Patent ID: 8691423

Claim:
A rebuilt rechargeable battery comprising: a battery case; a plurality of electrochemical cells within said battery case, each of said cells having a cylindrical shell, a positive terminal at one end of the shell, and a negative terminal at an opposite end of the shell, wherein at least two of said cells are electrically connected in series with each other by an electrical connection comprising first and second star-shaped grips and a conductive connector; in which each grip is composed of sheet metal and has a hub and a plurality of arms extending from the hub; in which the hub of the first grip is welded to the positive terminal of one of said two cells, and the hub of the second grip is welded to the negative terminal of the other of said two cells; in which said conductive connector has a first part engaged with the hub of the first grip and a second part engaged with the hub of the second grip; in which a plurality of arms of the first grip is bent so that a portion of each of said plurality of arms of the first grip is in opposed, spaced relationship to the hub of the first grip and said first part of the conductive connector is clamped between said portions of the bent arms of the first grip and the hub of the first grip and held by said portions of the bent arms of the first grip against the hub of the first grip, and a plurality of arms of the second grip is bent so that a portion of each of said plurality of arms of the second grip is in opposed, spaced relationship to the hub of the second grip and said second part of the conductive connector is clamped between said portions of the bent arms of the second grip and the hub of the second grip and held by said portions of the bent arms of the second grip against the hub of the second grip; and in which each said conductive connector is a unitary strip of sheet metal and includes an intermediate part connecting said first and second parts thereof, said intermediate part extending between two arms of the first grip and between two arms of the second grip.