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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on 6/8/23 and 11/17/25 have been considered by the examiner.
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 1-11 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.
Claim 1 recites “a pair of current collector plates configured to be respectively stacked at both ends of the stacked body in the first direction”, which is indefinite. It is unclear how the pair of current collector plates are “respectively stacked at both ends” of the stacked body. Examiner suggest the claim be amended to clearly recite the stacked body structure of the power storage device.
Claim 1 recites “a terminal base configured to have a terminal bolt electrically connected to a terminal of at least one of the current collector plates and protruding in a second direction intersecting the first direction fixed thereto, and be provided on a terminal base installation surface that is a side surface extending in a third direction intersecting both the first direction and the second direction, and the first direction in at least one of the restraint plates”, which is indefinite and does not clearly claim the structure of the power storage device. The claims does not clearly recite what element is ”protruding in a second direction”. The claim recites “fixed thereto”, but does not clearly recite what element is “fixed” and what element is referenced by “thereto”. The claim phrase “be provided on a terminal base installation surface that is a side surface” is unclear and does not distinctly claim the invention. In addition, it is unclear how the first direction is “in at least one of the restraint plates”.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the current collector plates" in at least line 10. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Examiner suggests “the pair of current collector plates”.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the restraint plates" in at least line 15. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Examiner suggests “the pair of restraint plates”. See also claim 10, line 2.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the wiring" in at least line 25. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Examiner suggests “the power output wiring”. See also the last line of claim 1.
Claim 2 recites “exhibit substantially a tubular shape having a slit formed on a side facing the opening”, which is indefinite. It is unclear how a tubular shape is exhibited. Furthermore, it is unclear what element comprises the “slit” as “a side” is not clearly defined by the claim.
Claim 3 recites “in a state” where the cover portion is attached to the base portion, which is indefinite. Claim 1 requires “a cover portion attached to the base portion”, thus, Examiner suggests “in a state” be deleted from the claim. See also claim 7 wherein Examiner suggests “in a state” be deleted from the claim.
Claim 3 recites the limitation "the wiring" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Examiner suggests “the power output wiring”.
Claim 6 recites “the base portion is configured to include a side wall surrounding the terminal base when viewed in the second direction”, which is indefinite. It is unclear how a “side wall” surrounds the terminal base.
Claim 7 recites “a gap allowing communication through the opening to the outside of the terminal cover is configured to be formed between an outer surface of the base portion and an inner surface of the cover portion”, which does not distinctly claim the invention. It is unclear if the “gap” and the “opening” are the same claimed element as the gap allows communication “through the opening”.
Claim 11 recites the limitations "the electrodes" in at least line 2, “a plurality of the electrodes” in line 6, “the bipolar electrodes” in line 13, “a positive electrode termination electrode” and “a negative electrode termination electrode. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claim. The claim uses multiple terms to refer to the same claimed element and does not distinctly claim the invention.
Claim 11 recites “such that the first surfaces of the electrode plates are directed in the same direction in the first direction”, which is indefinite. It is unclear what Applicant is intending to claim as “directed in the same direction in the first direction” is confusing and unclear. The claim further recites “a seal portion defining a space accommodating the electrodes adjacent to each other in the first direction and an electrolyte”, which is indefinite. It is unclear how the seal portion accommodates adjacent electrodes and an electrolyte.
Claim 11 recites “exposed from the seal portion” in lines 20-21 and 25-26, which is indefinite. The claim does not clearly recite the structure wherein a current output surface is “exposed from” the seal portion.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d):
(d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph:
Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
Claim 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends. Claim 1 recites “a cover portion attached to the base portion”. Thus, “the base portion and the cover portion are configured to be fixed by being engaged with each other” does not further limit the subject matter of claim 1. Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements.
Allowable Subject Matter
To the extent the claims are understood in view of the 35 USC 112 rejections above, the claims appear to be directed toward allowable subject matter. Examiner notes that any substantial claim amendments made to overcome the indefinite rejections above may result in any indication of allowable subject matter being withdrawn. A search of the prior art was completed to the extent the pending claims were understood by the Examiner.
Claims 1-11 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. Examiner notes claim 4 requires cancellation, amendment or a “sufficient showing” to comply with statutory requirements.
The claims are directed toward a power storage device comprising:
a stacked body configured to have a power storage module in which electrodes including a plurality of bipolar electrodes are stacked in a first direction;
a pair of current collector plates configured to be respectively stacked at both ends of the stacked body in the first direction;
a pair of restraint plates configured to sandwich and restrain the stacked body and the pair of current collector plates in the first direction;
a terminal base configured to have a terminal bolt electrically connected to a terminal of at least one of the current collector plates and protruding in a second direction intersecting the first direction fixed thereto, and be provided on a terminal base installation surface that is a side surface extending in a third direction intersecting both the first direction and the second direction, and the first direction in at least one of the restraint plates;
a power output wiring configured to be fixed to the terminal bolt; and
a terminal cover configured to be mounted in the terminal base, wherein the terminal cover is configured to include a base portion attached to the terminal base, covering the terminal base, and having an opening exposing the terminal bolt; and a cover portion attached to the base portion and covering at least the opening,
wherein the base portion is configured to have a holding portion provided adjacent to the opening and holding the wiring drawn out in the second direction from the terminal base, and wherein the holding portion is configured to have a first wall and a second wall protruding in the second direction from the base portion and facing each other with the wiring sandwiched therebetween.
The prior art, to the extent the claims are understood in view of the 35 USC 112 rejections above, does not appear to teach or suggest the claimed invention. Oide et al., US 2022/0094025 teaches a power storage device 1 including a stacked body 2/3, a pair of current collector plates 5, a pair of restraint plates 4/8, a negative electrode terminal 7, a positive electrode terminal 6 and a bolt 9 wherein the stacking direction is indicated by the Z-axis direction. See at least the Figures of Oide. However, Oide does not teach or suggest the terminal cover mounted in the terminal base as recited by at least claim 1. Specifically, a holding portion having a first wall and a second wall protruding in the second direction from the base portion and facing each other wherein the power output wiring is sandwiched between the first wall and the second wall is not taught or suggested by the prior art. The power output wiring is fixed to the terminal bolt.
Conclusion
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/TRACY M DOVE/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1725