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
Acknowledgement is made of the amendment filed on 06/30/2026 in which claims 1, 11, 13, and 19 were amended, claims 8, 18, and 20 canceled, and claims 21-23 added. Therefore, claims 1-7, 9-17, 19, and 21-23 are pending for examination below.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 1, 7, 10-11, 13-14, and 23 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Marovac et al. [US 2020/0062449] in view of Khamashta et al. [US 2022/0332201].
With respect to claim 1, Marovac discloses a modular energy pallet [see figs 2 and 17-19], comprising: a battery [2]; one or more selectively enabled outlets that when selectively enabled provide power from the battery via the outlets [4; the energy transfer devices are situated with sockets/plug and wherein the user’s control of plugging in the cables is equated to a selective enabling of the energy transfer devices; further par. 0047 details an alternative form of wireless charging including a charging/discharging and then repeated charging which implicitly discloses the ability for selectively enabling the power transfer process of the energy transfer device 4]; and an enclosure system, comprising: one or more skid rails disposed at a base of the enclosure system [as depicted the pallets include grooves 163-168 for facilitating transport], and providing a battery to power integrated onboard wireless/rfid communication [20], however, fails to explicitly disclose an integrated selectively enabled access point.
Wireless access points, WAP, are routine and well-known in the art for providing wireless communication access to devices/areas. Therefore, the difference between the prior art and the claimed invention is providing a power switch for the WAP. Khamashta teaches a selectively enabled access point, via an access switch, that when activated, supplies power through a power block to the access point and is configured to communicatively couple with a powered component, enabling wireless communicative control of the component via an external control system [see Fig. 1, items 172, 174, 178].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the instant invention to modify Marovac to include the selectively enable access switch as taught by Khamashta for the benefit of deactivating the WAP during power conservation times and activating the switch to allow wireless communication when needed as suggested by Khamashta.
With respect to claim 7, Marovac further discloses wherein the one or more selectively enabled outlets comprise a first DC outlet configured to provide direct power from the battery [i.e. outlets 40,41].
With respect to claim 10, Marovac further discloses wherein the one or more skid rails are disposed at the base of the enclosure system in a manner that creates one or more fork pockets for one or more forks of a fork lift [as depicted in fig. 1].
With respect to claim 11, Marovac further discloses a battery restraint system disposed within the enclosure system, wherein the battery restraint system configured to secure the battery within the modular energy pallet [Fig. 2, see items 180-182, additionally, under BRI since the storage is within pallet 1 and encompassed by the plurality of walls it is at the very least restrained by the dimensions or the inner pallet].
With respect to claim 13, Marovac discloses a modular energy pallet system [Fig. 19], comprising: a first modular energy pallet [1] configured to provide power from an onboard battery [2] of the first modular energy pallet via a first one or more selectively enabled outlets [4; the energy transfer devices are situated with sockets/plug and wherein the user’s control of plugging in the cables is equated to a selective enabling of the energy transfer devices; further par. 0047 details an alternative form of wireless charging including a charging/discharging and then repeated charging which implicitly discloses the ability for selectively enabling the power transfer process of the energy transfer device 4], wherein the first modular energy pallet comprises: one or more first skid rails disposed at a base of the first modular energy pallet [as depicted the pallets include grooves 163-168 for facilitating transport]; and a second modular energy pallet, configured to receive, at a top of second modular energy pallet, the one or more first skid rails and supply supplemental power via a second one or more selectively enabled outlets [as depicted in Figs 19 and 19a], and providing a battery to power integrated onboard wireless/rfid communication [20], however, fails to explicitly disclose an integrated selectively enabled access point.
Wireless access points, WAP, are routine and well-known in the art for providing wireless communication access to devices/areas. Therefore, the difference between the prior art and the claimed invention is providing a power switch for the WAP. Khamashta teaches a selectively enabled access point, via an access switch, that when activated, supplies power through a power block to the access point and is configured to communicatively couple with a powered component, enabling wireless communicative control of the component via an external control system [see Fig. 1, items 172, 174, 178].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the instant invention to modify Marovac to include the selectively enable access switch as taught by Khamashta for the benefit of deactivating the WAP during power conservation times and activating the switch to allow wireless communication when needed as suggested by Khamashta.
With respect to claim 14, Marovac further discloses wherein the one or more first skid rails are shaped and sized such that a fork of a fork lift may fit within the one or more first skid rails and the fork may be removed after the first one or more skid rails are received by the second modular energy pallet [as depicted in fig. 1].
With respect to claim 23, Marovac fails to explicitly disclose wherein the first modular energy pallet, the second modular energy pallet, or both, comprise one or more chassis ground points configured to bond the first modular energy pallet and the second modular energy pallet together.
However, providing ground connection in circuitry is routine and well-known in the art in order to prevent short circuiting and is required for the proper function of current flow. For example, Khamashta teaches that grounding wires/connection are provided in the system [par. 0035, 0045].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the instant invention to modify Marovac to include a chassis ground point for the benefit of preventing shorting circuiting of the system as well as providing a safety feature to safely discharge the current as is known in the art.
Claim(s) 2 and 22 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Marovac et al. [US 2020/0062449] and Khamashta et al. [US 2022/0332201] as applied above.
With respect to claim 2, Marovac fails to explicitly disclose the nameplate attributes of the battery such as wherein the battery comprises a 51-volt (V), 150 Amp-hour (Ah) battery. However, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the instant invention utilize a 51V, 150 Ah battery since it has been held that discovering an optimum value involves only routine skill in the art. The specification does not disclose any criticality or unexpected results from using a 51V, 150Ah battery and there would be no undue experimentation involved for the person to arrive at such a battery. The benefit of utilizing a battery which such a sizing allows for a wide array of power and capacity to be afforded for supply to a variety of potential equipment.
With respect to claim 22, Marovac fails to explicitly disclose comprising an emergency disconnect affordance that, when actuated, disables all power output of the modular energy pallet. However, emergency disconnects that disable all power are routine and well-known in the art and the examiner takes official notice. Providing emergency disconnect for power devices provides routine safety features of preventing further damage/drain of batteries during emergency situations. Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art to modify Marovac to include an emergency disconnect to disable power output for the benefit of enhancing the power storage devices with a user friendly means of disable power/voltage/current output during emergency situations thereby protecting users from harm.
Claim(s) 3-4, 5-6, 9, 12, 15-17, and 21 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Marovac et al. [US 2020/0062449] and Khamashta et al. [US 2022/0332201] as applied above, and further in view of Deighton et al. [US 2023/0123166].
With respect to claims 3-4, Marovac fails to disclose AC power output. Deighton relates to stackable/modular power supplies [Fig 3A-3B] wherein one or more inverters are configured to convert DC power from the battery to AC power and wherein the one or more selectively enabled outlets comprise: an AC outlet that provides the AC power [par. 0029, 0032, 0072].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to person having ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the instant invention to modify Marovac to include AC power output plugs in the stackable energy pallets as taught by Deighton for the benefit of providing power to a wider range of devices and uses (i.e. AC and DC supply).
With respect to claims 5 and 15, while Deighton shows an outlet such as 230c he fails to explicitly disclose wherein the AC outlet comprises a weatherproof 19-pin output that utilizes a first subset of available channels of the 19- pin output for provision of the AC power. It would have been obvious to a person with ordinary skill in the art to utilize a weatherproof 19-pin AC output since it has been held that selection of a known component based on its suitability for its intended use involves only routine skill. The benefit of such an outlet protects against the elements while simultaneously providing versatility of a common connector while providing a higher current capacity.
With respect to claims 6 and 16-17, Deighton as applied above further discloses receiving additional AC power from a second stackable modular energy pallet and route the additional AC power through one or more open channels of the available channels to provide the additional AC power through the AC outlet [Figs 3A-3B and par. 0058-0061] including a third modular energy pallet [note both Marovac and Deighton show many modular storage units, well over and including three].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to person having ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the instant invention to modify Marovac to receive the additional power from the stackable power sources for the benefit of increasing the power output capacity.
With respect to claim 9, Marovac fails to explicitly disclose one or more selectively enabled work lights powered by the battery, wherein the one or more selectively enabled work lights comprise: a first work light configured to illuminate a control and patch panel of the modular energy pallet; a second work light configured to illuminate the one or more selectively enabled outlets; or both.
Deighton further teaches one or more selectively enabled work lights powered by the battery, wherein the one or more selectively enabled work lights comprise: a first work light configured to illuminate a control and patch panel of the modular energy pallet [par. 0033, 0041; i.e. includes a control panel for illuminating with LEDs selectively based on the power level]. It is noted the claim is recited in the “OR” format and therefore the second work light is not required.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to person having ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the instant invention to modify Marovac to provide a control panel with lights configured for illuminating a control panel of the storage devices for the benefit of quickly and easily providing visual feedback to the users regarding the battery status levels.
With respect to claim 12, Marovac fails to explicitly disclose an onboard battery management system; and an onboard charger configured to charge the battery in accordance with a scheme of the onboard battery management system.
Deighton further teaches an onboard battery management system and an onboard charger configured to charge the battery in accordance with a scheme of the onboard battery management system [Fig. 1, see internal power storage components such as the power manager 115].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to person having ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the instant invention to modify Marovac to include a power manager/charger for the battery for the benefit of ensuring the storage units are recharged in a safe manner (charging regulation).
With respect to claim 21, Marovac fails to explicitly discloses wherein the modular energy pallet is configured to provide, via a panel mount receptacle, an activation status of one or more switches of the modular energy pallet for use by one or more additional modular energy pallets.
Deighton further teaches wherein each modular energy pallet is connected via a cable [340] and/or contacts 220. It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art to modify said connections to enable communication between the storage devices in order send/receive information regarding the status/charge/activation switches of the storage devices for the benefit of facilitating and efficiently allowing the system to monitor the status of each storage device during the charging and discharging operations.
Claim(s) 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Deighton et al. [US 2023/0123166] in view of Khamashta et al. [US 2022/0332201].
With respect to claim 19, Deighton discloses a method, comprising: powering a DC powered attraction component via a modular energy pallet [Fig. 6, par. 0019, 0029, 0084] by: selectively enabling a DC outlet of the modular energy pallet [par. 0029; “switches”, par. 0069, user input controls starting/turn-off]; and coupling the DC powered attraction component to the selectively enabled DC outlet of the modular energy pallet [par. 0029, 0041; i.e. via the outlets], wherein DC power powering the DC powered attraction component is supplied direct from an onboard battery of the modular energy pallet [Fig. 1; see item 110]; and powering an AC powered attraction component via the modular energy pallet by: selectively enabling an AC outlet of the modular energy pallet [par. 0029, “inverter” see also the depicted AC plugs]; and coupling the AC powered attraction component to the selectively enabled AC outlet of the modular energy pallet [Fig. 6, see also 360], wherein AC power powering the AC powered attraction component is supplied from the onboard battery via one or more inverters [par. 0029], and providing a battery to power integrated onboard wireless/rfid communication [par. 0034], however, fails to explicitly disclose an integrated selectively enabled access point.
Wireless access points, WAP, are routine and well-known in the art for providing wireless communication access to devices/areas. Therefore, the difference between the prior art and the claimed invention is providing a power switch for the WAP. Khamashta teaches a selectively enabled access point, via an access switch, that when activated, supplies power through a power block to the access point and is configured to communicatively couple with a powered component, enabling wireless communicative control of the component via an external control system [see Fig. 1, items 172, 174, 178].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the instant invention to modify Deighton to include the selectively enable access switch as taught by Khamashta for the benefit of deactivating the WAP during power conservation times and activating the switch to allow wireless communication when needed as suggested by Khamashta.
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 NATHANIEL R PELTON whose telephone number is (571)270-1761. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am to 5pm.
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/NATHANIEL R PELTON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2859
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