Rechargeable battery having a current distribution member

A rechargeable battery, comprising:

• an electrode assembly consisting of a first electrode, a separator, and a second electrode;
• a case accommodating the electrode assembly;
• a cap assembly coupled with the case, the cap assembly including a terminal;
• a first current collecting member, the first current collecting member including:
• a fuse portion connecting the terminal with the first electrode, and
• an electrode bonding portion fixed to the electrode assembly, the fuse portion having a lower melting point than other portions of the first current collecting member;
• a current distribution member fixed to the first current collecting member, the current distribution member electrically connecting the first current collecting member with the case;
• and
• a safety member that is electrically connected to the second electrode, the safety member being between the electrode assembly and the case,
• wherein the current distribution member is fixed to the first current collecting member at a connecting path that is between the fuse portion and the electrode assembly such that the current distribution member forms a current path from the connecting path to the case,
• wherein the cap assembly includes:
• a cap plate coupled with the case, and
• a connecting member that electrically connects the terminal with the cap plate, and
• wherein the safety member includes a safety member side plate that faces a flat side surface of the electrode assembly, a surface of the safety member side plate that faces the electrode assembly including an insulating film thereon,
• wherein the current distribution member includes:
• a current collecting member-fixing portion that is fixed to the first current collecting member, and
• a case fixing portion that is fixed to the case,
• wherein the case fixing portion is fixed to a bottom inner side of the case such that the case fixing portion is electrically connected to the bottom inner side of the case,
• wherein the bottom inner side of the case faces the electrode assembly, and
• wherein the case fixing portion is directly adjacent to the electrode assembly.