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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 09/09/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f): (FP 7.30.03)
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
This application includes one claim limitations that does not use the word “means” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. In claim 1 states, “a pressurizing member that fastens the upper and lower pressure plates to each other and is configured to provide pressure to the all-solid cell.” The word pressurizing member is a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language. But it is explained in the specification that the pressurizing member is a bolt, nut, and a coil spring to attach the upper and lower plate.
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 1-5, and 7-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 102(a)(1) as being
anticipated by Kelly (US Patent No. 20220094009 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Kelly discloses An all-solid rechargeable battery pressurization apparatus comprising: an upper pressure plate 220 (Fig. 2) and a lower pressure plate 220 (Fig. 2) that are spaced apart and face each other, the upper pressure plate 220 (Fig. 2) and the lower pressure plate 220 (Fig. 2) being configured to contact with opposite surfaces of an all-solid cell to apply pressure to the surfaces ; a pressurizing member 240, 270, 244, and 242 (Fig. 2) that fastens the upper and lower pressure plates to each other and is configured to provide pressure to the all-solid cell; and a thickness reinforcing member 210 (Fig. 2) positioned in a central area of an upper surface of the upper pressure plate.
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Regarding claim 2, Kelly discloses the all-solid rechargeable battery pressurization apparatus of claim 1, wherein a shape of the thickness reinforcing member 210 (Fig. 2) is one of a rhombus shape, a circular shape, an elliptical shape, and a quadrangular shape. (The same as shown in the above figure is rectangular which is quad rectangular shape.)
Regarding claim 3, Kelly discloses all-solid rechargeable battery pressurization apparatus of claim 2, wherein the thickness reinforcing membrane 210 (Fig. 2) has a greater thickness than the upper pressure plate 220 (Fig. 2).
Regarding claim 4, Kelly discloses the all-solid rechargeable battery pressurization apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pressurizing member includes a plurality of fastening members 240 and 242 (Fig. 2) positioned in an edge area of the upper pressure plate. (There are 6 bolts at the edge of upper plate.)
Regarding claim 5, Kelly discloses the all-solid rechargeable battery pressurization apparatus of claim 4, wherein the pressurizing member further includes a plurality of pressure adjustment members 242 and 270 (Fig. 2) respectively installed on the plurality of fastening members, the plurality of adjustment members being configured to adjust pressure applied to the all-solid cell. (There are washer located at bolt. They are pressure adjustments. The washers are chosen with a non-linear load/deflection curve, such that the effective spring rate, at the desired operating load, is minimized thereby minimizing load variation.)
Regarding claim 7, Kelly discloses the all-solid rechargeable battery pressurization apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of the fastening members includes a bolt 240 (Fig. 2) and nut structure 244 (Fig.2).
Regarding claim 8, Kelly discloses the all-solid rechargeable battery pressurization apparatus of claim 4, wherein the upper pressure plate 220 (Fig. 2) includes a plurality of fastening holes (illustrated in the above Fig. 2) into which the plurality of fastening members are respectively fastened, and wherein the plurality of fastening holes are formed along the edge area of the upper pressure plate. (The upper plate 2204 has 6 holes at the edge of the upper plate as illustrated in the above figure wherein the fastening member 240 will go through.
Regarding claim 9, Kelly discloses all-solid rechargeable battery pressurization apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper pressure plate 220 (Fig. 2) and the thickness reinforcing member 210 (Fig. 2) are integrally connected to each other. (Integral means: made up of parts forming a whole. The upper plate and the reinforcing member are integrally connected to each other by the bolt 240, washers 270 and 244, and nut 242.
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Regarding claim 10, Kelly discloses the all-solid rechargeable battery pressurization apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper pressure plate 240 (Fig.2) and the thickness reinforcing member 210 (Fig.2) are separable from each other. See the above Fig. 2.
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 6 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kelly (UP Patent No. 20220094009 A1) in view of NAKANO (WO Patent No. WO 2021229683 A1).
Regarding claim 6, Kelly discloses the router according to claim 1 but fails to disclose the pressure adjustment members include a coil spring. NAKANO discloses pressure adjustment member 40 (Fig. 1). Where “the pressure applying member 40 is composed of a bolt 41, a nut 42, and a coil spring 42, and the coil spring 42” (page 7 paragraph 6 lines 4-5). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to substitute the washers 270 (Fig. 1) with a spring. Relacing the washers with spring will allow the fasteners to apply different ranges of pressure.
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Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
examiner should be directed to LEWIE S WELDEGIORGIS whose telephone number (571)270-
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/L.S.W./
Examiner, Art Unit 3725
/Christopher L Templeton/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3725
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