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, 4, 8-12, and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kim (US 2019/0006645 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Kim discloses a battery module (100) comprising a battery cell (120), a module housing comprising a side plate facing a side surface of the battery cell (sides of housing of modules 100, Fig. 2), cell terminals (133) protruding from the battery cell toward the side plate, a busbar holder (140) between the side plate and the battery cell connected to the terminal, and a reinforcing member (160) connected to the busbar holder and reinforcing the busbar holder (Kim Figs. 2-5 and [0033]).
Regarding claim 3, Kim gives an example in which the reinforcing member comprises a first reinforcing cover (361) between the side plate and the busbar holder and a second reinforcing cover (366) attached to the first (Kim Fig. 12 and [0134]-[0135]).
Regarding claim 4, the first reinforcing cover faces the side plate, and the second reinforcing cover faces the busbar holder ([0134]).
Regarding claim 8, the module includes a first securing member (164) between the busbar holder and the reinforcing member supporting the reinforcing member with respect to the busbar holder (Kim Fig. 9 and [0106]-[0107]).
Regarding claim 9, the first cover includes an end portion around an end portion of the second cover (Kim Fig. 18), and the first securing member includes a groove indented into an end portion of the busbar holder (the gap between the main circuit board body and the part of the circuit board body backing the busbar) and an insert (164) extending from the end portion of the reinforcing member (Kim Fig. 9).
Regarding claim 10, the first securing groove is formed with a first catch jaw (the lip of the groove), and the first insert comprises a first hook (the lower tip of the insert) at the distal end of the first insert body to be caught by the catch jaw when inserted (Kim Fig. 9).
Regarding claim 11, the securing mechanism is described as engaging in a snap-fit manner (Kim [0071]), which would necessarily require the insert bodies to be elastically deformable.
Regarding claim 12, the hook gradually narrows toward a distal end (Kim Fig. 9).
Regarding claim 20, Kim discloses a vehicle (1) comprising a vehicle body and a battery module (100) mounted on the vehicle body comprising a battery cell (120), a module housing comprising a side plate facing a side surface of the battery cell (sides of housing of modules 100, Fig. 2), cell terminals (133) protruding from the battery cell toward the side plate, a busbar holder (140) between the side plate and the battery cell connected to the terminal, and a reinforcing member (160) connected to the busbar holder and reinforcing the busbar holder (Kim Figs. 1-5, [0026], and [0033]).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claim(s) 2, 5, and 6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim as applied to claims 1 and 3 above.
Regarding claim 2, Kim does not teach that the terminals, busbar holders, and reinforcing members are provided as pairs symmetrically arranged at opposite sides of the battery. Kim teaches that the cells may include terminals that protrude from both sides (Kim [0047]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the instant invention to try any of the configurations listed by Kim, including terminals at both ends of the cells, which would necessarily include corresponding busbar holders and reinforcing members at both ends.
Regarding claim 5, the two covers are made of different materials (Kim Fig. [0134]-[0135]) and would be expected to have different rigidities. As there are only two possibilities (the first cover is more rigid than the second or vice versa), it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the instant invention to try either possibility, including a second cover more rigid than the first cover.
Regarding claim 6, Kim does not disclose any particular materials for the two covers. The second cover is electrically conductive (Kim Fig. [0134]-[0135]), which implies that the first cover is not electrically conductive. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the instant invention to select any conventional electrically conductive material, including metallic materials, for the first cover, and any conventional electrically insulating material, including resin, for the second material, since Kim gives no further guidance.
Regarding claim 9, the first securing member includes a groove indented into an end portion of the busbar holder (the gap between the main circuit board body and the part of the circuit board body backing the busbar) and an insert (164) extending from the end portion of the reinforcing member (Kim Fig. 9).
Kim does not teach that the first reinforcing portion includes an end portion around an end portion of the second reinforcing portion. Kim teaches that the first reinforcing portion (cover clip 360) may be provided with a recess to accommodate the second reinforcing portion (electric conductor 366) (Kim [0134]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the instant invention to try any of the configurations listed by Kim, including placing the second reinforcing portion within a recess in the first reinforcing portion, which would necessarily result in an end portion of the first reinforcing portion around an end portion of the second reinforcing portion.
Regarding claim 10, the first securing groove is formed with a first catch jaw (the lip of the groove), and the first insert comprises a first hook (the lower tip of the insert) at the distal end of the first insert body to be caught by the catch jaw when inserted (Kim Fig. 9).
Regarding claim 11, the securing mechanism is described as engaging in a snap-fit manner (Kim [0071]), which would necessarily require the insert bodies to be elastically deformable.
Regarding claim 12, the hook gradually narrows toward a distal end (Kim Fig. 9).
Claim(s) 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim as applied to claim 6 above, and further in view of Maeng et al. (US 2009/0317665 A1).
Regarding claim 7, Kim does not teach any particular method for coupling the first and second covers. Maeng is directed to a secondary battery (Maeng Abstract). Maeng teaches that conductive plates and insulating members may be formed as a single entity through insert injection molding (Maeng [0080]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the instant invention to use any conventional method for coupling the first and second covers of Kim, including insert injection molding, since Kim gives no further guidance.
Claim(s) 13-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim as applied to claim 9 above, and further in view of Yoo et al. (US 2023/0291026 A1).
Regarding claim 13, Kim does not teach the use of a buffer member connected to the reinforcing member to absorb impacts. Yoo is directed to a battery pack (Yoo Abstract). Yoo teaches that a cover frame between the busbar assembly heat reinforcing member (e.g. insulating member) and side cover can protect the module from external impacts (Yoo [0197]-[0200] and Figs. 18-19). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the instant invention to provide a cover frame (i.e. buffer member) between the reinforcing member and side plate of Kim to protect the module from external impacts.
Regarding claim 14, the buffer member of modified Kim is between the reinforcing member and side plate (Yoo Fig. 19).
Regarding claim 15, modified Kim does not teach that the buffer member is elastically deformable. Modified Kim teaches that the buffer member may be made of a material such as PBT or MPPO (Yoo [0200]), each of which is elastically deformable. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the instant invention to select either of PBT or MPPO for the buffer member, since these are the only materials indicated by modified Kim.
Regarding claim 16, modified Kim teaches the use of a second securing member (Yoo adhesive member 5300) between the reinforcing member and buffer member (Yoo [0208] and Fig. 18).
Regarding claim 17, modified Kim does not teach that the second securing member is a groove and insert structure. Modified Kim teaches that the second securing member may be a fastening member (Yoo [0208]), and that snap-fit couplings (i.e. groove and insert structures) can stably maintain coupling for a long period of time (Kim [0121]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the instant invention to replace the adhesive strips with a groove and insert structure to stably maintain the coupling for a long period of time.
Regarding claim 18, the snap-fit structure of modified Kim comprises a first securing groove formed with a first catch jaw (the lip of the groove), and the first insert comprises a first hook (the lower tip of the insert) at the distal end of the first insert body to be caught by the catch jaw when inserted (Kim Fig. 9).
Regarding claim 19, the securing mechanism is described as engaging in a snap-fit manner (Kim [0071]), which would necessarily require the insert bodies to be elastically deformable.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JAMES A CORNO JR whose telephone number is (571)270-0745. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00 am - 5:00 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, Niki Bakhtiari can be reached at (571) 272-3433. 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.
/J.A.C/ Examiner, Art Unit 1722
/ANCA EOFF/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1722
