Button-type battery with improved separator and gasket construction

Claim 2

A button-type battery comprising: an anode; a cathode positioned adjacent to the anode; an electrolyte between the anode and the cathode; a conductive first terminal housing member in electrical contact with one of the anode or the cathode; the first terminal housing member having a periphery; a conductive second terminal housing member in electrical contact with the other of the anode or the cathode; the second terminal housing member having a periphery; the first and second terminal housing members forming an enclosed housing which holds and protects the anode and the cathode; the first and second terminal housing member peripheries being configured together to form a seal which seals the anode and the cathode within the housing formed by the first and second terminal housing members; a separator provided between and separating the anode and the cathode; and wherein the entirety of at least one of the first and second terminal housing members is substantially planar.

Claim 3

A button-type battery comprising: an anode; a cathode positioned adjacent to the anode; an electrolyte between the anode and the cathode; a conductive first terminal housing member in electrical contact with one of the anode or the cathode; the first terminal housing member having a periphery; a conductive second terminal housing member in electrical contact with the other of the anode or the cathode; the second terminal housing member having a periphery; the first and second terminal housing members forming an enclosed housing which holds and protects the anode and the cathode; the first and second terminal housing member peripheries being configured together to form a seal which seals the anode and the cathode within the housing formed by the first and second terminal housing members: a separator provided between and separating the anode and the cathode; the separator having a periphery that extends between the first and second terminal housing member peripheries at least partially into the seal; and wherein; the anode and cathode are aligned along a transverse central axis; the second terminal housing member periphery is substantially planar and projects substantially radially outward from the central axis; the first terminal housing member periphery wraps around three sides of the second terminal housing member periphery, the first terminal housing member periphery having two substantially planar segments on opposing sides of the substantially planar second terminal housing member periphery and a continuously bending segment on a third side of the second terminal housing member periphery connecting the two substantially planar segments.

Claim 4

A button-type battery comprising: an anode; a cathode positioned adjacent to the anode; an electrolyte between the anode and the cathode; a conductive first terminal housing member in electrical contact with one of the anode or the cathode; the first terminal housing member having a periphery; a conductive second terminal housing member in electrical contact with the other of the anode or the cathode; the second terminal housing member having a periphery; the first and second terminal housing members forming an enclosed housing which holds and protects the anode and the cathode; the first and second terminal housing member peripheries being configured together to form a seal which seals the anode and the cathode within the housing formed by the first and second terminal housing members: a separator provided between and separating the anode and the cathode; the separator having a periphery that extends between the first and second terminal housing member peripheries at least partially into the seal; and wherein; the anode and cathode are aligned along a transverse central axis; the second terminal housing member periphery is substantially planar and projects substantially radially outward from the central axis; the first terminal housing member periphery wraps around three sides of the second terminal housing member periphery, the first terminal housing member periphery having two substantially planar segments on opposing sides of the substantially planar second terminal housing member periphery and a continuously bending segment on a third side of the second terminal housing member periphery connecting the two substantially planar segments.

Claim 5

A button-type battery according to claim 2 wherein the substantially planar second terminal housing member periphery and the two substantially planar segments of the first terminal housing member periphery are all substantially in parallel.

Claim 6

A button-type battery comprising: an anode; a cathode positioned adjacent to the anode; an electrolyte between the anode and the cathode; a conductive first terminal housing member in electrical contact with one of the anode or the cathode; the first terminal housing member having a periphery; a conductive second terminal housing member in electrical contact with the other of the anode or the cathode; the second terminal housing member having a periphery; the first and second terminal housing members forming an enclosed housing which holds and protects the anode and cathode; an integral separator and gasket layer; the integral layer having (1) a central portion positioned between the anode and cathode to physically separate the anode and the cathode and to facilitate electrolytic conductivity between the anode and the cathode, and (2) a portion peripheral to the central portion, the peripheral portion being positioned between the first and second terminal housing member peripheries; the first and second terminal housing member peripheries and the peripheral portion of the integral separator and gasket layer being configured together to form a fluid-tight seal which seals the anode and cathode within the housing formed by the first and second terminal housing members, the peripheral portion of the integral layer electrically insulating the first terminal housing member from the second terminal housing member; and the fluid-tight seal being void of any gasket other than the integral layer.

Claim 7

A button-type battery comprising: an anode; a cathode positioned adjacent to the anode; an electrolyte between the anode and the cathode; a conductive first terminal housing member in electrical contact with one of the anode or the cathode; the first terminal housing member having a periphery; a conductive second terminal housing member in electrical contact with the other of the anode or the cathode; the second terminal housing member having a periphery; the first and second terminal housing members forming an enclosed housing which holds and protects the anode and cathode; an integral separator and gasket layer; the integral layer having (1) a central portion positioned between the anode and cathode to physically separate the anode and the cathode and to facilitate electrolytic conductivity between the anode and the cathode, and (2) a portion peripheral to the central portion, the peripheral portion being positioned between the first and second terminal housing member peripheries; the first and second terminal housing member peripheries and the peripheral portion of the integral separator and gasket layer being configured together to form a fluid-tight seal which seals the anode and cathode within the housing formed by the first and second terminal housing members, the peripheral portion of the integral layer electrically insulating the first terminal housing member from the second terminal housing member; and the fluid-tight seal being void of any gasket other than the integral layer.

Claim 8

A button-type battery according to claim 4 wherein the integral separator and gasket layer is formed of a polymeric material.

Claim 9

A button-type battery according to claim 4 wherein the central portion of the integral separator and gasket layer has a thickness greater than that of the peripheral portion of the integral separator and gasket layer.

Claim 10

A button-type battery comprising: an anode; a cathode positioned adjacent to the anode; an electrolyte between the anode and the cathode; a conductive first terminal housing member in electrical contact with one of the anode or the cathode; the first terminal housing member having a periphery; a conductive second terminal housing member in electrical contact with the other of the anode or the cathode; the second terminal housing member having a periphery; the first and second terminal housing members forming an enclosed housing which holds and protects the anode and cathode; an integral separator and gasket layer; the integral layer having (1) a central portion positioned between the anode and cathode to physically separate the anode and the cathode and to facilitate electrolytic conductivity between the anode and the cathode, and (2) a portion peripheral to the central portion, the peripheral portion being positioned between the first and second terminal housing member peripheries; the first and second terminal housing member peripheries and the peripheral portion of the integral separator and gasket layer being configured together to form a fluid-tight seal which seals the anode and cathode within the housing formed by the first and second terminal housing members, the peripheral portion of the integral layer electrically insulating the first terminal housing member from the second terminal housing member; and wherein; the anode and cathode are aligned along a transverse central axis; the second terminal housing member periphery is substantially planar and projects substantially radially outward from the central axis; the first terminal housing member periphery and the peripheral portion of the integral separator and gasket layer wrap around three sides of the second terminal housing member periphery, the first terminal housing member periphery having two substantially planar segments on opposing sides of the substantially planar second terminal housing member periphery and a continuously bending segment on a third side of the second terminal housing member periphery connecting the two substantially planar segments.

Claim 11

A button-type battery comprising: an anode; a cathode positioned adjacent to the anode; an electrolyte between the anode and the cathode; a conductive first terminal housing member in electrical contact with one of the anode or the cathode; the first terminal housing member having a periphery; a conductive second terminal housing member in electrical contact with the other of the anode or the cathode; the second terminal housing member having a periphery; the first and second terminal housing members forming an enclosed housing which holds and protects the anode and cathode; an integral separator and gasket layer; the integral layer having (1) a central portion positioned between the anode and cathode to physically separate the anode and the cathode and to facilitate electrolytic conductivity between the anode and the cathode, and (2) a portion peripheral to the central portion, the peripheral portion being positioned between the first and second terminal housing member peripheries; the first and second terminal housing member peripheries and the peripheral portion of the integral separator and gasket layer being configured together to form a fluid-tight seal which seals the anode and cathode within the housing formed by the first and second terminal housing members, the peripheral portion of the integral layer electrically insulating the first terminal housing member from the second terminal housing member; and wherein; the anode and cathode are aligned along a transverse central axis; the second terminal housing member periphery is substantially planar and projects substantially radially outward from the central axis; the first terminal housing member periphery and the peripheral portion of the integral separator and gasket layer wrap around three sides of the second terminal housing member periphery, the first terminal housing member periphery having two substantially planar segments on opposing sides of the substantially planar second terminal housing member periphery and a continuously bending segment on a third side of the second terminal housing member periphery connecting the two substantially planar segments.

Claim 12

A button-type battery according to claim 7 wherein the substantially planar second terminal housing member periphery and the two substantially planar segments of the first terminal housing member periphery are all substantially in parallel.

Claim 13

A button-type battery comprising: an anode; a cathode positioned adjacent to the anode; an electrolyte between the anode and the cathode; a conductive first terminal housing member in electrical contact with one of the anode or the cathode; the first terminal housing member having a periphery; a conductive second terminal housing member in electrical contact with the other of the anode or the cathode; the second terminal housing member having a periphery; the first and second terminal housing members forming a housing which holds and protects the anode and the cathode; an insulating gasket provided between the first and second terminal housing member peripheries to electrically insulate the first terminal housing member from the second terminal housing member; the first and second terminal housing member peripheries and the insulating gasket being configured together to form a fluid-tight seal which seals the anode and the cathode within the housing formed by the first and second terminal housing members; a separator provided between and separating the anode and the cathode; the separator having a periphery that extends between the first and second terminal housing member peripheries at least partially into the seal; and wherein; the anode and cathode are aligned along a transverse central axis; the second terminal housing member periphery is substantially planar and projects substantially radially outward from the central axis; the first terminal housing member periphery and the insulating gasket wrap around three sides of the second terminal housing member periphery, the first terminal housing member periphery having two substantially planar segments on opposing sides of the substantially planar second terminal housing member periphery and a continuously bending segment on a third side of the second terminal housing member periphery connecting the two substantially planar segments.

Claim 14

A button-type battery comprising: an anode; a cathode positioned adjacent to the anode; an electrolyte between the anode and the cathode; a conductive first terminal housing member in electrical contact with one of the anode or the cathode; the first terminal housing member having a periphery; a conductive second terminal housing member in electrical contact with the other of the anode or the cathode; the second terminal housing member having a periphery; the first and second terminal housing members forming a housing which holds and protects the anode and the cathode; an insulating gasket provided between the first and second terminal housing member peripheries to electrically insulate the first terminal housing member from the second terminal housing member; the first and second terminal housing member peripheries and the insulating gasket being configured together to form a fluid-tight seal which seals the anode and the cathode within the housing formed by the first and second terminal housing members; a separator provided between and separating the anode and the cathode; the separator having a periphery that extends between the first and second terminal housing member peripheries at least partially into the seal; and wherein; the anode and cathode are aligned along a transverse central axis; the second terminal housing member periphery is substantially planar and projects substantially radially outward from the central axis; the first terminal housing member periphery and the insulating gasket wrap around three sides of the second terminal housing member periphery, the first terminal housing member periphery having two substantially planar segments on opposing sides of the substantially planar second terminal housing member periphery and a continuously bending segment on a third side of the second terminal housing member periphery connecting the two substantially planar segments.

Claim 15

A button-type battery according to claim 9 wherein the substantially planar second terminal housing member periphery and the two substantially planar segments of the first terminal housing member periphery are all substantially in parallel.