Patent ID: 8137833

Claim:
A battery pack, comprising: a plurality of cells housed within said battery pack, wherein each cell of said plurality of cells is further comprised of a cell case, said cell case having a lateral outer surface and an end surface, said end surface comprised of a central opening, wherein a cap assembly closes said central opening and wherein said cap assembly is comprised of a battery terminal, and wherein an insulator is interposed between said cap assembly and said central opening of said case; and a battery pack housing member configured to be integrated into said battery pack, said battery pack housing member comprising a plurality of cell mounting wells formed within an interior surface of said battery pack housing member, wherein each cell mounting well of said plurality of cell mounting wells is adapted to receive a first end portion of a corresponding cell of said plurality of cells, wherein said first end portion includes said cap assembly, and wherein each of said plurality of cell mounting wells further comprises; a central through-hole configured to receive said battery terminal of said corresponding cell, wherein said cell mounting well has a single opening, said single opening comprised solely of said central through-hole; an annular ring encircling said central through-hole, said annular ring configured to support a complementary surface of said cap assembly of said corresponding cell; a gap formed between at least one inner surface of said cell mounting well and a corresponding region of said cap assembly of said corresponding cell, said gap encircling said annular ring, and wherein said gap is further defined by a union of said annular ring and said complementary surface of said cap assembly; and a sealant disposed within said gap, said sealant forming a watertight seal separating said end surface of said cell case and said battery terminal of said corresponding cell.