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.
Claims 1 and 3-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a) (1) as being anticipated by Kim et al. (WO2022/035270A1, with a publication date of February, 17, 2022, rejection relied on US equivalent Pub. 2023/0299443, hereinafter Kim).
In regard to Claim 1, Kim discloses a method of manufacturing a power storage cell, comprising:
forming a wound electrode assembly by winding a positive electrode (#112), a negative electrode (#111), and a separator (#114) (see figures 1-3 and paragraphs [0116] and [0119]-[0120]);
fixing a winding end portion, in a winding direction, of the wound electrode assembly, by a fixing member (#140) (see figures 1-3 and paragraphs [0116] and [0120]-[0124]);
housing, in a cell case (#120), the wound electrode assembly having the winding end portion fixed by the fixing member (see figures 1-3 and paragraphs [0125]-[0126]);
injecting an electrolyte solution in the cell case (see figures 1-3 and paragraphs [0116], [0125]-[0126] and [0165]); and
releasing fixing of the winding end portion by the fixing member (#140), after the wound electrode assembly is housed in the cell case (#120) and the electrolyte solution is injected in the cell case (#120) (see figures 1-3 and paragraphs [0126] and [0128]).
In regard to Claim 3, Kim discloses wherein the fixing member (#140) is formed of a material having solubility in the electrolyte solution, and fixing of the winding end portion by the fixing member (#140) is released by performing a treatment in a manner that causes the fixing member (#140) to be dissolved in the electrolyte solution injected in the cell case (#120) (see figures 1-3 and paragraphs [0126] and [0128]).
In regard to Claim 4, Kim discloses wherein an outermost layer of the wound electrode assembly is the positive electrode or the negative electrode, and the outermost layer is brought into contact with the cell case (#120) by releasing fixing of the winding end portion by the fixing member (#140) (see figures 1-3 and paragraphs [0121] and [0126]-[0127]).
In regard to Claim 5, Kim discloses wherein a portion of the cell case (#120) that is brought into contact with the outermost layer is made of an electrically conductive material (see paragraphs [0121] and [0127]).
Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a) (1) as being anticipated by Mineya et al. (US Pat. Pub. No. 2013/0232773, hereinafter Mineya).
In regard to Claim 1, Mineya discloses a method of manufacturing a power storage cell, comprising:
forming a wound electrode assembly (#4) by winding a positive electrode (#5), a negative electrode (#6), and a separator (#7) (see figures 1-3 and paragraphs [0019] and [0040]);
fixing a winding end portion, in a winding direction, of the wound electrode assembly, by a fixing member (#10) (see figures 1-3 and paragraphs [0019] and [0041]);
housing, in a cell case (#1), the wound electrode assembly having the winding end portion fixed by the fixing member (#10) (see figures 1-3 and paragraphs [0020] and [0041]-[0042]);
injecting an electrolyte solution in the cell case (#1) (see figures 1-3 and paragraphs [0019], [0044] and [0057]); and
releasing fixing of the winding end portion by the fixing member (#10), after the wound electrode assembly is housed in the cell case (#1) and the electrolyte solution is injected in the cell case (#1) (see figures 1-3 and paragraphs [0020]-[0021], [0043]-[0044] and [0060]; Mineya discloses wherein the step of injecting the electrolyte solution into the outer casing #1 may be performed before the ambient temperature is adjusted after the electrode assembly #4 is placed in the outer casing #1. Therefore, the releasing fixing of the winding end portion by the heat-sensitive adhesive tape #10 is occurring after the wound electrode assembly is housed in the outer casing and the electrolyte solution is injected in the outer casing #1, as claimed by the applicant.).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claim 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mineya in view of Heo et al. (US Pat. Pub. No. 2020/0161617, hereinafter Heo).
In regard to Claim 2, Mineya discloses the method of manufacturing a power storage cells as recited in claim 1, but fails to disclose wherein the fixing member is a hot-melt adhesive, and fixing of the winding end portion by the fixing member is released by heating the electrolyte solution injected in the cell case.
However, Heo teaches a method of manufacturing an electrode assembly comprising forming an electrode assembly by alternatively stacking positive electrodes, separators and negative electrodes, arranging a fixing member including an adhesive layer and an insulating member on a sidewall of the electrode assembly, and melting and then curing the adhesive layer, wherein the adhesive layer includes a hot melt adhesive (see paragraph [0024]). When the fixing member is formed, the edges of the stacked electrode assembly may be firmly held to minimize or reduce distortion of the alignment of the negative electrode, the positive electrode and the separator (see paragraph [0027]). The fixing member includes an adhesive layer which may be a hot-melt adhesive that melts when a certain temperature is applied (see paragraph [0089]).
It would have been obvious by one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the applicant’s invention to modify the method of manufacturing a power storage cell discloses by Mineya by substituting a known fixing member for another known fixing member, such as a hot-melt adhesive and fixing of the winding end portion by the fixing member is released by heating the electrolyte solution injected in the cell case, as claimed by the applicant, with a reasonable expectation of success, as Heo teaches a method of manufacturing an electrode assembly comprising forming an electrode assembly by alternatively stacking positive electrodes, separators and negative electrodes, arranging a fixing member including an adhesive layer and an insulating member on a sidewall of the electrode assembly, and melting and then curing the adhesive layer, wherein the adhesive layer includes a hot melt adhesive, wherein when the fixing member is formed, the edges of the stacked electrode assembly may be firmly held to minimize or reduce distortion of the alignment of the negative electrode, the positive electrode and the separator, and the fixing member includes an adhesive layer which may be a hot melt adhesive that melts when a certain temperature is applied for efficiently temporarily fixing the positive electrode, negative electrode and separator prior to housing with a temperature responsive adhesive and hence, improving ease of manufacture (see paragraphs [0024], [0027] and [0089]).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JELITZA M PEREZ whose telephone number is (571)272-8139. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:00am-6:00pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Claire Wang can be reached at (571) 270-1051. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JELITZA M PEREZ/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1774
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