Abstract: Alkaline battery cells comprising an anode, a cathode, a separator between the anode and the cathode, and an electrolyte are provided with an n-type metal oxide additive that improves electrochemical performance. The n-type metal oxide additive is either a doped metal oxide comprising a metal oxide modified by incorporation of a dopant, or a reduced metal oxide.

Abstract: A battery pack is disclosed that includes a battery receiving frame. The frame is a single integral piece comprising two end cap portions and two spine portions, and is preferably molded from a flexible thermoplastic. One of the two spines has a free end, allowing that spine to be flexed so as to create an opening for insertion of electrochemical cells into the frame. The pack optionally includes the application of a label to portions of the frame and cells. The battery pack frame is molded from a thermoplastic resin material. Preferably, the material is a mixture of a polyolefin matrix comprising more than 30 weight percent of the thermoplastic material and an aromatic polymer having a repeating unit that comprises at least one aromatic functional group. In the preferred embodiment, the polyolefin is a polypropylene and the aromatic polymer is a poly(phenylene oxide).

Abstract: A product dispenser is provided that enables product to be released from an adhesive attachment and transition from the interior of the dispenser to the exterior of the dispenser using a single rotation motion. The dispenser comprises a product platform, product adhesively secured to a strip and a base. The product platform comprises an upper surface and a lower surface and an opening through the platform. The adhesive strip comprises two major surfaces, one of which is free of adhesive and one with adhesive located on at least a portion thereof. The base comprises an upper surface and a lower surface and an opening through the base. The adhesive strip is threaded through both the product platform opening and the base opening and one end of the strip is attached to the lower surface of the base. The product platform and the base are fitted together so as to be rotatable with respect to each other about a common axis, with the lower surface of the product platform facing the upper surface of the base.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided having an anode cup, a gasket, and a cathode can. The anode cup has a ratio of an upper diameter to a lower diameter greater than about 0.86 and a ratio of cup height at the upper diameter to cup height at the lower diameter of not greater than about 2.19. The external cup diameter exceeds an internal cup diameter to prevent nesting of anode cups during the assembly process. The cell has a ratio of the total height to the can height of greater than 1.35 and preferably a difference between the total height and can height of more than 0.04 inch.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a nonaqueous cell employing an anode, a cathode and an organic electrolyte wherein the cathode comprises an active cathode material, and the organic electrolyte contains a beta-aminoenone in a range of 0.1 to 5.0 volume percent based on the volume of the electrolyte solvent so as to aid in reducing the undesirably high initial open circuit voltage normally observed with the use of cathodes such as FeS2.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided having a non-cylindrical container including one or more side walls each having a curved surface that curves radially inward. The electrochemical cell further includes first and second electrodes and a separator disposed therebetween. A cover and seal assembly is assembled to the top open end of the container. The radially inwardly curved surface of the side walls opposes forces caused by internal pressure within the cell so as to reduce and/or prevent bulging of the side walls.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a can for containing electrochemical materials including positive and negative electrodes and an electrolyte, the can having an open end and a closed end; a pressure relief mechanism formed in the closed end of the can for releasing internal pressure from within the can when the internal pressure becomes excessive; a first outer cover positioned on the closed end of the can to be in electrical contact therewith and to extend over the pressure relief mechanism; a second outer cover positioned across the open end of the can; and an insulator disposed between the can and the second outer cover for electrically insulating the can from the second outer cover. According to another embodiment, the second cover is dielectrically isolated from a current collector.

Abstract: According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a self-contained portable energy storage device is disclosed that includes a housing having first and second external contact terminals, a high-energy storage capacitor disposed in the housing and coupled between first and second internal terminals, and a voltage converter disposed in the housing and coupled to the first and second internal terminals. The voltage converter is also coupled to the first and second external contact terminals to convert the voltage appearing at the first and second internal terminals to a substantially constant voltage that the voltage converter applies to the first and second external contact terminals.

Abstract: A product dispenser comprising a cover, a slidable push element, a base and a landing is provided. The cover and the base are rotatable with respect to each other about a common axis. The cover comprises a roof opening in which the push element slides in opposing directions, advancing product from the interior of the cover onto the landing. In a preferred embodiment, the dispenser houses miniature zinc air batteries, secured to the base using an adhesive layer. When a cell is advanced from the interior of the cover onto the landing, the cell is separated from the adhesive layer, allowing air to pass into the cell and the cell to be activated. The landing preferably comprises a magnet for releasably securing product. The dispenser is then used as an inserter for orienting and placing the product in position in a device. The product is not directly handled during its removal from the dispenser or during its insertion into a device.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a can for containing electrochemical materials including positive and negative electrodes and an electrolyte, the can having an open end and a closed end; a pressure relief mechanism formed in the closed end of the can for releasing internal pressure from within the can when the internal pressure becomes excessive; a first outer cover positioned on the closed end of the can to be in electrical contact therewith and to extend over the pressure relief mechanism; a second outer cover positioned across the open end of the can; and an insulator disposed between the can and the second outer cover for electrically insulating the can from the second outer cover. According to another embodiment, the second cover is dielectrically isolated from a current collector.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell has a can having a first end, a second end, a side wall extending between the first and second ends, and an end wall extending across the first end. Positive and negative electrodes and an electrolyte are disposed in the can. A pressure relief mechanism is formed in the end wall of the can for releasing internal pressure from within the container when the internal pressure becomes excessive. A cover is positioned on the end wall of the can to be in electrical contact therewith and extends over the pressure relief mechanism. The cover includes a protruding nubbin, a peripheral flange, and upstanding wall between the nubbin and flange. The cover is engaged with the end wall of the can at a location near the upstanding wall.

Abstract: A battery package for holding a battery dispenser and batteries including a backing and a battery holder. The backing includes a first board and a second board, with the second board having a first sheet pivotally connected to a second sheet. The first board is connected to the first sheet of the second board. The battery holder is connected and extends from the first board. The first sheet and the second sheet of the second board include instructions for using the battery dispenser and the batteries. The backing has a closed position for displaying the battery dispenser and the batteries and an open position wherein the first sheet of the second board and the first board are flipped upward about the second sheet of the second board to allow a user of the batteries to read the instructions.

Abstract: An improved button air cell is provided that contains zero mercury, is free of indium on the sealing surface of the anode cup and has an active material comprising zinc alloyed with lead. Also provided is a method of forming a button electrochemical cell free of mercury and having no indium on the inner surface of the anode cup.

Abstract: An alkaline electrochemical cell is disclosed having a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte. The positive electrode comprises electrolytic manganese dioxide having a pH-voltage of at least about 0.860 volt. The electrolytic manganese dioxide also preferably has less than about 250 ppm and more preferably less than about 150 ppm of potassium impurities by weight. Electrolytic manganese dioxide having these properties exhibits significant synergistic and unexpected improvements in high-rate service, which translates to improved high-rate service life of the electrochemical cell containing the improved electrolytic manganese dioxide in its positive electrode.

Abstract: An improved air cell, and the method of forming the air cell, is provided. The cell has a uniformly laminated hydrophobic membrane using a high laminating force. The air cell has increased performance in high humidity or low humidity conditions.

Abstract: A novel compound that is useful as a battery additive is represented by the formula Ti1−xMxO2−y where M is an element having an octagonal coordination structure, x is from about 0.01 to about 0.5, and y is from about 0.05 to about 0.25. The novel compounds are highly conductive as compared with conventional titanium dioxide additives, and have an expanded rutile crystal structure. The novel compounds are prepared by mixing titanium dioxide with an oxide of M, heating the mixture to form a doped titanium oxide, and reducing the doped titanium oxide.

Abstract: A battery having an array of rectangular cells with cylindrical ends housed in a rectangular battery container and a battery having a single rectangular electrochemical cell with a cylindrical end. Each cell has a rectangular section substantially housing the active cell materials and a cylindrical end with a round cover/seal assembly assembled thereto.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell is provided that has a negative terminal cover with a hole therein or a raised portion with notches therein to provide adequate air ingress during the coating of a non-conductive material on the raised portion of the negative terminal. The addition of the hole or notches in the negative terminal cover prevents a vacuum from forming and thereby prevents migration of the non-conductive material toward the center of the negative terminal cover. The process of making an electrochemical cell with a negative terminal cover that has a hole therein or has a raised portion with notches therein is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrochemical cell using a gasket with projections on both surfaces of an upstanding wall. When used as a seal member between two parts of the housing of an electrochemical cell, a plurality of high compressive stress areas is formed in the gasket wall. When projections on opposite sides of the gasket are not horizontally aligned, an effective seal can be achieved with a thinner-wall gasket, providing more internal cell volume for active materials. Also disclosed is a process for assembling the cell.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a can for containing electrochemical materials including positive and negative electrodes and an electrolyte, the can having an open end and a closed end; a pressure relief mechanism formed in the closed end of the can for releasing internal pressure from within the can when the internal pressure becomes excessive; a first outer cover positioned on the closed end of the can to be in electrical contact therewith and to extend over the pressure relief mechanism; a second outer cover positioned across the open end of the can; and an insulator disposed between the can and the second outer cover for electrically insulating the can from the second outer cover. According to another embodiment, the second cover is dielectrically isolated from a current collector. The battery comprises a collector assembly and can defining a sealed internal volume within the can and available for containing electrochemically active materials.