Patents by Inventor Brien Merrill
Brien Merrill has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10804515Abstract: Batteries having vents are disclosed. An example battery includes a housing, including: a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal includes a cover. The cover includes at least one line of weakness therein. The line of weakness is structured to form an opening when a threshold pressure is satisfied within the housing to enable gas to vent from the housing through the opening. A filter is positioned within the housing and adjacent the cover. The filter has an aperture structured to enable the gas to vent from the housing and to deter solid material housed within the housing from exiting the opening when the threshold pressure is satisfied.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2018Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Mark Ashbolt, Alexander Shelekhin, Brien Merrill, Oleg Podoprigora, Robert S. Ferrin
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Publication number: 20200052264Abstract: Batteries having vents are disclosed. An example battery includes a housing, including: a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal includes a cover. The cover includes at least one line of weakness therein. The line of weakness is structured to form an opening when a threshold pressure is satisfied within the housing to enable gas to vent from the housing through the opening. A filter is positioned within the housing and adjacent the cover. The filter has an aperture structured to enable the gas to vent from the housing and to deter solid material housed within the housing from exiting the opening when the threshold pressure is satisfied.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2018Publication date: February 13, 2020Inventors: Mark Ashbolt, Alexander Shelekhin, Brien Merrill, Oleg Podoprigora, Robert S. Ferrin
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Publication number: 20130320924Abstract: A battery-charging device and a method of charging batteries. The device comprises a housing, at least one hopper configured to receive a plurality of batteries, and at least one indexing barrel adjacent to the hopper and having a charging slot configured to receive and support one battery. The indexing barrel is structured to move the battery supported by the charging slot to and from a charging station comprising a set of charging terminals configured to contact terminals of the battery for charging the battery. The device further comprises at least one dispensing chute and at least one rejection chute. The chutes are configured to receive batteries that have been charged or rejected by the device, wherein each of the chutes is structured to contain several batteries.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2013Publication date: December 5, 2013Inventors: Brien MERRILL, David Thomas BIEDERMANN, Steven Jeffrey SPECHT
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Patent number: 7491464Abstract: An alkaline cell having a flat housing, preferably of cuboid shape. The housing may be laser welded closed with a metal cover inserted as a part of an end cap assembly. A portion of an insulating seal may be held compressed between a sleeve extending from the metal cover and an anode current collector nail within the end cap assembly. The housing may include a vent mechanism, preferably a grooved vent, which can activate, when gas pressure within the cell reaches a threshold level typically between about 250 and 800 psig (1724×103 and 5515×103 pascal gage). The cell can have a supplemental laser welded vent which may activate at higher pressure levels.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2004Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: The Gillette CompanyInventors: Brien Merrill, Derek Bobowick, Robert S. Ferrin, David Anglin, Mark Ashbolt, Scott Manning, Anthony Malgioglio, Alexander Shelekhin, Steven J. Specht, Matthew Sylvestre, Philip Trainer, Robert A. Yoppolo
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Patent number: 7435395Abstract: An alkaline cell having a flat casing, preferably of cuboid shape. The cell can have an anode comprising zinc and a cathode comprising nickel oxyhydroxide. The casing can have a relatively small overall thickness, typically between about 5 and 10 mm, but may be larger. Cell contents can be supplied through an open end in the casing and an end cap assembly inserted therein to seal the cell. The end cap assembly includes a vent mechanism, preferably a grooved vent, which can activate, when gas pressure within the cell reaches a threshold level typically between about 250 and 800 psig (1724×103 and 5515×103 pascal gage). The cell can have a supplemental vent mechanism such as a laser welded region on the surface of the casing which may activate at higher pressure levels.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2004Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: The Gillette CompanyInventors: Richard E. Durkot, Paul A. Christian, Dean MacNeil, James R. Costanzo, David Anglin, Mark Ashbolt, Derek Bobowick, Robert S. Ferrin, Anthony Malgioglio, Brien Merrill, Alexander Shelekhin, Steven J. Specht, Matthew Sylvestre, Philip Trainer, Robert A. Yoppolo
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Publication number: 20080148554Abstract: A method of making a battery includes forming a pressure relief vent, for example, a groove, in the housing of the battery after the anode and cathode are in the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2006Publication date: June 26, 2008Inventors: Brien Merrill, Derek R. Bobowick, Robert S. Ferrin
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Patent number: 7294429Abstract: An alkaline cell having a flat housing, preferably of cuboid shape. The cell can have an anode comprising zinc and a cathode comprising MnO2. The housing can have a relatively small overall thickness, typically between about 5 and 10 mm. Cell contents can be supplied through an open end in the housing and an end cap assembly inserted therein to seal the cell. There can be a gap between separator and cathode for insertion of additional electrolyte. The end cap assembly includes a vent mechanism, preferably a grooved vent, which can activate, when gas pressure within the cell reaches a threshold level typically between about 250 and 800 psig (1724×103 and 5515×103 pascal gage). The cell can have a supplemental vent mechanism such as a laser welded region on the surface of the housing which may activate at higher pressure levels.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2003Date of Patent: November 13, 2007Assignee: The Gillette CompanyInventors: David Anglin, Mark Ashbolt, Derek Bobowick, Robert S. Ferrin, Anthony Malgioglio, Brien Merrill, Alexander Shelekhin, Steven J. Specht, Matthew Sylvestre, Philip Trainer, Robert A. Yoppolo
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Patent number: 7094494Abstract: An alkaline cell having a flat housing, preferably of cuboid shape. The cell can have an anode comprising zinc and a cathode comprising MnO2. The housing can have a relatively small overall thickness, typically between about 5 and 10 mm. Cell contents can be supplied through an open end in the housing and an end cap assembly inserted therein to seal the cell. The end cap assembly includes a vent mechanism which can activate, when gas pressure within the cell reaches a threshold level typically between about 100 and 300 psig (6.89×105 and 20.69×105 pascal gage). The cell can have primary and supplemental vent mechanisms such as welded or thinned regions on the surface of the housing which may activate at different pressure levels. The cathode can be formed of a plurality of stacked slabs having aligned hollow centers with an elongated opening for anode material to be inserted therein.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2003Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: The Gillette CompanyInventors: David Anglin, Mark Ashbolt, Derek Bobowick, Anthony Malgioglio, Brien Merrill, Alexander Shelekhin, Steven J. Specht, Matthew Sylvestre, Philip Trainer, Robert A. Yoppolo
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Publication number: 20040265683Abstract: An alkaline cell having a flat housing, preferably of cuboid shape. The housing may be laser welded closed with a metal cover inserted as a part of an end cap assembly. A portion of an insulating seal may be held compressed between a sleeve extending from the metal cover and an anode current collector nail within the end cap assembly. The housing may include a vent mechanism, preferably a grooved vent, which can activate, when gas pressure within the cell reaches a threshold level typically between about 250 and 800 psig (1724×103 and 5515×103 pascal gage). The cell can have a supplemental laser welded vent which may activate at higher pressure levels.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2004Publication date: December 30, 2004Inventors: Brien Merrill, Derek Bobowick, Robert S. Ferrin, David Anglin, Mark Ashbolt, Scott Manning, Anthony Malgioglio, Alexander Shelekhin, Steven J. Specht, Matthew Sylvestre, Philip Trainer, Robert A. Yoppolo
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Publication number: 20040237293Abstract: An alkaline cell having a flat casing, preferably of cuboid shape. The cell can have an anode comprising zinc and a cathode comprising nickel oxyhydroxide. The casing can have a relatively small overall thickness, typically between about 5 and 10 mm, but may be larger. Cell contents can be supplied through an open end in the casing and an end cap assembly inserted therein to seal the cell. The end cap assembly includes a vent mechanism, preferably a grooved vent, which can activate, when gas pressure within the cell reaches a threshold level typically between about 250 and 800 psig (1724×103 and 5515×103 pascal gage). The cell can have a supplemental vent mechanism such as a laser welded region on the surface of the casing which may activate at higher pressure levels.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Inventors: Richard E. Durkot, Paul A. Christian, Dean MacNeil, James R. Costanzo, David Anglin, Mark Ashbolt, Derek Bobowick, Robert S. Ferrin, Anthony Malgioglio, Brien Merrill, Alexander Shelekhin, Steven J. Specht, Matthew Sylvestre, Philip Trainer, Robert A. Yoppolo
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Publication number: 20040131924Abstract: An alkaline cell having a flat housing, preferably of cuboid shape. The cell can have an anode comprising zinc and a cathode comprising MnO2. The housing can have a relatively small overall thickness, typically between about 5 and 10 mm. Cell contents can be supplied through an open end in the housing and an end cap assembly inserted therein to seal the cell. There can be a gap between separator and cathode for insertion of additional electrolyte. The end cap assembly includes a vent mechanism, preferably a grooved vent, which can activate, when gas pressure within the cell reaches a threshold level typically between about 250 and 800 psig (1724×103 and 5515×103 pascal gage). The cell can have a supplemental vent mechanism such as a laser welded region on the surface of the housing which may activate at higher pressure levels.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2003Publication date: July 8, 2004Inventors: David Anglin, Mark Ashbolt, Derek Bobowick, Robert S. Ferrin, Anthony Malgioglio, Brien Merrill, Alexander Shelekhin, Steven J. Specht, Matthew Sylvestre, Philip Trainer, Robert A. Yoppolo
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Publication number: 20040131923Abstract: An alkaline cell having a flat housing, preferably of cuboid shape. The cell can have an anode comprising zinc and a cathode comprising MnO2. The housing can have a relatively small overall thickness, typically between about 5 and 10 mm. Cell contents can be supplied through an open end in the housing and an end cap assembly inserted therein to seal the cell. The end cap assembly includes a vent mechanism which can activate, when gas pressure within the cell reaches a threshold level typically between about 100 and 300 psig (6.89×105 and 20.69×105 pascal gage). The cell can have primary and supplemental vent mechanisms such as welded or thinned regions on the surface of the housing which may activate at different pressure levels. The cathode can be formed of a plurality of stacked slabs having aligned hollow centers with an elongated opening for anode material to be inserted therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2003Publication date: July 8, 2004Inventors: David Anglin, Mark Ashbolt, Derek Bobowick, Anthony Malgioglio, Brien Merrill, Alexander Shelekhin, Steven J. Specht, Matthew Sylvestre, Philip Trainer, Robert A. Yoppolo
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Patent number: D907572Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2017Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Brien Merrill, Francisco Jose Restrepo
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Patent number: D970429Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2020Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Brien Merrill, Francisco Jose Restrepo
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Patent number: D971131Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2020Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.Inventors: Brien Merrill, Francisco Jose Restrepo