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
The following is in response to the applicant’s remarks filed 1/13/26.
The applicant submits that the previous rejection is improper as the cited reference does not teach each and every limitation of the claim. Specifically, the applicant argues that the safety device of Kang cannot be reasonably be interpreted to be considered a busbar, and further that the connection parts (power lines (131)) are not part of the safety device.
The examiner respectfully disagrees, and maintains that the rejection relies on an entirely reasonable interpretation of Kang which is consistent with the broadest reasonable interpretation of the specification. A busbar is generally a structure which creates an electrical pathway. Then, it is reasonable to interpret the safety device of Kang which is an electrically conductive structure as a busbar. The powers lines (131)(132) of Kang are integral to the function of the safety device (120). Then, it is reasonable to interpret the power lines to be a part of the safety device. Then, the rejection is maintained.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1 – 5 and 7 – 9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) by Kang, KR20170039445A (In IDS filed 09/17/2024)(see attached machine translation for citations).
Regarding claim 1, Kang teaches a busbar (safety device)[0001] comprising:
a first busbar part (busbar (141) and power line (131))[fig. 1] having a first connection part (power line (131)) that is connected to a battery (111)[fig. 1], and a first conductive part (busbar (141)) that is connected continuous to the first connection part (131)[fig. 1]; and
a second busbar part (other busbar (141) and other power line (131)) than the first busbar and power line disposed on busbar terminal (121a))[fig. 1] having a second connection part (other power line (131) than the first)[fig.1 ] that is connected to a battery (111) different from the battery that is connected to the first connection part [fig. 1], and a second conductive part (other busbar (141) than the first) that is connected continuous to the second connection part (131) and has a greater resistance value than that of the first conductive part (larger busbar has less resistance than smaller busbars)[0047],
wherein a current diverting part that diverts a current is formed in the first conductive part such that a shortest path of the current flowing through the first conductive part increases in length (adjusting portion (141a) changes current path within conductive parts to increase resistance)[0055][fig. 5], thereby increasing an amount of heat generated in the first conductive part to be more than when the current diverting part is not formed (It is known that increasing the resistance of a conductive part increases the amount of heat generated; then increasing resistance inherently increases heat generated).
Regarding claim 2, Kang teaches the busbar according to claim 1. wherein the amount of heat generated (resistance value which inherently controls heat generated) in the first conductive part is substantially equal to an amount of heat generated in the second conductive part (busbars resistance is equalized)[0058].
Regarding claim 3, Kang teaches the busbar according to claim 1, wherein the current diverting part has a slit (141a)[fig. 5].
Regarding claim 4, Kang teaches the busbar according to claim 1, further comprising: a coupling part (busbar terminal (121a)) that connects the first conductive part and the second conductive part (connects busbars (141))[fig. 1].
Regarding claim 5, Kang teaches the busbar according to claim 4, wherein the battery that is connected to the first connection part and the battery that is connected to the second connection part are connected in parallel [fig. 1].
Regarding claim 7, Kang teaches a busbar comprising:
a first busbar part (busbar (141) and power line (131))[fig. 1] having a first connection part (power line (131)) that is connected to a connection target (battery (111))[fig. 1], and a first conductive part (busbar (141)) that is connected continuous to the first connection part (131)[fig. 1]; and
a second busbar part (other busbar (141) and other power line (131)) than the first busbar and power line disposed on busbar terminal (121a))[fig. 1] having a second connection part (other power line (131) than the first)[fig.1 ] that is connected to a connection target (battery (111)) different from the connection target that is connected to the first connection part [fig. 1], and a second conductive part (other busbar (141) than the first) that is connected continuous to the second connection part (131) and has a greater resistance value than that of the first conductive part (larger busbar has less resistance than smaller busbars)[0047],
wherein a current diverting part that diverts a current is formed in the first conductive part such that a shortest path of the current flowing through the first conductive part increases in length (adjusting portion (141a) changes current path within conductive parts to increase resistance)[0055][fig. 5], thereby increasing an amount of heat generated in the first conductive part to be more than when the current diverting part is not formed (It is known that increasing the resistance of a conductive part increases the amount of heat generated; then increasing resistance inherently increases heat generated).
Regarding claim 8, Kang teaches the busbar according to claim 7, wherein the current diverting part has a slit (141a)[fig. 5].
Regarding claim 9, Kang teaches the busbar according to claim 7, further comprising: a coupling part that connects the first conductive part and the second conductive part (busbar terminal (121a))[fig. 1].
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claims 6 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kang, KR20170039445A.
Regarding claim 6, Kang teaches the busbar according to claim 1.
Kang does not teach wherein the first conductive part and the second conductive part are substantially the same in width and thickness, and the first conductive part has a shorter length than the second conductive part.
However, Kang teaches changes the shapes of the first and second conductive parts to control the resulting resistance values [0058]. Then, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date to arrive at the claimed shapes as an obvious change in shape with a reasonable expectation of controlling resistance as taught by Kang.
Regarding claim 10, Kang teaches the busbar according to claim 7.
Kang does not teach wherein the first conductive part and the second conductive part are substantially the same in width and thickness, and the first conductive part has a shorter length than the second conductive part.
However, Kang teaches changing the shapes of the first and second conductive parts to control the resulting resistance values [0058]. Then, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date to arrive at the claimed shapes as an obvious change in shape with a reasonable expectation of controlling resistance as taught by Kang.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 PATRICK M GREENE whose telephone number is (571)270-1340. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-5.
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/PATRICK MARSHALL GREENE/Examiner, Art Unit 1724
/BRIAN R OHARA/Examiner, Art Unit 1724
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