Abstract: A shipping and display container having packaged product arranged for shipping and display to consumers that minimizes shipping space and manual handling of the individual packages contained therein. The container has side walls and top and bottom walls defining a compartment and a removable section that is affixed to the container during shipment of the packaged product and is removable to provide an opening for displaying product for sale to consumers. The container further includes a plurality of irregular shaped packaged articles each having a display card and a housing for housing one or more products, wherein the housing has a thickness substantially greater than the thickness of the display card. The arrangement includes an upper packaged article offset and supported on a lower packaged article to provide efficient use of container space.

Abstract: A battery comprising a steel can having a bottom end, an open top end, and side walls extending between the top and bottom ends. Positive and negative electrodes are disposed in the can. An outer cover is disposed over the open end of the can. The outer cover has an outer flange disposed on the outside of the can walls and an inner flange disposed on the inside of the can wall. A seal is disposed between the can and the outer cover so that the seal is disposed against the inner and outer flanges of the outer cover. The outer cover is preferably crimped against the can wall to compress the seal between the inner and outer flanges and the container, thereby minimizing axial loading on the can and allowing for use of a thin gauge can.

Abstract: A product display package that houses generally cylindrical products, such as batteries, and prevents rotation of the products. The product display package comprises a container having a housing defining a compartment adapted to house products. The container includes a plurality of parallel pockets having a length and width and each configured to receive a product. Inward protrusions are formed in the first and second ends to hold the products in place and prevent rotation of the products. Additional protrusions are formed in the package to contact side walls of the product to further prevent rotation.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell and method of assembling electrochemical cell having a container, an anode, a cathode, and a separator. The anode includes rounded zinc flakes coated on one surface with an absorbent gelling agent and disposed in the container. An electrolyte solution is added to the container so that at least some of the electrolyte is absorbed by the absorbent gelling agent. In addition, the zinc flakes, which may be disk-shaped, are oriented substantially perpendicular to side walls of the separator.

Abstract: A gasket for an electrochemical cell is formed of a styrenic polymer blend including a styrenic polymer and an impact modifying agent which increases the toughness of the styrenic polymer. The styrenic polymer based gasket has several advantages over conventional nylon gaskets, including better processability, and improved chemical resistance to alkaline medium.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell construction having a large anode-to-cathode interfacial surface area to realize improved high rate service performance in an easy-to-manufacture construction. A first electrode, such as the cathode, is formed having a conductive current collector integrally embedded therein. Separator material is disposed on both the inner and outer cylindrical walls of the first electrode. An outer electrochemically active material covers the outer separator material outside of the first electrode and an outer insulation is layered on top of the outer electrochemically active material to form a cathode bobbin. The cathode bobbin is disposed into a container having a closed bottom end and an open top end. A second electrode, such as an anode, is disposed in the inner cylindrical volume formed in the first electrode and a conductive path is provided between the outer electrochemically active material and the second electrode.

Abstract: A shipping and display container having packaged product arranged for shipping and display to consumers that minimizes shipping space and manual handling of the individual packages contained therein. The container has side walls and top and bottom walls defining a compartment and a removable section that is affixed to the container during shipment of the packaged product and is removed to provide an opening for displaying product for sale to consumers. The container further includes a plurality of irregular shaped packaged articles each having a display card and a housing for housing one or more products, wherein the housing has a thickness substantially greater than the thickness of the display card. The arrangement includes an upper packaged article offset and supported on a lower packaged article to provide efficient use of container space. The packages may also include a retainer for retaining the upper packaged articles supported on the lower packaged article.

Abstract: A current collector and seal assembly for use in an electrochemical cell is provided. An electrochemical cell comprises a container generally having a closed bottom end, an open top end, and side walls extending between the top and bottom ends. Electrochemically active materials are disposed in the container, and generally include a positive electrode and a negative electrode. A current collector and seal assembly is provided to close the open end of the container and includes a resilient and electrically non-conductive seal body having an upstanding wall defining an opening therethrough. A current collector is inserted through the opening and into one of the electrochemically active components. A polymeric compression bushing compresses the upstanding wall so that the collector and compression bushing cooperate to exert radial compressive stress and tangential compressive stress on the upstanding wall after insertion of the current collector through the opening.

Abstract: A display package for retaining product includes a reclosable container having a housing defining a compartment adapted to house product therein and a lid for engaging the housing to close the compartment. The package also includes a display card having a planar main body and being integrally formed to engage and support the container. A tear section is formed in the display card and is adapted to allow for removal of the container from the display card. Once removed from the display card, the reclosable container may be used without the display card to house the product.

Abstract: A seal for a galvanic cell is formed of a styrenic polymer blend including a styrenic polymer and an impact modifying agent which increases the toughness of the styrenic polymer. The styrenic polymer based seal has several advantageous over conventional galvanic cell seals, including better processability, and improved chemical resistance to alkaline medium.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell having a can for containing electrochemically active materials including positive and negative electrodes and electrolyte. The can has a bottom end and an open top end, and positive and negative electrodes disposed in the can. An inner metal cover is disposed in the open end of the can and has a first peripheral flange. An outer metal cover is disposed over the inner cover in the open end of the container and has a second peripheral flange juxtaposed to the first peripheral flange. A seal is disposed between the can and both the first and second peripheral flanges. The low profile seal assembly advantageously provides for reduced volume consumption thereby allowing for a greater amount of electrochemically active materials in the can.

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; an integral seal/inner cover assembly positioned in the open end of the can, the integral seal/inner cover assembly having a rigid inner cover and a seal preformed directly onto at least an inner-facing surface of the rigid inner cover; a collector extending through a central hole provided in the integral seal/inner cover assembly and into the can so as to contact one of the electrodes; and an outer cover positioned across the open end of the can proximate an outer-facing surface of the rigid inner cover, the outer cover being positioned so as to be in electrical contact with the collector. The rigid inner cover preferably includes at least one aperture extending from the inner-facing surface to the outer-facing surface of the inner cover.

Abstract: A method for producing a gelled anode for alkaline galvanic cells, specifically alkaline zinc-manganese dioxide cells, in which cross-linked electrolyte-absorbed polymer particles are distributed throughout the anode and the gelled anode so made.

Abstract: A low profile seal assembly for sealing the open end of a container of an electrochemical cell to provide controlled pressure venting, while effectively preventing resealing of the open end of the cell. An electrochemical cell has a container with a closed bottom and an open top end, positive and negative electrodes disposed in the container, a separator disposed between the positive and negative electrodes, and an electrolyte disposed in the container. The cell further includes a seal member disposed in the open top end of the container for closing the open top end of the container. The seal member has a stress concentrator formed in the seal member for providing pressure relief to vent high pressure gases. A cover is disposed in the open end of the container and substantially covers the seal member, and the cover has at least one opening formed therein.

Abstract: An electrochemical cell having a low profile seal assembly for sealing the open end of the cell container. The seal assembly includes a support member having a surface area that covers substantially the open end of the cell container and has a plurality of openings therein. A seal member is disposed against the support member to provide a sealed closure to the open end of the cell container. The seal member has a membrane with a groove formed in a surface thereof which acts as a stress concentrator. The groove is located against the support member such that said groove is located adjacent to the openings formed in the support member and is further supported by the support member at other locations.