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 Amendment
Claims 1, 2, 4-5, and 11 have been amended, claims 9-10 have been cancelled, and claim 13 has been newly added. Claims 1-8, and 11-13 are pending and considered in the present Office action.
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the “bump” are not persuasive; thus, the same art is used to reject the claims. A new ground of rejection is necessary for new claim 13.
Response to Arguments
Applicant argues Onuki fails to disclose the blocking portions because “Onuki discloses an arc-shaped positioning portion 29 (paragraph [0032]), rather than a bump”. This argument is not persuasive because applicant has not sufficiently detailed how the arc-shaped positioning portion 29 structurally differs from the term “bump”. The arc-shaped positioning portion 29 appears to read on “bump”.
Applicant mentions advantages of an “integral protruding structure”. However, these comments are moot provided the features upon which applicant relies (i.e., integral protruding structure) are not recited in the rejected claim(s). Although the claims are interpreted in light of the specification, limitations from the specification are not read into the claims. See In re Van Geuns, 988 F.2d 1181, 26 USPQ2d 1057 (Fed. Cir. 1993).
Regarding new claim 13, applicant argues that Onuki fails to suggest the first holders are arranged independently because Onuki discloses the first holders are connected by an inner frame 10. Tt is noted that the features upon which applicant relies (i.e., the first holders are not connected by an inner frame) are not recited in the rejected claim(s). Although the claims are interpreted in light of the specification, limitations from the specification are not read into the claims. See In re Van Geuns, 988 F.2d 1181, 26 USPQ2d 1057 (Fed. Cir. 1993). The instant disclosure shows the first holders as separate elements (hence there is an understanding of their independence from one another); however, the claims are not further limited to prohibit the connection between the first holders. Thus, based on the BRI of the claim in light of the specification, and because the claim is not limited to prohibit the connection of the first holders, Onuki appears to read on the new claim since the first holders are separate (independent) elements.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
Claim(s) 1-3, and 11-13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and/or (a)(2) as being anticipated by Onuki (US 2011/0269001), hereinafter Onuki
Regarding Claim 1, Onuki suggests a battery (see e.g., Figs. 1-3), comprising: a first battery cell (e.g., 14); a first holder (e.g., 18 of 2 at one end of cells 14, 14 at terminals 16/17) and a second holder (e.g., 30 of 3 at the one end of cells 14, 14 at terminals 16/17, see e.g., Fig. 6) provided at both ends of the first battery cell along a first direction (labelled in annotated Fig. 6), wherein the first holder (18 of 2) is recessed along the first direction away from the second holder (30 of 3) to form a first position-limit portion (i.e., arc abutting portion 32, Fig. 6, [0031]), the second holder is recessed along the first direction away from the first holder to form a second position-limit portion (e.g., arc abutting portion 32, Fig. 6), and the first position-limit portion and the second position-limit portion are oppositely provided (see Fig. 6), the first holder and the second holder are buckled along the first direction (e.g., coupling portion 23 via 33/35), so that the first position-limit portion and the second position-limit portion cooperate to form a position-limit space for accommodating the first battery cell (e.g., 14).
Onuki suggests the battery comprises at least two first holders and at least two second holders, and along a thickness direction (see “thick” in annotated figure) of the first holders, the at least two first holders are arranged along the thickness direction, and buckled to the corresponding second holders to form a plurality of the position-limit spaces, see e.g., Figs. 1-3, 6-8; the first battery cell comprises two end faces oppositely provided along the thickness direction, and both of the first holders are provided with blocking portions (e.g., 29, [0032]) which abut against the two end faces respectively to restrict the displacement of the first battery cell along the thickness direction. Each of the blocking portions s a bump protruding from the surface of the first holder and abutting against the end face of the first battery cell.
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Regarding Claims 2-3, Onuki suggests an end portion of the first holder along a second direction is provided with a first connecting portion (33), an end portion of the second holder along the second direction is provided with a second connecting portion (35), the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion are buckled to each other, wherein the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, and the second direction is perpendicular to a thickness direction of the first holder; the first connecting portion is provided with a groove (e.g., hole 33 [0033, 0037]), the second connecting portion is provided with a protrusion (e.g., protrusion 35, [0037]), and the protrusion is snap fitted in the groove, so that the first holder and the second holder are buckled to each other.
Regarding Claim 11, Onuki suggests a blocking portion of the blocking portions is formed where the first position limit portion protrudes towards a surface of the first battery cell, see Figs.
Regarding Claim 12, Onuki suggests an electrical apparatus comprising the battery, wherein the battery is used for providing electric energy, e.g., electric vehicle, [0024, 0065].
Regarding Claim 13, Onuki suggests the at least two first holders are arranged independently along the thickness direction (i.e., the holders are separate elements).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
Claim(s) 4-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Onuki (cited above) in view of Ringk (US 2020/0136098), hereinafter Ringk.
Regarding Claim 4, Onuki suggests the first holder (e.g., 18 of 2) further comprises a first surface in a thickness direction (see e.g., Fig. 6), a surface of the first position-limit portion facing the first battery cell is provided with a glue overflow port (e.g., 20, [0031, 0036, 0051], see Fig. 6)
Onuki does not suggest the first surface is provided with a glue injection port, and the glue injection port is communicated with the glue overflow port, so that the glue flowing into the glue injection port enters the position-limit space through the glue overflow port. However, Ringk suggests a holder (2) comprising a surface provided with a glue injection port (see e.g., 18, 20, 18a), and a surface (8, 10) of a position-limit portion facing the battery cell is provided with a glue overflow port (e.g., 14), wherein the glue injection port (18, 20) is communicated with the glue overflow port (14, see e.g., Figs. 3-4 ), so that the glue flowing into the glue injection port enters the position-limit space through the glue overflow port; by way of the injection port and glue overflow port, the cells 22 can easily be sealed and/or glued/fixed to the holder 2, see e.g., [0036, 0038]. It would be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to position the glue injection port at the first surface, thereby allowing the glue injection port to communicate with the glue overflow port, so that the glue flowing into the glue injection port enters the position-limit space through the glue overflow port, to ensure the cells are fixed/glued easily to the holder, as suggested by Ringk (see also MPEP 2144.04, VI., C.).
Regarding Claim 5, Onuki suggests the first holder is provided with at least two first position-limit portions, the at least two first position-limit portions are arranged along a second direction, the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, and the second direction is also perpendicular to the thickness direction of the first holder, see e.g., Figs.
Regarding Claim 6, Onuki does not suggest the glue overflow ports on the at least two first position-limit portions are communicated with the same glue injection port. However, Ringk suggests a single glue injection port (e.g., 18a) communicates with several glue overflow ports (18, 20), thereby allowing rapid filling of the adhesive (16) with a simplified design, see e.g., [0035]. It would be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art the glue overflow ports of the two first position limit portions communicate with the same glue injection port with the expectation of a simple design allowing rapid filling of adhesive.
Regarding Claim 7, Onuki suggests the battery further comprises a second battery cell, the first holder is further provided with a third position-limit portion located on the surface of the first holder away from the second holder, the third position-limit portion is formed by recessing the first holder towards the second holder, and the third position-limit portion is used to form a position-limit space for the second battery cell, see e.g., Fig. 6.
Regarding Claim 8, Onuki suggests the surface of the first position-limit portion facing the first battery cell is provided with a glue overflow port (20), the surface of the third position- limit portion facing the second battery cell is provided with a glue overflow port (20). Onuki does not suggest the two glue overflow ports on the first position-limit portion and the third position-limit portion are communicated with a same glue injection port. However, Ringk suggests a single glue injection port (e.g., 18a) communicates with several glue overflow ports (18, 20), thereby allowing rapid filling of the adhesive (16) with a simplified design, see e.g., [0035]. It would be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art the glue overflow ports communicate with the same glue injection port with the expectation of a simple design allowing rapid filling of adhesive.
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.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Bae (US 20130202934) shows first holder and second holders, (JP 2006099997) adhesive is filled/flowed between ribs 14 to fix the cell.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANNA KOROVINA whose telephone number is (571)272-9835. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 7am - 6 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ula Ruddock can be reached at 5712721481. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ANNA KOROVINA/Examiner, Art Unit 1729
/ULA C RUDDOCK/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1729
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