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 1-19 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.
Claim 1, line 14 recites “couples to the housing”. It is unclear if “the housing” refers to “a BDU housing” (mentioned first in line 3) or “a battery housing” mentioned first in line 5). As best understood, it is believed applicant is referring to the BDU housing (220).
For purposes of examination, Claim 1, line 14 has been examined to read -- couples to the BDU housing -- .
Claim 11, line 13 recites “couples to the housing”. It is unclear if “the housing” refers to “a BDU housing” (mentioned first in line 3) or “a battery housing” mentioned first in line 5). As best understood, it is believed “the housing” applicant is referring to is the BDU housing (220).
For purposes of examination, Claim 11, line 13 has been examined to read -- couples to the BDU housing --.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 and 14, and their dependent claims, would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: the primary reason for the indication of allowable subject matter in this case is the inclusion of: a mounting configuration for a battery disconnect unit system, where a battery disconnect unit housing houses at least one of a contactor and a resettable circuit protection device for the battery disconnect unit, where a first mounting configuration includes a first fastener, sleeve and pad couples to the battery disconnect unit housing to mitigate vibration transfer between at least one of a contactor and a resettable circuit protection device and the battery disconnect unit housing, in combination with the other elements recited, not found in the prior art of record.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2025/0007033 issued to Liao is considered the closest prior art of record. Liao teaches of a battery disconnect unit that includes a mounting configuration (elements 140 and 150). Liao, however, does not teach or suggest either a contactor or a resettable circuit protection device. Nor does Liao teach of a mounting configuration for mitigating vibration.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2025/0055105 issued to Jeong et al., U.S. Patent Publication No. 2022/0376326 issued the Chun et al., U.S. Patent Publication No. 2022/0077549 issued to Erhart et al., U.S. Patent Publication No. 2019/0379030 issued to Golubkov, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2025/0220860 issued to Wang et al., U.S. Patent Publication No. 2026/0100445 issued to Um et al. and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2024/0322356 issued to Park et al. all teach of various apparatuses that disclose battery disconnect units with mounting configurations but do not teach or suggest a contactor or a resettable circuit protection device with a mounting configuration for mitigating vibration.
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BRIAN SWENSON
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3618
/BRIAN L SWENSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3613
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