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 .
DETAILED ACTION
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, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by CHOI et al. US 20190051875 A1.
In reference to claim 1, CHOI teaches a battery pack assembly (shown in figure 4), comprising: a header base of a header assembly, the header base (310, 320; fig. 4) connectable to a battery pack enclosure (110, 120; fig. 3); and a grounding link (700; fig. 4) of the header assembly, the grounding link contained within the header base (see fig. 4), the grounding link establishing a ground path between the battery pack enclosure (110, 120) and one or more vehicle connectors (600; fig. 4) that are coupled to the header assembly.
In reference to claim 5, CHOI teaches the battery pack assembly of claim 1, wherein the grounding link is a metal or metal alloy.
In reference to claim 6, CHOI teaches the battery pack assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of mechanical fasteners (400; fig. 4) that secure the header base to the battery pack enclosure.
In reference to claim 7, CHOI teaches the battery pack assembly of claim 6, wherein a portion of the grounding link is sandwiched between the battery pack enclosure (110, 120) and the header base (310, 320).
In reference to claim 8, CHOI teaches the battery pack assembly of claim 1, wherein the battery pack enclosure includes a tray (pertaining to 320), the header base (pertaining to 310) connectable to the tray (see fig. 5 where 310 is connected to 320 by bolts 400).
In reference to claim 9, CHOI teaches the battery pack assembly of claim 8, wherein the tray is a metal or metal alloy.
In reference to claim 16, CHOI teaches the battery pack assembly of claim 1, further comprising, the battery pack enclosure, and a battery array (see [0045] which motions a plurality of secondary batteries) held within an interior area of the battery pack enclosure.
Claims 17-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Dunn et al. US 20240429543 A1.
In reference to claim 17, Dunn teaches a battery pack connection method, comprising: securing a header base (305; fig. 7) of a header assembly (220; fig. 7) to a battery pack enclosure (110; fig. 2) such that the header base is disposed over an opening in the battery pack (i.e. the openings in 110 that receive 305) enclosure and sandwiches a portion of a grounding link (405; fig. 4, 5, 12. 805 connects to 405 and serves as a grounding path. See [0044]) against the battery pack enclosure, the grounding link establishing a ground path (805 connects to 405 and serves as a grounding path. See [0044]) between the battery pack enclosure and one or more vehicle connectors (i.e. the connectors mounted inside 305. See figs. 7-10) that are coupled to the header assembly.
In reference to claim 18, Dunn teaches the battery pack connection method of claim 17, further comprising securing the header base to the battery pack enclosure using at least one mechanical fastener (605; fig. 9).
In reference to claim 19, Dunn teaches the battery pack connection method of claim 17, further comprising securing a plurality of header connectors (i.e. the connectors mounted inside 305; fig. 7) to the header base (305), each of the header connectors each having a header housing and at least one electrical terminal (see the terminals in fig. 9), the grounding link electrically coupled to the at least one electrical terminal (i.e. the terminals inside of 305. See [0044] which explains that 805 connects to the header 305).
In reference to claim 20, Dunn teaches the battery pack connection method of claim 19, further comprising coupling the one or more vehicle connectors to the header connectors to electrically couple a vehicle to the battery pack.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claim 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over CHOI et al. US 20190051875 A1
In reference to claim 4, CHOI substantially teaches the claimed invention.
However CHOI does not teach wherein the grounding link is more conductive than the header base.
It has been held to be within the general skill of a worker in the art to select a known material on the basis of its suitability for the intended use as a matter of obvious design choice. Modifying the material of the grounding link in order to arrive at the results of claim 4 is seen as an obvious modification.
Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to Modifying the material of the grounding link in order to arrive at the results of claim 4. The grounding link still provides a grounding path, therefore new results are not produced.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2, 3, 10-15 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TRAVIS SLOAN CHAMBERS whose telephone number is (571)272-6813. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30a.m.-5:00p.m..
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Abdullah A Riyami can be reached at 571-270-3119. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/TRAVIS S CHAMBERS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831 08/27/2026
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