Patent ID: 9722234
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Claim:
1. A secondary battery comprising: an electrode assembly having a first electrode terminal; a can that receives the electrode assembly; a cap plate having ends and side walls interconnecting the ends and coupled to the can so as to seal the electrode assembly within the can, wherein the cap plate defines a longitudinal axis and wherein the cap plate includes at least one reinforcing element that is dimensioned and located on the cap plate so that the can deforms about a first point in response to compressive forces exerted in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the cap plate wherein the reinforcing element comprises at least one groove that has exposed side walls and an exposed bottom surface and a shape that corresponds to the shape of an end of the cap plate wherein the thickness of the cap plate in the groove is substantially constant over the surface area of the groove and wherein a weakened portion is formed on the cap plate in a first location so as to define the first point and wherein the weakened portion comprises a portion of the cap plate of reduced thickness and wherein the first electrode terminal extends through the cap plate in the weakened portion and is electrically isolated from the cap plate and wherein the reinforcing element and the weakened portion of the cap plate are spaced from each other with the reinforcing element being spaced between the weakened portion and at least one of the ends of the cap plate.