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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election of Group I in the reply filed on 8/6/2026 is acknowledged. Because applicant did not distinctly and specifically point out the supposed errors in the restriction requirement, the election has been treated as an election without traverse (MPEP § 818.01(a)).
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 11-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and (a)(2) as being anticipated by Mennicke et al. (US 5,158,841).
Regarding claim 11, Mennicke et al. discloses in Figs 1-6, an arrangement for an electrochemical energy store (ref 1), the arrangement comprising: a honeycomb structure (Figs 1-2) having: hollow-cylindrical tubular shapes (ref 3, C4/L57-61) having cavities (into which refs 2 are disposed, Figs 1-2) lying parallel to one another (Figs 1-3, 6); and secondary cavities (refs 5) disposed between (Figs 1-2) the hollow-cylindrical tubular shapes (ref 3, C4/L57-61); and electric cells (refs 2) positioned in (Figs 1-3) the hollow-cylindrical tubular shapes (ref 3, C4/L57-61); wherein at least some of the secondary cavities (refs 5) are arranged such that each is adjacent to three (Fig 2, below, A, B, C) of the hollow-cylindrical tubular shapes (ref 3, C4/L57-61), and each of the secondary cavities (refs 5) has, in a spatially alternating manner (Figs 1-2), a coolant duct (refs 4, 6) or an active heating device (ref 17, C7/L19-24, C3/L49-53).
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Regarding claim 12, Mennicke et al. discloses all of the claim limitations as set forth above and also discloses the coolant duct (refs 4, 6) is connected to an active cooling device (C5/L31-38, Figs 5-6), refs 11, 24, etc.).
Regarding claim 13, Mennicke et al. discloses all of the claim limitations as set forth above and also discloses the heating device (ref 17, C7/L19-24, C3/L49-53) is an electric heating device (ref 17, C7/L19-24, C3/L49-53).
Regarding claim 14, Mennicke et al. discloses all of the claim limitations as set forth above and also discloses the coolant duct (refs 4, 6) at an end side projects in relation (Fig 5, C6/L4-15) to the hollow-cylindrical tubular shapes (ref 3, C4/L57-61).
Regarding claim 15, Mennicke et al. discloses all of the claim limitations as set forth above and also discloses the honeycomb structure (Figs 1-2) comprises an electrical isolator and / or is made of a polymer (C4/L58-61).
Regarding claim 16, Mennicke et al. discloses all of the claim limitations as set forth above and also discloses each of the hollow-cylinder tubular shapes (ref 3, C4/L57-61) is surrounded by six of the secondary cavities (depicted in Fig 2, below).
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Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Jones (US 1,607,460) discloses in Fig 1, a battery (Title) including a casing (ref 1) holding a plurality of battery cells (refs 2) therein, stacked parallel to one another (Fig 1).
Cilliberti, Jr (US 3,784,411) discloses in Figs 1-4, a battery structure (Abstract) including a plurality of battery cells (refs 10) stacked parallel within a casing (ref 60, Fig 4). A grid of polymer material is disposed between (Abstract) the stacked cells (refs 10, Fig 4).
Clegg et al. discloses in Figs 1-2, a battery structure (Abstract) including hollow cylindrical openings (Fig 1) within a casing (ref 10) housing a plurality of battery cells (refs 11). Between the individual cells (refs 11) a matrix of material holds the cells (refs 11).
Nichols (US 2,209,927) discloses in Figs 1-6, a battery structure (Abstract) including a honeycomb tube structure (refs 10, Figs 1-2) for housing individual battery cells (refs 12), and housed in a casing (Figs 3-6).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KENNETH J DOUYETTE whose telephone number is (571)270-1212. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8A - 4P EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Basia Ridley can be reached at 571-272-1453. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/KENNETH J DOUYETTE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1725
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