DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 03/25/24, 11/01/24, and 11/26/25 was considered by the examiner.
Drawings
The drawings were received on 03/25/24.
Specification
Applicant is reminded of the proper language and format for an abstract of the disclosure.
The abstract should be in narrative form and generally limited to a single paragraph on a separate sheet within the range of 50 to 150 words in length. The abstract should describe the disclosure sufficiently to assist readers in deciding whether there is a need for consulting the full patent text for details.
The language should be clear and concise and should not repeat information given in the title. It should avoid using phrases which can be implied, such as, “The disclosure concerns,” “The disclosure defined by this invention,” “The disclosure describes,” “of the present disclosure”, etc. In addition, the form and legal phraseology often used in patent claims, such as “means” and “said,” should be avoided.
The abstract of the disclosure is objected to because it does not appear to capture the essence of the disclosed/claimed invention. A corrected abstract of the disclosure is required and must be presented on a separate sheet, apart from any other text. See MPEP § 608.01(b).
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed. It does not appear to capture the essence of the disclosed/claimed invention.
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) 1-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Kurita 2013/0149583.
As to claims 1-3, 9-13:
Kurita discloses that it is known in the art to make a battery system (i.e., an energy storage apparatus) comprising an accommodation casing/housing 3 including a cover and a plurality of layered accommodating spaces/portions including apertures/holes/gaps communicating with the outside, a plurality of electrical cells 2 in thermal contact therewith, and a cooling fan 4; an internal passage/pathway or channel through which a fluid A1/A2 passes (Abstract; 0003; 0009-0010; 0029-0030; 0040-0048; 0051-0055; 0066-0072; 0142-0154; see CLAIMS 1-5; see Figures 2a-b, 3a-b, 6d, 7a, 9, 10b & 11a).
Figures 2a-b, 3a-b, 6d, 7a, 9, 10b & 11a, infra, depict the structure of the battery system:
PNG
media_image1.png
406
518
media_image1.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image2.png
364
392
media_image2.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image3.png
434
536
media_image3.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image4.png
298
500
media_image4.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image5.png
322
506
media_image5.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image6.png
412
512
media_image6.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image7.png
474
542
media_image7.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image8.png
308
464
media_image8.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image9.png
442
502
media_image9.png
Greyscale
As to claims 4-6:
Figures 9, 10b and 11a of Kurita illustrate battery cells including a surface including a terminal/tab protruding 14, 32 therefrom and from a different surface in thermal contact with the battery cell (0040-0048; 0051-0055; 0066-0072; 0142-0154; see Figures 9, 10b & 11a).
As to claims 7-8:
Figures 2-3, 7a, 9 and 11a of Kurita also illustrate resin-based layered portions 14, 32 on an inner wall (0058; see Figures 2-3, 7a, 9 & 11a).
As to claims 14-16:
Figures 2a-b, 3a-b, 6d, 7a, 9, 10b & 11a of Kurita depict a heat-conductive partition wall (i.e., wall 9a can be taken to represent applicant’s broadly claimed partition wall) positioned between the accommodating spaces/portions and in direct contact with battery cells (see Figures 2a-b, 3a-b, 6d, 7a, 9, 10b & 11a). Kurita disclose the accommodating body/space made of a metallic/steel based material (0058; 0139). Note that the present claims fail to define the specific heat conductive degree, as such, it can be fairly asserted that the partition wall of Kurita satisfies the requirement of conducting heat to certain degree as broadly claimed.
Thus, the present claims are anticipated.
(at least) Claims 1 and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Oshiba et al 9859533.
As to claims 1 and 16:
Oshiba et al discloses that it is known in the art to make a battery system (i.e., an energy storage apparatus) comprising an accommodation casing/housing including a cover and a plurality of layered accommodating spaces/portions including apertures/holes/gaps communicating with the outside, a plurality of electrical cells in thermal contact therewith, an internal passage/pathway or channel through which a fluid passes (Abstract; COL 6, line 32 to COL 7, line 40; COL 10, line 15 to COL 11, line 30; see 1st/2nd Modified Embodiments; see Figures 3 & 6-7, 11 & 14). ). Oshiba et al disclose the accommodating body/space can be made of a metallic/steel based material (COL 8, lines 37-46).
PNG
media_image10.png
844
410
media_image10.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image11.png
794
458
media_image11.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image12.png
770
464
media_image12.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image13.png
654
460
media_image13.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image14.png
1
1
media_image14.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image14.png
1
1
media_image14.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image15.png
468
740
media_image15.png
Greyscale
Thus, the present claim is anticipated.
(at least) Claims 1-3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1 as being anticipated by Fujii 2008/0026284.
As to claims 1-3:
Fujii discloses that it is known in the art to make a battery system (i.e., an energy storage apparatus) comprising an accommodation casing/housing including a cover and a plurality of layered accommodating spaces/portions including apertures/holes/gaps communicating with the outside, a plurality of electrical cells in thermal contact therewith, and a cooling fan 8; an internal passage/pathway or channel through which a fluid passes (Abstract; 0037-0041; 0049-0057; see CLAIMS 1-4; see Figures 1 & 3-8).
PNG
media_image16.png
856
566
media_image16.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image17.png
860
560
media_image17.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image18.png
854
562
media_image18.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image19.png
846
552
media_image19.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image20.png
762
602
media_image20.png
Greyscale
Thus, the present claims are anticipated.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RAYMOND ALEJANDRO whose telephone number is (571)272-1282. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday (8:00 am-6:30 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, Nicholas A. Smith can be reached at (571) 272-8760. 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.
/RAYMOND ALEJANDRO/
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1752
Prosecution Insights