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 . The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The rejection of claims 1-13 and 19-20 under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Takeuchi (US 2020/0152923 A1) is maintained as set for below.
Regarding claim 1, Takeuchi discloses a battery comprising:
a cell having a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other along a first axis (abstract, Fig. 1-3); and
a first electrode tab (Fig. 1, negative electrode can 20 including connection portion 63) on the first surface of the cell (Fig. 1), the first electrode tab comprising:
a first coupling piece, in this case the outer circumferential portion (¶ [0092]; Fig. 1, reference no. 61), coupled to the first surface of the cell at a first coupling portion, in this case the protruding portions that are coupled to the first surface of the cell via the welded part (¶ [0100]; Fig. 1, reference nos. 62 & 62a); and
a first lead-out piece (Fig. 1, connection portion 63) extending from the first coupling piece outside a periphery of the cell along a second axis (as shown by Fig. 1),
wherein the first coupling portion has a convex arc shape toward the first lead- out piece, in this case each of the protruding portions have an arc shape convex towards the middle of the cell which results in one of the shapes being convex towards the lead out tab (see annotated Fig. 1, below).
[AltContent: textbox (Convex arc toward lead out piece)][AltContent: textbox (Fixing pieces
Circumferential portion 61 is also a fixing piece)]
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Regarding claim 2, Takeuchi further discloses the battery of claim 1, wherein the first coupling portion has an open arc shape (as shown by Fig. 1, raised portion 62 includes an open arc shape as annotated above).
Regarding claim 3, Takeuchi further discloses the battery of claim 1, wherein a width of the first coupling piece is greater than a width of the first lead-out piece along a third axis crossing the first and second axes (as shown by Fig. 1).
Regarding claim 4, Takeuchi further discloses the battery of claim 3, wherein a width, along the third axis, of the arc shape first coupling portion is greater than a width of the first lead-out piece (as shown by Fig. 10, see annotated Figure 10 below).
Regarding claim 5, Takeuchi further discloses the battery of claim 1, wherein the first electrode tab further comprises a first fixing piece extending from the first coupling piece along a third axis crossing the second axis (as shown by annotated Fig. 1 above).
Regarding claim 6, Takeuchi further discloses the battery of claim 5, wherein the first fixing piece is a pair at both sides of the first coupling piece along the third axis (as shown by Fig. 1 above, wherein the labeled regions are equivalent to the claimed first coupling piece; alternatively welded regions are equivalent to the first coupling piece).
Regarding claim 7, Takeuchi further discloses the battery of claim 6, wherein the first lead-out piece extends in one direction of the second axis from the first coupling piece, and wherein the first electrode tab further comprises a first anti-rotation piece extending from the first coupling piece in a direction opposite to the one direction of the second axis (Fig. 1, circumferential portion 61 and regions of protruding portion 62 are anti-rotation pieces as claimed).
Regarding claim 8, Takeuchi further discloses the battery of claim 7, wherein the first lead-out piece and the first anti- rotation piece are respectively at a front position and a rear position opposite to each other along the second axes with respect to the first coupling piece (Fig. 1, such as wherein the rear welded regions are configured as claimed and are first antirotation pieces facing towards 61).
Regarding claim 9, Takeuchi further discloses the battery of claim 7, wherein a position alignment surface (such as the perimeter of the surface 20 fully capable of functioning as a position alignment feature) is on adjacent side surfaces of the first anti-rotation piece and the first fixing piece.
Regarding claim 10, Takeuchi further discloses the battery of claim 7, wherein the first coupling portion comprises: a main coupling portion having a convex arc shape toward the first lead-out piece as discussed above; and an auxiliary coupling portion having a convex arc shape toward the first anti- rotation piece (Fig. 1, Fig. 10, raised portions convex toward the lead out as discussed above, and another arc convex portion towards circumferential portion 61).
[AltContent: connector][AltContent: connector][AltContent: textbox (Example main coupling portion with convex arc shape, different length, and different curvature)][AltContent: textbox (Example auxiliary coupling portion with convex arc shape)]
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[AltContent: textbox (Anti rotation pieces)]
Regarding claim 11, Takeuchi further discloses the battery of claim 10, wherein a length along the convex arc shape of the main coupling portion is greater than a length along the convex arc shape of the auxiliary coupling portion (as shown by annotated Fig. 10 below).
Regarding claim 12, Takeuchi further discloses the battery of claim 10, wherein the main coupling portion has an arc shape with a first curvature, and wherein the auxiliary coupling portion has an arc shape with a second curvature that is different from the first curvature (as shown by annotated fig. 10).
[AltContent: textbox (Example coupling portion with convex arc shape of greater length and lower curvature)][AltContent: textbox (Example coupling portion with convex arc shape of smaller length and greater curvature)]
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Regarding claim 13, Takeuchi further discloses the battery of claim 12, wherein the first curvature of the main coupling portion is less than the second curvature of the auxiliary coupling portion (as shown by Fig. 10).
Regarding claim 19, Takeuchi further discloses the battery of claim 1, further comprising a second electrode tab arranged on the second surface of the cell (Fig. 2, such as the lower electrode tab 3).
Regarding claim 20, Takeuchi further discloses the battery of claim 19, wherein the second electrode tab comprises: a second coupling piece comprising a second coupling portion coupled to the second surface of the cell; and a second lead-out piece extending from the second coupling piece to outside a periphery of the cell along the second axis, and wherein the second coupling portion has a convex arc shape toward the second lead-out piece (as shown by Fig. 1-2 and corresponding disclosure).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The rejection of claims 14-18 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over Takeuchi is maintained as set forth below.
Regarding claim 14, Takeuchi further discloses the battery of claim 10, wherein a width of the main coupling portion in a third axis crossing the first and second axes is greater than a width of the first lead-out piece (as shown by Fig. 10), and wherein a width of the auxiliary coupling portion is less than the width of the first lead-out piece (as shown by annotated Fig. 10).
Alternatively, one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention would have found it obvious to have adjusted the width of the auxiliary coupling portion to be less than the width of the first lead-out piece as claimed. The change in form or shape, without any new or unexpected results, is an obvious engineering design. See In re Dailey, 149 USPQ 47 (CCPA 1976) (see MPEP § 2144.04). The motivation for doing so would have been to improve manufacturing efficiency.
Regarding claim 15, Takeuchi is relied upon as above with respect to claim 7. Takeuchi is silent with respect to the first lead-out piece, the first coupling piece, and the first anti-rotation piece, which are sequentially arranged along the second axis, and a first fixing piece extending from the first coupling piece along a third axis crossing the first and second axes, have an overall cross shape. Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to have arranged the lead-out piece, first coupling piece, and first anti-rotation piece, as claimed such that they have an overall cross shape. The change in form or shape, without any new or unexpected results, is an obvious engineering design. See In re Dailey, 149 USPQ 47 (CCPA 1976) (see MPEP § 2144.04). One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do so in order to provide a shape suitable for coupling to the cell of Takeuchi.
Regarding claim 16, Takeuchi is relied upon as above with respect to claim 15 and further discloses the configuration of claim 16 wherein the first coupling piece, and the first anti-rotation piece, which are sequentially arranged along the second axis, a width of the first coupling piece along the third axis is greater than widths of the first lead-out piece and the first anti-rotation piece (see annotated Fig. 10 above wherein the coupling piece arc width is greater than the width of the first lead out piece and anti rotation piece). Alternatively, it would have been obvious to have adjusted the size of the coupling piece and anti rotation piece to be configured as claimed in order to provide a structure of suitable structural stability during manufacturing and use.
Regarding claim 17, Takeuchi is relied upon as above with respect to the battery of claim 16. Takeuchi wherein a width, along the third axis, of the arc shaped first coupling portion is greater than the widths of the first lead-out piece and the first anti-rotation piece (see annotated Fig. 10 above wherein the coupling piece arc width is greater than the width of the first lead out piece and anti rotation piece). Alternatively, it would have been obvious to have adjusted the size of the coupling piece and anti rotation piece to be configured as claimed in order to provide a structure of suitable structural stability during manufacturing and use.
Regarding claim 18, Takeuchi is relied upon as above with respect to the battery of claim 1. Takeuchi is silent with respect to “a first lead wire extending along a third axis crossing the second axis is connected to the first lead-out piece” as required by claim 18. Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to have provided a first lead wire extending along a third axis crossing the second axis connected to the first lead-out piece in order to connect the terminal to a wire to electrically connect to an external device powered by the battery.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed August 19, 2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argues that the coupling portion with a convex arc shape toward the first lead-out piece is not disclosed by Takeuchi. The Office disagrees.
In response to Applicant’s argument, Takeuchi’s protruding portions are equivalent to the claimed first coupling portion under broadest reasonable interpretation. Figure 9 clearly depicts the connection between the protruding portions (reference no. 62) and the face portion of the battery can (reference no. 21). Specifically, the “coupling portion” is interpreted as the surface area of the protruding portions that are in contact with or “coupled to” the battery can surface. The protruding portions clearly posses the claimed convex shape when viewed from above as in Figure 1. Finally, while the circular welded parts (reference no. 62a) secure the two components together, the term “coupling portion” is not limited to the weld alone. Rather, the coupling portion is reasonably interpreted as the whole area of the protruding portion that is in contact with the battery can. Therefore, Applicant’s argument is unpersuasive.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SCOTT J CHMIELECKI whose telephone number is (571)272-7641. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9 am to 5 pm.
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/SCOTT J. CHMIELECKI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1729