Method for producing battery tester label and resulting label and battery assembly

• US 5,830,596 A
• Filed: 04/17/1996
• Issued: 11/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Morgan Adhesives Company (Amcor Plc)
• Original Assignee: Morgan Adhesives Company (Amcor Plc)
• Inventors: Anderson, Jeffrey L., Weiss, Victor H., Langbehn, John G., Laird, Dean A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NUZZOLILLO, MARIA
• Application Number:
  US08/634,071
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 429/90, 429/91, 429/92, 429/93, 324/427, 324/345, 324/425, 29/623.1
• US Class Current: 429/93
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/005 Indication of measured value by colour change
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/403 using passive display devices, e.g. liquid crystal display or Kerr effect display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/385 Arrangements for measuring battery or accumulator variables for monitoring G01R31/382
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/48 Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte constructional details of current conducting connections for detecting conditions inside cells or batteries, e.g. details of voltage sensing terminals, H01M50/569
• 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: H01M 10/613 Cooling or keeping cold
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/658 by thermal insulation or shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/66 Heat-exchange relationships between the cells and other systems, e.g. central heating systems or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/667 the system being an electronic component, e.g. a CPU, an inverter or a capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/119 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/121 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/126 comprising three or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/505 Cells combined with indicating means for external visualization of the condition, e.g. by change of colour or of light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method for producing a battery tester label is disclosed. The method includes forming an inserted tester device and a base layer, which are combined together to form the battery tester label. The resulting tester label can be applied to a battery. Also disclosed are methods for producing a plurality of battery tester labels disposed on a common releasable liner. The resulting array can be stored for subsequent application to batteries, cut into relatively long strips for rolling and storage, or immediately applied to batteries.

Claims

1. A method for producing a battery tester label, said method comprising:

providing a tester device comprising a dielectric substrate having a conductive circuit layer disposed on a first side of said dielectric substrate, said conductive circuit layer defining first and second switch segments, said tester device further comprising an indicator layer disposed on a second side of said dielectric substrate;

providing a base layer comprising a dielectric substrate and thermal insulation disposed on said substrate;

forming a first aperture in said base layer;

forming a second aperture along a peripheral edge of said base layer;

depositing at least one raised switch throw pad proximate to at least one of said first and second apertures formed in said base layer;

orienting said tester device with said base layer such that said conductive circuit layer of said tester device faces said thermal insulation of said base layer, said first switch segment of said conductive circuit directly overlies said first aperture, and said second switch segment of said conductive circuit directly overlies said second aperture; and

affixing said tester device to said base layer to thereby form said battery tester label.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying said battery tester label to a battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said first switch segment of said conductive circuit is switchably connected to said positive terminal and said second switch segment of said conductive circuit is switchably connected to said negative terminal.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein a portion of said battery tester label at which said second aperture is formed is folded over an end of said battery so that said second switch segment is switchably connected to said negative terminal.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said affixing operation comprises depositing adhesive between said tester device and said base layer and engaging said device and said base layer to one another for a time period sufficient for said adhesive to affix said device to said base layer.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying a material onto said battery tester label which provides a transparent protective layer over said tester device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said applying said transparent protective layer onto said battery tester label is performed prior to applying said battery tester label to a battery.

8. The battery tester label produced by the method of claim 1.

9. A method for producing a battery tester label comprising an inserted tester device combined with a base layer, said method comprising:

providing a first dielectric substrate;

depositing a conductive circuit on one side of said first substrate, said conductive circuit having first and second switch segments and an area of controlled resistivity;

depositing an indicator layer on a side of said first substrate opposite said conductive circuit, said indicator layer disposed proximate to said area of controlled resistivity of said conductive circuit to thereby form said inserted tester device;

providing a second dielectric substrate;

depositing thermal insulation on at least a portion of a first face of said second substrate to thereby form said base layer;

forming a first aperture in said base layer;

forming a second aperture along a peripheral edge of said base layer;

positioning said inserted tester device with said base layer such that said area of controlled resistivity of said conductive circuit contacts said thermal insulation of said base layer, said first switch segment of said conductive circuit directly overlies said first aperture, and said second switch segment of said conductive circuit directly overlies said second aperture; and

affixing said inserted tester device to said base layer to thereby form said battery tester label.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9 which further comprises the step of depositing at least one raised switch throw pad proximate to at least one of said first and second apertures formed in said base layer.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising applying said battery tester label to a battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said first switch segment of said conductive circuit is switchably connected to said positive terminal and said second switch segment of said conductive circuit is switchably connected to said negative terminal.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein a portion of said battery tester label at which said second aperture is formed is folded over and secured to an end of said battery so that said second switch segment is switchably connected to said negative terminal.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said affixing operation comprises depositing adhesive between said inserted tester device and said base layer and engaging said device and said base layer to one another for a time period sufficient for said adhesive to affix said device to said base layer.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising printing graphic indicia on said first dielectric substrate prior to depositing said indicator layer, wherein said indicator layer is deposited upon and generally covering said graphic indicia.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising printing decorative layers on said first substrate forming said inserted tester device.

17. The method of claim 9 further comprising depositing a layer of adhesive on at least a portion of said one side of said first substrate.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said adhesive is a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

19. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

depositing a metallization layer on said first face of said second substrate; and

providing electrical insulation between said metallization layer and said conductive circuit.

20. The method of claim 9 further comprising depositing a layer of adhesive on a second face of said second substrate opposite said first face having said thermal insulation.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said adhesive is a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

22. The battery tester label produced by the method of claim 9.

23. A process for manufacturing a battery tester label comprising an inserted tester device and a base layer, and applying said label to a battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, said process comprising:

providing a first dielectric substrate;

depositing a metallization layer on a first face of said first dielectric substrate;

depositing a primer material on said metallization layer;

depositing at least one layer of a decorative coloring material and an electrical insulation material on said primer material;

applying thermal insulation on at least a portion of said first face of said first dielectric substrate; and

depositing a first raised switch throw pad upon said first face of said first dielectric substrate and further depositing a second raised switch throw pad along a peripheral edge of said first dielectric substrate, to thereby form said base layer;

providing a second dielectric substrate;

forming an elongated conductive circuit on a first face of said second dielectric substrate, said conductive circuit having distal first and second switch segments and a medially disposed area of controlled resistivity between said switch segments and in electrical contact with said switch segments;

depositing indicia on a second face of said second dielectric substrate, in a region generally disposed adjacent said area of controlled resistivity;

depositing an indicator layer on said second face of said second dielectric substrate and over said indicia, to thereby form said inserted tester device;

forming an aperture in said base layer proximate to said first raised switch throw pad and forming a notch along said peripheral edge of said base layer proximate to said second raised switch throw pad;

positioning said inserted tester device with said base layer such that said area of controlled resistivity of said conductive circuit is adjacent and faces said thermal insulation of said base layer, said first switch segment of said conductive circuit overlies said aperture in said base layer and said second switch segment of said conductive circuit overlies said notch in said base layer;

affixing said inserted tester device to said base layer to thereby form said battery tester label; and

applying said battery tester label to said battery so that said first switch segment of said conductive circuit is switchably connected to said positive terminal through said aperture and said second switch segment of said conductive circuit is switchably connected to said negative terminal through said notch.

24. The battery and tester label produced by the method of claim 23.

25. A method for producing a plurality of battery tester labels disposed on a common releasable liner, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of tester devices disposed on a first substrate, each said tester device comprising a conductive circuit layer disposed on a first side of said first substrate, said conductive circuit layer defining first and second switch segments, each said tester device further comprising an indicator layer disposed on a second side of said first substrate;

providing a base layer comprising a second substrate, a liner releasably secured to a first face of said second substrate, and a plurality of regions of thermal insulation disposed on a second face of said second substrate;

forming a plurality of first apertures in said base layer;

forming a plurality of second apertures in said base layer;

orienting said plurality of tester devices with said base layer such that said conductive circuit layer of each said tester device faces a corresponding region of thermal insulation, said first switch segment of each said conductive circuit directly overlies a corresponding first aperture, and said second switch segment of each said conductive circuit directly overlies a corresponding second aperture; and

affixing said plurality of tester devices to said base layer to thereby form said plurality of battery tester labels.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

cutting said first substrate, said second substrate, and said liner to separate said plurality of battery tester labels into smaller groups of battery tester labels.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein at least one of said smaller groups of battery tester labels is disposed on a relatively long strip of said releasable liner.

28. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

applying a transparent protective layer on said second side of said first substrate.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said protective layer is applied after said affixing step, and said protective layer is applied onto at least a majority of said second side of said first substrate.

30. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

die cutting said plurality of battery tester labels; and

removing excess trimmed material from said liner.

31. The plurality of battery tester labels disposed on a common releasable liner produced by the method of claim 25.

32. A method for producing a battery tester label, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a base layer having a first dielectric substrate with a first adhesive layer on one side thereof for subsequent adhesion to the battery and a first release layer overlying said first adhesive layer;

forming at least a first switch aperture in said base layer;

providing a tester device having a second dielectric substrate, said second substrate having a conductive circuit on one side thereof, a second adhesive layer for subsequent adhesion to the other side of said base layer over at least certain areas of said one side thereof and a second release layer overlying said second adhesive layer, said circuit having an area of controlled resistivity and at least one switch segment;

applying a thermal indicator layer on the other side of said second dielectric substrate;

removing the second release layer from said second dielectric substrate;

adhering the first side of said second dielectric substrate to the other side of said base layer with said switch segment overlying said switch aperture.