Duracell Inc.

Michael Garris

John F Hughen

Scott Ferguson

A label for an electrochemical cell with a condition tester for the cell integrated with the label to form a label/tester composite is disclosed. The label/tester composite has a thermochromic material in thermal contact with an electrically conductive material. A substructure containing a cured conductive material and preferably also a thermochromic material is formed on a releasable web and transferred from the releasable web to the inside surface of the heat shrinkable base film. A partition coating may be applied over the transferred conductive material. Preferably, a sheet of paper or plastic film having a large window opening therein for entrapping air is applied over the partition coating and aligned over the heat generating portion of the conductive material. The label/tester composite is applied to the cell housing with the insulating paper or plastic film with window opening against the cell housing. The tester may be activated by depressing one or two regions on its surface thereby connecting the conductive material to the terminals of the cell, whereupon the conductive material becomes heated causing a change in appearance of the thermochromic material to indicate the condition of the cell.

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Litchfield, CT, United States of America

Michael Garris