US5355089A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Moisture barrier for battery with electrochemical tester
Assignee: Duracell Inc USA
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Filing: 1992-07-22
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Granted: 1994-10-11
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Expires: 2012-07-22
Abstract
Abstract The combination of a main electrochemical cell (or battery cell) and a battery tester connected to the cell is disclosed. The battery tester is moisture sensitive, typically of the electrochemical type having a film-like construction comprising an anode layer, a cathode layer and electrolyte layer therebetween. The tester may be applied against the cell's outer surface. A moisture vapor barrier film is applied over the tester and adhesively secured to the cell's surface. The moisture barrier film is flexible, optically clear or at least translucent, and has a very low moisture vapor transmission rate. The moisture vapor barrier is preferably composed of mica film, but may desirably also be a film of polyparaxylylene or glass coated polymer. A hydrophobic hot melt, solvent-based or reactive thermosetting adhesive may be employed to bond the moisture vapor barrier film to the cell's surface. The moisture barrier film prevents ambient moisture from passing to the tester and interfering with its operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack Treger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:57
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D7/00; G01D7/005; H; H01; H01M; H01M10/00; H01M10/42; H01M10/48; H01M6/00; H01M6/50; H01M6/5044; H01M16/00; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
The combination of an electrochemical cell and a cell condition indicator, said indicator having at least one moisture sensitive component; wherein said electrochemical cell comprises a casing, a negative terminal, and a positive terminal; wherein said condition indicator comprises an indicator cell comprises an anode layer, a cathode layer, and an electrolyte in operative association with each other; and wherein said condition indicator is located proximally adjacent the outside surface of said casing; the combination further comprising a moisture barrier covering said indicator cell; and wherein at least one of the anode and cathode of said indicator cell provides a visually discernible indication of the condition of said electrochemical cell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
The combination of an electrochemical cell and a cell condition indicator, said indicator having at least one moisture sensitive component; wherein said electrochemical cell comprises a casing, a negative terminal, and a positive terminal; wherein said condition indicator comprises an indicator cell comprises an anode layer, a cathode layer, and an electrolyte in operative association with each other; and wherein said condition indicator is located proximally adjacent the outside surface of said casing; the combination further comprising a moisture barrier covering said indicator cell; and wherein at least one of the anode and cathode of said indicator cell provides a visually discernible indication of the condition of said electrochemical cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the moisture barrier has a moisture vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.02 gm H 2 O×mm/(m 2 ×24 hrs).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said moisture barrier comprises a film and an adhesive, wherein said adhesive is applied between at least a peripheral portion of said film and the outside surface of the electrochemical cell thereby encasing said indicator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said indicator is visible through said moisture barrier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
113 words
The combination of an electrochemical cell and a cell condition indicator, said indicator having at least one moisture sensitive component; wherein said electrochemical cell comprises a casing, a negative terminal, and a positive terminal; wherein said condition indicator comprises an indicator cell including a film-laminate comprising an anode layer, a cathode layer and an electrolyte layer in operative association with each other; and wherein said condition indicator is located proximally adjacent the outside surface of said casing; the combination further comprising a moisture barrier protecting said indicator cell; and wherein at least one of the anode and cathode of said indicator cell provides a visual indication of the condition of said electrochemical cell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
113 words
The combination of an electrochemical cell and a cell condition indicator, said indicator having at least one moisture sensitive component; wherein said electrochemical cell comprises a casing, a negative terminal, and a positive terminal; wherein said condition indicator comprises an indicator cell including a film-laminate comprising an anode layer, a cathode layer and an electrolyte layer in operative association with each other; and wherein said condition indicator is located proximally adjacent the outside surface of said casing; the combination further comprising a moisture barrier protecting said indicator cell; and wherein at least one of the anode and cathode of said indicator cell provides a visual indication of the condition of said electrochemical cell.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
156 words
The combination of an electrochemical cell and a cell condition indicator, said indicator having at least one moisture sensitive component; wherein said electrochemical cell comprises a casing, a negative terminal, and a positive terminal; wherein said condition indicator comprises an indicator cell comprising an anode layer, a cathode layer, and an electrolyte layer in operative association with each other; and wherein said condition indicator is located proximally adjacent the outside surface of said casing; and wherein said cell condition indicator has a thickness of less than about 10 mils (0.25 mm) and is electrically connected in parallel to said electrochemical cell, the combination further comprising a moisture barrier covering said indicator cell, and wherein at least one of the electrodes of said indicator cell becomes altered as said electrochemical cell discharges and whereby observation of the resulting altered electrode through said moisture barrier provides a visual indication of the state of charge of the electrochemical cell.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
156 words
The combination of an electrochemical cell and a cell condition indicator, said indicator having at least one moisture sensitive component; wherein said electrochemical cell comprises a casing, a negative terminal, and a positive terminal; wherein said condition indicator comprises an indicator cell comprising an anode layer, a cathode layer, and an electrolyte layer in operative association with each other; and wherein said condition indicator is located proximally adjacent the outside surface of said casing; and wherein said cell condition indicator has a thickness of less than about 10 mils (0.25 mm) and is electrically connected in parallel to said electrochemical cell, the combination further comprising a moisture barrier covering said indicator cell, and wherein at least one of the electrodes of said indicator cell becomes altered as said electrochemical cell discharges and whereby observation of the resulting altered electrode through said moisture barrier provides a visual indication of the state of charge of the electrochemical cell.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the condition indicator has a thickness of less than about 10 mils (0.25 mm).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the moisture barrier has a degree of flexibility such that it does not crack if bent to an angle up to about 90 degrees.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the moisture barrier has a moisture vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.0004 gm H20×mm/(m2×24 hrs).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the moisture barrier further has a thickness between about 0.1 and 5 mils (0.0025 and 0.13 mm).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the moisture barrier comprises a film selected from the group consisting of mica, polyparaxylylene, and glass coated polymeric films.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the moisture barrier comprises mica.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the moisture barrier comprises mica selected from the group consisting of muscovite, phlogopite, biotite, lepidolite, roscoelite, fuchsite, fluorophlogopite, paragonite, anandite, celadonite, clintonite, ephesite, glauconite, hendricksite, illite, margarite, polylithionite, taeniolite, and zinnwaldite.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the moisture barrier comprises glass coated polymeric film.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 1 further comprising a heat shrinkable polymeric film applied over the moisture barrier and around at least a substantial portion of the electrochemical cell outer surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein said indicator anode comprises zinc and said indicator cathode comprises manganese dioxide.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
159 words
The combination of an electrochemical cell and a cell condition indicator in contact with said electrochemical cell; said electrochemical cell comprising an outer surface, a negative terminal and a positive terminal and said indicator comprising a film-laminate including an anode layer, a cathode layer and electrolyte in operative association with each other; and wherein said anode layer is electrically connected to said negative terminal and said cathode layer is electrically connected to said positive terminal; the combination further comprising a moisture barrier film covering the indicator, a hydrophobic adhesive layer between at least a portion of the moisture barrier film and electrochemical cell outer surface to bond the moisture barrier film to said electrochemical cell wherein the moisture barrier film has a moisture vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.02 gm H 2 O×mm/(m 2 ×24 hrs) and said adhesive layer has a moisture vapor transmission rate less than about 2 gm H 2 O×mm/(m 2 ×24 hrs).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
159 words
The combination of an electrochemical cell and a cell condition indicator in contact with said electrochemical cell; said electrochemical cell comprising an outer surface, a negative terminal and a positive terminal and said indicator comprising a film-laminate including an anode layer, a cathode layer and electrolyte in operative association with each other; and wherein said anode layer is electrically connected to said negative terminal and said cathode layer is electrically connected to said positive terminal; the combination further comprising a moisture barrier film covering the indicator, a hydrophobic adhesive layer between at least a portion of the moisture barrier film and electrochemical cell outer surface to bond the moisture barrier film to said electrochemical cell wherein the moisture barrier film has a moisture vapor transmission rate of less than about 0.02 gm H 2 O×mm/(m 2 ×24 hrs) and said adhesive layer has a moisture vapor transmission rate less than about 2 gm H 2 O×mm/(m 2 ×24 hrs).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 17 wherein the moisture barrier film is flexible and has a degree of clarity which is at least translucent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination of claim 17 wherein the moisture vapor barrier film has a thickness of less than about 5 mil (0.13 mm) and the adhesive layer is coated along the border of a surface of said moisture barrier film.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination of claim 17 wherein the adhesive layer comprises a hot melt polyolefinic adhesive.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination of claim 20 wherein the hot melt adhesive is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene and polyhexene and copolymers thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The combination of claim 20 wherein the hot melt polyolefin adhesive is applied in the form of a dry film which is subsequently heated to tackify the adhesive.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination of claim 17 wherein the adhesive layer comprises a rubber based adhesive selected from the group consisting of butyl, polychloroprene, nitrile, polyisoprene, polyisobutylene, polysulfide, styrene-butadiene, styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymer, styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer and acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene block copolymer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 17 wherein the moisture barrier film is selected from the group consisting of mica, polyparaxylylene and glass coated polyolefin.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
12 words
The combination of claim 17 wherein the moisture barrier film comprises mica.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-10-10 | 1998-04-11 | 1998-10-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-10 | 2002-04-11 | 2002-10-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-10 | 2006-04-11 | 2006-10-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |