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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-5 and 9-10 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Motohashi (JP-2019186037-A) remains as the primary reference. Hashida (US-20060145657-A1) is newly applied as a secondary reference to teach an inclined acute angle guide (see e.g., Hashida; abstract, [0031]-[0032], figs. 3a-c, regarding guide with sloped surface to connect a busbar to terminal).
Applicant’s arguments were not directed to Motohashi (2) (US-20190006648-A1) and Aizawa (US-20180151859-A1) specifically regarding claims 2 and 4, so Motohashi (2) (US-20190006648-A1) and Aizawa (US-20180151859-A1) remain as references over claims 2 and 4.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 1, 3, 5, 9-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Motohashi (JP-2019186037-A) (see translation), and further in view of Hashida (US-20060145657-A1).
Regarding claim 1, Motohashi discloses a battery module comprising:
a stack of battery cells (see e.g., Motohashi; [0022], fig. 4, regarding cells 10);
a cover accommodating the stack of battery cells (see e.g., Motohashi; figs. 1-2, [0012], regarding upper case 400);
a bus bar electrically connecting the battery cells (see e.g., Motohashi; [0054], [0056], annotated fig., 6 regarding bus bar 250);
a relay comprising a connection terminal coupled to the bus bar (see e.g., Motohashi; annotated fig. 6, [0054], regarding relay 220 comprising connection terminal);
and a joint block coupled to the bus bar and the connection terminal of the relay (see e.g., Motohashi; annotated fig. 6, [0054], regarding base 210),
wherein the joint block comprises a main body (see e.g., Motohashi; annotated fig. 6 wherein the large rectangular flat portion of base 210 may be the main body);
a seating groove formed in the main body such that the bus bar and the connection terminal are seated therein (see e.g., Motohashi; annotated fig. 6 regarding the area around hole 212 which connects holes 221 and 251 of the bus bar and the connection terminal),
wherein a guide portion is formed in the seating groove such that a first fastening hole (251) formed in the bus bar and a second fastening hole (221) formed in the connection terminal of the relay are aligned (see e.g., Motohashi; annotated fig. 6, wherein the walls that extend vertically up from the main body to align holes 212, 251, and 221 correspond with the guide portion),
wherein the guide portion is an inclined guide comprising an inclination formed along a circumference of the seating groove (see e.g., Motohashi; annotated fig. 6, wherein the guide portion is vertical around the circumference of the area of the hole 212),
wherein the inclined guide is configured such that the bus bar and the connection terminal descend toward a third fastening hole (212) along the inclined guide (see e.g., Motohashi; fig. 6, regarding holes 251 and 221 aligning with hole 212, fig. 7 which shows the holes aligned and secured), and
wherein the first fastening hole of the bus bar, the second fastening hole of the connection terminal of the relay, and the third fastening hole are aligned by the guide portion (see e.g., Motohashi; annotated fig. 6, fig. 7, wherein the guide portion borders the aligned holes).
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Motohashi does not explicitly disclose wherein the guide portion is an inclined guide comprising an inclination at acute angle.
However, Hashida discloses an assembled battery wherein with an inclined guide comprising an inclination at an acute angle (see e.g., Hashida; fig. 3a-c, [0032], regarding guide surface 61 that slopes inwards at an acute angle). Hashida is analogous art because Hashida discloses the guide surface is for guiding a bus bar plate to a first position in order to electrically connect with a terminal (see e.g., Hashida; abstract, figs. 3a-c, [0031]-[0032]), which is similar to the busbar and terminal alignment disclosed by Motohashi. As shown in figs. 3A-C of Hashida, the guiding piece has a guide surface 61, which corresponds with the inclined guide comprising an inclination at an acute angle. The guide surface 61 guides stud 50 into space 62, which may correspond with a seating groove, in order to connect terminal surfaces. Similarly, the guide portion of Motohashi, indicated in annotated fig. 6 above, may be modified to be an acute angle inclined guide such that the connecting portion of relay 220 and the busbars 250 are guided into the seating groove. It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the guide portions disclosed by Motohashi to have an acute angle inclined guide as disclosed by Hashida in order to help guide the busbar to connect with the terminal (see e.g., Hashida; abstract, [0032]) which simplifies assembly and operation (see e.g., Hashida; [0007]).
Regarding claim 3, modified Motohashi teaches the battery module of claim 1,
wherein a third fastening hole in which a female screw is formed is formed in the joint block (see e.g., Motohashi; fig. 6, [0054], regarding fastening member 212), and a fastening bolt is inserted into the second fastening hole and the first fastening hole, and is fastened to the female screw of the third fastening hole (see e.g., Motohashi; figs. 6-7, [0054], regarding bolt 252 which inserts into the second and first fastening holes and fastened to fastening member 212).
Regarding claim 5, modified Motohashi teaches the battery module of claim 3. Motohashi discloses wherein the third fastening hole is formed inside the seating groove (see above regarding claim 1, annotated fig. 6).
Regarding claim 9, modified Motohashi teaches the elements of claim 1 as described above. Motohashi also teaches a battery pack 1 comprising a battery module 100 (see e.g., Motohashi; [0010]-[0012]).
Regarding claim 10, modified Motohashi teaches the elements of claim 1 as described above. Motohashi also teaches that the battery pack 1 with battery module 100 may be mounted and used in a vehicle (see e.g., Motohashi; [0011]).
Claim(s) 2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Motohashi (JP-2019186037-A) (see translation) and Hashida (US-20060145657-A1), and further in view of Motohashi (2) (US-20190006648-A1).
Regarding claim 2, modified Motohashi teaches the battery module of claim 1. Motohashi discloses wherein a bolt secures the first fastening hole and the second fastening hole (see e.g., Motohashi; figs. 6-7, regarding bolt 252). Motohashi does not explicitly disclose wherein a protruding bolt is integrally formed on the joint block, and the protruding bolt is inserted into the first fastening hole and the second fastening hole and fastened to a nut. However, Motohashi (2) discloses a protruding bolt is integrally formed on the joint block (see e.g., Motohashi (2); figs. 3-4, 12, regarding studs 203), and the protruding bolt is inserted into the first fastening hole and the second fastening hole and fastened to a nut (see e.g., Motohashi (2); fig. 3, [0103], wherein a first fastening hole is in busbars 281 or 282, a second fastening hole is in the relay 220 such as openings 221, and the stud 203 connects with a nut 290 to secure the first and second holes). Motohashi (2) is further analogous art because Motohashi (2) discloses guide portions such as ribs 202 (see e.g., Motohashi (2); [0095], [0104], fig. 12) which are formed around the seating groove of the studs. Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the joint block such that a protruding bolt is integrally formed on the joint block, and the protruding bolt is inserted into the first fastening hole and the second fastening hole and fastened to a nut. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to improve productivity by shortening the takt time for assembly (see e.g., Motohashi (2); [0006]).
Claim(s) 4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Motohashi (JP-2019186037-A) (see translation) and Hashida (US-20060145657-A1), and further in view of Aizawa (US-20180151859-A1).
Regarding claim 4, modified Motohashi teaches the battery module of claim 3. Motohashi teaches that the fastening bolt 252 is inserted into the first fastening hole 251 of the bus bar, the second fastening hole 221 of the relay, and the third fastening hole sequentially and fixed (see e.g., fig. 6-7). Motohashi does not specifically teach that the fastening bolt is inserted into the second fastening hole, the first fastening hole, and the third fastening hole sequentially and fixed.
However, Aizawa teaches a cell module wherein the relay 53 sits on top of the bus bar 16 (see e.g., [0052], figs. 9-10). Aizawa is equivalent analogous art to Motohashi because Aizawa similarly teaches a battery cell stack with a plurality of cells, wherein the module has a cover, and wherein bus bars electrically connected the battery cells, and relays are used. It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the battery module disclosed by Motohashi by changing the arrangement of the relay 220 and the bus bar 250 such that the relay is secured over the bus bar as disclosed by Aizawa, resulting in the fastening bolt being inserted into the second fastening hole of the relay, the first fastening hole of the bus bar, and the third fastening hole sequentially and fixed. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to prevent dimensional errors of assembly components (see e.g., Aizawa; [0007]).
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 KEVIN SONG whose telephone number is (571)270-7337. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm EST.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Matthew Martin can be reached at (571) 270-7871. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/KEVIN SONG/Examiner, Art Unit 1728
/MATTHEW T MARTIN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1728
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