DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Objections
Claim 16 objected to because of the following informalities: in line 8, “stage” should be changed to “drum”. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-10 and 14-15 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 1 recites “the cut laminated body” in lines 12-13 and 14-15, which is indefinite because the claim defines both the first laminated body and second laminated body as being a cut laminated body.
Claim 2 recites “the cut laminated body” in line 4, which is indefinite because the claim defines both the first laminated body and second laminated body as being a cut laminated body.
Claim 4 recites “the cut laminated body” in line 3, which is indefinite because the claim defines both the first laminated body and second laminated body as being a cut laminated body.
Claim 5 recites “the laminated body” in line 5, but does not define whether this refers to the first, the second, or one of the cut laminated bodies.
Claim 6 recites “the laminated body” in lines 3 and 5, but does not define whether this refers to the first, the second, or one of the cut laminated bodies.
Claim 7 recites “the laminated body” in line 3, but does not define whether this refers to the first, the second, or one of the cut laminated bodies.
Claim 10 recites “the laminated body” in lines 3, 5, 7, and 8-9 but does not define whether this refers to the first, the second, or one of the cut laminated bodies.
Claim 14 recites the limitation "the laminate body" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 15 recites “the cut laminated body” in line 3, which is indefinite because the claim defines both the first laminated body and second laminated body as being a cut laminated body.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d):
(d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph:
Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
Claim 9 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends. Claim 8 claims the first laminating drum laminates 3-layer laminated body, but claim 9 claims embodiments that do not result in a 3-layer body, so claim 9 does not necessarily contain all of the limitations of parent claim 8. Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-10 and 14-15 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Claims 16 would be allowed if amended to clarify the present objection.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for indicating allowable subject matter: the prior art of record does not teach or fairly suggest a laminated electrode assembly manufacturing device comprising a first laminating drum that can laminate a first laminated body on a first laminating stage disposed downstream of the first laminating drum and a second laminating drum which is different from the first laminating drum that can laminate a second laminated body on a second laminating stage different from the first laminating stage and disposed downstream of the second laminating drum, where the circumferential surface of each drum can convey each electrode material worked upon.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Nickolas R Harm whose telephone number is (571)270-7605. The examiner can normally be reached 10:00-6:00.
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/NICKOLAS R HARM/ Examiner, Art Unit 1745
/PHILIP C TUCKER/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1745