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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 04/13/2026 has been entered.
Response to Amendment
Applicant’s amendment filed 04/13/2026 has been entered. Claims 1-18 are currently pending. Claim 1, 5, 10, 11, 14, and 15 are amended. Claims 16-18 are new. Support for the new and amended claims is found in paragraphs 0083 and 0098 of the present specification as well as figures 4 and 7-9 and the claims as originally filed.
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.
Claims 1-7, 9-10, and 12-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jing et al. (CN 108417751 A) in view of Wang et al. (US 20200161616 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Jing discloses a box configured to be disposed on a main body of an electric device (paragraph 0007), comprising: a bottom plate having an outer wall surface facing outward from the box (paragraph 0007, figures 1 and 3, bottom shell 300); and a mounting beam disposed on the outer wall surface of the bottom plate (paragraphs 0063, figures 1 and 3, support beam 400), wherein the mounting beam is configured to connect to the main body (paragraph 0063), the mounting beam comprises a connecting portion, the connecting portion is configured to be connected to the bottom plate (paragraphs 0064-0065, figures 1 and 6-8, connecting section 401), and at least a portion of the connecting portion is in contact with the outer wall surface (paragraphs 0065-0065, figures 1 and 6-8). Jing is silent regarding wherein along a thickness direction of the bottom plate, a projection of the mounting beam is completely located within a projection of the bottom plate.
Wang discloses a casing for a battery pack, wherein the casing has a receiving space and an opening in communication with the receiving space, the receiving space is formed by a wall portion of the casing, and the wall portion is formed from two or more stacked base plates (Wang paragraph 0006). Wang further discloses that the casing includes a protective member on an outer wall of the bottom plate and fixed at an edge of the casing, and the case can be fixed to a vehicle or component via the protective member (Wang paragraph 0098, figures 1-3, protective member 16, equivalent to being located within a projection of the bottom plate as it is fixed on the edge and does not protrude). The reference teaches that the protective member supports the casing and protects it from being damaged by external components (Wang paragraph 0098). Wang and Jing are analogous because they both disclose battery casing structures.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the casing disclosed by Jing to include the mounting beam located within a projection of the bottom plate as disclosed by Wang. Doing so would support and protect the casing.
Regarding claim 2, modified Jing disclose the limitations of claim 1. Jing further discloses that the mounting beam further comprises a beam body, wherein the beam body is configured to connect to the main body, and the connecting portion is disposed on the beam body (paragraphs 0063-0065, figures 1, 3, and 6-8, support beam 400 and connecting section 401).
Regarding claim 3, modified Jing discloses the limitations of claim 2. Jing further discloses that the connecting portion extends outward from the beam body and beyond the beam body (figures 1, 3, and 6-10, connecting portion 401).
Regarding claim 4, modified Jing discloses the limitations of claim 2. Jing further discloses that the beam body is spaced apart from the outer wall surface (paragraphs 0070-0073, support beams 400 may be attached to support beams 301 which are attached to the bottom shell, not directly attached to or supporting bottom shell, support beams 301 provide a buffer, spacing beams 400 from the shell).
Regarding claim 5, modified Jing discloses the limitations of claim 2. Jing further discloses that the beam body is provided with a mounting structure, the beam body is configured to be connected to the main body through the mounting structure, and along a thickness direction of the bottom plate, a projection of the mounting structure is located within a projection of the connecting portion (paragraphs 0063-0064, figures 1, 3, and 9-10, guide sleeve 500 passes through mounting holes 402 of the connecting portion and connects to the main body, a vehicle, via connecting hole 502).
Regarding claim 6, modified Jing discloses the limitations of claim 2. Jing further discloses that the beam body abuts against the outer wall surface (paragraph 0063, figure 1).
Regarding claim 7, modified Jing discloses the limitations of claim 2. Jing further discloses that an entirety of the connecting portion is configured to be symmetrically arranged with respect to a central axis of the beam body (paragraph 0064, figure 3).
Regarding claim 9, modified Jing discloses the limitations of claim 1. Jing further discloses that the connecting portion is one of a plurality of connecting portions spaced apart from each other (paragraph 0064, figure 1, connecting section 401 on each end).
Regarding claim 10, modified Jing discloses the limitations of claim 1. Jing further discloses that the mounting beam further comprises a beam body (paragraph 0063, figures 1, 3, 6-8, support beam 400), wherein a portion of the beam body facing the outer wall surface forms the connecting portion (connecting sections 401), a portion of the beam body facing away from the outer wall surface forms a mounting portion, the mounting portion is configured to connect to the main body, and along a thickness direction of the bottom plate, a projection of the mounting portion is located within a projection of the connecting portion (paragraphs 0063-0064, figures 1, 3, and 9-10, guide sleeve 500 passes through mounting holes 402 of the connecting portion and connects to the main body, a vehicle, via connecting hole 502, the mounting hole 402 and connecting hole 402 extend through both sides of the beam, meeting the claimed limitations).
Regarding claim 12, modified Jing discloses the limitations of claim 1. Jing further discloses a battery, comprising a battery cell and the box, wherein the battery cell is located within the box (paragraphs 0007, 0056).
Regarding claim 13, modified Jing discloses the limitations of claim 12. Jing further discloses an electric device, comprising a main body and the battery, wherein the box of the battery is disposed on the main body, and the battery is configured to provide electrical energy (paragraphs 0056, 0063, battery electrical box is connected to the bottom of a vehicle).
Regarding claim 14, modified Jing discloses a box configured to be disposed on a main body of an electric device (paragraph 0007), comprising: a bottom plate having an outer wall surface (paragraph 0007, figures 1 and 3, bottom shell 300); and a mounting beam, wherein the mounting beam is configured to connect to the main body (paragraphs 0063, figures 1 and 3, support beam 400), the mounting beam comprises a beam body and a plurality of connecting portions disposed on the beam body and spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction of the mounting beam (paragraph 0064, figure 1, support beam 401, connecting sections 401 on each end), the connecting portions are configured to be connected to the bottom plate, and at least a portion of each connecting portion is in contact with the outer wall surface (paragraphs 0064-0065, figures 1 and 6-8, connecting section 401). Jing is silent regarding wherein along a thickness direction of the bottom plate, a projection of the mounting beam is completely located within a projection of the bottom plate.
Wang discloses a casing for a battery pack, wherein the casing has a receiving space and an opening in communication with the receiving space, the receiving space is formed by a wall portion of the casing, and the wall portion is formed from two or more stacked base plates (Wang paragraph 0006). Wang further discloses that the casing includes a protective member on an outer wall of the bottom plate and fixed at an edge of the casing, and the case can be fixed to a vehicle or component via the protective member (Wang paragraph 0098, figures 1-3, protective member 16, equivalent to being located within a projection of the bottom plate as it is fixed on the edge and does not protrude). The reference teaches that the protective member supports the casing and protects it from being damaged by external components (Wang paragraph 0098). Wang and Jing are analogous because they both disclose battery casing structures.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the casing disclosed by Jing to include the mounting beam located within a projection of the bottom plate as disclosed by Wang. Doing so would support and protect the casing.
Regarding claim 15, modified Jing discloses a box configured to be disposed on a main body of an electric device (paragraph 0007), comprising: a bottom plate having an outer wall surface (paragraph 0007, figures 1 and 3, bottom shell 300); and a mounting beam, wherein the mounting beam is configured to connect to the main body (paragraphs 0063, figures 1 and 3, support beam 400), and the mounting beam comprises: a connecting portion, wherein the connecting portion is configured to be connected to the bottom plate, and at least a portion of the connecting portion is in contact with the outer wall surface (paragraphs 0064-0065, figures 1 and 6-8, connecting section 401); and a beam body spaced apart from the outer wall surface (paragraphs 0070-0073, support beams 400 may be attached to support beams 301 which are attached to the bottom shell, not directly attached to or supporting bottom shell, support beams 301 provide a buffer, spacing beams 400 from the shell). Jing is silent regarding wherein along a thickness direction of the bottom plate, a projection of the mounting beam is completely located within a projection of the bottom plate.
Wang discloses a casing for a battery pack, wherein the casing has a receiving space and an opening in communication with the receiving space, the receiving space is formed by a wall portion of the casing, and the wall portion is formed from two or more stacked base plates (Wang paragraph 0006). Wang further discloses that the casing includes a protective member on an outer wall of the bottom plate and fixed at an edge of the casing, and the case can be fixed to a vehicle or component via the protective member (Wang paragraph 0098, figures 1-3, protective member 16, equivalent to being located within a projection of the bottom plate as it is fixed on the edge and does not protrude). The reference teaches that the protective member supports the casing and protects it from being damaged by external components (Wang paragraph 0098). Wang and Jing are analogous because they both disclose battery casing structures.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the casing disclosed by Jing to include the mounting beam located within a projection of the bottom plate as disclosed by Wang. Doing so would support and protect the casing.
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 8 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jing et al. (CN 108417751 A) in view of Wang et al. (US 20200161616 A1) as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Tan et al. (US 20230261305 A1).
Regarding claim 8, modified Jing discloses the limitations of claim 2. Jing is silent regarding wherein the bottom plate is provided with the beam body along a central axis thereof.
Tan discloses a battery pack comprising a top and bottom plate, a mounting beam, and a connection assembly which couples with the mounting beam (Tan paragraph 0006). Tan further discloses that the mounting beam is located at the center of the battery pack in the width direction and extends longitudinally. The reference teaches that this improves the stability of the connection between a central position of the battery pack and the mounting point, alleviating vibration of the central position relative to the mounting point (Tan paragraph 0076, figure 3, equivalent to being located on a central axis of bottom plate 1). Tan and Jing are analogous because they both disclose mounting beams for battery housings.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the mounting beam disclosed by Jing to be located on the central axis of the bottom plate as disclosed by Tan. Doing so would alleviate vibration and improve stability.
Claim 11 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jing et al. (CN 108417751 A) in view of Wang et al. (US 20200161616 A1) as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Wang et al. (US 20230082924 A1, referred to herein as US ‘924) and Wang et al. (US 20230231227 A1, referred to herein as US ‘227).
Regarding claim 11, modified Jing discloses the limitations of claim 1. Jing is silent regarding wherein the bottom plate is provided with a flow channel, wherein the flow channel accommodates a heat exchange medium, and along a thickness direction of the bottom plate, a projection of the flow channel is separated from a projection of the connecting portion.
US ’924 discloses a battery pack housing comprising a top plate and a bottom plate (US ‘924 paragraph 0031, figure 1). US ‘924 further discloses that the housing comprises side beams that are connected to the bottom plate, and include mounting portions configured to connect to an external load (US ‘924 paragraphs 0036, 0038, 0051, 0053, figures 1-2). The reference teaches that the bottom plate comprises a flow channel which is integrally formed by extrusion to simplify processing and reduce cost (US ‘924 paragraph 0075, figures 1-2, 11, flow channel 114 does not overlap with a projection of the beam portion in a thickness direction). US ‘924 and Jing are analogous because they both disclose battery housings with mounting structures.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the battery housing disclosed by Jing to include a flow channel in the bottom plate as disclosed by US ‘924. Doing so would provide a flow channel with simplified processing and reduced cost.
US ‘227 discloses a battery assembly comprising a tray which includes a bottom plate with a flow channel formed on the bottom plate (US ‘227 paragraph 0005). US ‘227 further discloses that the flow channel in the bottom plate accommodates cooling liquid (US ‘227 paragraph 0091). The reference teaches that the flow of the cooling liquid within the flow channels effective cools the cells above (US ‘227 paragraphs 0062, 0091). US ‘227 and Jing are analogous because they both disclose bottom plates for batter module housings.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the housing disclosed by Jing in view of US ‘227 to include cooling medium accommodated in the flow channel as disclosed by US ‘227. Doing so would effectively cool the battery cells.
Claims 16-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jing et al. (CN 108417751 A) in view of Wang et al. (US 20200161616 A1) as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Chen (CN 111430595 A).
Regarding claims 16-18, modified Jing discloses the limitations of claim 1. Jing further discloses that the mounting beam further comprises a beam body configured to connect to the main body, and the connecting portion is disposed on the beam body (paragraphs 0063-0065, figures 1, 3, and 6-8, support beam 400 and connecting section 401). Jing is silent regarding wherein a side surface of the connecting portion configured to be in contact with the bottom plate is flush with a side surface of the beam body facing the outer wall surface along the thickness direction of the bottom plate; wherein the beam body is a trapezoidal beam with a trapezoidal cross-section, and a larger one of two parallel side walls of the trapezoidal beam is used as the connecting portion; and wherein the beam body is a convex beam with a convex-shaped cross-section, and a larger one of outer side walls of the convex beam is used as the connecting portion.
Chen discloses a hollow beam for a battery pack assembly box comprising a shell and an inner skeleton, wherein the beam comprises mounting or positioning holes (Chen paragraph 0008-0011). Chen further discloses that the beam is welded to the edges of the bottom plate of the battery box (Chen paragraphs 0039, 0047, figure 2-3, results in the larger side wall of the convex trapezoid beam being the connecting portion, which is flush with the beam). The reference teaches that the beams provide a stable and simple structure and improve the safety of the battery box (Chen paragraphs 0050-0052). Chen and Jing are analogous because they both disclose mounting beams for battery boxes.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the beam disclosed by Jing to have the cross-section and connecting structure disclosed by Chen. Doing so would provide a stable and simple structure and improve the safety of the battery box.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-16 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
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/B.T.L./Examiner, Art Unit 1727
/Maria Laios/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1727
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