DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on December 19, 2025 has been entered.
Claims 1-3 are currently amended. Claims 1-17 are pending review in this action. Claims 4-17 were previously allowed.
New grounds of rejection necessitated by Applicant’s amendments are presented below.
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities.
Line 16 of the claim reads in part: “each end of the first side casings extend between …”.
The verb “extend” should appear in the third person, singular form “extends” for the purpose of preserving subject-verb agreement in the sentence.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claims 1 and 3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S. Pre-Grant Publication No. 2013/0183571, hereinafter Miyazaki.
Regarding claim 1, Miyazaki teaches a battery module (110). The battery module (110) comprises a plurality of stacked battery cells (1) (paragraph [0054] and figures 3 and 12).
A casing member surrounds the plurality of battery cells (1).
The casing member comprises an upper plate portion (17, “upper casing”) covering an upper portion of the battery cells (1) (paragraph [0060] and figure 5).
A pair of bind bars (104, “first side casings”) are located at opposite sides of the plurality of battery cells (1) (paragraphs [0054, 0082] and figures 3 and 12). Each of the pair of bind bars (104, “first side casings”) has an angle iron shape (figures 4 and 9).
A pair of end plates (103, “second side casings”) are located at opposite sides of the plurality of battery cells (1) different from the opposite sides where the pair of bind bars (104, “first side casings”) are located (paragraphs [0054, 0082] and figures 3 and 12). Each of the pair of end plates (103, “second side casings”) has a constant overall width (figure 4). Insertion parts (108, “blind holes”) are located at ends of the end plates (103, “second side casings”) (paragraph [0082] and figure 12). The insertion parts (108, “blind holes”) extend in a longitudinal direction of the end plates (103, “second side casings”) (figure 12). The insertion parts (108, “blind holes”) are exposed to an exterior of the battery module (110) (figure 12).
When positioned in a corresponding insertion part (108, “blind hole”), each end of the bind bars (104, “first side casings”) extends between an inner wall of the corresponding insertion part (108, “blind hole”) and the plurality of battery cells (figure 12). The inner wall is an “innermost” side of the end plate (103, “second side casing”) relative to the end plate (103, “second side casing”) itself, because the inner wall is inside the end plate (103, “second side casing”).
Regarding claim 3, Miyazaki teaches that outermost sides of opposite ends of the pair of bind bars (104, “first side casings”) are offset with respect to outermost sides of opposite ends of the pair of end plates (103, “second side casings”) to define stepped portions between adjacent bind bars (104, “first side casings”) and end plates (103, “second side casings”) (figure 12).
Claims 1 and 3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Japanese Patent Publication No. 2012/181970, hereinafter Asai. (A machine translation of Asai is provided with the current office action).
Regarding claim 1, Asai teaches a battery module (10). The battery module (10) comprises a plurality of stacked battery cells (1) (paragraph [0022] and figure 2-4).
A casing member surrounds the plurality of battery cells (1).
The casing member comprises an upper casing covering an upper portion of the battery cells (1) (figure 3).
A pair of bind bars (4C, “first side casings”) are located at opposite sides of the plurality of battery cells (1) (paragraphs [0022, 0028-0033, 0041] and figures 4 and 24). Each of the pair of bind bars (4C, “first side casings”) has an angle iron shape (figures 4 and 24).
A pair of end plates (3, “second side casings”) are located at opposite sides of the plurality of battery cells (1) different from the opposite sides where the pair of bind bars (4C, “first side casings”) are located (paragraphs [0027, 0041] and figures 3, 4 and 24). Each of the pair of end plates (3, “second side casings”) has a constant overall width (figures 4 and 24). Slits (7, “blind holes”) are located at ends of the end plates (3, “second side casings”) (paragraph [0041] and figure 24). The slits (7, “blind holes”) extend in a longitudinal direction of the end plates (3, “second side casings”) (figure 24). The slits (7, “blind holes”) are exposed to an exterior of the battery module (10) (figure 24).
When positioned in a corresponding slit (7, “blind hole”), each end of the bind bars (4C, “first side casings”) extends between an inner wall of the corresponding slit (7, “blind hole”) and the plurality of battery cells (figures 4 and 24). The inner wall is an “innermost” side of the end plate (“3, “second side casing”) relative to the end plate (3, “second side casing”) itself, because the inner wall is inside the end plate (3, “second side casing”).
Regarding claim 3, Asai teaches that outermost sides of opposite ends of the pair of bind bars (4C, “first side casings”) are offset with respect to outermost sides of opposite ends of the pair of end plates (3, “second side casings”) to define stepped portions between adjacent bind bars (4, “first side casings”) and end plates (3, “second side casings”) (figures 4 and 24).
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.
Claim 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Japanese Patent Publication No. 2012/181970, hereinafter Asai.
Regarding claim 2, Asai teaches that each bind bar (4, “first side casing”) includes a locking piece (4f) which engages with a locking hole (8) formed in the corresponding end plate (3, “second side casing”). The locking hole (8) has a shape and size intended to fit the locking piece (4f) (paragraphs [0032, 0037] and figure 7).
Asai teaches varying the length of the locking piece (4f) from a length which keeps it recessed within the locking hole (8) to a length which has it protrude from the locking hole (8) (paragraph [0043] and figures 9, 13, 25 and 26).
Asai does not teach that outermost sides of opposite ends of the bind bars (4, “first side casings”) are aligned with outermost sides of opposite ends of the pair of end plates (3, “second side casings”) to be flush with each other.
It would have been obvious to the ordinarily skilled artist before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to form the locking piece (4f) with a length that positions it such that it is flush with the outside surface of the corresponding end plate (3, “second side casing”) for the purpose of maintaining a smooth surface, discouraging debris accumulation in a formed recess and/or preventing a protruding end of the locking piece (4f) from snagging on an object outside of the corresponding end plate (3, “second side casing”).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4-17 are allowed.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s newly added limitations have been considered. However, after further search and consideration the previously presented Miyazaki reference and the newly presented Asai reference were found to address the amended claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LILIA V NEDIALKOVA whose telephone number is (571)270-1538. The examiner can normally be reached 8.30 - 5.00 PM.
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LILIA V. NEDIALKOVA
Examiner
Art Unit 1724
/MIRIAM STAGG/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1724
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