DETAILED ACTION
Application 18/612,446, “BATTERY PACK”, was filed with the USPTO on 3/21/2024 and has a foreign priority document of JP2023-047934 filed on 3/24/2023.
This office action is in response to communication filed on 3/21/2024.
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 .
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed on 4/17/2024.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 3/21/2024, 1/31/2025, 7/22/2025 and 10/14/2025 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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 1-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and (a)(2) as being anticipated by Yamanaka (US 20180345778 A1, provided on IDS filed on 1/31/2025).
Regarding claim 1, Yamanaka teaches a battery pack (10, Fig. 3) comprising:
a stack (40, Fig. 3) including a plurality of battery cells (42, Figs 3, 6 and 7) arranged side by side (42s are side by side, see Figs 3, 6 and 7) in a first direction (LH, Figs 3 and 6);
an end plate (48/48 in circle, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6; notes: the two 48s in circle form an end plate, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6) disposed at an end portion (one end of 40 close to 24, see Fig. 6) of the stack (40, Fig. 6) in the first direction (LH, Fig. 6);
a housing (20/22/18L/18R/30, see Fig. 6) that accommodates the stack (40, Fig. 3) and the end plate (48/48 in circle, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6); and
a strength member (24 and 26/26 in circle, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6) disposed inside the housing (20/22/18L/18R/30, see Fig. 6) and fitted (40/48 fitted in 56 formed by 24/26, see Fig. 6) to the end plate (48/48 in circle, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6), the strength member (24 and 26/26 in circle, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6) bearing at least part of a collision load (collision load, see [0065]) received by the battery pack (10, Fig. 3) at a time of collision (during lateral collision, the collision load transmitted through 26 to 24, absorbed by deformation of 24, see [0065]), wherein
the strength member (24 and 26/26 in circle, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6) includes
a first portion (24, Fig. 6) disposed on a side of the end plate (48/48 in circle, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6) opposite (48 is between 24 and 40, therefore 40 is on one side of 48 and 24 is on opposite side (the other side) of 48 in LH direction, see Fig. 6) to the stack (40, Fig. 3) in the first direction (LH, Fig. 6), and
a second portion (26/26 in circle, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6) arranged side by side (20/26/48/26/22 are side by side in FR direction, see Fig. 6) with the end plate (48/48 in circle, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6) and the housing (20/22/18L/18R/30, see Fig. 6) in a second direction (FR, Fig. 6) orthogonal (FR is perpendicular/orthogonal to LH, see Fig. 6) to the first direction (LH, Fig. 6).
PNG
media_image1.png
842
1125
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Regarding claim 2, Yamanaka teaches wherein the second portion (26/26 in circle, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6) is disposed on each of both sides (one side and other side, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6 (claim 2)) beside (interpreted as “by the side of”, see Merriam-Webster) each of the end plate (48/48 in circle, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6) and the first portion (24, Fig. 6) in the second direction (FR, Fig. 6) (notes: one 26 in circle is placed on one side and the other 26 in circle (in FR) is placed on other side, one side and other side are by the side of 48 and 24 in FR direction).
PNG
media_image2.png
830
1176
media_image2.png
Greyscale
Regarding claim 3, Yamanaka teaches wherein both sides (one side of 48 and other side of 48, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6 (claim 3)) of the end plate (48/48 in circle, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6) in the second direction (FR, Fig. 6) are fitted (40/48 fitted in 56 formed by 24/26, see Fig. 6) to the second portion (26/26 in circle, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6).
PNG
media_image3.png
842
1399
media_image3.png
Greyscale
Regarding claim 4, Yamanaka teaches wherein a width (width of 24, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 4) of the first portion (24, Fig. 4) is larger than a width (width of 48, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 4) of the end plate (48/48 in circle, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6) in the first direction (LH, Fig. 4).
PNG
media_image4.png
974
1445
media_image4.png
Greyscale
Regarding claim 5, Yamanaka teaches wherein a width (width of 24, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 4) of the first portion (24, Fig. 4) is larger than a width (width of 48, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 4) of the end plate (48/48 in circle, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6) in the first direction (LH, Fig. 4).
Regarding claim 6, Yamanaka teaches wherein a width (width of 24, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 4) of the first portion (24, Fig. 4) is larger than a width (width of 48, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 4) of the end plate (48/48 in circle, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6) in the first direction (LH, Fig. 4).
Regarding claim 7, Yamanaka teaches wherein the end plate (48/48 in circle, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6) is in contact (see Fig. 4; 48 of each cell stack 40 in LH direction is directly in contact with 24, see [0050]) with the first portion (24, Fig. 6).
Regarding claim 8, Yamanaka teaches wherein the end plate (48/48 in circle, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6) is in contact (see Fig. 4; 48 of each cell stack 40 in LH direction is directly in contact with 24, see [0050]) with the first portion (24, Fig. 6).
Regarding claim 9, Yamanaka teaches wherein the end plate (48/48 in circle, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6) is in contact (see Fig. 4; 48 of each cell stack 40 in LH direction is directly in contact with 24, see [0050]) with the first portion (24, Fig. 6).
Regarding claim 10, Yamanaka teaches wherein the strength member (24 and 26/26 in circle, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6) is fixed (both ends of 24 in FR direction are coupled to 20 and 22, see [0039]; both ends of 26 located on the left side of the vehicle in LH direction are coupled to 24 and right rocker 18R, see last sentence [0040]) to the housing (20/22/18L/18R/30, see Fig. 6).
Regarding claim 11, Yamanaka teaches wherein the strength member (24 and 26/26 in circle, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6) is fixed (both ends of 24 in FR direction are coupled to 20 and 22, see [0039]; both ends of 26 located on the left side of the vehicle in LH direction are coupled to 24 and right rocker 18R, see last sentence [0040]) to the housing (20/22/18L/18R/30, see Fig. 6).
Regarding claim 12, Yamanaka teaches wherein the strength member (24 and 26/26 in circle, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 6) is fixed (both ends of 24 in FR direction are coupled to 20 and 22, see [0039]; both ends of 26 located on the left side of the vehicle in LH direction are coupled to 24 and right rocker 18R, see last sentence [0040]) to the housing (20/22/18L/18R/30, see Fig. 6).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
Claims 13-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yamanaka (US 20180345778 A1, provided on IDS filed on 1/31/2025) in view of Fukuda et al. (WO 2021199493 A1, citations see machine translation).
Regarding claim 13, Yamanaka does not teach wherein the second portion is formed by a pipe having an axial direction in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.
Fukuda et al. teaches wherein the second portion (26, Fig. 4) is formed by a pipe (hollow body, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 4 (claim 13) and [0042]; notes: “pipe” has been interpreted as “hollow body for conducting a liquid, gas”, see Merriam-Webster) having an axial direction (axial direction, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 4 (claim 13)) in a third direction (Z, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 4 (claim 13)) orthogonal to the first direction (X, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 4 (claim 13)) and the second direction (Y, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 4 (claim 13)).
PNG
media_image5.png
1014
1233
media_image5.png
Greyscale
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the intermediate cross member taught by Yamanaka by bending it into a shape protruding toward the back surface taught by Fukuda et al. to improve the strength and to have high strength at low cost (see Fukuda et al. [0042]). When the intermediate cross member is bent into a shape protruding toward the back surface, it has a hollow body and an axial direction in the UP direction, which is orthogonal to LH and FR direction.
Regarding claim 14, Yamanaka does not teach wherein the second portion is formed by a pipe having an axial direction in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.
Fukuda et al. teaches wherein the second portion (26, Fig. 4) is formed by a pipe (hollow body, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 4 (claim 13) and [0042]; notes: “pipe” has been interpreted as “hollow body for conducting a liquid, gas”, see Merriam-Webster) having an axial direction (axial direction, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 4 (claim 13)) in a third direction (Z, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 4 (claim 13)) orthogonal to the first direction (X, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 4 (claim 13)) and the second direction (Y, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 4 (claim 13)).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the intermediate cross member taught by Yamanaka by bending it into a shape protruding toward the back surface taught by Fukuda et al. to improve the strength and to have high strength at low cost (see Fukuda et al. [0042]). When the intermediate cross member is bent into a shape protruding toward the back surface, it has a hollow body and an axial direction in the UP direction, which is orthogonal to LH and FR direction.
Regarding claim 15, Yamanaka does not teach wherein the second portion is formed by a pipe having an axial direction in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction.
Fukuda et al. teaches wherein the second portion (26, Fig. 4) is formed by a pipe (hollow body, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 4 (claim 13) and [0042]; notes: “pipe” has been interpreted as “hollow body for conducting a liquid, gas”, see Merriam-Webster) having an axial direction (axial direction, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 4 (claim 13)) in a third direction (Z, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 4 (claim 13)) orthogonal to the first direction (X, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 4 (claim 13)) and the second direction (Y, see Examiner’s Annotated Fig. 4 (claim 13)).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the intermediate cross member taught by Yamanaka by bending it into a shape protruding toward the back surface taught by Fukuda et al. to improve the strength and to have high strength at low cost (see Fukuda et al. [0042]). When the intermediate cross member is bent into a shape protruding toward the back surface, it has a hollow body and an axial direction in the UP direction, which is orthogonal to LH and FR direction.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
(Uemura): US 20210351470 A1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 4;
(Park): US 20250141007 A1, Fig. 3.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NING CHEN whose telephone number is (571)272-1163. The examiner can normally be reached 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM.
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, Tiffany Legette can be reached at (571) 270-7078. 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.
/NING CHEN/Examiner, Art Unit 1723 /TIFFANY LEGETTE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1723
Prosecution Insights