Patent ID: 7749650

Claim:
A battery assembly, comprising: a battery, said battery comprising: a pre-fabricated cell case having an exterior sidewall surface, a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein said first end portion is comprised of a cell case bottom, and wherein said second end portion is comprised of a cap assembly retention lip and a central open portion; an electrode assembly contained within said pre-fabricated cell case, wherein a first electrode of said electrode assembly is electrically connected to said pre-fabricated cell case; and a cap assembly mounted to said pre-fabricated cell case, said cap assembly closing said central open portion of said second end portion, wherein said cap assembly further comprises a battery terminal electrically isolated from said pre-fabricated cell case and electrically connected to a second electrode of said electrode assembly; and at least one layer pair positioned around said exterior sidewall surface of said pre-fabricated cell case, wherein each layer pair of said at least one layer pair is comprised of an inner layer comprised of a thermally insulating material and an outer layer comprised of a high yield strength material, wherein said high yield strength material has a yield strength of at least 250 MPa, wherein an interior surface of an innermost layer of an innermost layer pair of said at least one layer pair is proximate to said exterior sidewall surface of said pre-fabricated cell case.