Case for secondary battery, secondary battery, and method of manufacturing the secondary battery

A secondary battery, the secondary battery comprising:

• an electrode assembly comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode;
• a lower case comprising a lower receiving space accommodating a first portion of the electrode assembly and a lower opening;
• an upper case comprising an upper receiving space accommodating a second portion of the electrode assembly and an upper opening;
• and
• a connection part integrally connecting a portion of the lower case and a portion of the upper case,
• wherein the lower case and the upper case are folded about the connection part and are connected such that the lower opening and the upper opening face each other, and
• wherein a through-hole is formed in a side surface of the lower case adjacent to the connection part, with an electrode terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly being disposed in the through-hole.

A method of manufacturing a secondary battery, the method comprising:

• preparing an electrode assembly comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode;
• preparing a lower case comprising a lower receiving space for accommodating a first portion of the electrode assembly and a lower opening, and an upper case comprising an upper receiving space for accommodating a second portion of the electrode assembly and an upper opening, wherein a portion of the upper case and a portion of the lower case are integrally connected by a connection part;
• inserting the electrode assembly into the lower receiving space of the lower case;
• and
• connecting the upper case and the lower case by folding the lower case and the upper case about the connection part such that the lower opening and the upper opening face each other.