Patent ID: 8709639

Claim:
A rechargeable battery, comprising: an electrode assembly generating current; a case accommodating the electrode assembly therein; and a cap assembly coupled to the case so as to be electrically connected with the electrode assembly, the electrode assembly comprising: a first electrode having a coated region and an uncoated region, a separator, and a second electrode having a coated region and an uncoated region that are sequentially stacked, the separator comprising: a main body part disposed between the first and second electrodes in direct contact with and completely covering said coated region of the first and second electrodes and not the uncoated region of the first and second electrodes; and protrusions formed to protrude from the main body part to the side of at least one of an end portion of the coated region of the first electrode and an end portion of the coated region of the second electrode, said protrusions solely directly contact said end portions of the first and second electrode and extend beyond the coated regions of the first and second electrodes and do not come in contact with any other portion of either the first or second electrodes.