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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
As to claim 1, the claim recites the limitation of “the plurality of electrodes is supported by the base in a state of not being deformed by fastening force of the fastening means and being maintained flat in shape”. However, it is unclear as to specifically what is “flat in shape”, i.e. the entire plurality taken together is flat in shape, i.e. co-planer, each individual electrode is flat in shape, or another interpretation.
Further as to claim 1, the claim recites the limitation “thereby responding to high current through adjustment of a thickness of each electrode”. It is unclear as to what structural limitation, if any, this limitation intends to refer in view of the overall claim being towards “a positive electrode assembly”, or if this is merely an intended result style limitation.
As to claim 2, the claim recites the limitation “a fastening bold configured to fasten each electrode”. It is unclear as to how a single fastening bolt can fasten each of the plurality of electrodes.
Further as to claim 2, the claim recites the limitation “a fastening hole formed in the electrode”. However, it is unclear as to which electrode of the plurality this fastening hole is formed in, or if the limitation intends to refer to a fastening hole individually in each electrode.
Allowable Subject Matter
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: While not currently clearly and definitely claimed, the teaching of plurality of electrodes, each fastened to a concave arc0shaped base with a fastening means such that each individual electrode is not deformed by a fastening force of the fastening means and each individual electrode is flat, is not taught by the prior art.
Prior art such as KR 10-2019-0038325 to Terada et al. teaches individual electrode segments attached to a base, but teaches that these electrode segments are curved and relatively thick, or flat and relatively thin such that they are specifically deformed by the fastening means.
Prior art such as EP 0 554 793 B1 to Kawashima et al. teaches electrode segments that are configured small enough so that they are “almost planar”; however, this teaching still is not “flat” not does it render obvious forming the electrode segments fully flat.
Conclusion
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/CIEL P CONTRERAS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1794
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