Patent ID: 8765287

Claim:
A battery module, comprising: a plurality of battery cells; and at least one barrier adjoining at least one of the battery cells, the barrier including: a plurality of linear members extending in a crosswise direction across the barrier, a set of the linear members defining a sloping open area in the form of a passage that widens toward one lateral edge of the barrier, and a plurality of sidewalls adjoining at least one of the battery cells, one of the plurality of sidewalls defining the one lateral edge of the barrier, wherein: the one of the plurality of sidewalls includes a main aperture therein providing communication between the sloping open area and an exterior of the barrier, other sets of the linear members define other open areas extending in the crosswise direction across the barrier, and the one of the plurality of sidewalls includes a plurality of secondary apertures providing communication between the other open areas and the exterior of the barrier, an area of the main aperture being greater than areas of the secondary apertures.