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 § 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.
Claims 1-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Matsushita et al. (“Matsushita”, US 2017/0117598 A1) in view of JP2018-206605A (“Nakajima”).
Regarding claim 1, Matsushita discloses a battery including a heat absorbing layer (abstract) (i.e. second heat storage sheet) and teaches the battery may include a cathode collector, a cathode layer, a solid electrolyte layer, an anode layer and an anode collector ([0014]). A plurality of heat absorbing layers and unit cells are included inside the battery case, and each of the heat absorbing layers is interposed between respective unit cells ([0015]). A shape of the heat absorbing layer is preferably like a sheet ([0066]). Matsushita teaches a place where the heat absorbing layer is disposed is not especially limited as long as the heat is properly absorbed when the battery generates heat extraordinarily ([0084]).
Matsushita does not teach the second heat storage sheet includes an incombustible layer.
However, Nakajima discloses a thermal runaway prevention sheet ([0001]) that can be used in electric vehicles ([0002]) and teaches including an incombustible base material used for the fire-resistant heat-insulating layer ([0081]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the effective filing date of the invention to modify the heat absorbing layer with the fire-resistant heat-insulating layer with an incombustible base material to further improve the heat insulation performance or the fire prevention performance ([0085]), as taught by Nakajima.
As to claim 2, since the heat storage sheets are interposed between respective unit cells ([0015]), they would isolate the cells from each other.
As to claim 3, exposing the electrode terminals would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art since covering them with the heat storage sheet would render the terminals ineffective.
As to claim 4, Nakajima teaches the incombustible base material used may include aluminum and iron, inter alia ([0081]).
As to claim 5, Nakajima teaches the fire-resistant heat-insulating layer contains a noncombustible base material 5 microns to 1mm thick, and the heat absorbing material layer is 0.1 to 1mm thick ([0080]).
As to claim 6, Matsushita teaches the plurality of unit cells may be included inside the battery case ([0086]). Matsushita also teaches placing heat absorbing layer anywhere where the battery generates heat extraordinarily ([0084]). Matsushita teaches many different heat absorbing materials ([0055]). In view of these teachings, it would have been within the level of ordinary skill in the art to place the heat absorbing layers anywhere where heat is generated and It would also have been obvious to use varying heat absorbing materials since many are known in the art.
As to claim 7, Matsushita does not teach the claimed melting points. However, Matsushita teaches the heat absorbing materials have endothermic onset temperature and endothermic peak temperature within the range of 60 to 250oC ([0055]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the effective filing date of the invention to select optimal materials for heat absorption since the behavior and melting points of such materials were well known.
As to claim 8, Nakajima teaches including an inorganic foaming ingredient ([0104]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the effective filing date of the invention to include a foaming ingredient in Matsushita as foaming agents are well known in the art to cool burning materials and smother flames.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANIEL H. LEE whose telephone number is (571)272-2548. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30-5:00.
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DANIEL H. LEE
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1746
/DANIEL H LEE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1746
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