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 .
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.
Claim(s) 1, 3-5, and 18-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by JP 2010277796 (Ono) (cited on IDS filed 08/06/2026).
Ono discloses a battery pack comprising a plurality of batteries (101) and a shell is inherently present on the battery to house the internal structures. Additionally, battery holders (2) are present that hold the batteries therein. A first structural member in the form of 2A (support side wall) and has an opening (connection window 12B). Lead plate (sampling assembly 5) comprised a first sampling part (connection tab 5A). The connection tab 5A is arranged in the connection window 12B of the support side wall (12).
Regarding claim 3, multiple openings are provided in the support side wall (connection windows) and multiple sampling parts (connection tabs) are provide on the lead plate.
Regarding claim 4, the lead plate (sampling assembly 5) comprises a substrate (central area between connection tabs) and the connection tabs are provided on the lead plate. First structural member (support side wall 12) is provided between the substrate of the lead plate and the side wall.
Regarding claim 5, the lead plate (sampling assembly 5) comprises a substrate and the connection tabs are provided on the lead plate and the substrate of the lead plate is apart from the openings (connection windows).
Regarding claims 18-20, the battery pack comprises cylindrical batteries (Figures) and forms an electrochemical apparatus in an electrical device such as electrical bicycles, electrical vehicles and robots.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2 and 6-17 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The prior art of record does not disclose or render obvious a configuration where the structural member is provided with a first side, and the first side faces the side wall of the battery shell and at least a part of the first sampling part is located between the side wall of the battery shell and the first side of the structural member and connects the side wall and the first side.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Prior art of US 2019/0386349 discloses sampling circuit board (130) and busbar (12) connected via tabs and openings (Figure 3), but does not disclose or render obvious the allowable subject matter as noted above.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JENNIFER C MCNEIL whose telephone number is (571)272-1540. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-5.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Tong Guo can be reached at 5712723066. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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JENNIFER C. MCNEIL
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1723
/Jennifer McNeil/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1723
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