Abstract:
An adapter has a cylindrical body which is screwed onto a battery post, and a flange portion formed on a top portion of the cylindrical body to be clamped by a screwing tool. A terminal body includes a substantially U-shaped adaptor fitting portion which accommodates the adapter therein, and a seat portion on which an electric wire terminal is fixed. A lever includes a cam portion and is supported on the terminal body so as to be pivotable between a first position and a second position. A space in which the flange portion is capable of passing through is secured inside of the adaptor fitting portion when the lever is in the first position. The cam portion is abutted against an outer periphery of the cylindrical body of the adaptor so that the adaptor is retained between the cam portion and an inner face of the adaptor fitting portion, when the lever is in the second position. The flange portion of the adaptor is engaged with a top end face of the adapter fitting portion of the terminal body.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to battery terminals which are connected to electrodes of batteries (battery posts) to be mounted in automobiles, for example, and more particularly to a battery terminal attachable to and detachable from a battery post in one touching by pivoting an operating lever (a cam lever) without using any clamping tool such as an impact wrench or the like.  
           [0002]    The present invention also relates to a battery post adaptor which is fitted to a stud bolt type battery post to ensure that the press-fitting of the battery terminal is facilitated.  
           [0003]    It has heretofore been practiced to fit a battery post adaptor to a stud bolt type battery post to ensure that the press-fitting of a battery terminal is facilitated. In this case, there exists a related battery post adaptor as shown in FIG. 12.  
           [0004]    In FIG. 12, a battery post adaptor  2  is such that a circular flange portion  3  for preventing a battery terminal from slipping out is provided at the upper end of a tubular terminal mounting portion  2   a  having an internal thread  12   b  into which an external thread  1   a  of a battery post  1  is fitted, and that a hexagonal portion  4  as the fitting portion of a tool for fastening the adaptor tight is provided at the lower end of the terminal mounting portion  2   a.    
           [0005]    In this case, the total height required of the battery post adaptor is equal in height to a total of three portions including the terminal mounting portion  2   a , the flange portion  3  and the hexagonal portion  4 .  
           [0006]    As shown in FIG. 13, further, the maximum dimension in the diametric direction has had to be determined by the apex-to-apex dimension F of the hexagonal portion  4  under a condition that the face-to-face dimension B of the hexagonal portion  4  is set greater than the diameter D of the flange portion  3  in view of the fact that the battery post adaptor  2  is fitted up with an impact wrench  5 .  
           [0007]    Therefore, a major problem is that as the battery post adaptor  2  tends to become large in both its height and width directions, a battery terminal to be fitted thereto is also large-sized.  
           [0008]    As disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-60053U, for example, there is a known battery terminal detachable from a battery post by pivoting an operation lever.  
           [0009]    [0009]FIG. 14 shows the construction of the battery terminal described in the above publication. The battery terminal  30  is formed with a cam lever (an operation lever)  32  that is pivotally fitted to a terminal body  31  comprising a C-shaped adaptor fitting portion  33  and a pair of folded-back pieces  34  and  35  extending in parallel to each other from both the respective ends of the C-shaped adaptor fitting portion  33 . A pivotal shaft  36  is fitted to the pair of folded-back pieces  34  and  35 , the cam lever  32  being pivotally supported by the pivotal shaft  36 . Electric wires W are connected to one folded-back piece  34 .  
           [0010]    The operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. While the cam lever  32  is uprighted as shown in FIG. 15, the cam portion  32   a  of the cam lever  32  is also kept upright and the caliber of the adaptor fitting portion  33  of the battery terminal  30  grows large. Consequently, a battery post  40  can easily be fitted into the adaptor fitting portion  33  in the above condition.  
           [0011]    After the battery post  40  is fitted into the adaptor fitting portion  33 , the cam lever  32  is turned laterally toward the pair of folded-back pieces  34  and  35  as shown in FIG. 16, whereby to make the cam portion  32   a  press the peripheral face of the battery post  40 . Then a counterforce resulting from the pressing force of the cam portion  32   a  causes the inner peripheral face of the adaptor fitting portion  33  of the battery terminal  30  to be pressed against the peripheral face of the battery post  40 . Consequently, the frictional force between the inner peripheral face of the adaptor fitting portion  33  and the outer peripheral face of the battery post  40  connects the battery terminal  30  to the battery post  40  electrically and mechanically.  
           [0012]    In case where the cam lever  32  is uprighted in the above condition, on the other hand, the battery terminal  30  can be removed from battery post  40  in one touching because the pressing force of the cam portion  32   a  toward the battery post  40  is released.  
           [0013]    Therefore, with this battery terminal  30 , the battery terminal  30  can easily be attached to and detached from the battery post  40  through the operation of uprighting and turning the cam lever  32  laterally in one touching.  
           [0014]    However, as shown in FIG. 17, though it has heretofore been arranged to make the pressing force of the cam portion  32   a  act on the outer peripheral face of the battery post  40  by securing a predetermined overlap margin δ 1  between the cam portion  32   a  and the battery post  40 , there is no portion for absorbing the overlap margin δ 1  because the cam lever  32  that is made of solid and rigid material, and this makes a great operation force necessary to pivot the cam lever. Moreover, as there is the probability that the battery post  40  would be deformed (dented) by the overlap margin δ 1  or that the cam portion  32   a  would be deformed, the contact load has not been stabilized, thus resulting in low contact reliability.  
           [0015]    Furthermore, it has heretofore been arranged that the mounting of such a battery terminal is completed by turning the cam lever  32  laterally toward the electric-wire-connecting side and as the cam lever  32  is turned laterally during the pressing operation, it has been difficult to install any obstructing thing near the battery terminal. In other words, even in a case where a ring terminal (so-called LA terminal) is used to connect a battery cable to the battery terminal, it has also been difficult to fit a stud bolt for connecting the ring terminal to the portion nearby. Although placing the stud bolt like that is technically possible, the cam lever may not be turned laterally up to the horizontal position and this may result in a poor cam lever settlement.  
           [0016]    As disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 64-29784U, for example, there is another related battery terminal detachable from a battery post by pivoting an operating lever.  
           [0017]    [0017]FIG. 18 shows the construction of the battery terminal described in the above publication. The battery terminal  130  is formed with a cam lever (an operating lever)  32  that is pivotally fitted to a terminal body  131  comprising a C-shaped adaptor fitting portion  133  and a pair of folded-back pieces  134  and  135  extending in parallel to each other from both the respective ends of the C-shaped adaptor fitting portion  133 . A pivotal shaft  136  is fitted to the pair of folded-back pieces  134  and  135 , the cam lever  132  being pivotally supported by the pivotal shaft  136 . Electric wires W are connected to one folded-back piece  134 .  
           [0018]    The operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 20A and 20B. While the cam lever  132  is uprighted as shown in FIG. 20A, the cam portion  32   a  of the cam lever  132  is also kept upright and the caliber of the adaptor fitting portion  133  of the battery terminal  130  grows large. Consequently, a battery post  140  can easily be fitted into the adaptor fitting portion  133  in the above condition.  
           [0019]    After the battery post  140  is fitted into the adaptor fitting portion  133 , the cam lever  132  is turned laterally toward the pair of folded-back pieces  134  and  135  as shown in FIG. 20B whereby to make the cam portion  32   a  press the peripheral face of the battery post  140 . Then a counterforce resulting from the pressing force of the cam portion  132   a  causes the inner peripheral face of the adaptor fitting portion  133  of the battery terminal  130  to be pressed against the peripheral face of the battery post  140 . Consequently, the frictional force between the inner peripheral face of the adaptor fitting portion  133  and the outer peripheral face of the battery post  140  connects the battery terminal  130  to the battery post  140  electrically and mechanically.  
           [0020]    In case where the cam lever  132  is uprighted in the above condition, on the other hand, the battery terminal  130  can be removed from battery post  140  in one touching because the pressing force of the cam portion  32   a  toward the battery post  140  is released.  
           [0021]    Therefore, with this battery terminal  130 , the battery terminal  130  can easily be attached to and detached from the battery post  140  through the operation of uprighting and turning the cam lever  132  laterally in one touching.  
           [0022]    However, because a dimension X between outer faces of the folded-back pieces  134  and  135  for pivotally supporting the cam lever  132  is considerably smaller than a dimension D between outer side faces the adaptor fitting portion  133  due to the C-shaped configuration, the modulus of the moment of inertia to the lateral bending and the modulus of section are low and the problem is that the rigidity and strength of the battery terminal are low.  
           [0023]    Furthermore, a problem with the battery terminal  130  is poor workability because it lacks a mechanism for holding the cam lever  132  in the upright or lateral position.  
           [0024]    In other words, the absence of the mechanism for securely holding the cam lever  132  in the preceding upright position permits the cam lever  132  to freely pivot because of gravity, vibration or the like and this will result in poor workability in that when the cam lever is fitted to the battery post  140 , the cam lever  132  must be fitted thereto before being returned to the upright position again.  
           [0025]    When the adaptor fitting portion  133  is pressed against the battery post  140  by turning the cam lever  132  laterally, the pivoting work has remained difficult because the degree of pivoting the cam lever  132  to certainly establish the contact condition has been left unknown.  
           [0026]    As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 9-289009A, for example, there is still another related battery terminal detachable from a battery post by pivoting an operating lever.  
           [0027]    [0027]FIG. 21 shows the construction of the battery terminal described in the above publication. The battery terminal  230  is formed with an operating lever  232  that is pivotally fitted to a terminal body  231  comprising a C-shaped adaptor fitting portion  234 , a pair of bearing block holders  235  extending in parallel to each other from both the respective ends of the C-shaped adaptor fitting portion  234 , and a seat portion  238  located opposite to the bearing block holders  235 .  
           [0028]    Bearing blocks  236  are respectively fitted to the pair of the bearing block holders  235 , and a pivotal shaft  237  whose left half is threaded opposite to the right half is passed through and screwed into the bearing blocks  236 . Further, turning the pivotal shaft  237  by the operating lever  232  causes the pair of bearing block holders  235  to come close to or separate from each other whereby to contract or expand the diameter of the C-shaped adaptor fitting portion  234  so that a battery post  240  can be attached to or detached from the adaptor fitting portion  234 .  
           [0029]    The terminal body  231  of the battery terminal  230  is formed by bending one sheet of metal plate as shown in FIG. 22, the pair of bearing block holders  235  is formed on one side with the central adaptor fitting portion  234  held therebetween and the stud seat portion  238  on the other side via a coupling portion  239 .  
           [0030]    Therefore, the developed shape of a metal plate to be manufactured is substantially T-shaped as shown in FIG. 23. Each portion marked with an additional reference symbol A in FIG. 23 corresponds to an element when the terminal body  231  is manufactured.  
           [0031]    In this case, as the stud seat portion  238  is formed by bending one sheet of linear belt-like plate (a portion indicated by  238 A and  239 A) corresponding to the T-shaped vertical rod, the length of the belt-like plate of that portion tends to become longer and the problem is that because the dimension of the overall punching area needs increasing, the yield rate is worsened and this will result in an increase in costs.  
           [0032]    As the section of the coupling portion  239  for coupling the seat portion  238  and the adaptor fitting portion  234  together is of one-sheet structure whose vertical dimension M is small and horizontal dimension N is large as shown in FIG.  24 , the modulus of the moment of inertia to the lateral bending and the modulus of section are low and the problem is that the rigidity and strength of the battery terminal are also low when the vertical bending is taken into consideration.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0033]    It is therefore a first object of the present invention is to provide a battery post adaptor designed to make itself and a battery terminal to be fitted thereto compact.  
           [0034]    A second object of the present invention is to provide a battery terminal designed to improve contact reliability with the least lever operating force without the deformation of a battery post or a cam portion.  
           [0035]    A third object of the present invention is to provide a battery terminal capable of storing an operating lever in a compact form on completion of connecting operation while a battery cable is being connected to a battery terminal by using a ring terminal.  
           [0036]    A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a battery terminal designed to increase the strength of a lever supporting portion and to improve reliability in handling.  
           [0037]    A fifth object of the present invention made is to provide a battery terminal designed to improve installation workability.  
           [0038]    A sixth object of the present invention is to provide a battery terminal designed to improve not only a yield rate at the time of blank layout in a case where a terminal body is made by bending one sheet of metal plate, but also the flexural rigidity of the terminal body that has been made up.  
           [0039]    In order to achieve the above objects, according to the present invention, there is provided A battery terminal structure for connecting a terminal provided with an electric wire with a stud bolt type battery post, comprising:  
           [0040]    an adapter, having a cylindrical body which is screwed onto the battery post, and a flange portion formed on a top portion of the cylindrical body to be clamped by a screwing tool;  
           [0041]    a terminal body, including a substantially U-shaped adaptor fitting portion which accommodates the adapter screwed on the battery post therein, and a seat portion on which the electric wire terminal is fixed; and  
           [0042]    a lever, including a cam portion and supported on the terminal body so as to be pivotable between a first position and a second position,  
           [0043]    wherein a space in which the flange portion is capable of passing through is secured inside of the adaptor fitting portion when the lever is in the first position;  
           [0044]    wherein the cam portion is abutted against an outer periphery of the cylindrical body of the adaptor so that the adaptor is retained between the cam portion and an inner face of the adaptor fitting portion, when the lever is in the second position; and  
           [0045]    wherein the flange portion of the adaptor is engaged with a top end face of the adapter fitting portion of the terminal body.  
           [0046]    In this configuration, since the flange portion is not only used as a member operated when screwing but also used as a member for preventing the adaptor being slipped off the terminal body, the height dimension can be decreased because of omission of elements.  
           [0047]    Preferably, the flange portion of the adaptor has a hexagonal shape such that a dimension between opposite faces is at least identical with an outer diameter of the cylindrical body of the adaptor.  
           [0048]    In this configuration, the largest diameter of the adaptor can be decreased. Further, the adaptor can simply be screwed onto the battery post by an impact wrench or the like.  
           [0049]    According to the present invention, there is also provided a battery terminal structure for connecting a terminal provided with an electric wire with a stud bolt type battery post, comprising:  
           [0050]    an adapter, having a cylindrical body which is screwed onto the battery post, and a flange portion formed on the cylindrical body to be clamped by a screwing tool;  
           [0051]    a terminal body, including a substantially U-shaped adaptor fitting portion which accommodates the adapter screwed on the battery post therein, and a seat portion on which the electric wire terminal is fixed;  
           [0052]    a lever, including a cam portion and supported on the terminal body so as to be pivotable between a first position and a second position; and  
           [0053]    an engagement member, which provisionally retains the lever in at least one of the first position and the second position,  
           [0054]    wherein a space in which the flange portion is capable of passing through is secured inside of the adaptor fitting portion when the lever is in the first position; and  
           [0055]    wherein the cam portion is abutted against an outer periphery of the cylindrical body of the adaptor so that the adaptor is retained between the cam portion and an inner face of the adaptor fitting portion, when the lever is in the second position.  
           [0056]    In this configuration, the installation workability can be improved.  
           [0057]    In other words, in case where the lever can provisionally be held by the engagement member in the first position, any useless movement of the lever due to gravity, vibration or the like becomes preventable to ensure that the lever can be held in the preceding operating position without being affected by vibration and gravity, so that the fitting workability of the battery terminal can be improved.  
           [0058]    Further, in case where the lever can provisionally be held by the engagement member in the second position, the completion of the pivotal operation of the lever can be decided by the touch of the provisionally holding operation. Therefore, even though the installation work is done without paying any special attention to the predetermined position in which the lever can be stopped. Thus the fitting workability becomes improvable. Moreover, the pressing force against the battery post can constantly be controlled, which also results in improving contact reliability.  
           [0059]    Preferably, the engagement member includes a recessed portion formed on one of the terminal body and the lever, and a convex portion engaged with the recessed portion formed on the other of the terminal body and the lever.  
           [0060]    In this configuration, in case where the operating lever is moved with force greater than the predetermined degree, the provisional holding resulting from the engagement between the convex and recessed portions is released and the operating lever is freely made pivotal. Moreover, clicking is felt at the time of their engagement to have the provisional holding confirmed thereby.  
           [0061]    According to the present invention, there is also provided A battery terminal structure for connecting a terminal provided with an electric wire with a stud bolt type battery post, comprising:  
           [0062]    an adapter, having a cylindrical body which is screwed onto the battery post, and a flange portion formed on the cylindrical body to be clamped by a screwing tool;  
           [0063]    a terminal body, including a substantially U-shaped adaptor fitting portion which accommodates the adapter screwed on the battery post therein, and a seat portion on which the electric wire terminal is fixed;  
           [0064]    a lever, including a cam portion and supported on the terminal body so as to be pivotable between a first position and a second position; and  
           [0065]    an elastic member provided in either one of the lever or the terminal body for bringing the cam portion into an elastic contact with the adaptor,  
           [0066]    wherein a space in which the flange portion is capable of passing through is secured inside of the adaptor fitting portion when the lever is in the first position; and  
           [0067]    wherein the cam portion is abutted against an outer periphery of the cylindrical body of the adaptor so that the adaptor is retained between the cam portion and an inner face of the adaptor fitting portion, when the lever is in the second position.  
           [0068]    In this configuration, since the overlap margin at the time the cam portion is pressed against the battery post adaptor is absorbed by the elastic member, force to be applied when the lever is pivoted can be minimized. Moreover, unnatural force is prevented from being applied to the peripheral face of the battery post adaptor and the battery terminal itself. The contact load is also stabilized and contact reliability is improved as the press-contact force of the cam portion against the adaptor is determined by the elastic force of the elastic member.  
           [0069]    Preferably, the elastic member is a plate spring which constitutes the cam portion of the lever.  
           [0070]    In this configuration, the battery terminal can be made simple in construction as compared with a case where the elastic member is provided in any other portion.  
           [0071]    Here, it is preferable that the plate spring is extended along an outer periphery of the cam portion such that a first end portion of the plate spring is fixed on the lever member and a second end portion of the plate spring is movable retained at the cam portion.  
           [0072]    In this configuration, the plate spring is easily subjected to flexural deformation, so that a good elastic contact function can be fulfilled for the battery post adaptor.  
           [0073]    According to the present invention, there is also provided a battery terminal structure for connecting a terminal provided with an electric wire with a stud bolt type battery post, comprising:  
           [0074]    an adapter, having a cylindrical body which is screwed onto the battery post, and a flange portion formed on the cylindrical body to be clamped by a screwing tool;  
           [0075]    a terminal body, including a substantially U-shaped adaptor fitting portion which accommodates the adapter screwed on the battery post therein, and a seat portion on which the electric wire terminal is fixed; and  
           [0076]    a lever, including a cam portion and supported on the terminal body so as to be pivotable between a first position and a second position,  
           [0077]    wherein a space in which the flange portion is capable of passing through is secured inside of the adaptor fitting portion when the lever is in the first position;  
           [0078]    wherein the cam portion is abutted against an outer periphery of the cylindrical body of the adaptor so that the adaptor is retained between the cam portion and an inner face of the adaptor fitting portion, when the lever is in the second position;  
           [0079]    wherein the terminal body is made of a single metal plate including a first portion which is bent in a thickness direction thereof to form the adaptor fitting portion, a second portion extended perpendicularly from a first end of the first portion, and a third portion extended perpendicularly from a second end of the first portion; and  
           [0080]    wherein the second and third portions are bent so as to be overlapped with each other to form the seat portion.  
           [0081]    In this configuration, the dimensions of the developed metal plate become reducible, whereby the yield rate of obtaining the plates can be improved when blanking operation is executed.  
           [0082]    Furthermore, since the seat portion is formed with the two sheets of plates, the rigidity and strength thereof is increased.  
           [0083]    Preferably, the electric wire terminal is fixed on the seat portion with a stud bolt inserted through a through hole formed in the seat portion and a nut screwed onto the stud bolt. Here, a retaining piece is integrally formed on either one of the second and third portions of the metal plate. The retaining piece is bent to form a retaining member which retains a head portion of the stud bolt.  
           [0084]    In this configuration, the stud bolt can be prevented from slipping out by the retaining member of the battery terminal.  
           [0085]    According to the present invention, there is provided A battery terminal structure for connecting a terminal provided with an electric wire with a stud bolt type battery post, comprising:  
           [0086]    an adapter, having a cylindrical body which is screwed onto the battery post, and a flange portion formed on the cylindrical body to be clamped by a screwing tool;  
           [0087]    a terminal body, including a substantially U-shaped adaptor fitting portion which accommodates the adapter screwed on the battery post therein, and a seat portion on which the electric wire terminal is fixed; and  
           [0088]    a lever, including a cam portion and supported on the terminal body so as to be pivotable between a first position and a second position,  
           [0089]    wherein a space in which the flange portion is capable of passing through is secured inside of the adaptor fitting portion when the lever is in the first position;  
           [0090]    wherein the cam portion is abutted against an outer periphery of the cylindrical body of the adaptor so that the adaptor is retained between the cam portion and an inner face of the adaptor fitting portion, when the lever is in the second position; and  
           [0091]    wherein a dimension between an outer side faces of the adaptor fitting portion is equal to a dimension between an outer side faces of the terminal body where the seat portion is provided.  
           [0092]    In this configuration, the modulus of the moment of inertia to the lateral bending and the modulus of section can be increased, so that the strength of the relevant portion can also be raised.  
           [0093]    According to the present invention, there is also provided A battery terminal structure for connecting a terminal provided with an electric wire with a stud bolt type battery post, comprising:  
           [0094]    an adapter, having a cylindrical body which is screwed onto the battery post, and a flange portion formed on the cylindrical body to be clamped by a screwing tool;  
           [0095]    a terminal body, including a substantially U-shaped adaptor fitting portion which accommodates the adapter screwed on the battery post therein, and a seat portion on which the electric wire terminal is fixed; and  
           [0096]    a lever, including a cam portion and supported on the terminal body so as to be pivotable between a first position and a second position,  
           [0097]    wherein a space in which the flange portion is capable of passing through is secured inside of the adaptor fitting portion when the lever is in the first position;  
           [0098]    wherein the cam portion is abutted against an outer periphery of the cylindrical body of the adaptor so that the adaptor is retained between the cam portion and an inner face of the adaptor fitting portion, when the lever is in the second position;  
           [0099]    wherein the electric wire terminal is fixed on the seat portion with a stud bolt and a nut; and  
           [0100]    wherein the lever includes a through hole which accommodates the nut therein when the lever is in the second position.  
           [0101]    In this configuration, since the through hole for the purpose of avoiding the interference of the nut and the lever, the battery terminal can be made compact. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0102]    The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:  
         [0103]    [0103]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the relation between a battery post adaptor and a battery terminal, according to a first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0104]    [0104]FIGS. 2A is a plan view showing a state in which the battery terminal is simply set to the battery post adaptor of FIG. 1;  
         [0105]    [0105]FIG. 2B is a sectional side view of FIG. 2A;  
         [0106]    [0106]FIG. 3A is a plan view showing a state in which an adaptor fitting portion of the battery terminal is pressed against the battery post adaptor by pivoting an operating lever;  
         [0107]    [0107]FIG. 3B is a sectional side view of FIG. 3A;  
         [0108]    [0108]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of FIG. 3A;  
         [0109]    [0109]FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along a line V-V of FIG. 4;  
         [0110]    [0110]FIG. 6 is a developed view of a terminal body in the battery terminal;  
         [0111]    [0111]FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along a line U-U of FIG. 1;  
         [0112]    [0112]FIG. 8A is an exploded perspective view showing the relation a battery post adaptor and a battery terminal, according to a second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0113]    [0113]FIG. 8B is a partial enlarged sectional view of an engagement member in the battery terminal of FIG. 8A;  
         [0114]    [0114]FIGS. 9A is a plan view showing a state in which the battery terminal is simply set to the battery post adaptor of FIG. 8A;  
         [0115]    [0115]FIG. 9B is a sectional side view of FIG. 9A;  
         [0116]    [0116]FIG. 10A is a plan view showing a state in which an adaptor fitting portion of the battery terminal is pressed against the battery post adaptor by pivoting an operating lever;  
         [0117]    [0117]FIG. 10B is a sectional side view of FIG. 10A;  
         [0118]    [0118]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of FIG. 10A;  
         [0119]    [0119]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a related battery post adaptor;  
         [0120]    [0120]FIG. 13 is a sectional side view of a state in which the related battery post adaptor is fitted to a battery post using an impact wrench;  
         [0121]    [0121]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a first related battery terminal;  
         [0122]    [0122]FIG. 15 is a sectional side view of a state in which the battery terminal of FIG. 14 is simply set to a battery post;  
         [0123]    [0123]FIG. 16 is a sectional side view of a state in which a cam lever is turned laterally from the state of FIG. 15, so as to press the battery terminal against the battery post;  
         [0124]    [0124]FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional side view explanatory of problems at the time of press-contacting operation of the battery terminal of FIG. 14;  
         [0125]    [0125]FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a third related battery terminal;  
         [0126]    [0126]FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along a line S-S of FIG. 18;  
         [0127]    [0127]FIG. 20A is a sectional side view of a state in which the battery terminal is simply set to the battery post;  
         [0128]    [0128]FIG. 20B is a sectional side view of a state in which a cam lever is turned laterally from the state of FIG. 20A, so as to press the battery terminal against the battery post;  
         [0129]    [0129]FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a fourth related battery terminal;  
         [0130]    [0130]FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a terminal body in the battery terminal of FIG. 21;  
         [0131]    [0131]FIG. 23 is a developed view of the terminal body of FIG. 22; and  
         [0132]    [0132]FIG. 24 is a sectional view taken along a line T-T of FIG. 22. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0133]    A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0134]    A battery terminal  100  is fitted to a stud bolt type battery post  1 , and a tubular battery post adaptor  12  for fitting up the battery terminal  100  is mounted on the battery post  1 .  
         [0135]    The battery post adaptor  12  has a tubular terminal mounting portion  12   a  having an internal thread  12   b  to be screwed onto the external thread  1   a  of the battery post  1 , and a hexagonal portion (flange portion)  13  integrally formed with the upper end of the tubular terminal mounting portion  12   a.    
         [0136]    The hexagonal portion  13  is a portion for fitting an adaptor fastening tool (e.g., an impact wrench) therein and this portion is simultaneously used as a flange portion for preventing the battery terminal from slipping out. Therefore, by mating the impact wrench with the hexagonal portion  13 , the battery post adaptor  12  can be fixedly fastened to the battery post  1 . When the battery terminal  100  is pressed against the battery post adaptor  12 , the battery terminal  100  can be prevented from slipping out as the hexagonal portion  13  serves as the flange portion. Consequently, a face-to-face dimension B 1  of the hexagonal portion  13  is set at least greater than the outer diameter of the terminal mounting portion  12   a.    
         [0137]    In order to make the battery post adaptor  12  as small in size as possible according to this embodiment of the invention, the face-to-face dimension B 1  of the hexagonal portion  13  is set equal to or slightly greater than the outer diameter of the tubular terminal mounting portion  12   a , so that an apex-to-apex dimension F 1 , which is the largest diameter portion, is become as small as possible. Further, since the hexagonal portion  13  serves as also the flange portion, the dimension thereof in its direction of height can be made compact.  
         [0138]    The battery terminal  100  electrically connected to the battery post adaptor  12 , includes a terminal body  50  made by press-bending one sheet of metal plate, an operating lever  60  similarly made by press-bending one sheet of metal plate, a pivotal shaft  70 , and a stud bolt  80 .  
         [0139]    The stud bolt  80  is provided for mounting a ring terminal  20  attached to a leading end of a battery cable W on the battery terminal  100  using a washer  23  and a nut  25 .  
         [0140]    A curved adaptor fitting portion  51  is provided on one side of the terminal body  50  for receiving the battery post adaptor  12  therein. A fitting seat  53  of the stud bolt  80  is provided on the other side of the terminal body  50  for receiving the ring terminal  20 .  
         [0141]    To form the terminal body  50  as an integral product, one sheet of belt-like metal plate is first bent to form the U-shaped adaptor fitting portion  51 . At both ends of side plates  52  thus formed, rectangular pieces  55   a  and  55   b  are integrally formed, respectively. The rectangular pieces  55   a  and  55   b  are bent inward so as to be overlapped with each other to form the seat portion  53 . A through hole  56 , into which the stud bolt  80  is inserted, is formed at the seat portion  53 .  
         [0142]    In this case, the two sheets of side plates  52  are extended in parallel in the extending directions of both ends of the U-shaped adaptor fitting portion  51 , and a dimension X 1  between outer faces of the side plates  52  is set equal to a dimension D 1  between outer side faces of the adaptor fitting portion  51  as shown in FIG. 7.  
         [0143]    Further, the base of the operating lever  60  is inserted in between the two sheets of side plates  52  connecting the adaptor fitting portion  51  and the seat portion  53 .  
         [0144]    The operating lever  60  is provided with a substantially rectangular top face  61 , a pair of substantially circular side plates  62  and a curved plate spring  65  extended to the front end of the top face  61 .  
         [0145]    A through hole  64  is formed in the central portion of the top face  61  in order to prevent the operating lever  60  from interfering with the nut  25  securely fastened to the stud bolt  80 , which will be described later, when the operating lever  60  is turned laterally onto the seat portion  53 . Moreover, reinforcing ribs  63  bent downward are provided to both the respective left and right side edges of the top face  61 .  
         [0146]    The side plates  62  are placed wide enough to be fitted in between both the side plates  52  of the terminal body  50 , and both the ends of the pivotal shaft  70  passed through these side plates  62  are supported by the shaft holes  54  of both the side plates  52  of the terminal body  50 , whereby the operating lever  60  is vertically pivotally mounted onto the terminal body  50 .  
         [0147]    The pivotal shaft  70  is formed by extending its body portion  72  passing through the side plates  62  of the operating lever  60  from a flange-like head portion  71  together with a small-diameter shaft portion  73  at the front end thereof, so that the pivotal shaft  70  is prevented from slipping out by securing the small-diameter shaft portion  73  at the front end to the shaft hole  54  of one side plate  52 .  
         [0148]    The plate spring  65  extended to the front end of the top face  61  is curved into a substantially arcuate profile whereby to form a cam portion  66  for elastically pressing the peripheral face of the battery post adaptor  12 . As shown in FIGS.  2 B, the distance (radius) from the center of the pivotal shaft  70  up to the outer peripheral face (cam face) of the cam portion  66  is gently varied such that the smallest diameter portion of the curved face is directed toward the adaptor fitting portion  51  when the operating lever  60  is uprighted and the largest diameter portion of the curved face is directed toward the adaptor fitting portion  51  when the operating lever  60  is turned laterally toward the seat portion  53  by 90 degrees (see FIG. 3B).  
         [0149]    As shown in FIG. 2B, a radius R 2  in the largest diameter portion is set greater than the greatest distance R 1  from the center of the pivotal shaft  70  with the battery post adaptor  12  fitted into the adaptor fitting portion  51  up to the outer periphery of the battery post adaptor  12 . In other words, a predetermined deformation margin δ 2  (overlap margin) is provided to the plate spring  65  forming the cam portion  66  when the outer peripheral face of the battery post adaptor  12  is properly pressed down with the largest diameter portion having the radius R 2  by turning the operating lever  60  laterally as shown in FIG. 3B. Here, FIG. 3B shows a state in which the plate spring  65  has not been deformed so as to indicate the presence of the deformation margin δ 2 .  
         [0150]    The plate spring  65  is disposed along the peripheral face of the cam portion  66 . A base portion  65   a  of the plate spring  65  is coupled to the top face  61  to be fixedly supported, and a T-shaped front end portion  65   b  is movably retained by the side plate  62 . Further, the profile of the cam portion  66  is determined so that the central position of the plate spring  65  in its peripheral direction (longitudinal direction) may become the largest diameter portion. In this case, the plate spring  65  is free from the side plates  62  and capable of bending and deforming independent of the side plates  62 .  
         [0151]    The stud bolt  80  is inserted upward from the underside of the seat portion  53 . The stud bolt  80  is provided with a rectangular plate-like head portion  81  and a threaded shaft portion  82 , the front end  83  of the threaded shaft portion  82  having a slightly small diameter so as to mate the ring terminal  20  and the nut  25  therewith.  
         [0152]    Upon the insertion of the stud bolt  80  upward from below, the rectangular head portion  81  of the stud bolt  80  is fitted in between the side plates  52  beneath the seat portion  53  and prevented from turning. In this state, moreover, the head portion  81  of the stud bolt  80  is retained by bending a pawl portion  58  formed on the rectangular plate  55   b  making up the seat portion  53 , whereby the stud bolt  80  is prevented from slipping downward.  
         [0153]    The fitting operation will now be described.  
         [0154]    As shown in FIG. 1, the battery cable W is connected to the battery terminal  100  by fitting the stud bolt  80  projecting upward in the end portion of the terminal body  50  into the ring terminal  20  attached to the battery cable W, and then securely fastening the nut  25  to the screw shaft portion  82  of the stud bolt  80  via the washer  23 .  
         [0155]    As the smallest diameter portion of the cam portion  66  is directed toward the adaptor fitting portion  51  in the upright condition of the operating lever  60  as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the caliber of the adaptor fitting portion  51  is kept large. Therefore, the battery post adaptor  12  can easily be received into the adaptor fitting portion  51  of the battery terminal  100 .  
         [0156]    After the battery post adaptor  12  is received into the adaptor fitting portion  51 , the operating lever  60  is pivoted by  90  degrees in the above condition and then turned laterally onto the seat portion  53  as shown in FIGS. 3A to  5 . When the operating lever  60  is thus turned downward, the largest diameter portion of the cam portion  66  of the operating lever  60  is brought into press-contact with the outer peripheral face of the battery post adaptor  12 . Then the counterforce resulting from the pressing force causes the inner peripheral face of the adaptor fitting portion  51  to be pressed against the outer periphery of the terminal mounting portion  12   a  of the battery post adaptor  12 , so that the battery terminal  100  and the battery post  1  are electrically and mechanically connected. In the above state, the battery terminal  100  is never slipped out as the hexagonal portion  13  used also as the flange portion is located at the upper end of the battery post adaptor  12 .  
         [0157]    Further, the presence of the through hole  64  for avoiding the interference of the nut  25  in the top face  61  of the operating lever  60  makes it possible to completely turn the operating lever  60  laterally up to the position where the operating lever  60  lies on top of the seat portion  53 , and the battery terminal  100  can be made as compact as possible in the above press-contact condition.  
         [0158]    When the battery terminal  100  is removed therefrom in the above condition, the operating lever  60  is uprighted up to the state of FIGS. 2A and 2B. Then the pressing force of the cam portion  66  is released and the caliber of the adaptor fitting portion  51  is expanded, whereby the battery terminal  100  can easily be removed from the battery post adaptor  12 .  
         [0159]    Moreover, the battery terminal  100  according to this embodiment has the following advantages.  
         [0160]    First, as the cam portion  66  of the battery terminal  100  is formed with the plate spring  65 , the lap margin δ 2  can be absorbed by the elastic deformation of the plate spring  65  when the cam portion  66  is pressed against the battery post adaptor  12 .  
         [0161]    Therefore, force to be applied when the operating lever  60  is pivoted can thus be minimized and besides unnatural force is prevented from being applied to the peripheral face of the battery post adaptor  12  and the battery terminal  100 . Consequently, the deformation of the battery post adaptor  12  and the battery terminal  100  is preventable. Moreover, the contact load is stabilized and contact reliability is improved as the press-contact force of the cam portion  66  against the battery post adaptor  12  is determined by the elastic force.  
         [0162]    Although the provision of a spring as a member to make the cam portion  66  elastically contact the battery post adaptor  12  is possible in any portion, the construction of the above battery terminal  100  can be simplified by forming the cam portion  66  itself with the plate spring  65 .  
         [0163]    Further, since one end (the front end portion  65   b ) of the plate spring  65  forming the cam portion  66  is movably supported, the plate spring  65  is readily subjected to bending deformation, whereby a good elastic contact function can be fulfilled for the battery post adaptor  12 .  
         [0164]    As shown in FIG. 6, a metal plate  50 A forming the terminal body  50  may be in a U-shaped developed form with the rectangular pieces  55   a  and  55   b  formed on the respective side edges of belt-like plates in the battery terminal  100 . Further, by bending the rectangular pieces  55   a  and  55   b  inward from both sides and overlapping both of them to form the seat portion  53  for the stud bolt  80 , it is possible to set short the projected length of the rectangular pieces  55   a  and  55   b  while sufficient strength is maintained. Thus the dimensions of the developed U-shaped metal plate  50 A are made smaller and the yield rate can be improved because blank layout dimensions are reducible.  
         [0165]    As shown in FIG. 7, since the portion used to couple the seat portion  53  and the adaptor fitting portion  51  is formed with the two sheets of side plates  52  having the same thicknesses as those of the adaptor fitting portion  51 , and since the vertical sectional dimension M 1  of each side plate  52  is large with the horizontal sectional dimension N 1  thereof being small, the modulus of the moment of inertia and the modulus of section of that coupling portion increase and the vertical and lateral flexural rigidity is raised.  
         [0166]    Furthermore, since the dimension X 1  between the outer side faces of the side plates  52  is set equal to the dimension D 1  between the outer faces of the adaptor fitting portion  51 , the modulus of the moment of inertia and the modulus of section of that coupling portion increase and the vertical and lateral flexural rigidity is raised, so that a battery terminal having greater strength is available.  
         [0167]    Next, a battery terminal according to a second embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 8A to  11 . Elements identical with the first embodiment are designated the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations therefor are omitted here.  
         [0168]    In a battery terminal  110 , convex and recessed portions as an engagement member for provisionally holding the operating lever  60  in a predetermined position are respectively provided to the side plates  62  of the operating lever  60  and the opposing side plates  52  of the terminal body  50 . In this case, the recessed portions (in the form of retaining holes according to this embodiment)  91  and  92  are formed in the side plate  52  on the terminal body side  50  so that the operating lever  60  may be provisionally and elastically held in two places including the upright position shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B and the completely turned-down position shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B where the operating lever  60  is turned down by 90 degrees. Each convex portion  93  selectively and elastically engaging with the recessed portion  91  or  92  is formed on the outer surface of the side plate  62  of the operating lever  60 .  
         [0169]    As the recessed portions  91  and  92  and the convex portion  93  engage with each other by utilizing the elasticity of the terminal body  50  and the operating lever  60  themselves, these are set in such a relation as to have some overlap margin  63  as shown in FIG. 8B.  
         [0170]    The battery terminal  110  according to this embodiment has the following advantages.  
         [0171]    First, the convex portions  93  on the side of the operating lever  60  elastically engage with the respective recessed portions  91  on the side of the terminal body  50  to ensure that the operating lever  60  is provisionally held in the preceding upright position. Therefore, any useless movement of the operating lever  60  due to gravity, vibration or the like becomes preventable and the adaptor fitting portion  51  of the battery terminal  110  can thus be admitted into the battery post adaptor  12 .  
         [0172]    When the adaptor fitting portion  51  is pressed against the battery post adaptor  12  through the operation of turning the operating lever  60  laterally and pressing the cam portion  66 , as the convex portions  93  engage with the respective recessed portions  92  in the position where the operating lever  60  is completely pivoted, the operator is allowed to decide that the operation has been completed from the touch.  
         [0173]    Even though the installation work is done without paying any special attention to which position the operating lever  60  should be pivoted, the operating lever  60  can be stopped at a predetermined position. Thus a constant pivoting amount is always secured, whereby the pressing force toward the battery post adaptor  12  can be controlled constantly, which results in improving contact reliability.  
         [0174]    When the press-contact of the adaptor fitting portion  51  against the battery post adaptor  12  is released by returning the operating lever  60  to the upright position, it is possible to decide whether the operating lever  60  has been properly returned thereto from the touch of the provisional holding resulting from the engagement between the convex portions  93  and the recessed portions  91 .  
         [0175]    Since the elasticity of the side plates  52  and  62  of the terminal body  50  and the operating lever  60  serves as what can make the convex portions  93  and the recessed portions  91  and  92  elastically engage with each other, the operating lever is only needed to be moved with force greater than the predetermined degree, whereby the provisional holding resulting from the engagement between the convex and recessed portions  93 ,  91  and  92  is released and the operating lever  60  can freely be made pivotal without any obstruction to the pivoting operation. Moreover, as clicking is felt at the time of their engagement to have the provisional holding confirmed, that is, the clicking allows deciding whether or not the operating lever  60  is in the upright position or the position where the pivoting operation is completed.  
         [0176]    Although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to specific preferred embodiments, various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein. Such changes and modifications as are obvious are deemed to come within the spirit, scope and contemplation of the invention as defined in the appended claims.