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 .
Claims 1-14 are pending.
Claims 1-8 are rejected below.
Claims 9-14 are allowed.
Claim Objections
Claim 5 is objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 5 contains acronyms. Any acronym should be spelled out at least once in each claim set. Appropriate correction is required.
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 1-8 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 lines states “…in order to enable an intervention on both the first or second group of components transported by the respective transport devices”. It appears to be stating both and then state it can be one or the other which is unclear. This does not seem to occur in claim 9. Claims 2-8 do not seem to remedy this issue and are rejected for the same reason.
Allowable Subject Matter
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The prior art of record does not teach alone or in combination providing a first and a second processing line oriented parallel to each other, wherein the respective stations of the first processing line face the respective stations of the second processing line providing a first transport device and a second transport device configured to transport respective components that form the multi-level configuration of the battery pack, said first group of components being arranged to form a base level of said multi-level configuration; providing a second group of components of the battery pack on the second transport device, said second group of components being arranged to form successive levels to be overlapped on the base level of said multi-level configuration; working simultaneously on said first and said second group of components following advancing of the first and the second transport devices, along the respective first processing line and the second processing line and stationing of the first and the second transport devices providing a joining station of the base level and the successive levels of the battery pack; and assembling said second group of components above said first group of components carried by the first transport device, in order to provide the multi-level configuration of the battery pack with other elements of the claim.
Other Prior Art of Record
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Boehmer (U.S. Pat. 11,975,413) teaches transport for moving assembly components in between manufacturing stations.
Eriksson (U.S. PG Pub. 2023/0104336) teaches an assembly like for battery packs.
Ragot (U.S. PG Pub. 2022/0161669) teaches attaching a battery to a frame.
Leo (U.S. PG Pub. 2016/0251045) teaches a production line with parallel stations.
Jaeger (U.S. PG Pub. 2008/0015097) teaches an assembly line with a transportation device for moving components between stations that run parallel.
Encinas (U.S. PG Pub. 2007/0129831) teaches moving components throughout an assembly line using multiple transport vehicles.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NATHAN L LAUGHLIN whose telephone number is (571)270-1042. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8AM-4PM.
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, Mohammad Ali can be reached at 571-272-4105. 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.
/NATHAN L LAUGHLIN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2119
Prosecution Insights