Patent ID: 8580439

Claim:
An electrochemical cell, comprising: a) a casing; b) an electrode assembly housed inside the casing, the electrode assembly comprising: i) a cathode comprised of at lea a first cathode plate of cathode active material, wherein the first cathode plate comprises a cathode edge extending to opposed cathode faces; ii) an anode comprised of at least a first anode plate of anode active material, wherein the anode plate comprises an anode edge extending to opposed anode faces; and iii) a first separator disposed at an intermediate location between the first anode plate and the first cathode plate to prevent them from direct physical contact between the anode and the cathode; and c) a stack holder surrounding at least a portion of the electrode assembly, the stack holder comprising an interior surface spaced apart from an exterior surface by a thickness having a perimeter edge, wherein at least one of the interior and exterior stack holder surfaces supports at least one protrusion comprising an extension portion extending outwardly from the at least one of the interior and exterior surfaces to an apex providing a force contacting surface that is in direct physical contact with at least one of the anode faces and the cathode faces of the electrode assembly or with the separator contacting the anode or the cathode, d) wherein an imaginary longitudinal axis intersecting an imaginary plane of the interior or exterior surface of the stack holder and extending to the apex of the protrusion intersects the at least one face of the anode and the cathode substantially at a normal orientation therewith to thereby provide a compressive force to ensure the anode and the cathode maintain a close physical proximity to each other.