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 § 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.
Claims 1-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Evans et al. (US PG Publication 2014/0065460).
With respect to claim 1, Evans et al. discloses a redox flow battery 100/201, comprising:
a negative electrode spacer (fin 400) interposed between a negative side of a membrane 220 and a negative flow field plate 230 and [0044-0066; Figure 2-4B]
a positive electrode 210 interposed between a positive side of the membrane 220 and a positive flow field plate 205 wherein,
the negative electrode spacer (fin structure 400) includes a plurality of main ribs 405/415, [Figure 4A]
the positive electrode 210 includes a plurality of positive flow field ribs opposingly aligned across the membrane 220 from the plurality of main ribs [0080-0081], and
the negative flow field plate 230 includes a continuously smooth plating surface facing the membrane 220, the plating surface and the membrane 220 sandwiching a non-interdigitated negative electrolyte flow field therebetween. [0040-0068]
PNG
media_image1.png
448
570
media_image1.png
Greyscale
With respect to claim 2, Evans et al. discloses wherein the negative electrode spacer (fin structure 400) includes a plurality of support ribs, and an array of evenly-sized openings formed from transversely and non-wovenly joining the plurality of main ribs to the plurality of support ribs. [0044-0066; Figure 2-4B]
PNG
media_image2.png
446
585
media_image2.png
Greyscale
With respect to claim 3, Evans et al. discloses wherein the main ribs comprise solid monolithic structures having constant cross-sections in a longitudinal direction of the main ribs. [0044-0066; Figure 2-4B]
PNG
media_image1.png
448
570
media_image1.png
Greyscale
With respect to claim 4, Evans et al. discloses wherein the main ribs comprise solid monolithic structures having constant cross-sections along an axis perpendicular to a plane of the negative flow field plate 230. [0044-0066; Figure 2-4B]
With respect to claim 5, Evans et al. discloses wherein a pitch of the support ribs is less than a pitch of the main ribs. [Figure 2]
PNG
media_image3.png
476
576
media_image3.png
Greyscale
With respect to claim 6, Evans et al. discloses wherein the plurality of main ribs is oriented more parallel to a width of the negative electrode spacer, and the plurality of support ribs is oriented more parallel to a length of the negative electrode spacer. [Figure 2]
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KIRAN QURAISHI AKHTAR whose telephone number is (571)270-7589. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 9AM-7PM.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jonathan Leong can be reached at 571-270-1292. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/KIRAN QURAISHI AKHTAR/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1751