Protective shield to prevent shorting in polymer battery

A Li-ion cell, comprised of:

• a first cathode section and a second cathode section, each cathode section having a cathode current collector in contact therewith, said cathode current collector comprised of a sheet of metal mesh having a tab portion extending outwardly from said sheet beyond said cathode section to form a cathode section lead, said cathode section lead from said first cathode section being disposed adjacent to said cathode section lead from said second cathode section;
• an anode section disposed between said cathode sections, said anode section having an anode current collector having a tab portion extending therefrom beyond said anode section to form an anode section lead;
• a separator layer disposed between said anode section and each of said cathode sections;
• and
• a single protective band applied over an edge of said anode section between said cathode tab portions, said protective band disposed between said cathode tab portions, and being dimensioned to extend beyond both edges of said cathode tabs to prevent shorts when said cathode tab portions are pressed together to form a single positive lead.

A Li-ion cell, comprised of:

• two anode sections;
• a cathode section disposed between said anode sections;
• a separator layer disposed between said cathode section and each of said anode sections;
• a first, planar metal mesh layer within each of said anode sections, said first metal mesh layer having a coplanar tab extending beyond said separator layer to define a negative lead;
• a second, planar metal mesh layer within said cathode section, said second metal mesh layer having a coplanar tab extending beyond said separator layer to form a positive lead;
• a single protective band applied over an edge of said cathode section, said band disposed between said anode tabs where said tabs extend beyond said anode sections, and being dimensioned to extend beyond both edges of said cathode tabs.