How the Modern Alkaline Battery Was Invented
A 1957 patent from Union Carbide that defined the construction of the long-lasting alkaline battery, replacing older zinc-carbon designs.
Original patent title: “Dry cell”
A 1957 patent from Union Carbide that defined the construction of the long-lasting alkaline battery, replacing older zinc-carbon designs. Granted to Union Carbide Corp in 1960 with 25 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a specific chemical and physical structure for a dry cell battery. It focuses on the arrangement of the anode and cathode materials to improve energy density and shelf life. By using a specific electrolyte and separator configuration, it allows the battery to maintain a steady voltage over a longer period compared to the older Leclanche cells that were standard at the time.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover lithium-ion or other rechargeable battery chemistries.
- Does not cover the internal circuitry of the devices the battery powers.
- Does not cover button-cell batteries with different structural sealing methods.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation was in the structural geometry of the cell, which allowed for a much larger surface area of the active materials, significantly reducing internal resistance.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Standard AA and AAA alkaline batteries
Eveready Energizer batteries
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This invention was the foundation for the Eveready Energizer brand. It moved the world away from unreliable, short-lived batteries toward the high-performance alkaline cells that powered the portable electronics boom of the 1970s and 80s.
Filed
October 9, 1957
Granted
November 15, 1960
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies like Energizer and Duracell continue to refine the chemistry and manufacturing processes established by this foundational work. Modern research focuses on improving these designs for higher capacity and eco-friendly disposal.
Market impact
This patent enabled the mass-market adoption of portable consumer electronics. It effectively created the modern standard for disposable power, forcing competitors to pivot to alkaline chemistry to remain relevant in the marketplace.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a specific chemical and physical structure for a dry cell battery. It focuses on the arrangement of the anode and cathode materials to improve energy density and shelf life. By using a specific electrolyte and separator configuration, it allows the battery to maintain a steady voltage over a longer period compared to the older Leclanche cells that were standard at the time.
The clever bit
The innovation was in the structural geometry of the cell, which allowed for a much larger surface area of the active materials, significantly reducing internal resistance.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover lithium-ion or other rechargeable battery chemistries.
- Does not cover the internal circuitry of the devices the battery powers.
- Does not cover button-cell batteries with different structural sealing methods.
Patent Journey
From filing to expiry
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
28/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$15K – $48K
Midpoint $30K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Marsal, P. A., Karl, K., & Urry, L. F. (1960). How the Modern Alkaline Battery Was Invented (U.S. Patent No. 2,960,558). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2960558/alkaline-battery-dry-cell
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How the Modern Alkaline Battery Was Invented cover?
A 1957 patent from Union Carbide that defined the construction of the long-lasting alkaline battery, replacing older zinc-carbon designs.
Who owns patent US 2960558?
Union Carbide Corp owns this patent, granted in 1960.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 2960558 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 25 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This invention was the foundation for the Eveready Energizer brand. It moved the world away from unreliable, short-lived batteries toward the high-performance alkaline cells that powered the portable electronics boom of the 1970s and 80s.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover lithium-ion or other rechargeable battery chemistries.
Patent monitoring