Patent ID: 7563531

Claim:
An air depolarized battery comprising: a negative electrode; a positive electrode comprising an oxygen reduction material and a hydrophobic membrane; a separator disposed between the negative and positive electrodes; an electrolyte; a housing for containing the electrodes, separator and electrolyte, wherein the positive electrode is disposed in the housing with the hydrophobic membrane facing the housing; an air inlet port disposed in the housing for allowing entry of oxygen from outside the housing into the battery; and a sealing member disposed on an external surface of the housing, covering the air inlet port, for partially sealing the housing; wherein: the sealing member comprises a plurality of layers, each having a permeability therethrough, and two major surfaces on opposite sides of the sealing member; the sealing member has areas of relatively high permeability and relatively low permeability between the two major surfaces, wherein the area of highest permeability includes a portion of the lowest permeability layer with a higher permeability than a surrounding portion; and the area of relatively high permeability between the two major surfaces is disposed such that at least a portion thereof is over at least a portion of the air inlet port.