Patent ID: 8377584

Claim:
A secondary battery module comprising: a cell row including a plurality of secondary cells arranged in one direction with a gap therebetween, each of the secondary cells having a terminal surface, and positive and negative electrode terminals protruding from the terminal surface, adjacent ones of the secondary cells being arranged such that the positive electrode terminal of one of the adjacent secondary cells and the negative electrode terminal of the other of the adjacent secondary cells are located on an identical side of the cell row; a cover member covering a side of the cell row corresponding to terminal surfaces of the secondary cells, the cover member having a plurality of inner ribs each interposed between the adjacent secondary cells and determining the gap between the adjacent secondary cells, and an outer rib cooperating with corresponding ones of the inner ribs to hold two of the secondary cells located at opposite ends of the cell row; a plurality of busbars each electrically connecting the positive electrode terminal of one of the adjacent secondary cells and the negative electrode terminal of the other of the adjacent secondary cells to each other; and a fastening device fastening the cover member and the secondary cells together by means of the busbars, wherein the fastening device includes: a plurality of penetration holes formed through the cover member and allowing the positive and negative electrode terminals of the secondary cells to pass therethrough; two connection holes formed through each of the busbars and allowing corresponding ones of the positive and negative electrode terminals to pass therethrough, the two connection holes of each of the busbars permitting the corresponding positive and negative electrode terminals to be electrically connected to the busbar; and joining means joining each of the busbars to the corresponding positive and negative electrode terminals passed through the penetration holes and the connection holes.