Cell jacket

• US 4,608,323 A
• Filed: 03/07/1985
• Issued: 08/26/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Duracell Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Duracell Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zaborney, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): LeFevour, Charles F.
• Application Number:
  US06/709,276
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 429/167, 429/174, 429/176, 429/171, 429/152, 429/162, 206/333
• US Class Current: 429/167
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/119 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/121 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/129 with two or more layers of only organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/133 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24876 Intermediate layer contains particulate material [e.g., pigment, etc.]

Abstract

A cell jacket comprised of adhered inner and outer protective layers which protect a metallic ink decoration contained therebetween from degradation. The protective layers are adhered to each other substantially completely around the periphery of the metallic ink decoration.

Claims

1. An electrochemical cell comprising a cell container having a decorative jacket thereon characterized in that said jacket is comprised of a metallic decoration, subject to degradation by a material placed within said cell container, with said metallic decoration being substantially completely enclosed between an outer transparent protective layer and an inner protective layer wherein said outer and inner protective layers are substantially resistant to degradation by said material and are substantially impervious thereto and wherein each of said inner and outer protective layers extends beyond the entire periphery of said metallic decoration and said extensions of said inner and outer protective layers are sealingly adhered to each other in an area substantially completely peripherally surrounding said metallic decoration whereby said metallic decoration is substantially completely enclosed by said inner and outer protective layers.

2. The cell of claim 1 wherein said material is an alkaline electrolyte and said metallic decoration is comprised of a metallic ink comprised of aluminum.

3. The cell of claim 2 wherein one of said inner and outer protective layers is a preformed discrete substrate for said metallic decoration.

4. The cell of claim 3 wherein the other of said inner and outer protective layers comprises a coating adheringly applied to said substrate.

5. The cell of claim 4 wherein said coating is comprised of a vinyl lacquer and said substrate is comprised of polyvinyl chloride.

6. The cell of claim 2 wherein said inner and outer protective layers are each comprised of a preformed discrete plastic layer.

7. The cell of claim 6 wherein said inner and outer layers are adhered by means of an adhesive.

8. The cell of claim 7 wherein said adhesive is comprised of a vinyl based solvent adhesive.

9. The cell of claim 6 wherein said inner and outer layers are adhered by being heat sealed to each other around the periphery of said metallic ink decoration.

10. The cell of claim 6 wherein said inner and outer protective layers are each comprised of a heat shrink plastic material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyester and polyvinyl alcohol.

11. The cell of claim 10 wherein said inner and outer protective layers are each comprised of unplasticized polyvinyl chloride having a heat stabilizer and an impact modifier added thereto.

12. The cell of claim 1 wherein the maximum thickness of said decorative jacket is about 85 microns.

13. An electrochemical cell comprising a cell container having a tubular decorative jacket thereon characterized in that said tubular jacket is comprised of a substantially rectangular sheet having a decoration comprising a metallic ink, subject to degradation by a material placed within said cell container, with said metallic ink being substantially completely enclosed between an outer transparent protective layer and an inner transparent protective layer, wherein said outer and inner protective layers are substantially resistant to degradation by said material and are substantially impervious thereto, and wherein each of said inner and outer protective layers extends beyond the entire periphery of said metallic decoration and said extensions of said inner and outer protective layers are sealingly adhered to each other, in an area substantially completely peripherally surrounding said metallic ink containing decoration, whereby a transparent frame substantially completely surrounds and encloses said metallic ink containing decoration, with said tube being formed by the overlapping of a first axial portion of said transparent frame over a portion of said metallic ink containing decoration directly adjacent a second axial portion of said transparent frame which is parallel to said first axial portion and the sealing together of said first axial transparent portion to said overlapped portion of said metallic ink containing decoration.

14. A decorative jacket, for an electrochemical cell, comprised of a metallic decoration, subject to degradation by a material placed within said cell, with said metallic decoration being substantially completely enclosed between an outer transparent protective layer and an inner protective layer, wherein said outer and inner protective layers are substantially resistant to degradation by said material and are substantially impervious thereto, and wherein each of said inner and outer protective layers extends beyond the entire periphery of said metallic decoration and said extensions of said inner and outer protective layers are sealingly adhered to each other in an area substantially completely peripherally surrounding said metallic decoration whereby said metallic decoration is substantially completely enclosed by said inner and outer protective layers.

15. The jacket of claim 14 wherein said material is an alkaline electrolyte and said metallic decoration is comprised of a metallic ink comprised of aluminum.

16. The jacket of claim 15 wherein one of said inner and outer protective layers is a preformed discrete substrate for said metallic decoration.

17. The jacket of claim 16 wherein the other of said inner and outer protective layers comprises a coating adheringly applied to said substrate.

18. The jacket of claim 17 wherein said coating is comprised of a vinyl lacquer and said substrate is comprised of polyvinyl chloride.

19. The jacket of claim 15 wherein said inner and outer protective layers are each comprised of a preformed discrete plastic layer.

20. The jacket of claim 19 wherein said inner and outer layers are adhered by means of an adhesive.

21. The jacket of claim 20 wherein said adhesive is comprised of a vinyl based solvent adhesive.

22. The jacket of claim 19 wherein said inner and outer layers are adhered by being heat sealed to each other around the periphery of said metallic ink decoration.

23. The jacket of claim 20 wherein said inner and outer protective layers are each comprised of a heat shrink plastic material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyester and polyvinyl alcohol.

24. The jacket of claim 23 wherein said inner and outer protective layers are each comprised of unplasticized polyvinyl chloride having a heat stabilizer and an impact modifier added thereto.

25. The jacket of claim 14 wherein the maximum thickness of said decorative jacket is about 85 microns.

26. A tubular decorative jacket, for an electrochemical cell, comprised of a substantially rectangular sheet having a decoration comprising a metallic ink, subject to degradation by a material placed within said cell, with said metallic ink being substantially completely enclosed between an outer transparent protective layer and an inner transparent protective layer, wherein said outer and inner protective layers are substantially resistant to degradation by said material and are substantially impervious thereto, and wherein each of said inner and outer protective layers extends beyond the entire periphery of said metallic decoration and said extensions of said inner and outer protective layers are sealingly adhered to each other, in an area substantially completely peripherally surrounding said metallic ink containing decoration, whereby a transparent frame substantially completely surrounds and encloses said metallic ink containing decoration, with said tube being formed by the overlapping of a first axial portion of said transparent frame over a portion of said metallic ink containing decoration directly adjacent a second axial portion of said transparent frame which is parallel to said first axial portion and the sealing together of said first axial transparent portion to said overlapped portion of said metallic ink containing decoration.