Patent ID: 7727667

Claim:
An accumulator device comprising a plurality of substantially identical and flat frames, wherein each of said frames comprises: an accommodating portion that accommodates one of a plurality of accumulator cells; a first abutment portion on a first surface of each of the frames; a second abutment portion on a second surface of each of the frames; a first fitting structure on the first abutment portion; and a second fitting structure on the second abutment portion, wherein the plurality of frames are stacked by contacting adjacent frames of said plurality of frames by the first abutment portion of one of the adjacent frames and the second abutment portion of another of the adjacent frames, the adjacent frames being commonly mechanically coupled by fitting the first fitting structure of the one of the adjacent frames to the second fitting structure of the another of the adjacent frames, and wherein the first fitting structure comprises a fitting projection on a first end on a longitudinal surface of each of the frames, and the second fitting structure comprises a fitting recess on an opposite end on the same longitudinal surface of each of the frames, the plurality of frames being sequentially stacked so that the fitting projection on the one of the adjacent frames and the fitting projection on the another of the adjacent frames are alternately arranged into the recess wherein each of said frames comprises a first through hole at said first end having a first electrically conductive pin extending at least partially through said first through hole and defining said fitting projection, and a second through hole having a second electrically conductive pin extending at least partially through said second through hole and defining said fitting recess, and wherein said plurality of accumulator cells are electrically connected in series using said first and said second electrically conductive pins.