Abstract: A heater in a housing with an opening. The heater reacts with oxygen to produce heat and upon consumption of the oxygen, the heating reaction stops and can be restarted at a later point in time upon the introduction of additional oxygen and is used in a package for heating pre-moistened substrates such as sanitary wipes, and the like.

Abstract: Improvements for packages for oxygen based portable heaters, including improvements relating to packaging forms, reactant control, thermal control, heat initiation, graphics on the package, and integrated packaging structures.

Abstract: An oxygen based heater and various electrolyte solution formulations for same wherein the boiling point and/or relative humidity of the electrolyte solution are used as a determining basis for using that electrolyte solution in the heater.

Abstract: A heater in a housing with an opening. The heater reacts with oxygen to produce heat and upon consumption of the oxygen, the heating reaction stops and can be restarted at a later point in time upon the introduction of additional oxygen and is used in a package for heating pre-moistened substrates such as sanitary wipes, and the like.

Abstract: A flameless portable heater comprising a reducing agent, a promoter and a binding agent formed into a flexible substrate having a desired shape. The reaction is oxygen-based; an alkaline electrolyte. A method of making an oxygen-based flameless portable heater apparatus.

Abstract: A battery cell having significantly improved capacity utilization at high discharge rates while maintaining much of the energy content and other feature advantages of typical cylindrical or prismatic alkaline cells, by implementing a novel cell construction that produces increased surface area between the anode and cathode. The cell comprises an inner electrode encapsulated by a separator and disposed within the interior space of the housing. The inner electrode comprises a substantially flat material in a folded configuration and formed such that an outer extent of the inner electrode is generally conforming to a contour defined by the interior surface of the cell housing. An outer electrode is disposed within the interior space of the housing such that it is in ionic communication with the inner electrode and in electrical communication with the first terminal of the cell housing.

Abstract: The invention includes a flexible pasted anode comprising a flexible current collector and a paste comprising zinc particles and at least one block copolymer binder, wherein said flexible current collector and said paste form a unit. The invention includes primary cell comprising the flexible pasted anode, a cathode, and electrolyte. The invention also includes an anode paste comprising zinc particles and at least one block copolymer, wherein said paste is suitable for use in an anode. The invention further includes a method of manufacturing zinc anode comprising combining zinc powder, block copolymer, and solvent to form a paste, depositing the paste onto a current collector, and drying the wet pasted anode, and a method of manufacturing a primary cell comprising: forming a flexible pasted zinc anode to form a convoluted pasted zinc anode, inserting said convoluted pasted zinc anode into a cell container, and filling said container with electrolyte.

Abstract: A battery cell, such as a cylindrical or prismatic alkaline cell, is disclosed having significantly improved capacity utilization at high discharge rates while maintaining much of the energy content and other feature advantages of typical cylindrical or prismatic alkaline cells, by implementing a novel cell construction that produces increased surface area between the anode and cathode. One particular characterization of the cell construction of the present invention comprises an electrochemical battery cell comprising a cell housing defining an interior space having an interior surface, a first terminal and a second terminal. The cell further comprises an inner electrode encapsulated by a separator and disposed within the interior space of the housing. The inner electrode comprises a substantially flat material in a folded configuration and formed such that an outer extent of the inner electrode is generally conforming to a contour defined by the interior surface of the cell housing.

Abstract: A battery powered device providing in combination (1) a cell pack that includes one or more isolation passageways (diffusion tubes) positioned to protect metal-air cells of the battery pack from the ambient air when no air mover is active to force air to the cells and the passageway or passageways remain unsealed, and (2) an electrical device configured to removably receive the cell pack in a manner which allows an air mover associated with the electrical device to communicate with at least one of the isolation passageways of the cell pack to provide air to air electrodes of the cells.

Abstract: An electronic device driven by a metal-air battery. The metal-air battery has a battery diffusion pathway and a battery terminal. The electronic device includes a device diffusion pathway in communication with the diffusion pathway of the metal-air battery and a device battery terminal in contact with the device diffusion pathway. The battery device terminal also is in contact with the battery terminal of the metal-air battery so as to communicate electrical power from the metal-air battery to the electronic device.

Abstract: A cylindrical metal-air cell has a cylindrical housing, an axially extending cylindrical air cathode adjacent an interior surface of the housing, and a plurality of elongate plenums defined between the oxygen electrode and the interior surface of the housing. Isolating passageway are positioned between the ambient environment and each of the plenums, and an air moving device is operable to force air through the isolating passageways and into at least one of the plenums. The air moving device may be a micromachined blower controlled by a circuit integrated into the housing of the blower.

Abstract: A cylindrical metal-air cell has a cylindrical housing, an axially extending cylindrical air cathode adjacent an interior surface of the housing, and a plurality of elongate plenums defined between the oxygen electrode and the interior surface of the housing. Isolating passageway are positioned between the ambient environment and each of the plenums, and an air moving device is operable to force air through the isolating passageways and into at least one of the plenums. The air moving device may be a micromachined blower controlled by a circuit integrated into the housing of the blower.

Abstract: A current collector for an electrode with two halves. The current collector has a first layer positioned on the first half of the electrode, a second layer positioned on the second half of said electrode, and a third layer positioned between the first and the second halves of the electrode.

Abstract: A rechargeable metal-air battery having a housing, an air flow path, and at least one metal-air cell positioned within the housing. An air movement device communicates with the housing. The metal-air cell generates oxygen and hydrogen during cell charging. The air movement device creates a pulsating air flow within the air flow path for directing a flow of the generated gases.

Abstract: A dual air electrode metal-air cell having a casing including an upper cathode mask wall, a lower cathode mask wall, and a plurality of side walls; a metal anode with at least upper and lower sides covered with separator materials; an upper air cathode positioned between the upper cathode mask wall and the separator materials on the upper side of the anode; a lower air cathode positioned between the lower cathode mask wall and the separator materials on the lower side of the anode; a gas vent positioned on one or more of the side walls of the casing; and a liquid electrolyte substantially trapped by the separator materials. The separator materials comprise one ore more layers of an absorbent fibrous web and one or more layers of a microporous membrane that, when wet, is gas-impermeable and liquid-permeable.

Abstract: A protective system for multi-part connections that prevents unintended disconnection, is inexpensive, and can be used regardless of the shape of the connectors which form the connection. The protective system allows interchanging of component connectors without compromising the protective function. The secured connection includes a first connector, a second connector shaped to engage the first connector and including a catch positioned to be accessible when the connectors are engaged, and a securing line shaped at a first end thereof to engage the first connector and at a second end thereof to be secured in the catch.

Abstract: A case for a rechargeable electrochemical cell comprises a vent disposed in the case interior, the vent including an oxygen/hydrogen recombination catalyst for catalyzing the recombination of the hydrogen produced by the cell during the recharge mode with oxygen in the case interior to form water in the case interior. The vent comprises a vent support extending inwardly from the cell case shell, a gas permeable, electrolyte impermeable vent cover membrane adjacent the interior surface of the vent support, and a foraminous catalyst support disposed in the case adjacent the interior surface of the vent cover membrane so that the vent cover membrane is sandwiched between the catalyst support and the vent support. Oxygen from the ambient air permeates the vent cover membrane and recombines with the hydrogen in the cell case interior. A rechargeable electrochemical cell comprising the cell case is encompassed and the cell is desirably a metal-air cell.

Abstract: A metal-air battery leakage detector is disclosed which uses a wicking material to absorb and propagate leaking electrolyte to a leak detection means so that the detection means is activated regardless of whether the leak is occurring in the vicinity of the detection means. In a first embodiment a substance that chemically reacts with electrolyte to change color is impregnated into the wicking material as the leak detection means. In the second embodiment electrodes are embedded in the wicking material and wired to an electrical circuit that is responsive to the presence of electrolyte as the leak detection means. In either case, a user has immediate knowledge of an electrolyte leak occurring inside a battery casing so that the battery can be removed from service before the leaking electrolyte can cause harm.

Abstract: Active metal electrodes for use in nonaqueous electrochemical cells are improved by etching with an alcohol.