DETAILED ACTION
The response filed September 9, 2026 has been entered. Claims 8, 15, and 20 have been canceled. Claims 9-14 and 16-19 are rejoined. Claims 1-7, 9-14, and 16-19 are pending.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claims 1, 3-6, 9-10, 12-13, and 17-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhang (CN217788723U).
Regarding claims 1, 3-6, 9-10, 12-13, and 17-18, Zhang discloses (see [0067]-[0100]) and Figs. 3-7) a cylindrical power battery module includes at least one sub-module, and each sub-module includes multiple adjacently arranged cell units 100 ([0067]). The multiple cell units 100 are arranged in an array along a first direction and a second direction, and there are intervals between the multiple cell units 100 ([0067]). In an embodiment, a sub-module is configured as one, with the input terminal of the cylindrical power battery module being the cell unit 100 at one end of the sub-module and the output terminal of the cylindrical power battery module being the cell unit 100 at the other end of the sub-module ([0068]). The busbar assembly in this cylindrical power battery module includes an input copper busbar 200, an output copper busbar 300, and a corresponding number of CCS components for the sub-module ([0068]). The input copper busbar 200 is connected to the cell unit 100 at the input end of the cylindrical power battery module ([0068]).
As shown in Fig. 5, the output copper bar 300 is a variable cross-section copper bar, and comprises an output copper bar first end 301 (i.e. protection bar) and an output copper bar second end 302 (i.e. output bar); the output copper bar first end 301 is connected to the battery cell unit 100 at the output end of the cylindrical power battery of the copper bar (i.e. the output bar being electrically connected to an external device, and the protection bar being connected between the output bar and the battery pack output bar), and the thickness of the output copper bar first end 301 is less than that of the output copper bar second end 302 ([0086]). The output copper bar 300 can further be connected to the battery cell unit 100 at the input end of the submodule. The thickness of the output copper bar first end 301 is 0.2mm to 0.4mm, and the thickness of the output copper bar second end 302 is 3mm to 5mm ([0086]).
The output copper bar first end 301 is a planar structure, and a third fuse structure comprises a third flow limiting hole provided on the output copper bar first end 301 (i.e. the protection bar being provided with a fuse protection structure) ([0088]). The output copper bar first end comprises input connection portions (i.e. branch bars) corresponding to conductive units 410 on the same connection piece 400 in quantity (Fig. 5; the protection bar comprises a main bar and a plurality of branch bars connected to the main bar, the main bar and the output bar being connected). The four input connection portions are respectively connected to the four battery cell units 100 at the output end of the submodule, thereby realizing collection of the current at the output copper bar 300 (i.e. one branch bar being electrically connected to one-sub battery group of the battery group). A protrusion structure of the output copper bar first end 301 is a third buffer portion 303, and the third fuse structure is provided at the third buffer portion 303 (i.e. each branch bar being provided with a fuse protection structure).
Zhang teaches an output copper bar first end 301, which is capable of connecting to a nickel sheet. A “connection piece” is a very broad term and “for connecting a nickel sheet” is intended use. Any part of the protective bar can read on “connection piece” as long as it is capable of connecting a nickel sheet.
As to claim 5, Zhang does not teach welding the output bar and protective bar. However, welding is well known in the art to form connections while maintaining alignment and preventing interference. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the effective filing date of the invention to weld the output bar and protective bar together to form a connection while maintaining alignment and position.
Claims 2, 11, and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhang in view of Bertin et al. (“Bertin”, US 6,633,055 B2).
As to claims 2, 11, and 16, Zhang teaches fuse protection structures but does not teach a gap between conductive strips. However, small, precise gaps are known in the art for arc interruption, thermal performance, and mechanical stability. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the effective filing date of the invention to include gaps between conductive strips in Zhang for improved for arc interruption, thermal performance, and mechanical stability. Bertin also teaches the gap reduces the amount of heat that can be conducted away from the fusible element. In a conductive strip, heat spreads through the material; by introducing an air gap, the thermal conductivity path is interrupted, allowing the strip to heat up more quickly and reach its melting point at a lower current.
Claims 7, 14, and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhang in view of Goh et al. (“Goh”, US 2023/0066938 A1).
As to claims 7, 14, and 19, Zhang does not teach piercing holes or bending parts. However, Goh discloses a battery connection module (title) and depicts both holes and bending parts in Fig. 9. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the effective filing date of the invention to include holes to achieve lighter weight and facilitate electrical connections and to have bending parts to facilitate electrical connections at predetermined contact points.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments have been fully considered but are either moot in view of the new grounds of rejection or are not found persuasive.
The limitations of claims 11-14 and 16-19 are identical to the limitations of claims 2, 3, 6, and 7.
As to Applicant’s argument regarding claim 1 (with the incorporation of the limitation of claim 8), the Examiner does not find this amendment novel or unobvious.
Zhang teaches an output copper bar first end 301, which is capable of connecting to a nickel sheet. A “connection piece” is a very broad term and “for connecting a nickel sheet” is intended use. Any part of the protective bar can read on “connection piece” as long as it is capable of connecting a nickel sheet. The claim language is too broad and also limits it with intended use.
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 DANIEL H. LEE whose telephone number is (571)272-2548. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30-5:00.
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DANIEL H. LEE
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1746
/DANIEL H LEE/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1746
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