초록 ▼

A rechargeable battery pack (20) having a plurality of rechargeable cells (30) that form a cell cluster (32). Binders (62) formed of electrically insulating material are secured over the top and bottom of the cells. Each binder is formed with a set of openings (64) that exposed the base (52) of each

A rechargeable battery pack (20) having a plurality of rechargeable cells (30) that form a cell cluster (32). Binders (62) formed of electrically insulating material are secured over the top and bottom of the cells. Each binder is formed with a set of openings (64) that exposed the base (52) of each cell which serves as its negative terminal and its head (54), which serves as its positive terminal. The binders are further shaped so that the perimeter sections that define the openings extend around the cell lips (56) integral with the bases (52) that surround the heads (54). Conductive straps (70) extend between the openings over the binders to electrically connect the cells together. Thus, the binders, in addition to securing the cells together, insulate the straps from the underlying cell lips. This insulating function prevents the straps from shorting out the cells to which they are connected. Insulating tape (60) secured around the side walls (56) of the cells prevent the cells from shorting out upon contact.

대표청구항 ▼

[ The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:] [12.] A rechargeable battery pack, said rechargeable battery pack having:a housing;a cell cluster, said cell cluster including:a cell array formed from at least three rechargeable cells

[ The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:] [12.] A rechargeable battery pack, said rechargeable battery pack having:a housing;a cell cluster, said cell cluster including:a cell array formed from at least three rechargeable cells, each said cell having: a conductive case that defines a cell base and a cell side wall; and a head, separate from said case, that is located opposite said base, wherein said case includes a lip that extends around said head and said case, including said base, forms a first terminal of said cell and said head forms a second terminal of cell and said cells are arranged together side-by-side to form said cell array and are oriented so that the bases of two said cells and the head of an at least one remaining said cell form a first end of said cell array and the heads of said two cells and the base of said at least one remaining cell form a second end of said cell array, and said each said cell abuts at least one other said cell;a plurality of insulating sleeves, each said insulating sleeve extending around said side wall of a separate said cell so that said insulating sleeves insulate said cell cases from each other, wherein said insulating sleeves are disposed over said cell cases so as to leave said bases and said lips of each said cell at least partially exposed;two binders, each said binder being formed from flat, electrically insulating material and being disposed over a separate one of said ends of said cell array, each said binder being adhesively bonded to said cell bases and case lips over which said binder is disposed to secure said cells together, each said binder being formed with a plurality of openings, each opening exposing one of said cell bases or said heads wherein, said binders are formed with sections that subtend said case lips;a plurality of conductive straps for electrically, series connecting said cells together, each said strap extending from a cell base, through one said binder opening, over said binder, through a second binder opening and to a cell head adjacent said cell base; andtwo conductive terminals, each said terminal extending from a cell head or a cell base through a binder opening; andconductive contacts secured to said housing, said conductive contacts being electrically connected to said conductive terminals of said cell cluster to establish an electrical path from said conductive contacts to said cells.