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 Interpretation
The claims are directed to “A battery module of a battery-replacement outdoor power supply.” This goes beyond mere intended use or configuration of the battery module, but expressly requires the battery module to be a part of the recited battery-replacement outdoor power supply. Thus, the claim is considered to require not just a battery module, but a battery-replacement outdoor power supply that includes a battery module. This interpretation is supported by the fact that claim 1 requires one end of the quick connector to be connected to the battery compartment of the battery-replacement outdoor power supply” which requires the presence of battery-replacement outdoor power supply.
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 8-10 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 8 recites “each of the plurality of series conductor elements is disposed at opposite sides of the cell pack and is configured for series connection…”. The claim is structured in singular form: “each” and repetitive use of “is” indicate this. Thus, it is unclear what is meant by requiring an individual conductor element to be disposed at opposite sides.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0103639 to Guglielmo (“Guglielmo”). Regarding claims 1 and 2, Guglielmo discloses a rechargeable lithium ion battery assembly acting as a power supply for a forklift. Guglielmo at paragraph [0056]. Because a forklift may operate outdoors, the battery assembly is thus considered to be an outdoor power supply. The battery assembly includes a plurality of replaceable battery modules, making the power battery system a battery-replacement power supply. Id.
Each battery module includes a pack of many battery cells. Id. at paragraph [0064]. Those cells are held within a rectangular housing having six sides. On the rear panel of these six sides is penetrated by a 10-pin connector (210) and battery terminals (211 and 212). Id. at paragraph [0072] and Figure 14. Thus, this rear side of the housing is considered to correspond to the recited plug-in panel, the front side opposite the rear side corresponding to the recited second cover plate, the pair of side panels and bottom panel together corresponding to the U/groove-shaped housing body and the top panel corresponding to the recited first cover plate.
When the battery module is mounted to the battery assembly, the 10-pin connector interlocks with a corresponding bus connector located at the rear of the module housing of the battery assembly. Thus, the bus connector is considered to correspond to the recited slot in the battery compartment to which the 10-pin quick connector is detachably connected. The interior portion of the 10-pin connector is connected to the microcontroller of the battery module. Id. at paragraph [0075].
Further regarding claim 3, the Office notes that the specification appears to use the term “handle” quite broadly, such that it merely be a structure that a person may use to lift the battery module by. Claim 3 further allows the handle to be integrated as part of the housing body. The side panels of the module housing of Guglielmo include grooves (112) facing the outside of the battery housing to guide a pin. Moreover, a user can use the bottom and side surfaces to lift the battery module. Thus, at least the portions of the side panels having the grooves and the bottom panel of Guglielmo may be considered to cooperatively form the recited handle. Id. at paragraph [0066]. Alternatively, one can consider prupose-included handle (205) that is attached to the front panel (corresponding to the recited second cover plate) via a a bolt passing through a through hole (groove) formed in the handle. Id. at paragraph [0071].
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claim(s) 5-7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Guglielmo. Guglielmo is applied as described above. Further regarding claim 5, although Guglielmo does not disclose the manner by which its first cover plate is aligned/attached to its housing body, the Office notes that the use of corresponding groove/protrusions on mated parts is a common way to align and/or attach those parts and thus use of those to ensure alignment/attachment of the first cover plate of Guglielmo to the housing body of Guglielmo is considered to be nothing more than the obvious use of commonly known structures in the manner they are known to be used to achieve a predictable result.
Further regarding claim 6 and 7, although Guglielmo is silent regarding the recited ribs, the Office finds that providing reinforcing ribs to the walls of a housing meant to supportably hold a 50+ pound battery pack to be carried around in an active work zone environment, absent a showing of criticality/unexpected results, is nothing more than a common design feature to ensure a desired wall strength for the given application is achieved.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4 and 8-10 objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Regarding claim 4, the prior art is silent regarding providing lock holes in the battery handle as claimed.
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/WYATT P MCCONNELL/Examiner, Art Unit 1727