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.
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.
Key facts
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 timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
This patent is in the public domain
See the Freedom to Build guide — what is free to use, what is not, and how to cite this patent.
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.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Urry, L. F., Karl, K., & Marsal, P. A. (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.
Embed
Add this patent to your site
Drop this plain-English patent card into any blog post or article — free, no signup. It always links back to the full breakdown here.
<div data-patentlens-widget data-patent-number="US2960558"></div> <script src="https://patentbrief.org/embed.js" async></script>
Stay in the loop
Get a weekly digest of new patents.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keep exploring
Related patents you should know
US 4683195 · 1987
How to Make Billions of Copies of a DNA Segment
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method to rapidly create many copies of a specific piece of DNA or RNA, enabling its detection and analysis.
Cetus Corp
US 8697359 · 2014
How to Edit Genes in Human Cells Using an Engineered CRISPR System
This patent describes an engineered CRISPR-Cas9 system for precisely cutting DNA in eukaryotic cells to change how genes work, opening the door for gene editing in complex organisms.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
US 7657849 · 2010
How the iPhone's Slide-to-Unlock Gesture Works
Apple's 2010 patent describes unlocking a device by dragging a specific graphical image across the touchscreen along a predefined path, a gesture that became iconic with the original iPhone.
Apple Inc
US 4733665 · 1988
How Doctors Implant a Permanent Stent Using a Balloon
This patent describes the method for placing a permanent, expandable wire mesh tube inside a blood vessel or other body tube using a balloon-tipped catheter to widen it and keep it open.
Expandable Grafts Partnership
US 4965188 · 1990
How to Make Many Copies of a DNA Piece with Heat
This patent describes the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method, a technique to make millions of copies of a specific DNA segment using a heat-resistant enzyme and repeated temperature changes.
Cetus Corp
US 4235871 · 1980
How to Encapsulate Active Materials in Lipid Bubbles Efficiently
This patent describes a method for trapping biologically active substances inside tiny, multi-layered fat bubbles called liposomes, using a specific water-in-oil emulsion and gel-forming process to improve how much material gets captured.
Individual
Semantically similar
You might also find these interesting
US 4302518 · 1981
How Lithium-Cobalt Battery Cathodes Were Invented
US 4009052 · 1977 · Exxon Research and Engineering Co
Early Lithium-Ion Battery Design Using Chalcogenides
US 10593988 · 2020 · GM Global Technology Operations
Improving Lithium Battery Life with a Built-in Lithium Source
US 4357215 · 1982
How Lithium-Ion Battery Cathodes Are Made
More to explore
More in Energy & Clean Tech
US RE49155 · 2022 · Halliburton Energy Services Inc
Electric or Natural Gas Blending and Pumping for Oil Wells
US 11436484 · 2022 · Nvidia Corp
Nvidia's Method for Training Self-Driving Car AI in Simulations
US 11840398 · 2023 · Titan Trailers Inc
How Titan Trailers Builds Stronger, Smoother Cargo Containers
US 2708656 · 1955
How the First Nuclear Reactor Works
New to patents?
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