Contact ring for on-cell battery tester

• US 5,491,038 A
• Filed: 08/24/1994
• Issued: 02/13/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gillette Company (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Duracell Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Yoppolo, Robert A., DePalma, Christopher L., McHugh, William T., Sargeant, Sean A., Wiacek, Marian
• Primary Examiner(s): Skapars, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US08/295,314
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 429/90-93, 429/61, 340/636, 324/426, 324/435
• US Class Current: 429/91
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/488 Cells or batteries combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light density
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electrochemical cell having an on-cell tester for visually indicating the condition of the cell is provided with an electrically conductive metal ring pressed onto the negative terminal at the crimp seal end of the cell, to permit the tester lead to make an electrical contact with the negative terminal without shorting across the positive terminal of the cell. The ring has a cylindrical wall portion or gripping means which frictionally grips a corresponding mating cylindrical wall potion on the negative terminal and also has a flange portion adjacent the positive terminal. A layer of electrically insulating material disposed between the flange and positive terminal prevents electrical contact between the terminals. The tester lead is either permanently electrically connected to the ring or intermittently connected by the user, depending on the type of tester used.

Claims

1. An electrochemical cell having a positive and a negative terminal, an on-cell tester for visually indicating the condition of the cell, said tester having at least one lead, and an electrically conductive contact ring for making an electrical connection between said lead and one of said terminals on which said ring is mounted and electrically connected to, said ring having a flange disposed adjacent said other terminal, with electrical insulating means disposed between said ring and other terminal to prevent an electrical connection therebetween, and with said tester lead disposed adjacent said flange for making electrical contact thereto.

2. A cell according to claim 1 in which said electrical insulating means comprises a coating or layer of electrically insulating material on said ring.

3. A cell according to claim 1 in which said electrical insulating means comprises a ring of electrically insulating material which is not a part of said contact ring.

4. A cell according to claim 1 in which said tester does not continuously discharge said cell and wherein said tester lead is permanently electrically connected to said contact ring.

5. A cell according to claim 1 in which said tester lead is disposed adjacent said contact ring for making contact therewith and is not electrically connected to said ring.

6. A cell according to claim 2 in which said tester lead is permanently electrically connected to said contact ring.

7. A cell according to claim 3 in which said tester lead is disposed adjacent said contact ring for making contact therewith and is not connected to said contact ring.

8. An electrochemical cell comprising a sealed, cylindrical metal container having a negative terminal at one end, a positive terminal, an on-cell tester for visually indicating the condition of the cell, and an electrically conductive contact ring for making an electrical connection between said lead of said tester and said negative terminal, wherein said metal container comprises said positive terminal and wherein said negative terminal comprises a disk shaped metal cap having a cylindrical wall portion electrically connected to, and in mating engagement with, gripping means of said contact ring, with said contact ring having a flange disposed adjacent said metal container at said negative terminal end of said cell and with electrical insulating means disposed between said ring and container to prevent an electrical connection therebetween, and wherein said tester lead is disposed adjacent said flange for making electrical contact thereto.

9. A cell according to claim 8 wherein said electrical insulating means comprises a layer of electrically insulating material on said ring.

10. A cell according to claim 8 wherein said gripping means comprises a cylindrical wall.

11. A cell according to claim 8 in which said gripping means comprises a plurality of projections.

12. A cell according to claim 11 wherein said projections terminate at one end in a radially inward projecting edge for gripping said terminal.

13. A cell according to claim 8 wherein said flange slopes downward towards its center.

14. A cell according to claim 11 wherein said projections are curved to minimize the surface area of contact with said terminal.

15. An electrochemical cell comprising a sealed, cylindrical metal container having a negative terminal at one end, a positive terminal, an on-cell tester for visually indicating the condition of the cell, and an electrically conductive contact ring for making an electrical connection between said lead of said tester and said negative terminal, wherein said metal container comprises said positive terminal and wherein said negative terminal comprises a disk shaped metal cap having a cylindrical wall portion electrically connected to, and in mating engagement with, gripping means of said contact ring, with said contact ring having a flange disposed adjacent said metal container at said negative terminal end of said cell and with electrical insulating means disposed between said ring and container to prevent an electrical connection therebetween, and wherein said tester lead is permanently electrically connected to said flange.

16. A cell according to claim 15 wherein said electrical insulating means comprises a layer of electrically insulating material on said ring.

17. A cell according to claim 15 wherein said gripping means comprises a cylindrical wall.

18. A cell according to claim 15 in which said gripping means comprises a plurality of projections.

19. A cell according to claim 18 wherein said projections terminate at one end in a radially inward projecting edge for gripping said terminal.

20. A cell according to claim 15 wherein said flange slopes downward towards its center.

21. A cell according to claim 18 wherein said projections are curved to minimize the surface area of contact with said terminal.