Abstract: A secondary battery is provided for cycling between a charged and a discharged state, the secondary battery including a battery enclosure, an electrode assembly, carrier ions, a non-aqueous liquid electrolyte within the battery enclosure, and a set of electrode constraints. The set of electrode constraints includes a primary constraint system having first and second primary growth constraints and at least one primary connecting member, the first and second primary growth constraints separated from each other in the longitudinal direction, wherein the primary constraint array restrains growth of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction such that any increase in the Feret diameter of the electrode assembly in the longitudinal direction over 20 consecutive cycles of the secondary battery is less than 20%.

Abstract: The present invention is a stepstool for children with an automatic electronic message mechanism. The stepstool comprises a main housing including a horizontal step and a substantially vertical support having a bottom which rests on a compressive pod which in turn rests on a floor surface. Attached to the inside of the back side of the stepstool is a message mechanism whose switch is activated when weight such as that of a child is introduced to the horizontal step portion of the stepstool. The message mechanism comprises an on/off switch, power source, message chip, audio driver and a speaker which plays a predetermined message when the on/off switch is activated.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device that suspends decorative designs, logos or jewelry from zipper apertures. The device consists of a band that has ridges along its surface and a slide that is adjustable along the band. The slide has attachment means for selectively engaging the ridges of the band, thus locking the slide into place. The band is placed through a zipper aperture, until a stop at the end of the band comes to rest against the aperture. The resulting portion of the band being suspended from the zipper aperture may be passed through the slide, and the slide may then be arbitrarily locked into position by the attachment means. The slide contains a decorative design that can be either two or three dimensional. The suspended slide can be easily unlocked from the band and readjusted or removed without harming the band or the slide. Once removed, the decorative design-containing slide can be replaced with any other slide with other designs.