright portions  28   b  and  28   c  extend in the long-side direction. The pair of upright portions  28   b  and  28   c  of the spacer  28 , when fitted, is arranged so as to clamp the penetration plate  26  from both sides in the short-side direction, and thereby the rotation of the spacer  28  around the axial direction is restricted (see FIG. 
     On the pair of upright portions  28   b  and  28   c  of the spacer  28 , tapered surfaces  28   d  and  28   e  (first tapered surfaces) are formed on one end on the plate-like projecting portions  24   e  and  25   e  side in the long-side direction. The tapered surfaces  28   d  and  28   e  are formed at positions capable of coming in contact with the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a , and are formed so as to be positioned on an identical virtual plane. The tapered surfaces  28   d  and  28   e  are formed at positions capable of coming in contact with later-described tapered surfaces  30  and  31  (second tapered surfaces) of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a.    
     In the first embodiment, the tapered surfaces  30  and  31  (second tapered surfaces) that come in contact with the tapered surfaces  28   d  and  28   e  of the spacer  28  are formed, on the other end portions (end portions on the side on which the spacer  28  is brought into contact) that are the end portions in the long-side direction of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  of the main body  21  and are on the opposite side of the one end portions (end portions on which the edge portions  24   h  and  25   h  are present) held by the retaining portion  26   a  of the penetration plate  26 . The tapered surfaces  30  are formed in neighboring portions on the post insertion holes  24   c  and  25   c  side from the bent coupling portion  29 , and the tapered surfaces  31  are formed leaving a certain distance (the distance between the pair of upright portions  28   b  and  28   c  of the spacer  28 ) from the tapered surfaces  30  in the short-side direction so as to be positioned on a virtual plane identical to that of the tapered surfaces  30 . That is, on the tapered surfaces  30  and  31 , the respective tapered surfaces  28   d  and  28   e  provided on the pair of upright portions  28   b  and  28   c  of the spacer  28  are disposed so as to confront them. 
     In the end portions between the tapered surfaces  30  and  31  of the plate-like projecting portions  24   e  and  25   e , cut-out portions  32  are formed along the shape of the threaded hole  26   b  at portions that overlap the threaded hole  26   b  of the penetration plate  26  in the axial direction. 
     The tapered surfaces  28   d  and  28   e  provided on the spacer  28  and the tapered surfaces  30  and  31  provided on the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  have inclinations in a direction of converting a tightening force in the axial direction, which arises between the fastening bolt  27  and the threaded hole  26   b  when the fastening bolt  27  comes closer toward the threaded hole  26   b  side along the axial direction along with the rotation around the axial direction, into a pressing force in a direction of reducing the intervals of the slits  24   d  and  25   d  of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a , that is, in the long-side direction in which the spacer  28  presses the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  toward the retaining portion  26   a  side of the penetration plate  26  in the long-side direction. In the first embodiment, the tapered surfaces  28   d  and  28   e  of the spacer  28  have inclinations for which the widths of the upright portions  28   b  and  28   c  of the spacer  28  in the long-side direction gradually reduce as the tapered surfaces are away from the head  27   b  side of the fastening bolt  27  along the axial direction. The tapered surfaces  28   d  and  28   e  of the spacer  28  and the tapered surfaces  30  and  31  of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  are disposed so as to confront each other. 
     In the first embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , on the plate-like projecting portion  24   e  (the annular portion  24   a  that is one of the pair of annular portions  24   a  and  25   a ) of the main body  21 , two pieces of projecting portions  33   a  (first projecting portions, clearance reduction portions) are provided. The projecting portions  33   a , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , are each provided on the plate-like projecting portion  24   e  (one end portion of and the other end portion of the annular portion  24   a ) severed by the slit  24   d . The two pieces of the projecting portions  33   a  provided on the plate-like projecting portion  24   e  are arranged at positions of substantially equal distances from the slit  24   d  along the long-side direction. The projecting portions  33   a , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , are provided to project from the plate-like projecting portion  24   e  toward the side of the penetration plate  26  that penetrates through the clearance C. 
     Furthermore, in the first embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , on the plate-like projecting portion  25   e  (the annular portion  25   a  that is the other one of the pair of annular portions  24   a  and  25   a ) of the main body  21 , projecting portions  33   b  (second projecting portions, clearance reduction portions) are provided. The projecting portions  33   b , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , are provided to project from the plate-like projecting portion  25   e  toward the side of the penetration plate  26  that penetrates through the clearance C. 
     The projecting portions  33   b  provided on the plate-like projecting portion  25   e  are arranged to face the projecting portions  33   a  provided on the plate-like projecting portion  24   e . In other words, the projecting portions  33   a  and the projecting portions  33   b  are arranged so as to overlap each other in an axial view. Consequently, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the projecting portions  33   a  and the projecting portions  33   b  are formed such that the clearance C of the plate-like projecting portions  24   e  and  25   e  is reduced at the areas in which the projecting portions  33   a  and  33   b  are arranged. That is, the projecting portions  33   a  and the projecting portions  33   b  serve as clearance reduction portions that reduce the clearance C in at least a part of the penetration area of the penetration plate  26  in the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a , and are included in the plate-like projecting portions  24   e  and  25   e  (the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a ). 
     The projecting portions  33   a  and  33   b  can be provided by denting a part of the outer surfaces of the plate-like projecting portions  24   e  and  25   e  toward the clearance C side and forming dents, for example. A configuration may be possible in which either the projecting portions  33   a  provided on the plate-like projecting portion  24   e  or the projecting portions  33   b  provided on the plate-like projecting portion  25   e  is provided. 
     Next, with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the operation of the battery terminal  1  in the first embodiment will be described.  FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram illustrating a state before fastening the battery terminal in the first embodiment to a battery post, and  FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram illustrating a state after having fastened the battery terminal in the first embodiment to the battery post. 
     In the battery terminal  1  in the first embodiment, when the tightening portion  23  is fitted to the main body  21 , the penetration plate  26  is first inserted so as to penetrate through the through-hole  24   i  provided on the edge portion  24   h  of the plate-like projecting portion  24   e , and through the through-hole  25   i  provided on the edge portion  25   h  of the plate-like projecting portion  25   e . The penetration plate  26  is inserted until the retaining portion  26   a  is brought into contact with the edge portion  24   h  of the plate-like projecting portion  24   e . Consequently, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the penetration plate  26  penetrates through the plate-like projecting portions  24   e  and  25   e  so as to traverse the slits  24   d  and  25   d  of the main body  21 , and the other end portion  26   d  side of the penetration plate  26  is advanced to the outside in the long-side direction. 
     Next, the spacer  28  is combined with the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  and the penetration plate  26  such that the tapered surfaces  28   d  and  28   e  of the spacer  28  come in contact with the tapered surfaces  30  and  31  of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  of the main body  21 , and such that the through-hole of the spacer  28  overlaps the threaded hole  26   b  of the penetration plate  26  in the axial direction. The fastening bolt  27  is inserted to the through-hole of the spacer  28  from above in the axial direction and screwed together with the threaded hole  26   b  of the penetration plate  26 . In this way, the tightening portion  23  is fitted to the main body  21  and the battery terminal  1  is integrally assembled. 
     At this time, the penetration plate  26  penetrates through between the projecting portions  33   a  and  33   b  provided on the respective plate-like projecting portions  24   e  and  25   e , that is, the areas in which the clearance C in the axial direction has been reduced. Consequently, the axial-direction position of the other end portion  26   d  of the penetration plate  26  that is advanced to the outside of the main body  21  is made easy to regulate, and the variance in the axial-direction position of the end portion (the other end portion  26   d , in particular) of the penetration plate  26  in the long-side direction can be reduced. Furthermore, the end portion (the other end portion  26   d , in particular) of the penetration plate  26  in the long-side direction can be restrained from being varied by an external force. Thus, the spacer  28  and the fastening bolt  27  are to be easily fitted to the penetration plate  26 . Moreover, by reducing the clearance C by the projecting portions  33   a  and  33   b , the penetration plate  26  can be easily made to penetrate through the plate-like projecting portions  24   e  and  25   e.    
     The state illustrated in  FIG. 6  illustrates a state in which the lower end areas of the tapered surfaces  28   d  and  28   e  of the spacer  28  are in contact with the tapered surfaces  30  and  31  of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a , and is a state in which the fastening bolt  27  can be advanced further downward. At this time, the slits  24   d  and  25   d  of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  are expanded to maximum widths, and the inner diameters of the post insertion holes  24   c  and  25   c  are larger than the outer diameter of the battery post  51 . This state is a state before fastening the battery terminal  1  to the battery post  51 . 
     The battery terminal  1  in the first embodiment is fitted to the battery post  51 , as the battery post  51  is inserted into the post insertion holes  24   c  and  25   c  in the state illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Then, in a state in which the inner circumferential surfaces of the post insertion holes  24   c  and  25   c  and the outer circumferential surface of the battery post  51  are in contact, as the fastening bolt  27  is tightened from the upper side in the vertical direction (axial direction), both sides of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  interposing the slits  24   d  and  25   d  are tightened in an approaching direction, and thereby the battery terminal  1  is fastened to the battery post  51 . 
     More specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , when the fastening bolt  27  comes closer toward the threaded hole  26   b  side of the penetration plate  26  along the axial direction as the head  27   b  of the fastening bolt  27  is rotated around the axial direction (the shank  27   a ) by a tool and the like, a tightening force F 1  in the axial direction arises between the fastening bolt  27  and the threaded hole  26   b . By the tightening force F 1  in the axial direction, the spacer  28  is pressed toward the lower side in the vertical direction with the bearing surface of the fastening bolt  27 . The tightening force F 1  in the axial direction is converted into a pressing force F 2  in the long-side direction that presses in a direction of reducing the intervals of the slits  24   d  and  25   d  of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a , by the tapered surfaces  28   d  and  28   e  of the spacer  28  and the tapered surfaces  30  and  31  of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  with which the tapered surfaces  28   d  and  28   e  come into contact. At this time, the retaining portion  26   a  on the one end portion  26   c  side of the penetration plate  26  serves as a reaction force member that receives the reaction force of the pressing force F 2  applied to the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  by the spacer  28 . As a result, in the battery terminal  1 , by the pressing force F 2  by the spacer  28 , the plate-like projecting portions  24   e  and  25   e  of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  are pressed toward the retaining portion  26   a  side, and thereby the intervals of the slits  24   d  and  25   d  are narrowed. 
     Consequently, by the pressing force F 2  that arises by the tapered surfaces  28   d  and  28   e  of the spacer  28  and the tapered surfaces  30  and  31  of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  along with the rotation of the fastening bolt  27 , the intervals of the slits  24   d  and  25   d  are narrowed, and thereby the diameters of the post insertion holes  24   c  and  25   c  are reduced in a state in which the inner circumferential surfaces of the post insertion holes  24   c  and  25   c  and the outer circumferential surface of the battery post  51  are in contact, and the battery terminal  1  is fastened to the battery post  51 . In the battery terminal  1 , a metal fitting and the like provided at the end of an electrical wire is then electrically connected to the shank  22   a  of the stud bolt  22 . 
     Meanwhile, as the fastening bolt  27  is rotated in reverse rotation, the pressing force F 2  in the long-side direction that arises by the tapered surfaces  28   d  and  28   e  of the spacer  28  and the tapered surfaces  30  and  31  of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  is weakened, the intervals of the slits  24   d  and  25   d  are widened, and the diameters of the post insertion holes  24   c  and  25   c  are expanded, and thereby the battery terminal  1  is in a state of being detachable from the battery post  51 . 
     As in the foregoing, the fastening bolt  27 , the threaded hole  26   b , and the spacer  28  of the tightening portion  23 , due to the correlation among these elements, press the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  by the pressing force F 2  that ultimately arises along with the rotation of the fastening bolt  27 . That is, the fastening bolt  27 , the threaded hole  26   b , and the spacer  28 , as a functional concept that puts together the foregoing, can also be expressed as “pressing-force applying portion” that is provided at the other end portion  26   d  of the penetration plate  26  and that applies the pressing force F 2  in the long-side direction that presses the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  in a direction of reducing the intervals of the slits  24   d  and  25   d  of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  out of the long-side direction (width direction). 
     Next, the effect of the battery terminal  1  in the first embodiment will be described. 
     The battery terminal  1  in the first embodiment includes: the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  on which the post insertion holes  24   c  and  25   c  to which the battery post  51  is inserted and the slits  24   d  and  25   d  that continue to the post insertion holes  24   c  and  25   c  are formed; the penetration plate  26  that is arranged to penetrate through from one end portions of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  to the other end portions of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  interposing the slits  24   d  and  25   d  along the long-side direction that is a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the battery post  51  and is a direction of traversing the slits  24   d  and  25   d ; the retaining portion  26   a  that is provided on the one end portion  26   c  of the penetration plate  26  and that prevents the penetration plate  26  from coming off from the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a , the threaded hole  26   b  that is provided on the other end portion  26   d  of the penetration plate  26  as a fastening-member support portion; and the fastening bolt  27  that is supported to be rotatable around the axial direction by the threaded hole  26   b  as a fastening member. The threaded hole  26   b  serves also as a fastened member that screws together with the fastening bolt  27 . 
     The battery terminal  1  further includes the spacer  28  as a pressing-force conversion member that is arranged in contact with the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  from the other end portion  26   d  side of the penetration plate  26  and that converts the tightening force F 1  in the axial direction that arises between the fastening bolt  27  and the threaded hole  26   b  along with the rotation of the fastening bolt  27  around the axial direction into the pressing force F 2  in the long-side direction that presses the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  in a direction of reducing the intervals of the slits  24   d  and  25   d  of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  out of the long-side direction (width direction). The annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  are a pair of annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  arranged to face each other along the axial direction, and the penetration plate  26  is arranged to penetrate through the clearance C of the pair of annular portions  24   a  and  25   a . The pair of annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  includes the projecting portions  33   a  and  33   b  that serve as a clearance reduction portion that reduces the clearance C in at least a part of the penetration area of the penetration plate  26 . 
     With such a configuration, by the action of the spacer  28  as the pressing-force conversion member, the tightening force F 1  in the axial direction that arises along with the rotation of the fastening bolt  27  around the axial direction is converted into the pressing force F 2  in the long-side direction that reduces the intervals of the slits  24   d  and  25   d  of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a , and thereby the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  can be fastened to the battery post  51 . That is, by operating the fastening bolt  27  to rotate around the axial direction of the battery post  51 , that is, around the vertical direction, the battery terminal  1  can be fastened to the battery post  51 . Consequently, there is no need to secure a work space to set and rotate a tool for rotating the fastening bolt  27  from the lateral side of the battery post  51 , that is, the lateral side of the battery  50 , as in the conventional case, and thus the operation can be performed from above in the vertical direction of the battery  50 , which is relatively easy to obtain the work space, for example. As in the foregoing, according to the battery terminal  1  in the first embodiment, the work space required in the periphery of the battery  50  when the battery terminal  1  is fastened to the battery post  51  can be reduced. 
     Furthermore, by providing the projecting portions  33   a  and  33   b  as clearance reduction portions on the pair of annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  (more specifically, the plate-like projecting portions  24   e  and  25   e ), the clearance between the penetration plate  26  and the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  are reduced in a state of the penetration plate  26  penetrating through the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a , and thereby the variance in the axial-direction position of the end portion (the other end portion  26   d , in particular) of the penetration plate  26  in the long-side direction can be reduced. The end portion (the other end portion  26   d , in particular) of the penetration plate  26  in the long-side direction can also be restrained from being varied by an external force. Thus, fitting the spacer  28  and the fastening bolt  27  to the penetration plate  26 , and letting the penetration plate  26  penetrate through the plate-like projecting portions  24   e  and  25   e  (the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a ) can be performed easily. Consequently, by providing the projecting portions  33   a  and  33   b , the easiness of assembling the tightening portion  23  of the battery terminal  1  can be improved. 
     In the battery terminal  1  in the first embodiment, the various functions of the fastening-member support portion, the fastening member, the fastened member, and the pressing-force conversion member are implemented by three components of the threaded hole  26   b , the fastening bolt  27 , and the spacer  28 . Moreover, the retaining portion  26   a  and the threaded hole  26   b  are both configured as a part of the penetration plate  26 . Consequently, the number of components to constitute the battery terminal  1  can be reduced, and the production cost can be cut down. 
     The fastening structure by the tightening portion  23  of the battery terminal  1  only needs to include the configuration in which, in a state in which at least the penetration plate  26  penetrates through both ends of the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a , the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a  can be fastened to the battery post  51 , and a configuration other than that of the above-described first embodiment may be possible. For example, in the above-described first embodiment, the configuration has been exemplified that, by defining the fastened member that screws together with the fastening bolt  27  as the threaded hole  26   b  of the penetration plate  26 , makes the tightening force F 1  in the axial direction arise between the fastening bolt  27  and the penetration plate  26 . However, the configuration may include a separate nut as the fastened member. Furthermore, the configuration may not include the tapered surfaces  28   d  and  28   e  provided on the spacer  28  or the tapered surfaces  30  and  31  provided on the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a.    
     In the above-described first embodiment, the configuration has been exemplified in which the projecting portions  33   a  and  33   b  are provided on the plate-like projecting portions  24   e  and  25   e  as the clearance reduction portions that reduce the clearance C in at least a part of the penetration area of the penetration plate  26  in the annular portions  24   a  and  25   a . However, a configuration other than the projecting portions  33   a  and  33   b  can be applied as long as it serves as a clearance reduction portion. 
     In the above-described first embodiment, the configuration has been exemplified in which the projecting portions  33   a  and  33   b  are in a recessed shape viewed from the outside of the main body  21 . However, they only need to project on the clearance C side inside of the plate-like projecting portions  24   e  and  25   e . For example, the configuration may be possible in which the outer surfaces of the plate-like projecting portions  24   e  and  25   e  are not in a recessed shape but in a planar shape and the projecting portions  33   a  and  33   b  project only on the clearance C side from the inner surfaces of the plate-like projecting portions  24   e  and  25   e . Furthermore, in the above-described first embodiment, the configuration has been exemplified that includes both of the projecting portions  33   a  provided on the plate-like projecting portion  24   e  and the projecting portions  33   b  provided on the plate-like projecting portion  25   e . However, the configuration may be possible that includes either the projecting portions  33   a  or the projecting portions  33   b . Moreover, in the above-described first embodiment, the configuration has been exemplified in which two pieces of the projecting portions  33   a  are provided on the plate-like projecting portion  24   e . However, the configuration may be possible that includes either of two pieces of the projecting portions  33   a , or the configuration may be possible that includes three or more pieces of the projecting portions  33   a.    
     In the battery terminal according to the present invention, by the action of the pressing-force conversion member, the tightening force in the axial direction that arises along with the rotation of the fastening member around the axial direction is converted into the pressing force in the width direction that reduces the intervals of the slits of the annular portions, and thereby the annular portions can be fastened to the battery post. That is, there is no need to secure a work space to set and rotate a tool for rotating the fastening member from the lateral side of the battery post, that is, the lateral side of the battery, as in the conventional case, and thus the operation can be performed from above in the vertical direction of the battery, which is relatively easy to obtain the work space, for example. Consequently, the battery terminal in the present invention has an effect of being capable of reducing the work space required in the periphery of the battery when fastened to the battery post. 
     Second Embodiment 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view schematically illustrating the configuration of a battery terminal according to a second embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the battery terminal illustrated in  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 10  is a plan view illustrating the state in which the battery terminal illustrated in  FIG. 8  is mounted on the battery post.  FIG. 11  is a diagram viewed from the arrow direction L 1  in  FIG. 10 . 
     A battery terminal  101  in the second embodiment is, as illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , fitted to a battery post  151  of a battery  150 . The battery terminal  101  is a component to electrically connect, by being mounted on the battery post  151 , the battery  150  with a metal fitting and the like that is provided at the end portion of an electrical wire on the main body side of a vehicle and the like in which the battery  150  is installed. 
     In the following description, the direction along the central axis line X of the battery post  151  is referred to as “axial direction.” Furthermore, for making the following description easy to understand and for the sake of convenience, one of two directions orthogonal to the axial direction is referred to as a long-side direction (width direction) and the other is referred to as a short-side direction. The axial direction, the long-side direction, and the short-side direction are orthogonal to one another. 
     The battery  150  to which the battery terminal  101  is applied is installed in a vehicle and the like as a power storage device, for example. The battery  150  is configured with, as illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a battery housing  152  that accommodates therein battery fluid and various components constituting the battery  150 , the above-described battery post  151  provided on the battery housing  152 , and others. The battery housing  152  is configured with a substantially rectangular box-shaped housing body of which any one of the surfaces is open and a cover member that closes the foregoing open surface, and is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole. 
     While the battery housing  152  here has long sides in the direction along the long-side direction and has short sides in the direction along the short-side direction, it is not limited to this. The battery post  151  is composed of lead and the like, and is provided to stand on a post standing surface  153  of the cover member. The post standing surface  153  is the surface in the battery housing  152  on which the battery post  151  is provided to stand. The post standing surface  153  here is the upper surface of the cover member on the upper side in the vertical direction in a state of the battery  150  being installed in the vehicle and the like, for example. The battery post  151  is in a substantially columnar shape, and is provided to stand on the post standing surface  153  so as to project in such a positional relation that the central axis line X is orthogonal to the post standing surface  153 . In more detail, the battery post  151  in the second embodiment is provided to stand in a recessed portion  156  formed near a corner position of the post standing surface  153 . The recessed portion  156  is a portion caved in a substantially rectangular shape near the corner position of the post standing surface  153 . That is, the battery post  151  is provided to stand on the bottom surface of the recessed portion  156  formed on the post standing surface  153  that is the upper surface of the battery housing  152 . The battery post  151  is typically tapered such that the diameter becomes smaller toward the distal end side in the axial direction. That is, the battery post  151  is in a tapered shape in which the outer diameter at the distal end is smaller than the outer diameter at the base end. In the following description, explained is such a situation that, in a state in which the battery  150  is installed in the vehicle and the like, the axial direction of the battery post  151  is in a direction along the vertical direction, and the foregoing long-side direction and the short-side direction are in directions along the horizontal direction. The battery terminal  101  is fastened to the battery post  151  configured as in the foregoing. 
     The battery terminal  101  in the second embodiment is a terminal that is in a type of tightening a fastening member (a later-described fastening bolt  167 ) from the upper side in the vertical direction when fastened to the battery post  151 . The battery terminal  101  in the second embodiment is fastened to the battery post  151  by converting a tightening force by the fastening member that arises in the direction along the axial direction into a pressing force in a tightening direction (width direction) intersecting the axial direction and pressing a portion of the battery terminal  101 , to which the battery post  151  is inserted, by the pressing force. At this time, by configuring the fastening member to be tightened from the upper side in the vertical direction and making a work space for a tool for tightening the fastening member above the battery  150 , the battery terminal  101  in the second embodiment achieves the reduction of the work space on the lateral side of the battery  150 . 
     Specifically, the battery terminal  101  in the second embodiment includes, as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a main body  121 , a stud bolt  122 , and a tightening portion  173 . In the following description, the directions to be the axial direction, the long-side direction, and the short-side direction in a state in which the battery terminal  101  is mounted on the battery post  151  may simply be referred to as “axial direction”, “long-side direction”, and “short-side direction”, respectively. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , in the main body  121  in the second embodiment, an upper segmented body  124  and a lower segmented body  125  are coupled together by a bent coupling portion  201  at the end portions on the short-side direction side of the plate-like projecting portions  124   e  and  125   e . In the main body  121 , in a state in which the battery terminal  101  is mounted on the battery post  151 , the upper segmented body  124 , which is on the upper side in the vertical direction, and the lower segmented body  125 , which is on the lower side in the vertical direction, are in a state of facing each other and being stacked in the axial direction (vertical direction). The stacking direction of the upper segmented body  124  and the lower segmented body  125  is a direction along the axial direction of the battery post  151 , in a state in which the battery terminal  101  is mounted on the battery post  151 , and the side that a later-described shank  122   a  of the stud bolt  122  projects is defined as the upper side in the stacking direction, and the opposite side is defined as the lower side in the stacking direction. The upper side in the stacking direction corresponds to the distal end side of the battery post  151 , and the lower side in the stacking direction corresponds to the base end side of the battery post  151 . That is, in the main body  121 , the upper segmented body  124  is on the upper side in the stacking direction and the lower segmented body  125  is on the lower side in the stacking direction. 
     A pair of annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  is formed in a substantially annular shape, and on the respective annular portions  124   a  and  125   a , substantially round-shaped post insertion holes  124   c  and  125   c  to which the battery post  151  is inserted are formed, and slits (clearances)  124   d  and  125   d  that continue to the post insertion holes  124   c  and  125   c  are formed. 
     The post insertion hole  124   c  and the post insertion hole  125   c  are formed in the respective annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  so as to be in a positional relation of facing each other in the stacking direction, in a state in which the upper segmented body  124  and the lower segmented body  125  are vertically stacked and mounted on the battery post  151 . In the post insertion holes  124   c  and  125   c , respective inner circumferential wall surfaces are formed by folding back a plate in the directions of facing each other. That is, the plate is folded back to the lower side in the post insertion hole  124   c  and the plate is folded back to the upper side in the post insertion hole  125   c . The post insertion holes  124   c  and  125   c  have, on the respective inner circumferential wall surfaces, a taper that corresponds to the above-described taper of the battery post  151 . Out of the post insertion hole  124   c  and the post insertion hole  125   c  here, the inner diameter on the side that the later-described shank  122   a  of the stud bolt  122  projects, that is, the post insertion hole  124   c  side, becomes the smallest, and the inner diameter on the post insertion hole  125   c  side of the opposite side becomes the largest. In the post insertion holes  124   c  and  125   c , the respective inner circumferential surfaces come in contact with the battery post  151 , in a state in which the battery post  151  is inserted thereto. 
     The slit  124   d  and the slit  125   d  are formed in the respective annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  so as to be in a positional relation of facing each other in the stacking direction, in a state in which the upper segmented body  124  and the lower segmented body  125  are vertically stacked and mounted on the battery post  151 . The slits  124   d  and  125   d  here are formed so as to sever a part of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  from the respective post insertion holes  124   c  and  125   c . The annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  further have, at the end portion on the side on which the slits  124   d  and  125   d  are formed, the plate-like projecting portions  124   e  and  125   e  that are held and tightened by the later-described tightening portion  173 . The plate-like projecting portion  124   e  is integrally formed so as to be continuous with a portion of the annular portion  124   a  in which the post insertion hole  124   c  is formed, without any stepped portion and others. In the same manner, the plate-like projecting portion  125   e  is also integrally formed so as to be continuous with a portion of the annular portion  125   a  in which the post insertion hole  125   c  is formed, without any stepped portion and others. The slit  124   d  runs through the plate-like projecting portion  124   e  from the post insertion hole  124   c . The slit  125   d  runs through the plate-like projecting portion  125   e  from the post insertion hole  125   c.    
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a pair of bolt-holding portions  124   b  and  125   b  is formed in a substantially rectangular shape. In the bolt-holding portion  124   b , a substantially round-shaped bolt insertion hole  124   g  to which the stud bolt  122  is inserted is formed. 
     The stud bolt  122  that the bolt-holding portions  124   b  and  125   b  hold is exposed in a state of being held between the bolt-holding portion  124   b  and the bolt-holding portion  125   b  such that the shank  122   a  projects from the bolt insertion hole  124   g . In the stud bolt  122 , a metal fitting and the like provided at the end of an electrical wire is electrically connected to the shank  122   a  that is exposed from the bolt insertion hole  124   g . In the bolt-holding portions  124   b  and  125   b , certain folded portions are formed such that a rectangular plate-like pedestal portion on which the shank  122   a  of the stud bolt  122  is provided to stand can be held. 
     The main body  121  can be made in the structure illustrated in  FIGS. 8, 9 , and others, by integrally forming the upper segmented body  124  and the lower segmented body  125  via the bent coupling portion  201 , and bending the upper segmented body  124  and the lower segmented body  125  in a state in which the stud bolt  122  is inserted through the bolt insertion hole  124   g  of the bolt-holding portion  124   b , for example. Note that the main body  121  in the second embodiment may be in a divided structure with the upper segmented body  124  and the lower segmented body  125 . 
     In the main body  121 , as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the side surfaces on both sides of the plate-like projecting portions  124   e  and  125   e  in the long-side direction are cut out and opened toward the slits  124   d  and  125   d  along the long-side direction, in a state in which the upper segmented body  124  and the lower segmented body  125  are fitted to each other. In a pair of these openings on both sides in the long-side direction, the end surfaces of the plate-like projecting portions  124   e  and  125   e  and the bent coupling portion  201  form pressed surfaces  202   a  and  202   b  of substantially U shape orthogonal to the long-side direction. The pressed surfaces  202   a  and  202   b  are portions that come in surface contact with a second spacer  162  and a retaining portion  176   a  (a holding portion for the annular portions) to be described later, and are portions that receive a pressing force in a direction of reducing the slits  124   d  and  125   d  from both the second spacer  162  and the retaining portion  176   a . In a state in which the battery terminal  101  is assembled as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the pressed surface  202   a  is the end surface on the side in which a threaded hole  176   b  of a penetration plate  176  is positioned, whereas the pressed surface  202   b  is the end surface on the side in which a retaining portion  176   a  of the penetration plate  176  is positioned. 
     The tightening portion  173  fastens the pair of annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  onto the battery post  151  in a state in which the battery post  151  is inserted into the post insertion holes  124   c  and  125   c . The tightening portion  173  includes the penetration plate  176 , the fastening bolt  167  (a fastening member), a first spacer  171  (a pressing-force conversion member), and the second spacer  162  (a pressing-force conversion member). 
     The penetration plate  176  is a plate-like member that is arranged to penetrate through the slits  124   d  and  125   d  and the plate-like projecting portions  124   e  and  125   e  along the long-side direction. The penetration plate  176  penetrates through from one end portions of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  to the other end portions of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  interposing the slits  124   d  and  125   d.    
     The penetration plate  176  includes the retaining portion  176   a  at one end portion  176   d  in the long-side direction thereof. The retaining portion  176   a  prevents the penetration plate  176  from coming off from the main body  121  to another end portion  176   e  side that is an opposite side of the one end portion  176   d  on which the retaining portion  176   a  is provided, in a state in which the penetration plate  176  penetrates through both ends of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a . Specifically, the retaining portion  176   a  is formed projecting to both sides in the short-side direction and both sides in the axial direction, at the one end portion  176   d  in the long-side direction of the penetration plate  176 . That is, the retaining portion  176   a  is integrally provided with the penetration plate  176  at the one end portion  176   d  of the penetration plate  176 . The retaining portion  176   a  includes, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , a contact surface  176   f  that is arranged to face and be capable of coming in contact with the pressed surface  202   b  of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a . In the penetration plate  176 , a projecting portion  176   c  that projects from the contact surface  176   f  to the other end portion  176   e  side is provided adjacent to the retaining portion  176   a . The penetration plate  176  is prevented from coming off to the pressed surface  202   a  side of the main body  121  by bringing the contact surface  176   f  of the retaining portion  176   a  into contact with the pressed surface  202   b  of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  and fitting the projecting portion  176   c  into the opening on the more central side than the pressed surface  202   b.    
     The penetration plate  176  is further provided with, at the other end portion  176   e  that is on the opposite side of the one end portion  176   d  on which the retaining portion  176   a  is provided, a threaded hole  176   b  (a fastening-member support portion, a fastened member) running through in the axial direction. The threaded hole  176   b  further has a function of supporting the fastening bolt  167  at a certain position in the axial direction. 
     The penetration plate  176  further includes a pair of longitudinal side end surfaces  176   h  and  176   i  that is arranged to face each other in the short-side direction. The longitudinal side end surfaces  176   h  and  176   i  each extend in the long-side direction and face the opposite side in the short-side direction. Out of the pair of longitudinal side end surfaces  176   h  and  176   i , a lightening portion  176   g  (a recessed portion) is provided on the longitudinal side end surface  176   h  that is arranged outside of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  (the side farther from the central axis line X), in a state in which the penetration plate  176  penetrates through both ends of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a.    
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the lightening portion  176   g  is formed by eliminating part of the longitudinal side end surface  176   h  so as to reduce the size of the penetration plate  176  in the short-side direction to the other longitudinal side end surface  176   i  side. In other words, the lightening portion  176   g  is formed such that, when compared with a clearance between the one longitudinal side end surface  176   h  of the penetration plate  176  on which the lightening portion  176   g  is provided and the bent coupling portion  201 , the clearance between the bottom (the portion positioned closest to the other longitudinal side end surface  176   i  side) of the lightening portion  176   g  and the bent coupling portion  201  becomes wide. The lightening portion  176   g  is formed, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , substantially evenly on both sides of the long-side direction with the portion exposed from the slits  124   d  and  125   d  as its center, in a state in which the penetration plate  176  penetrates through both ends of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a.    
     The fastening bolt  167  includes a shank  167   a  on which a threaded groove is formed, and a head  167   b  integrally formed with the shank  167   a  at one end portion thereof. The shank  167   a  is a portion that screws together with the threaded hole  176   b  of the penetration plate  176 . The head  167   b  is a portion that is held by a tool and the like in order to rotate the fastening bolt  167  around the shank  167   a . The fastening bolt  167  is supported to be rotatable around the axial direction by the threaded hole  176   b  of the penetration plate  176  at a certain position along the axial direction, and the shank  167   a  screws together with the threaded hole  176   b  along the axial direction. 
     The first spacer  171  is arranged, being penetrated by the fastening bolt  167 , between the fastening bolt  167  and the penetration plate  176 . The first spacer  171  includes a square-shaped base portion  171   a  including a through-hole that the shank  167   a  of the fastening bolt  167  penetrates, and includes a pair of upright portions  171   b  that extends toward the lower side in the vertical direction from two sides facing each other out of the four sides of the base portion  171   a . In the base portion  171   a , as illustrated in  FIGS. 8, 9  and others, the two sides that include the upright portions  171   b  extend in the long-side direction. The pair of upright portions  171   b  of the first spacer  171 , when fitted, is arranged so as to clamp the penetration plate  176  from both sides in the short-side direction, as illustrated in  FIG. 8  and others, and thereby the rotation of the first spacer  171  around the axial direction is restricted. 
     On the pair of upright portions  171   b  of the first spacer  171 , tapered surfaces  171   c  (first tapered surfaces) are formed on one end on the plate-like projecting portions  124   e  and  125   e  side in the long-side direction. The tapered surfaces  171   c  are formed at positions capable of coming in contact with tapered surfaces  162   d  (second tapered surfaces) of the second spacer  162 . 
     The second spacer  162  is arranged to be movable relatively to the penetration plate  176  in the long-side direction, and one end in the long-side direction thereof comes in contact with the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a , whereas the other end in the long-side direction thereof comes in contact with the first spacer  171 . The second spacer  162  is provided with a through-hole  162   a  running through in the long-side direction, through which the penetration plate  176  is inserted so that the second spacer  162  is movable relatively to the penetration plate  176  in the long-side direction. 
     An end surface  162   b  on one end side in the long-side direction of the second spacer  162  comes in contact with the pressed surface  202   a  of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  from the end portion (the other end portion  176   e ) side of the penetration plate  176  on which the threaded hole  176   b  is provided. The central portion of the end surface  162   b  is provided with a projecting portion  162   c  that projects to the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  side. The relative movement of the second spacer  162  with respect to the main body  121  in the short-side direction and around the axial direction is restricted by bringing the end surface  162   b  into contact with the pressed surface  202   a  and fitting the projecting portion  162   c  into the opening on the more central side than the pressed surface  202   a  of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a . The tapered surfaces  162   d  (second tapered surfaces) that come in contact with the tapered surfaces  171   c  of the first spacer  171  are formed on the other end side in the long-side direction of the second spacer  162 . 
     The tapered surfaces  171   c  provided on the first spacer  171  and the tapered surfaces  162   d  provided on the second spacer  162  have inclinations in a direction of converting a tightening force in the axial direction, which arises between the fastening bolt  167  and the threaded hole  176   b  when the fastening bolt  167  comes closer toward the threaded hole  176   b  side along the axial direction along with the rotation around the axial direction, into a pressing force in a direction of reducing the intervals of the slits  124   d  and  125   d  of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a , that is, in the long-side direction in which the second spacer  162  presses the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  toward the retaining portion  176   a  side of the penetration plate  176  in the long-side direction. In the second embodiment, the tapered surfaces  171   c  of the first spacer  171  have inclinations for which the widths of the upright portions  171   b  of the first spacer  171  in the long-side direction gradually reduce as the tapered surfaces are away from the head  167   b  side of the fastening bolt  167  along the axial direction. The tapered surfaces  171   c  of the first spacer  171  and the tapered surfaces  162   d  of the second spacer  162  are disposed so as to confront each other. 
     In the second embodiment, when the tightening portion  173  is fitted to the main body  121 , the second spacer  162  is first fitted to the main body  121  so that the end surface  162   b  of the second spacer  162  and the pressed surface  202   a  of the main body  121  come in contact with each other. Next, the other end portion  176   e  of the penetration plate  176  is inserted from the opening on the pressed surface  202   b  side of the main body  121 . The penetration plate  176  is inserted until the contact surface  176   f  of the retaining portion  176   a  comes in contact with the pressed surface  202   b  of the main body  121 . Consequently, the penetration plate  176  penetrates through the plate-like projecting portions  124   e  and  125   e  so as to traverse the slits  124   d  and  125   d  of the main body  121 , and the other end portion  176   e  side of the penetration plate  176  is advanced from the through-hole  162   a  of the second spacer  162  to the outside in the long-side direction. 
     Next, the first spacer  171  is combined with the second spacer  162  and the penetration plate  176  such that the tapered surfaces  171   c  of the first spacer  171  come in contact with the tapered surfaces  162   d  of the second spacer  162 , and such that the through-hole of the first spacer  171  overlaps the threaded hole  176   b  of the penetration plate  176  in the axial direction. The fastening bolt  167  is inserted into the through-hole of the first spacer  171  from above in the axial direction and screwed together with the threaded hole  176   b  of the penetration plate  176 . In this way, the tightening portion  173  is fitted to the main body  121 . 
     The battery terminal  101  in the second embodiment is fitted to the battery post  151 , as the battery post  151  is inserted into the post insertion holes  124   c  and  125   c  in the state illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . Then, in a state in which the inner circumferential surfaces of the post insertion holes  124   c  and  125   c  and the outer circumferential surface of the battery post  151  are in contact, as the fastening bolt  167  is tightened from the upper side in the vertical direction (axial direction), both sides of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  interposing the slits  124   d  and  125   d  are tightened in an approaching direction, and thereby the battery terminal  101  is fastened to the battery post  151 . 
     More specifically, when the fastening bolt  167  comes closer toward the threaded hole  176   b  side of the penetration plate  176  along the axial direction as the head  167   b  of the fastening bolt  167  is rotated around the axial direction (the shank  167   a ) by a tool and the like, a tightening force F 3  in the axial direction arises between the fastening bolt  167  and the threaded hole  176   b , as illustrated in  FIG. 11 . By the tightening force F 3  in the axial direction, the first spacer  171  is pressed toward the lower side in the vertical direction with the bearing surface of the fastening bolt  167 . The tightening force F 3  in the axial direction is converted into a pressing force F 4  in the long-side direction that presses in a direction of reducing the intervals of the slits  124   d  and  125   d  of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a , by the tapered surfaces  171   c  of the first spacer  171  and the tapered surfaces  162   d  of the second spacer  162  with which the tapered surfaces  171   c  come into contact. The end surface  162   b  of the second spacer  162  presses the pressed surface  202   a  of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  by the pressing force F 4 . At this time, the retaining portion  176   a  on the one end portion  176   d  side of the penetration plate  176  serves as a reaction force member that receives the reaction force of the pressing force F 4  applied to the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  by the second spacer  162 . As a result, in the battery terminal  101 , by the pressing force F 4  by the second spacer  162 , the plate-like projecting portions  124   e  and  125   e  of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  are pressed toward the retaining portion  176   a  side, and thereby the intervals of the slits  124   d  and  125   d  are narrowed. 
     Consequently, by the pressing force F 4  that arises by the tapered surfaces  171   c  of the first spacer  171  and the tapered surfaces  162   d  of the second spacer  162  along with the rotation of the fastening bolt  167 , the intervals of the slits  124   d  and  125   d  are narrowed, and thereby the diameters of the post insertion holes  124   c  and  125   c  are reduced in a state in which the inner circumferential surfaces of the post insertion holes  124   c  and  125   c  and the outer circumferential surface of the battery post  151  are in contact, and the battery terminal  101  is fastened to the battery post  151 . 
     As in the foregoing, the fastening bolt  167 , the threaded hole  176   b , the first spacer  171 , and the second spacer  162  of the tightening portion  173 , due to the correlation among these elements, press the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  via the second spacer  162  by the pressing force F 4  that ultimately arises along with the rotation of the fastening bolt  167 . That is, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the fastening bolt  167 , the threaded hole  176   b , the first spacer  171 , and the second spacer  162 , as a functional concept that puts together the foregoing, can also be expressed as “pressing-force applying portion  177 ” that is provided at the other end portion  176   e  of the penetration plate  176  and that applies the pressing force F 4  in the long-side direction that presses the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  in a direction of reducing the intervals of the slits  124   d  and  125   d  of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  out of the long-side direction (width direction). 
     Next, the effect of the battery terminal  101  in the second embodiment will be described. 
     The battery terminal  101  in the second embodiment includes: the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  on which the post insertion holes  124   c  and  125   c  to which the battery post  151  is inserted and the slits  124   d  and  125   d  that continue to the post insertion holes  124   c  and  125   c  are formed; the penetration plate  176  that is arranged to penetrate through from one end portions of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  to the other end portions of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  interposing the slits  124   d  and  125   d  along the long-side direction that is a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the battery post  151  and is a direction of traversing the slits  124   d  and  125   d ; the retaining portion  176   a  that is provided on the one end portion  176   d  of the penetration plate  176  and that prevents the penetration plate  176  from coming off from the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a ; and the pressing-force applying portion  177  that is provided at the other end portion  176   e  of the penetration plate  176  and that applies the pressing force F 4  in the long-side direction that presses the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  in a direction of reducing the intervals of the slits  124   d  and  125   d  of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  out of the long-side direction (width direction). The penetration plate  176  includes a pair of longitudinal side end surfaces  176   h  and  176   i  that extends in the long-side direction and is arranged to face each other in the short-side direction orthogonal to the long-side direction and the axial direction. Out of the pair of longitudinal side end surfaces  176   h  and  176   i , the longitudinal side end surface  176   h  that is arranged outside of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  (the side farther from the central axis line X) includes, at least at the portion exposed from the slits  124   d  and  125   d , the lightening portion  176   g  that is formed so as to reduce the size of the penetration plate  176  in the short-side direction to the other longitudinal side end surface  176   i  side. 
     In the battery terminal  101  in the second embodiment, the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  are a pair of annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  arranged to face each other along the axial direction, and the pair of annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  is coupled together by the bent coupling portion  201  that extends in the axial direction at the end portions positioned at the outer edges of the slits  124   d  and  125   d  (that is, the end portions on the short-side direction side of the plate-like projecting portions  124   e  and  125   e ). The lightening portion  176   g  is formed such that, when compared with a clearance between the one longitudinal side end surface  176   h  of the penetration plate  176  on which the lightening portion  176   g  is provided and the bent coupling portion  201 , the clearance between the lightening portion  176   g  and the bent coupling portion  201  becomes wide. 
     With such a configuration, the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  can be fastened more strongly to the battery post  151  by providing the lightening portion  176   g  in the penetration plate  176 . Consequently, fastening performance when the battery terminal is fastened to the battery post  151  can be improved. The following further describes the point of such an effect produced by providing the lightening portion  176   g.    
     The one longitudinal side end surface  176   h  of the penetration plate  176  on which the lightening portion  176   g  is provided is arranged to face the outside of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a , that is, the bent coupling portion  201  that connects the outer edges of the plate-like projecting portions  124   e  and  125   e  in the short-side direction, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . Consequently, as in the foregoing configuration, providing the lightening portion  176   g  on the longitudinal side end surface  176   h  of the penetration plate  176  enables the clearance between the penetration plate  176  and the bent coupling portion  201  to be kept wide along the short-side direction near the slits  124   d  and  125   d.    
     Meanwhile, when fastened to the battery post  151 , the battery terminal  101  is tightened in a direction of reducing the intervals of the slits  124   d  and  125   d  by the pressing force F 4  in the long-side direction applied to the plate-like projecting portions  124   e  and  125   e  of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  by the tightening portion  173  as in the foregoing. At this time, as the pressing force F 4  relatively increases, the plate-like projecting portions  124   e  and  125   e  tend to deform so as to hold the battery post  151  as indicated by arrows A in  FIG. 10 . That is, in the slits  124   d  and  125   d , the end surfaces outside of the plate-like projecting portions  124   e  and  125   e  (the bent coupling portion  201  side) come closer toward each other while shifting toward the inside (the post insertion holes  124   c  and  125   c  side). 
     At this time, in the battery terminal  101  in the second embodiment, the clearance between the penetration plate  176  and the bent coupling portion  201  is kept wide by providing the lightening portion  176   g  in the penetration plate  176  as in the foregoing. Thus, a situation in which the bent coupling portion  201  of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  comes in contact with the penetration plate  176  can be restrained from occurring. Consequently, the plate-like projecting portions  124   e  and  125   e  of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  are difficult to be interfered by the penetration plate  176 , and thus can easily continue to deform so as to hold the battery post  151 . As a result, the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  can be fastened more strongly to the battery post  151 . Thus, the battery terminal  101  in the second embodiment can increase the holding force applied to the battery post  151  when fastened to the battery post  151 , and can improve the fastening performance when fastened to the battery post  151 . 
     In order to confirm the foregoing effect, a fastening torque input to the fastening bolt  167  and a holding force output to the battery post  151  according to the fastening torque were gauged for both the configuration of the second embodiment in which the lightening portion  176   g  is provided in the penetration plate  176  and the configuration of a comparative example in which the lightening portion  176   g  is not provided in the penetration plate  176 . The result has confirmed that the configuration of the second embodiment can improve its holding force by approximately 20% with respect to the comparative example and improve its fastening performance when the battery terminal  101  is fastened to the battery post  151 . 
     Moreover, providing the lightening portion  176   g  in the penetration plate  176  can reduce the weight of the battery terminal  101 , and thus can facilitate the improvement in fuel economy of a vehicle in which the battery terminal  101  and the battery  150  are installed. 
     In the battery terminal  101  in the second embodiment, the pressing-force applying portion  177  includes the threaded hole  176   b  that is provided on the other end portion  176   e  of the penetration plate  176  as a fastening-member support portion and the fastening bolt  167  that is supported to be rotatable around the axial direction by the threaded hole  176   b  as a fastening member. The threaded hole  176   b  serves also as a fastened member that screws together with the fastening bolt  167 . The pressing-force applying portion  177  further includes the first spacer  171  and the second spacer  162  as a pressing-force conversion member that is arranged in contact with the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  from the end portion (the other end portion  176   e ) side of the penetration plate  176  on which the threaded hole  176   b  is provided and that converts the tightening force F 3  in the axial direction that arises between the fastening bolt  167  and the threaded hole  176   b  along with the rotation of the fastening bolt  167  around the axial direction into the pressing force F 4  in the long-side direction that presses the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  in a direction of reducing the intervals of the slits  124   d  and  125   d  of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  out of the long-side direction (width direction). 
     With such a configuration, by the action of the first spacer  171  and the second spacer  162  as the pressing-force conversion member, the tightening force F 3  in the axial direction that arises along with the rotation of the fastening bolt  167  around the axial direction is converted into the pressing force F 4  in the long-side direction that reduces the intervals of the slits  124   d  and  125   d  of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a , and thereby the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  can be fastened to the battery post  151 . That is, by operating the fastening bolt  167  to rotate around the axial direction of the battery post  151 , that is, around the vertical direction, the battery terminal  101  can be fastened to the battery post  151 . Consequently, there is no need to secure a work space to set and rotate a tool for rotating the fastening bolt  167  from the lateral side of the battery post  151 , that is, the lateral side of the battery  150 , as in the conventional case, and thus the operation can be performed from above in the vertical direction of the battery  150 , which is relatively easy to obtain the work space, for example. As in the foregoing, according to the battery terminal  101  in the second embodiment, the work space required in the periphery of the battery  150  when the battery terminal  101  is fastened to the battery post  151  can be reduced. 
     In the above-described second embodiment, the configuration has been exemplified in which the lightening portion  176   g  is provided in the penetration plate  176  so that the bent coupling portion  201  of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  is difficult to interfere with the penetration plate  176  when the intervals of the slits  124   d  and  125   d  are narrowed when the battery terminal  101  is fastened to the battery post  151 . The lightening portion  176   g  may be of other shapes, such as an involute curve, a chamfer, and an R shape, as long as it is a recessed portion in which the size of the penetration plate  176  in the short-side direction reduces to the other longitudinal side end surface  176   i  side. Forming the lightening portion  176   g  in a recessed shape, such as an involute curve, a chamfer, and an R shape, narrows the intervals of the slits  124   d  and  125   d  when the battery terminal  101  is fastened to the battery post  151 , and the plate-like projecting portions  124   e  and  125   e  of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  can be moved smoothly in the directions indicated by the arrows A in  FIG. 10  even when a situation occurs in which the penetration plate  176  and the bent coupling portion  201  of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  come in contact with each other. Consequently, the plate-like projecting portions  124   e  and  125   e  of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  can be further facilitated continuing to deform so as to hold the battery post  151 . The annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  can be fastened much more strongly to the battery post  151 . The lightening portion  176   g  may be formed at least at the portion exposed from the slits  124   d  and  125   d  out of the longitudinal side end surface  176   h  of the penetration plate  176 , in a state in which the penetration plate  176  penetrates through both ends of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a.    
     In the above-described second embodiment, the configuration has been exemplified that, by defining the fastened member that screws together with the fastening bolt  167  as the threaded hole  176   b  of the penetration plate  176 , makes the tightening force F 3  in the axial direction arise between the fastening bolt  167  and the penetration plate  176 . However, the configuration may include a separate nut as the fastened member. 
     The fastening structure by the tightening portion  173  of the battery terminal  101  only needs to include the configuration in which, in a state in which at least the penetration plate  176  penetrates through both ends of the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a , the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a  can be fastened to the battery post  151 , and a configuration other than that of the above-described embodiment may be possible. In the same manner, the pressing-force applying portion  177  only needs to have the configuration that can apply the pressing force F 4  to the annular portions  124   a  and  125   a , and a configuration different from the configuration that includes the fastening bolt  167 , the threaded hole  176   b , the first spacer  171 , and the second spacer  162  in the above-described embodiment may be possible. 
     In the battery terminal according to the present invention, annular portions can be fastened more strongly to a battery post by providing a recessed portion on a penetration plate. Consequently, the battery terminal has an effect of being capable of improving its fastening performance when fastened to the battery post. 
     Although the invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in the art that fairly fall within the basic teaching herein set forth.