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 Group I, Species A1, polyethylene (Species B), 1,2-Dimethoxyethane (DME) (Species D), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide) (LiTFSI) (Species E), and polyethylene (Species F) in the reply filed on July 20, 2026 is acknowledged.
Claims 3-7 and 10-33 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected Groups II-II and Species A2-A3, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on July 20, 2026.
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 1-2 and 8-9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yun et al. (US PGPub 2003/0180623 A1).
Regarding Claim 1, Yun discloses a composite solid electrolyte (CSE) ([0037]), comprising:
at least one polymer ([0040]-[0042]);
at least one lithium salt ([0043], [0046]);
a substrate ([0038]).
Yun further discloses wherein the CSE may further comprise a solvent plasticizer, at least one inorganic additive particle, and one or more liquid or solid additive (e.g. initiator for UV curing, curing accelerator) ([0048]-[0058]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize a solvent plasticizer, at least one inorganic additive particle, and one or more liquid or solid additive in the CSE, as disclosed by Yun, wherein the skilled artisan would have a reasonable expectation that such would successfully form the CSE desired by Yun.
Regarding Claim 2, modified Yun discloses all of the limitations as set forth above and further discloses wherein the substrate may be chosen to be a continuous porous webbing of polyethylene ([0038], [0011]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize a continuous porous webbing of polyethylene as the substrate, as disclosed by modified Yun, wherein the skilled artisan would have a reasonable expectation that such would successfully form the CSE desired by Yun.
Regarding Claim 8, modified Yun discloses all of the limitations as set forth above and further discloses wherein the CSE is configured to prevent short-circuit of a battery by serving the function of an ionically-conductive but electronically-insulative barrier between a cathode and an anode of a battery cell ([0038], [0011], [0055], wherein the UV-cured electrolyte layer is ionically conductive and the substrate is electrically-insulative).
Regarding Claim 9, modified Yun discloses all of the limitations as set forth above. However, modified Yun does not explicitly disclose wherein the CSE mitigates dendrite growth on an anode of a battery cell and prevents dendrites from short-circuiting the battery cell by maintaining an operating rigidity which is impenetrable to dendrites.
The Examiner notes wherein the claimed CSE mitigates dendrite growth on the anode of the cell and prevents dendrites from short-circuiting the cell by maintaining an operating rigidity of which is impenetrable to dendrites ([0039], [0157]).
Thus, because modified Yun discloses a CSE comprising at least one polymer ([0040]-[0042]); at least one lithium salt ([0043]), [0046]); a solvent plasticizer ([0048]); at least one inorganic additive particle ([0048]) a substrate ([0038]); and one or more liquid or solid additive (e.g. initiator for UV curing, curing accelerator) ([0048]), such necessarily and inherently mitigates dendrite growth on an anode of a battery cell and prevents dendrites from short-circuiting the battery cell by maintaining an operating rigidity of which is impenetrable to dendrites, as evidenced by [0039], [0157] of the instant specification.
Claim 9 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yun et al. (US PGPub 2003/0180623 A1), as evidenced by Takamiya et al. (US Patent No. 6,150,455).
Regarding Claim 9, modified Yun discloses all of the limitations as set forth above. However, modified Yun does not explicitly disclose wherein the CSE mitigates dendrite growth on an anode of a battery cell and prevents dendrites from short-circuiting the battery cell by maintaining an operating rigidity which is impenetrable to dendrites.
Takamiya teaches that when a polymer solid electrolyte is used in a battery cell, the polymer solid electrolyte prevents the formation of dendrites or gives no such formation at all, thereby preventing serious problems such as short circuit and rupture of the battery cell (C1, L66-C2, L11).
Thus, because modified Yun discloses wherein the CSE is a polymer solid electrolyte ([0037]-[0043]), such necessarily and inherently mitigates dendrite growth on an anode of a battery cell and prevents dendrites from short-circuiting the battery cell by maintaining an operating rigidity which is impenetrable to dendrites, as evidenced by Takamiya (C1, L66-C2, L11).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KIMBERLY WYLUDA whose telephone number is (571)272-4381. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 7 AM - 3 PM EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, BASIA RIDLEY can be reached at (571)272-1453. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/KIMBERLY WYLUDA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1725
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