DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
1. 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 § 112
2. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
3. Claims 1 and 2-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
4. Claim 1 recites the limitation "the power storage cells" in lines 4, 5, 6, 11, and 12. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. For the purpose of this Office Action, the limitation has been interpreted as "the plurality of power storage cells" as there is antecedent basis.
5. Claims 2-5 are rejected as depending from claim 1.
Allowable Subject Matter
6. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: the invention in independent claim 1 is directed to a power storage module comprising: a plurality of power storage cells arranged side by side in a first direction; a resin frame disposed between a pair of power storage cells adjacent to each other, among the plurality of power storage cells; and a case that accommodates the plurality of power storage cells and the resin frame while constraining the plurality of power storage cells from both sides in the first direction, and that opens toward one side in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, wherein: the resin frame includes an intervening portion interposed between the pair of power storage cells, and a flow path forming portion that is provided on a surface of the intervening portion that faces the plurality of power storage cells, and that forms a flow path for a cooling fluid for cooling the plurality of power storage cells; the flow path forming portion includes a one-side flow path forming portion provided in a region of the intervening portion on the one side in the second direction, and an other-side flow path forming portion provided in a region of the intervening portion on another side in the second direction; a geometrical moment of inertia of the one-side flow path forming portion is larger than a geometrical moment of inertia of the other-side flow path forming portion; and a spring constant of the other-side flow path forming portion in the first direction is larger than a spring constant of the one-side flow path forming portion in the first direction.
The prior art of Kondo et al. (US 2019/0198910) discloses a power storage module (assembled battery 1, Fig. 1, [0029]) comprising: a plurality of power storage cells (unit cells 10, Fig. 1, [0029]) arranged side by side in a first direction(direction X in Fig. 1); a resin frame disposed between a pair of power storage cells adjacent to each other(spacer 40, Figs. 1 & 5-7, [0029]), among the plurality of power storage cells(Fig. 1); and a case that accommodates the plurality of power storage cells and the resin frame while constraining the plurality of power storage cells from both sides in the first direction([0029]), and that opens toward one side in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction(Z direction in Fig. 1), wherein: the resin frame includes an intervening portion interposed between the pair of power storage cells(base portion 42, Figs. 5-7, [0044]), and a flow path forming portion that is provided on a surface of the intervening portion that faces the plurality of power storage cells, and that forms a flow path for a cooling fluid for cooling the plurality of power storage cells(rib portions 44, Figs. 5 & 6, [0046]); the flow path forming portion includes a one-side flow path forming portion provided in a region of the intervening portion on the one side in the second direction(rib portions 44 a-c, Fig. 6), and an other-side flow path forming portion provided in a region of the intervening portion on another side in the second direction(ribs 44 d in Fig. 6); but does not disclose, teach or render obvious a geometrical moment of inertia of the one-side flow path forming portion is larger than a geometrical moment of inertia of the other-side flow path forming portion; and a spring constant of the other-side flow path forming portion in the first direction is larger than a spring constant of the one-side flow path forming portion in the first direction.
Remarks
7. A telephone call was made to William Mandir on 9/18/26 to discuss an examiner’s amendment but did not result in an examiner’s amendment being made.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to VICTORIA HOM LYNCH whose telephone number is (571)272-0489. The examiner can normally be reached 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM EST M-F.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Miriam Stagg can be reached at 571-270-5256. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/VICTORIA H LYNCH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1724
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