Method for securing a tester device to a battery and the battery so produced

• US 5,626,978 A
• Filed: 04/21/1995
• Issued: 05/06/1997
• 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: McConnon, David P., Weiss, Victor H.
• Primary Examiner(s): NUZZOLILLO, MARIA
• Application Number:
  US08/426,367
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 429/93, 429/90, 429/92, 324/345
• 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 50/119 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/121 Organic material
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 50/124 having a layered structure
• 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 encasing a battery with a label containing an integral test circuit device that is thermally insulated from the battery and is activated by depressing a selected area of the label whereupon a thermally sensitive material associated with the test circuit displays whether the battery has capacity. The battery so produced with the test circuit device is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A battery having a first terminal and a second terminal of opposite polarity;

said battery at least partially encased with a nonconductive film having a top surface and bottom surface;

a conductive circuit layer disposed on at least a portion of the bottom surface and extending such that a first area is disposed over the first terminal and a second area is disposed over the second terminal of the battery;

a nonconductive material disposed over a portion of the conductive circuit layer exposing at least a portion of the first and second areas over the first terminal and second terminal, respectively so that the first area cart be deflected into contact with the first terminal and the second area can be deflected into contact with the second terminal of the battery with the remainder of the conductive circuit layer being electrically and thermally insulated from the terminals of the battery by the nonconductive material;

a thermally sensitive material disposed on said top surface of said nonconductive film opposite said conductive circuit layer such that when the first area and second area of the conductive circuit layer contact the first terminal and second terminal, respectively, a current will flow through the conductive circuit layer and heat the thermally sensitive material which will indicate battery capacity.

2. The battery of claim 1 wherein the nonconductive material is silicone-coated paper.

3. The battery of claim 1 wherein the nonconductive material includes an opening at one end to expose the first area of the conductive circuit layer.

4. The battery of claim 1 wherein the battery comprises a housing composed of a cylindrical container closed at one end and open at the opposite end and said container forming the first terminal of the battery;

a cover secured over and electrically insulated from the open end of the container and said cover forming the second terminal of the battery, said first area of the conductive circuit layer disposed over the first terminal, and said second area of the conductive circuit layer disposed over the second terminal.

5. The battery of claim 1 wherein a heat shrunk film is secured over the battery.

6. The battery of claim 1 wherein the conductive circuit layer is selected from the group consisting of silver, nickel, iron, copper, carbon, lead, conductive polymers, conductive paint, conductive ink and mixtures thereof.

7. The battery of claim 6 wherein the conductive circuit layer is silver.

8. The battery of claim 1 wherein the thermally sensitive material is thermochromic ink.

9. The battery of claim 4 wherein the second area of the conductive circuit layer is permanently secured to the second terminal.

10. The battery of claim 9 wherein the thermally sensitive material is thermochromic ink.

11. The battery claim 10 wherein the conductive circuit layer is silver.

12. A battery test label for a battery having a first terminal and a second terminal, comprising:

a nonconductive base film having a bottom surface and a top surface of a dimension configured to at least partially wrap around the battery;

an adhesive on said bottom surface of said nonconductive base film;

a thermally sensitive material disposed on at least a portion of said top surface of said nonconductive base film, said thermally sensitive material changing color in response to a particular temperature level;

a conductive circuit layer having an upper surface secured by said adhesive to said bottom surface of said nonconductive base film, said conductive circuit layer having a first area, an intermediate area, and a second area;

a nonconductive thermal and electrical insulator layer disposed over said intermediate area of said conductive circuit layer and exposing said first and second areas of said conductive circuit layer;

whereby said bottom surface of said nonconductive base film is configured to be wrapped at least partially around the battery and adhered to the battery such that said first and second areas of said conductive circuit layer are respectively disposed opposite the first and second terminals of the battery.