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 without traverse of Group I in the reply filed on 7/22/2026 is acknowledged.
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 1-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and (a)(2) as being anticipated by Nakano et al. (US 2018/0097254).
Regarding claim 1, Nakano et al. discloses in Figs 1-19, an electrode assembly (refs 150, 250, 350), comprising: a first separator (ref 257, “1st”, Fig 17 below, top ref 357, Fig 18), a first electrode plate (ref 156), and a second separator (ref 257, “2nd”, Fig 17 below, another ref 357, Fig 18) that are stacked (Fig 17); wherein: the first electrode plate (ref 156) is sandwiched between (Fig 17) the first separator (ref 257, “1st”, Fig 17 below, top ref 357, Fig 18) and the second separator (ref 257, “2nd”, Fig 17 below, another ref 357, Fig 18); and along a width direction (Fig 18) of the first electrode plate (ref 156), partial edges of two sides of starting sections (“SS”, at first contact of refs 357, Fig 18 below) of the first separator (ref 257, “1st”, Fig 17 below, top ref 357, Fig 18) and second separator (ref 257, “2nd”, Fig 17 below, another ref 357, Fig 18) are fixedly connected (“FC”, Fig 18 below).
PNG
media_image1.png
490
426
media_image1.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image2.png
392
590
media_image2.png
Greyscale
Regarding claim 2, Nakano et al. discloses all of the claim limitations as set forth above and also discloses along the width direction, partial edges of two sides of terminating sections (“TC”, at edges near refs 357b, “edge”, Fig 18 below) of the first separator (ref 257, “1st”, Fig 17 above, top ref 357, Fig 18) and second separator (ref 257, “2nd”, Fig 17 above, another ref 357, Fig 18) are fixedly connected (“FC”, Fig 18 above).
Regarding claim 3, Nakano et al. discloses all of the claim limitations as set forth above and also discloses a second electrode plate (ref 155), wherein a starting section ([0102]) of the second electrode plate (ref 155) is fixedly connected ([0102]) to the second separator (ref 257, “2nd”, Fig 17 above, another ref 357, Fig 18).
Regarding claim 4, Nakano et al. discloses all of the claim limitations as set forth above and also discloses a terminating section (at ref 155b) of the second electrode plate (ref 155) is fixedly connected ([0103]) to the second separator (ref 257, “2nd”, Fig 17 above, another ref 357, Fig 18).
Regarding claim 5, Nakano et al. discloses in Figs 1-19, a battery cell ([0061]-[0062]), comprising the electrode assembly (refs 150, 250, 350) as set forth above.
Regarding claim 6, Nakano et al. discloses in Figs 1-19, a battery (refs 100, 200, 300), comprising the battery cell ([0061]-[0062]) as set forth above.
Regarding claim 7, Nakano et al. discloses in Figs 1-19, an electric apparatus ([0003]), comprising the battery (refs 100, 200, 300) as set forth above, wherein the battery (refs 100, 200, 300) is configured to supply electrical energy ([0003]).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Jeong et al. (US 2008/0107961) discloses in Figs 1-7, a battery (ref 10) including an electrode assembly (ref 15) including a stacking of electrodes (ref 11, 12) with separators (refs 13) there between, with edges of the separators (refs 13) contacting each other (Fig 1).
Ahn et al. (US 2008/0107961) discloses in Figs 1-2, a battery (Abstract) including an electrode assembly ([0015]) including a stacking of electrodes (ref 11, 12) with separators (refs 110, 120) there between, with edges of the separators (refs 110, 120) contacting each other ([0016]).
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.
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, 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.
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.
/KENNETH J DOUYETTE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1725
Prosecution Insights