US5079106A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air assisted alkaline cells
Assignee: Edgewell Personal Care Brands LLC
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Filing: 1990-02-09
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Granted: 1992-01-07
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Expires: 2010-02-09
Abstract
Abstract An air assisted alkaline cell having a cathode made from a mixture of porous manganese dioxide and substantially less porous manganese dioxide. The substantially solid MnO 2 is the major component of the cathode with the porous MnO 2 being present in an amount effective to enable recharging of the cathode of the air assisted alkaline cell in the presence of air. The composition of the cathode is disclosed as well as the method of making the cathode. An improved air assisted alkaline cell is also disclosed, as well as the method for making the improved air assisted cell.
Inventors
- 👤 Lewis F. Urry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 01:37
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M4/00; H01M4/02; H01M4/36; H01M4/38; H01M4/40; H01M12/00; H01M12/04; H01M12/06; H01M4/64; H01M4/70; H01M4/86; H01M4/90; H01M4/9016; H01M50/00; H01M50/10; H01M50/147; H01M50/148; H01M50/1535; H01M50/1537; H01M50/154; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
A cathode for an air assisted alkaline cell comprising: a mixture of a porous MnO 2 and a substantially solid MnO 2 having a packing density gradient when shaped into a cathode with the lowest packing density predominating at the portion of said cathode intended to be contacted by air during the operation of the cell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
56 words
A cathode for an air assisted alkaline cell comprising: a mixture of a porous MnO 2 and a substantially solid MnO 2 having a packing density gradient when shaped into a cathode with the lowest packing density predominating at the portion of said cathode intended to be contacted by air during the operation of the cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A cathode for use in an air assisted alkaline cell comprising: a mixture of a porous MnO 2 and a substantially solid MnO 2 wherein said mixture is predominantly solid MnO 2 in order to provide a cell with a high ampere hour output in the absence of air.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A cathode for use in an air assisted alkaline cell comprising: a mixture of a porous MnO 2 and a substantially solid MnO 2 wherein said mixture is predominantly solid MnO 2 in order to provide a cell with a high ampere hour output in the absence of air.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A cathode for use in an air assisted alkaline cell as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said mixture of a porous MnO 2 and a substantially solid MnO 2 is in an approximate ratio by weight of 1:5 of porous MnO 2 to substantially solid MnO 2 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A cathode for use in an air assisted alkaline cell as set forth in claim 2, wherein: said porous MnO 2 is chemically prepared MnO 2 and said substantially solid MnO 2 is electrolytically prepared MnO 2 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
A cathode for an air assisted alkaline cell comprising a mixture of porous MnO 2 and substantially solid MnO 2 with said porous MnO 2 being present in an effective amount to provide air paths into the cathode and thereby recharge the cell in the presence of air.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A cathode for an air assisted alkaline cell comprising a mixture of porous MnO 2 and substantially solid MnO 2 with said porous MnO 2 being present in an effective amount to provide air paths into the cathode and thereby recharge the cell in the presence of air.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
77 words
A cathode for an air assisted alkaline cell comprising a mixture of porous MnO 2 and substantially solid MnO 2 with the porous MnO 2 being present in an amount effective to enable recharging of a cathode prepared from said mixture when used in an air assisted alkaline cell in the presence of air and with the substantially solid MnO 2 being present in an amount to produce an acceptable alkaline cell in the absence of air.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
A cathode for an air assisted alkaline cell comprising a mixture of porous MnO 2 and substantially solid MnO 2 with the porous MnO 2 being present in an amount effective to enable recharging of a cathode prepared from said mixture when used in an air assisted alkaline cell in the presence of air and with the substantially solid MnO 2 being present in an amount to produce an acceptable alkaline cell in the absence of air.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A cathode for use in an air assisted alkaline cell as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said mixture of a porous MnO 2 and a substantially solid MnO 2 is in an approximate ratio by weight of 1:5 porous MnO 2 to substantially solid MnO 2 .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A cathode for use in an air assisted alkaline cell as set forth in claim 6 wherein: said mixture of a porous MnO 2 and a substantially solid MnO 2 is predominantly substantially solid MnO 2 .
Claim 13
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for preparing a cathode for use in an air assisted alkaline cell comprising the following steps mixing a composition comprising porous MnO 2 and substantially solid MnO 2 with the porous MnO 2 being present in an amount effective to recharge said cathode in the presence of air; forcing said composition into a form; subjecting said composition to pressure while in said form to shape a cathode having a packing gradient with the lowest volume percent of solids being at one end of said cathode and the highest at the other end of said cathode.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
97 words
A method for preparing a cathode for use in an air assisted alkaline cell comprising the following steps mixing a composition comprising porous MnO 2 and substantially solid MnO 2 with the porous MnO 2 being present in an amount effective to recharge said cathode in the presence of air; forcing said composition into a form; subjecting said composition to pressure while in said form to shape a cathode having a packing gradient with the lowest volume percent of solids being at one end of said cathode and the highest at the other end of said cathode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method for preparing a cathode as set forth in claim 9, wherein an impact extrusion machine is used to subject said cathode to pressure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
159 words
An air assisted alkaline cell comprising: a conductive container for supporting the components of said cell and for forming an external terminal for said cell; a cathode electrode in contact with the inner wall of said container, said cathode comprising a mixture of porous MnO 2 and substantially solid MnO 2 with said porous MnO 2 being present in an effective amount to recharge the cell in the presence of air; an anode electrode, said anode electrode comprising metallic zinc, a binder and an electrolyte; a separator for electrically isolating said cathode electrode from said anode electrode; an anode current collector in electrical contact with said anode electrode; an external terminal for said cell in contact with said anode current collector; an aqueous alkaline electrolyte for facilitating the electrochemical reaction in said cell; and an air permeable seal for closing said conductive container and for allowing oxygen to enter the cell and come in contact with said cathode electrode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
159 words
An air assisted alkaline cell comprising: a conductive container for supporting the components of said cell and for forming an external terminal for said cell; a cathode electrode in contact with the inner wall of said container, said cathode comprising a mixture of porous MnO 2 and substantially solid MnO 2 with said porous MnO 2 being present in an effective amount to recharge the cell in the presence of air; an anode electrode, said anode electrode comprising metallic zinc, a binder and an electrolyte; a separator for electrically isolating said cathode electrode from said anode electrode; an anode current collector in electrical contact with said anode electrode; an external terminal for said cell in contact with said anode current collector; an aqueous alkaline electrolyte for facilitating the electrochemical reaction in said cell; and an air permeable seal for closing said conductive container and for allowing oxygen to enter the cell and come in contact with said cathode electrode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
An air assisted alkaline cell as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said cathode has a packing density gradient with the lowest percentage of solids predominating at the portion of the cathode contacted by air during the operation of said cell.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
An air assisted alkaline cell as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said cathode is a 1:5 mixture by weight of porous MnO 2 to substantially solid MnO 2 .
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
An air assisted alkaline cell as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said porous MnO 2 is chemically prepared MnO 2 and said substantially solid MnO 2 is electrolytically deposited MnO 2 .
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
An air assisted alkaline cell as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said aqueous alkaline electrolyte is an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for preparing an air assisted alkaline cell comprising the following steps: providing a conductive container for the cell which can serve as the first external terminal for said cell; preparing a mixture of porous MnO 2 and substantially solid MnO 2 ; loading said mixture of porous MnO 2 and substantially solid MnO 2 into said container to form a cathode electrode; adding a separator to said container to electrically isolate said cathode electrode from the anode electrode; adding a zinc anode composition to said container in contact with said separator; and providing an anode current collector and an air permeable conductive cover for said cell, said conductive cover forming the second external terminal for said cell.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for preparing an air assisted alkaline cell comprising the following steps: providing a conductive container for the cell which can serve as the first external terminal for said cell; preparing a mixture of porous MnO 2 and substantially solid MnO 2 ; loading said mixture of porous MnO 2 and substantially solid MnO 2 into said container to form a cathode electrode; adding a separator to said container to electrically isolate said cathode electrode from the anode electrode; adding a zinc anode composition to said container in contact with said separator; and providing an anode current collector and an air permeable conductive cover for said cell, said conductive cover forming the second external terminal for said cell.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method for preparing an air assisted alkaline cell as set forth in claim 16, wherein: said mixture of porous MnO 2 and substantially solid MnO 2 is mixed in a ratio which is predominantly substantially solid MnO 2 .
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method for preparing an air assisted alkaline cell as set forth in claim 16, wherein: said mixture of porous MnO 2 and substantially solid MnO 2 is mixed in a 1:5 ratio by weight of porous MnO 2 to substantially solid MnO 2 .
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method for preparing an air assisted alkaline cell as set forth in claim 16, wherein: said anode composition comprises a mixture of zinc powder and a binder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-01-06 | 1995-07-08 | 1996-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-06 | 1999-07-08 | 2000-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-06 | 2003-07-08 | 2004-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |