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, see pages 6-7, filed 07/06/2026, with respect to claim 1 and new claim 24 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The rejection of claim 1 has been withdrawn.
Applicant's arguments filed 07/06/2026 with respect to new claim 25 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant states: “New claims 21-25 have been added and recite features neither taught nor suggested by the prior art of record. These new claims should therefore also be allowable.”
Examiner respectfully disagrees. The non-linear interface is claimed between the thermal barrier assembly and the first cross-member beam, wherein the non-linear interface inhibits movement of thermal energy across the non-linear interface during a battery thermal event.
An discloses that the side seal 10 has a receiving groove 13 that corresponds to a protrusion 26 of cross member 25 [0034, Figures 2 and 6] such that they overlap with each other and create a non-linear interface [Figure 1]. The side seal may be made of various materials such as aluminum or steel [0026], and such materials are within the scope of thermal barrier materials of the claimed invention [0059 PGPub version]. Because thermal energy is only required to be inhibited at the non-linear interface as claimed, thermal energy, such as that provided during a battery thermal event, would be inhibited at that same interface.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-15 and 21-24 allowed.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 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 25 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by An (KR202100013334 (see previously attached Machine Translation)).
Considering Claim 25, An discloses a traction battery pack (battery case and mounting for a vehicle [Abstract, 0001]), comprising:
a cell stack (stack and assembly of battery cells 20 [0003, 0028, Figure 1]) comprising:
a first cross-member beam (one of multiple cross members 25 spaced apart within internal space of battery case [0029, Figures 1 and 3]);
a battery cell supported by the first-cross member beam (cross members rigidly reinforce cells within internal space of battery case [0029]); and
a thermal barrier assembly connected to the first cross-member beam, wherein the thermal barrier assembly and the first cross-member beam include overlapping portions to establish a non-linear interface between the thermal barrier assembly and the first cross-member beam (side seal 10 has a receiving groove 13 that corresponds to a protrusion 26 of cross member 25 [0034, Figures 2 and 6] such that they overlap with each other and create a non-linear interface [Figure 1], side seal may be made of various materials such as aluminum or steel [0026], and such materials are within the scope of thermal barrier materials of the claimed invention [0059 PGPub version]), the non-linear interface inhibiting movement of thermal energy across the non-linear interface during a battery thermal event (side seal made of same aluminum material and forms non-linear interface [Figure 1], so thermal energy, such as that provided during a battery thermal event, would be inhibited at that same interface).
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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER P DOMONE whose telephone number is (571)270-7582. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00-4:30 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Basia Ridley can be reached at (571)272-1453. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CHRISTOPHER P DOMONE/Primary Patent Examiner
Art Unit 1725
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