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 7-9 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.
Claims 7-9 each recited “the shaped fixing portion” without antecedent basis. For examination purposes the Office will construe these claims as depending from claim 6 rather than claim 1.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claim(s) 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2001/0024909 to Wakata (“Wakata”).
Regarding claims 1-5, Wakata discloses a battery terminal and associated connection assembly of one battery, that allows a cable to connect that terminal of a first battery to a terminal of a second battery. Each of those terminals includes a terminal plate (10) corresponding to the recited connection cover plate, where each terminal plate includes a fixed portion (11) and a cover portion (12) corresponding to the recited two connection houisngs. The terminal plate accommodates a washer (3) and a connection portion (7) having a through-hole (8) where a nut (2) is used to seal the washer (3) to the connection portion (7). Surrounding those sealed connection contacts are locking portions (9) corresponding to the recited connection fastenings which interact with lower protection walls (24) of the terminal plate which are considered to correspond to the recited housing fastenings. A pair of cables with an associated crimp fastener is held inside the terminal plate. Because each battery includes two terminals, each connection between two batteries of an energy storage system will include a pair of the above described structures.
Further regarding claims 6-9,, a rear of the terminal plate (10) includes a collar through which the cables pass. Id. at Figure 3. The collar fully encircles the cables, thus forming as an elevation, and is recessed into the outer surface of the terminal plate to create the supported collared hole through which the cable passes.
Regarding claim 10, Wakata discloses a connection for making electrical connection to a battery module including a fixed portion (11) corresponding to the recited housing body, and a cover portion (12) corresponding to the recited housing cover. Wakata at paragraph [0025] and Figures 2 and 3. Two conductive cables attached to a connection portion (7) exit from a rear of the sealed fixed/cover portions, with a crimped barrel connector (6) clamping the cables. Id. at paragraph [0024] and Figure 4. This rear of the sealed fixed/cover portions forms a collar that supports the cables as they exit the sealed body which is considered to correspond to the recited shaped fixing portion.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to WYATT P MCCONNELL whose telephone number is (571)270-7531. The examiner can normally be reached 9am to 5pm M-F.
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/WYATT P MCCONNELL/Examiner, Art Unit 1727
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