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 .
Drawings
The drawings are objected to because the following problems.
“a body”, “a proximal end”, “a distal end”, and “a middle portion” of the flexible battery terminal recited in claim 1 are not assigned with corresponding reference numbers with lines pointing at these elements.
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference character “38” has been used to designate both torques and support structure.
The drawings are objected to as failing to comply with 37 CFR 1.84(p)(4) because reference character “36” has been used to designate both normal service life and support structure.
It seems that the element identified by the reference number 32 in the drawings (see Fig. 5) is different than the description of the reference number 32 in the specification because while the reference number 32 in the drawings is pointing at the space between the set screw 24 and the opening formed on the PCB 14 and between the PCB 14 and the support structure 28, the reference number 32 is the specification is described as manufacturing 32.
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the flexible battery terminal comprising a PCB mounting slot must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered. Figures 2 and 5 show that the PCB mounting slot 10 is formed on the PCB 14 and not on the flexible battery terminal 1.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Specification
Applicant is reminded of the proper content of an abstract of the disclosure.
A patent abstract is a concise statement of the technical disclosure of the patent and should include that which is new in the art to which the invention pertains. The abstract should not refer to purported merits or speculative applications of the invention and should not compare the invention with the prior art.
If the patent is of a basic nature, the entire technical disclosure may be new in the art, and the abstract should be directed to the entire disclosure. If the patent is in the nature of an improvement in an old apparatus, process, product, or composition, the abstract should include the technical disclosure of the improvement. The abstract should also mention by way of example any preferred modifications or alternatives.
Where applicable, the abstract should include the following: (1) if a machine or apparatus, its organization and operation; (2) if an article, its method of making; (3) if a chemical compound, its identity and use; (4) if a mixture, its ingredients; (5) if a process, the steps.
Extensive mechanical and design details of an apparatus should not be included in the abstract. The abstract should be in narrative form and generally limited to a single paragraph within the range of 50 to 150 words in length.
See MPEP § 608.01(b) for guidelines for the preparation of patent abstracts.
The abstract of the disclosure is objected to because the present abstract is too short, containing less than 50 words in length. Also, the applicant should delete the phrase “for example”, which makes the abstract indefinite and should change “a PCB” to -- a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) --.
A corrected abstract of the disclosure is required and must be presented on a separate sheet, apart from any other text. See MPEP § 608.01(b).
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
The following title is suggested: FLEXIBLE BATTERY TERMINAL PROVIDING A GREATER RANGE OF FLEXIBILITY AND ALIGNMENT.
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
The examiner suggests the applicant to use the same terminology for the same reference number consistently throughout the entire specification for clear understanding.
The reference number “6” is described as “two Printed Circuit Board (PCB) solder terminals” for the first time in Paragraph [0016], line 4. However, the rest of the Paragraphs in the specification describe the reference number “6” as “the solder terminal”, “two terminals”, “the PCB solder terminals”, “two legs”, and “two terminal legs”.
Paragraph [0016], line 3 describes the reference number “4” as “a double bend portion”, but Paragraph [0024], line 9 describes, “4” as “a double bend”.
Paragraph [0016], line 4 describes the reference number “8” as “a slot”, but Paragraph [0025], line 5 describes, “8” as “a clearance slot”.
Paragraph [0017], line 2 describes the reference number “10” as “a slot”, but Paragraph [0025], line 8 describes, “10” as “a PCB mounting slot”.
Paragraph [0020], line 4 describes the reference number “26” as “a high current terminal”, but Paragraph [0024], lines 1-2 describes, “26” as “a cell terminal”.
In Paragraph [0023], it is not clear what these reference numbers, 32, 34, 36 and 38 represent because Paragraph [0023] has more than one description for each of these reference numbers and those descriptions do not corresponding to the elements in the drawings identified by those reference numbers 32, 34, 36 and 38.
Paragraph [0024], line 3, the examiner suggests the applicant to change “solder pads” to -- solder pads 12 --.
Appropriate correction is required.
The specification is objected to as failing to provide proper antecedent basis for the claimed subject matter. See 37 CFR 1.75(d)(1) and MPEP § 608.01(o). Correction of the following is required: a proximal and a distal end with a middle portion in between.
Claim Objections
Claims 2 and 4-10 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 2, line 2, the examiner suggests the applicant to change “a printed circuit board” to -- a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) --.
Claim 2, line 3, the examiner suggests the applicant to change “the Printed Circuit Board (PCB)” to -- the PCB --.
Claim 4, line 6, it seems that “the PCG” should be -- the PCB -- in view of lines 2-3.
Claims 5-10, line 1, the examiner suggests the applicant to change “The battery powered vehicle” to -- The electrically powered vehicle -- because the independent claim 4, where claims 5-10 are depended on, recites “An electrically powered vehicle”.
Claim 10, line 2, the examiner suggests the applicant to change the pronoun “its” to a proper noun for clear understanding.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 1-10 are 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.
Regarding claims 1-3, it is clear that the flexible battery terminal is connected to a printed circuit board (PCB). However, it is not clear how the two legs with the slot and the elongated mounting hole of the body of the flexible battery terminal are connected to the PCB and the battery cell. Basically, it is not clear how all the parts of the body of the flexible battery terminal are structurally related with the PCB and the battery cell.
Claim 3 recites the limitation "the battery cell" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claims 1 and 3 do not recite, “a battery cell”.
In claim 4, it is clear that the flexible battery terminal provides an electrical connection between the PCB and the battery cell. However, it is not clear what kind of alignment and tolerate deflections between the flexible battery terminal and the battery cell or between the flexible battery terminal and the PCB. It is not clear how the flexible battery terminal is electrically connected with the battery or the PCB to provide the alignment.
In claim 5, it is not clear where “a pair of surface mount solder pads” comes from.
Claim 7 recites that the flexible battery terminal comprises a bifurcated end forming at least two legs and at least one clearance slot between the at least two legs. However, claim 7 does not recite how the two legs and the slot are structurally related with the PCB or the battery cell.
In claim 8 it is not clear how undue stress does not occur between the PCB and the at least two legs of the bifurcated end of the flexible battery terminal when the PCB and the two legs are not even connected or attached together.
Claim 9, lines 1-2 recite, “the flexible battery terminal further comprises a PCB mounting slot”. However, it is not clear how the flexible battery terminal 1 comprising a PCB mounting slot 10 when the specification describes, and the drawings show that the PCB mounting slot 10 is in the PCB 14 and two PCB solder terminals (or two legs) 6 pass through the PCB mounting slot 10.
Also in claim 9, it is not clear how the PCB mounting slot and the PCB are structurally related each other to prevent the cause of undue stress between the PCB and the two legs.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HAE MOON HYEON whose telephone number is (571) 272-2093. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 9:30 am - 6:00 pm.
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, Abdullah A Riyami can be reached at 571-270-3119. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/hmh/
/Hae Moon Hyeon/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831
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