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 Amendment
In response to the amendments received 10/08/2025:
Claims 1-4 are pending in the current application. Claim 1 has been amended.
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.
Claim(s) 1-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Shaocong et al. (CN 210576035U).
Regarding claim 1, Shaocong teaches a battery comprising an outer encasement member 2 configured to accommodate an electrode body 1 that is quadrilateral in plan view (P23; Fig.1), wherein: the outer encasement member 2 has a recessed portion, or inner cavity 214 that is quadrilateral in plan view and configured to accommodate the electrode body 1, and is provided with a joint portion, or seal area 23 at an outer peripheral end portion; and a corner portion of the recessed portion 214 is provided with a projection, or third surface 213 extending toward the joint portion 23, the projection 213 extending only in a direction of an extension of one side of the recessed portion, which is rectangular in plan view (P47-48.55; Fig. 1.4-7).
Regarding claim 2, Shaocong teaches the projection defines a hollow between the joint portion 23 and the electrode body 1 inside the outer encasement member 2 (P47-55; Fig. 1.4-7).
Regarding claim 3, Shaocong teaches the outer encasement member 2 includes a first outer encasement member 21 and a second outer encasement member 22; and the joint portion 23 is configured by joining an outer peripheral end portion of the first outer encasement member 21 and an outer peripheral end portion of the second outer encasement member 22 (P30.35; Fig. 4.6).
Regarding claim 4, Shaocong teaches the projection 213 includes an inclined face that is inclined, or arc-shape such as 213b toward the joint portion 23 in a thickness direction of the battery (P47-56; Fig. 1.5).
Response to Arguments
Applicant argues the new claim limitations overcome the previous showing of obviousness. The amendments overcome the previous rejections. New and amended grounds of rejection are above set forth. New and amended grounds of rejection are necessitated by the claim amendments.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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.
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/Amanda Rosenbaum/Examiner, Art Unit 1752
/Helen Oi K CONLEY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1752
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