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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of claims 1-7 in the reply filed on 01/27/2026 is acknowledged.
Claims 8-17 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 01/27/2026.
Status of Claims
Claims 1-17 are currently pending in the application, of claims 8-17 are withdrawn from consideration.
Claims 1-7 are being examined on the merits in this Office Action.
Claim Objections
Claims 1-17 are objected to because of the following informalities:
In claims 1-7, it is suggested to amend “the base plate” to - -the plate-shaped base- - to conform to prior recitation.
In claim 2, it is suggested to amend “the center” to - -a center- -.
In claim 3, it is suggested to amend “the first edge and the second edge” to - -the at least one of the first edge and the second edge- - to conform to prior recitation.
In claims 3-5, it is suggested to amend “the rib” to - -the at least one rib- - to conform to prior recitation.
Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claim(s) 1-3 and 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kato et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2016/0233540).
Regarding claim 1, Kato teaches a secondary battery (paragraph [0003]) comprising:
a case (5) (paragraph [0038]) (see figure 1);
an electrode assembly (i.e., electrode body) (10) that is wound and accommodated in the case (paragraph [0038]) (see figure 1); and
a support plate (paragraph [0051]-[0052]) (see figure 5) including a plate-shaped base plate disposed at one end of the electrode assembly (see figures 5-6) and supporting the one end of the electrode assembly (see figures 5-6) (paragraph [0051]-[0052]), and at least one rib (121) vertically protruding from the base plate (see figure 6) to be inserted into a wound inner portion of the electrode assembly or to be in contact with an outer surface of the electrode assembly (paragraph [0051]-[0053]).
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Regarding claim 2, Kato teaches wherein the at least one rib extends vertically from the center of the base plate (see figure 6) and along a length direction of the base plate (see figure 5) and is inserted into the wound inner portion of the electrode assembly (see figure 6) (paragraph [0051]-[0053]).
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Regarding claim 3, Kato teaches the rib extends vertically from at least one of a first edge and a second edge of the base plate (122a, 122b) and along a length direction of the base plate (see figure 5) (paragraph [0053]) and contacts the outer surface of the electrode assembly (see figure 5 below), the length direction being substantially parallel with the first edge and the second edge (see figures 5-6 below) (paragraph [0051]-[0053]).
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Regarding claim 7, kato teaches the base plate has a surface having a plurality of trenches (i.e., openings) (123a, 123b) (paragraph [0053]) formed in a length direction of the base plate (see fig. 5).
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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.
Claim(s) 4-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kato et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2016/0233540) as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Kim et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0073380).
Regarding claims 4-5, Kato teaches the battery including the base plate and at least one rib as described above in claim 1.
Kato does not teach the at least one rib made or coated with an insulated material.
Kim, also directed to a battery with an electrode assembly (paragraph [0002]) teaches a rib (900) comprising an insulative material (paragraph [0060]-[0061]) which prevents deformation and supports the entire area of the electrode assembly (paragraph [0061]-[0063]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the rib of Kato to be made or coated with an insulated material as suggested by kim, with a reasonable expectation of success in which deformation is prevented and increased support is provided in the electrode assembly.
Claim(s) 4-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kato et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2016/0233540) as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Chao et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2005/0287429).
Regarding claim 6, kato teaches the battery including the electrode assembly and the base plate as described above in claim 1.
Kato does not teach the base plate has a plurality of holes.
Cho, also directed to a battery (paragraph [0003]), teaches a base plate (20) (paragraph [0030]) (see figure 2) having a plurality of holes (24) (paragraph [0038]). Cho teaches the plurality of holes allow electrolyte to flow and impregnate uncoated regions of the electrode assembly (paragraph [0039]).
Consequently, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the base plate of Kato to include a plurality of holes as taught by Cho in order to allow electrolyte to flow and impregnate uncoated regions of the electrode assembly.
Pertinent Prior Art
The following prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Sugimori et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2020/0203693). Sugimori teaches a base plate (18) made of an insulating material (paragraph [0015]).
Correspondence
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTIAN ROLDAN whose telephone number is (571)272-5098. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 9:00 am - 7:00 pm.
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/CHRISTIAN ROLDAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1723