Patent Description:
Batteries are widely used in various electrical devices. After use, the batteries are increasingly recycled to prevent the heavy metals and toxic chemicals contained in the batteries from ending up in the environment and to allow the raw materials to be collected and reused. A conventional way to recycle batteries is to return them into a battery recycling container at a collecting point that is usually located in a store that sells batteries. From the collecting point, the used batteries are delivered to a battery recycling plant to be processed.

Since the batteries are not usually fully discharged before they are discarded, the battery terminals need to be covered to prevent short circuits between the batteries. The short circuits are known to cause a potential fire hazard in the battery recycling process while the batteries are stored at home and in the battery recycling container at the collecting point, during the transportation of the batteries and while the batteries are handled in the recycling plant.

<CIT> and <CIT> disclose a relevant battery comprising a tape having a portion attached to the case and a folded portion.

A known solution to cover the battery terminals is to use pieces of non-conductive tape. This is, however, difficult and time-consuming, and it also requires a tape roll to be available, as a result of which the terminals of the used batteries are not often protected.

It is the main objective of the present invention to reduce or even eliminate the prior art problems presented above.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a battery that can be recycled safely. In more detail, it is an objective of the invention to provide a battery whose terminals can be covered without using manually assembled tape pieces from a separate tape roll. It is a further objective of the invention to provide a battery whose terminals can be covered quickly and easily immediately after the battery is removed from use.

In order to realise the above-mentioned objectives, the battery according to the invention is characterised by what is presented in the characterising portion of the appended independent claim. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

A battery according to the invention comprises a casing, a positive and a negative terminal, and a first tape having a first portion attached to the casing and a second portion folded on the first portion, wherein the second portion is adapted to be unfolded to cover at least one of the positive and negative terminals.

The battery according to the invention can be a primary battery or a secondary battery. By a primary battery is meant a non-rechargeable battery that can be used only once. In the primary battery, the electrode materials are irreversibly changed during discharge. Examples of primary battery types are alkaline, zinc-carbon, lithium iron disulfide, lithium-thionyl chloride, and lithium manganese dioxide. By a secondary battery is meant a rechargeable battery that can be discharged and recharged multiple times. In the secondary battery, the original composition of the electrodes can be restored by recharging the battery with a reverse electric current. Examples of secondary battery types are lithium-ion, nickel-cadmium, and nickel-metal hydride. The battery according to the invention can be any of various standard sizes, such as D, C, AA, AAA, AAAA, or PP3 (9V).

The battery according to the invention has an integrated tape, i.e., the first tape, that can be arranged to cover the positive and/or the negative terminal when the battery is discarded. The first tape is made of a non-conductive material. Preferably, the first tape is such that its second portion can be arranged to cover the positive and the negative terminal. By covering the battery terminals, short circuits between the batteries or other electrically conductive materials in a battery recycling container can be prevented.

The first portion of the first tape has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is an adhesive side with which the first portion is attached to a surface of the casing. The second portion of the first tape is folded on the second side of the first portion. The second portion may consist of one or more folded portions. The second side of the first portion and/or one or both sides of the second portion may comprise adhesive areas to keep the second portion folded against the first portion. When the battery is prepared for recycling, the second portion of the first tape is unfolded and arranged to cover the positive and/or the negative terminal. The second side of the first portion and/or one or both sides of the second portion may comprise adhesive areas to keep the second portion attached so that the terminal(s) remain covered. An essential feature of the battery according to the invention is that the first portion of the first tape is meant to remain attached to the casing all the time. This facilitates the use of the first tape. The second portion may comprise a pull tab for easy gripping of the second portion of the first tape.

The casing of the battery may have various shapes. Preferably, the casing has the shape of a cylinder, wherein the positive and negative terminals are located at opposite ends of the cylinder, or the shape of a cuboid, wherein the positive and negative terminals are located at one side of the cuboid.

An advantage of the battery according to the invention is that the battery can be recycled safely. Another advantage of the battery according to the invention is that the terminal(s) of the battery can be covered without using manually assembled tape pieces from a separate tape roll. Yet another advantage of the battery according to the invention is that the terminal(s) of the battery can be covered quickly and easily immediately after the battery is removed from use.

According to an embodiment of the invention the second portion of the first tape is adapted to be unfolded to cover the positive and the negative terminal. In other words, the second portion of the first tape is such that it can be arranged to cover both terminals of the battery.

According to an embodiment of the invention the second portion of the first tape comprises at least two folded portions. Preferably, the second portion of the first tape has two folded portions.

According to an embodiment of the invention the first tape comprises a third portion folded on the first portion, wherein the second portion of the first tape is adapted to be unfolded to cover the positive terminal and the third portion of the first tape is adapted to be unfolded to cover the negative terminal. The second portion and the third portion are located at opposite ends of the first portion. The second side of the first portion and/or one or both sides of the second and the third portion may comprise adhesive areas to keep the second and the third portion folded against the first portion. When the battery is prepared for recycling, the second portion is unfolded and arranged to cover the positive terminal and the third portion is unfolded and arranged to cover the negative terminal. The second and the third portion may comprise adhesive areas to keep the second and the third portion attached to the casing so that the positive and the negative terminal remain covered.

According to an embodiment of the invention the second portion and/or the third portion of the first tape comprises at least two folded portions. Preferably, the second and the third portion of the first tape have two folded portions.

According to an embodiment of the invention the first portion of the first tape extends in a lengthwise direction of the casing and has essentially the same length as the casing.

According to an embodiment of the invention the battery comprises a second tape having a first portion attached to the casing and a second portion folded on the first portion, wherein the second portion of the first tape is adapted to be unfolded to cover the positive terminal and the second portion of the second tape is adapted to be unfolded to cover the negative terminal. In this embodiment, the first tape is used to cover the positive terminal and the second tape is used to cover the negative terminal when the battery is discarded. The first and the second tape are made of a non-conductive material.

The first portion of the second tape has a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is an adhesive side with which the first portion is attached to a surface of the casing. The second portion of the second tape is folded on the second side of the first portion. The second portions of the first and the second tape may consist of one or more folded portions. The second sides of the first portions of the first and the second tape and/or one or both sides of the second portions of the first and the second tape may comprise adhesive areas to keep the second portions folded against the first portions. When the battery is prepared for recycling, the second portion of the first tape is unfolded and arranged to cover the positive terminal and the second portion of the second tape is unfolded and arranged to cover the negative terminal. The second portions of the first and the second tape may comprise adhesive areas to keep the second portions attached to the casing so that the positive and the negative terminal remain covered.

According to an embodiment of the invention the first tape and the second tape are attached to the same side of the casing. Preferably, the first tape and the second tape are sequentially aligned in such a manner that the second portions are located at further ends of the first portions.

According to an embodiment of the invention the first portion of the first tape and the first portion of the second tape extend in a lengthwise direction of the casing and have essentially half of a length of the casing.

According to an embodiment of the invention the first tape and the second tape are attached to opposite sides of the casing.

According to an embodiment of the invention the first portion of the first tape and the first portion of the second tape extend in a lengthwise direction of the casing and have essentially the same length as the casing.

According to an embodiment of the invention the second portion of the first tape and/or the second portion of the second tape comprises at least two folded portions. Preferably, the second portions of the first and the second tape have two folded portions.

According to an embodiment of the invention the number of folded portions is even. The number of folded portions can be, for example, two, four or six.

According to an embodiment of the invention a backing material of the first tape and/or the second tape is paper, plastic, polymer, or cloth.

According to an embodiment of the invention the first tape and/or the second tape is colour-coded. The colour-coded tapes can be utilised to recognize different types of batteries from each other at a collecting point and in a battery recycling plant. The first tape and/or the second tape may also contain text, URLs, or various scannable codes, such as QR codes and barcodes, that can provide information on the battery.

The exemplary embodiments of the invention presented in this text are not interpreted to pose limitations to the applicability of the appended claims. The verb "to comprise" is used in this text as an open limitation that does not exclude the existence of also unrecited features. The features recited in the dependent claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated.

<FIG> illustrate the steps of preparing a battery according to a first embodiment of the invention for recycling. The battery <NUM> comprises a cylindrical casing <NUM> having at its opposite ends a positive terminal <NUM> and a negative terminal <NUM>. The battery <NUM> comprises a tape <NUM> having a first portion <NUM> and a second portion <NUM>. The tape <NUM> is made of a non-conductive material.

The first portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> is attached to the side of the casing <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> has two portions 106a and 106b and it is kept folded on the first portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> when the battery <NUM> is used. The second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> comprises adhesive areas to keep the second portion <NUM> folded against the first portion <NUM>. This situation is shown in <FIG>.

When the battery <NUM> is prepared for recycling, the second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> is unfolded (opened) by pulling the second portion <NUM> from its pull tab <NUM>. This situation is shown in <FIG>. Then the second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> is wrapped around the casing <NUM> so that it covers the positive terminal <NUM> and the negative terminal <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> comprises adhesive areas to keep the second portion <NUM> attached to the casing <NUM>. This situation is shown in <FIG>. By covering the positive terminal <NUM> and the negative terminal <NUM>, short circuits between batteries <NUM> in a battery recycling container can be prevented. An essential feature of the battery <NUM> is that, when the battery <NUM> is prepared for recycling, the first portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> remains attached to the casing <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate the steps of preparing a battery according to a second embodiment of the invention for recycling. The battery <NUM> comprises a cuboid casing <NUM> having at one of its sides a positive terminal <NUM> and a negative terminal <NUM>. The battery <NUM> comprises a tape <NUM> having a first portion <NUM> and a second portion <NUM>. The tape <NUM> is made of a non-conductive material.

The first portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> is attached to a side of the casing <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> has two portions 206a and 206b and it is kept folded on the first portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> when the battery <NUM> is used. The second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> comprises adhesive areas to keep the second portion <NUM> folded against the first portion <NUM>. This situation is shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates a battery according to a third embodiment of the invention. The battery <NUM> comprises a cylindrical casing <NUM> having at its opposite ends a positive terminal <NUM> and a negative terminal <NUM>. The battery <NUM> comprises a tape <NUM> having a first portion <NUM>, a second portion <NUM> and a third portion <NUM>. The first portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> is attached to the side of the casing <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> and the third portion <NUM> are connected to opposite ends of the first portion <NUM>. The tape <NUM> is made of a non-conductive material.

The second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> has two portions 306a and 306b and it is kept folded on the first portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> when the battery <NUM> is used. The second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> comprises adhesive areas to keep the second portion <NUM> folded against the first portion <NUM>. When the battery <NUM> is prepared for recycling, the second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> can be unfolded (opened) by pulling the second portion <NUM> from its pull tab <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> can be wrapped around the casing <NUM> so that it covers the positive terminal <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> comprises adhesive areas to keep the second portion <NUM> attached to the casing <NUM>.

The third portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> has two portions 307a and 307b and it is kept folded on the first portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> when the battery <NUM> is used. The third portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> comprises adhesive areas to keep the third portion <NUM> folded against the first portion <NUM>. When the battery <NUM> is prepared for recycling, the third portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> can be unfolded (opened) by pulling the third portion <NUM> from its pull tab <NUM>. The third portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> can be wrapped around the casing <NUM> so that it covers the negative terminal <NUM>. The third portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> comprises adhesive areas to keep the third portion <NUM> attached to the casing <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a battery according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. The battery <NUM> comprises a cylindrical casing <NUM> having at its opposite ends a positive terminal <NUM> and a negative terminal <NUM>. The battery <NUM> comprises two tapes <NUM> and <NUM>. The tape <NUM> has a first portion <NUM> and a second portion <NUM>, and the tape <NUM> has a first portion <NUM> and a second portion <NUM>. The first portions <NUM> and <NUM> of the tapes <NUM> and <NUM> are attached to the side of the casing <NUM>. The tapes <NUM> and <NUM> are made of a non-conductive material.

The second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> has two portions 407a and 407b and it is kept folded on the first portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> when the battery <NUM> is used. The second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> comprises adhesive areas to keep the second portion <NUM> folded against the first portion <NUM>. When the battery <NUM> is prepared for recycling, the second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> can be unfolded (opened) by pulling the second portion <NUM> from its pull tab <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> can be wrapped around the casing <NUM> so that it covers the positive terminal <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> comprises adhesive areas to keep the second portion <NUM> attached to the casing <NUM>.

The second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> has two portions 409a and 409b and it is kept folded on the first portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> when the battery <NUM> is used. The second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> comprises adhesive areas to keep the second portion <NUM> folded against the first portion <NUM>. When the battery <NUM> is prepared for recycling, the second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> can be unfolded (opened) by pulling the second portion <NUM> from its pull tab <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> can be wrapped around the casing <NUM> so that it covers the negative terminal <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> comprises adhesive areas to keep the second portion <NUM> attached to the casing <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a battery according to a fifth embodiment of the invention. The battery <NUM> comprises a cylindrical casing <NUM> having at its opposite ends a positive terminal <NUM> and a negative terminal <NUM>. The battery <NUM> comprises a tape <NUM> having a first portion <NUM> and a second portion <NUM>. The first portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> is attached to the side of the casing <NUM>. The tape <NUM> is made of a non-conductive material.

The second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> has two portions 506a and 506b and it is kept folded on the first portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> when the battery <NUM> is used. The second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> comprises adhesive areas to keep the second portion <NUM> folded against the first portion <NUM>. When the battery <NUM> is prepared for recycling, the second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> can be unfolded (opened) by pulling the second portion <NUM> from its pull tab <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> can be wrapped around the casing <NUM> so that it covers the positive terminal <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> of the tape <NUM> comprises adhesive areas to keep the second portion <NUM> attached to the casing <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A battery (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), comprising:
- a casing (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>),
- a positive and a negative terminal (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), and
- a first tape (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) having a first portion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) attached to the casing (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) and a second portion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) folded on the first portion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>),
characterised in that the second portion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is adapted to be unfolded to cover at least one of the positive and negative terminals (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>).