Rechargeable battery

1. A rechargeable battery comprising:

an electrode assembly comprising a first electrode and a second electrode;

a case housing the electrode assembly;

a cap plate coupled to the case;

a terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly and protruding from the cap plate;

a connecting member on the cap plate, the connecting member including a body, a first short-circuit tab within the body and electrically connected to the first electrode, and a second short-circuit tab within the body and electrically connected to the second electrode; and

a short-circuit member spaced from the first short-circuit tab and the second short-circuit tab.

2. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the short-circuit member is configured to electrically connect the first short-circuit tab and the second short-circuit tab when an internal pressure of the rechargeable battery increases to a predetermined pressure.

3. The rechargeable battery of claim 2 , wherein the short-circuit member is within a short-circuit groove formed in the cap plate, wherein the short-circuit member has an edge and a curved portion extending generally toward the electrode assembly from the edge.

4. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the body is a plate and includes an opening configured to be generally aligned with a vent member.

5. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the body has a first groove exposing a surface of the first short-circuit tab and an opening into which the terminal is accommodated.

6. The rechargeable battery of claim 5 , wherein the first short-circuit tab is electrically connected to the terminal by a nut on the terminal.

7. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the body has a short-circuit groove, wherein a first short-circuit unit in the short-circuit groove is on the first short-circuit tab, wherein a second short-circuit unit in the short-circuit groove is on the second short-circuit tab, and wherein the first short-circuit unit and the second short-circuit unit are separate from each other.

8. The rechargeable battery of claim 7 , wherein a protrusion extending toward the cap plate is formed in the short-circuit groove, and a grooVe into which the protrusion is accommodated is formed on the cap plate.

9. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the body is molded so that the first short-circuit tab and the second short-circuit tab may be inserted therein.

10. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the body has a groove into which the first short-circuit tab and the second short-circuit tab are accommodated, and wherein a cover plate covers the first short-circuit tab and the second short-circuit tab.

11. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the first short-circuit tab includes a terminal connector having an opening into which a first terminal of the terminal is accommodated, a first short-circuit unit that is exposed to the body, and a lead connecting the terminal connector and the first short-circuit unit, and

wherein the second short-circuit tab includes a terminal connector having an opening into which a second terminal of the terminal is accommodated, a second short-circuit unit that is exposed to the body, and a lead connecting the terminal connector and the second short-circuit unit.

12. The rechargeable battery of claim 11 , wherein an insulating bar is between the first short-circuit unit and the second short-circuit unit.

13. The rechargeable battery of claim 1 , wherein the connecting member has an area corresponding to an area of the cap plate.