www.uspto.gov
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and TrademarkOffice
`Address; COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`16/634,684
`
`01/28/2020
`
`Takeshi Enomoto
`
`P200030US00
`
`3121
`
`WHDA, LLP
`8500 LEESBURG PIKE
`SUITE 7500
`TYSONS, VA 22182
`
`KING, JUSTIN CHRISTOPHER
`
`1728
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`04/12/2022
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
`
`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above-indicated "Notification Date" to the
`following e-mail address(es):
`
`patentmail @ whda.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`16/634, 684
`Enomoto etal.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF) StatusExaminer
`Justin C King
`1728
`Yes
`
`
`
`-- The MAILING DATEofthis communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available underthe provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply betimely filed after SIX (6) MONTHSfrom the mailing
`date of this communication.
`If NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHSfrom the mailing date of this communication.
`-
`- Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133}.
`Any reply received by the Office later than three months after the mailing date of this communication, evenif timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`
`
`1) Responsive to communication(s) filed on 7 March 2022.
`C} A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`2a)¥) This action is FINAL.
`2b) (J This action is non-final.
`3)02 An election was madeby the applicant in responseto a restriction requirement set forth during the interview
`on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`4\0) Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under Exparte Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1,3 and 6-8 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) ___ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`C} Claim(s)
`is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1,3 and 6-8 is/are rejected.
`(1 Claim(s)__is/are objectedto.
`Cj) Claim(s
`are subjectto restriction and/or election requirement
`S)
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you maybeeligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`Application Papers
`10) The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)0) The drawing(s) filedon__ is/are: a)(J accepted or b)() objected to by the Examiner.
`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121 (d).
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`12)1) Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d)or (f).
`Certified copies:
`c)Z None ofthe:
`b)() Some**
`a)C All
`1.2 Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.1.) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.1.) Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been receivedin this National Stage
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`* See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1) ([] Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`2) (J Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) (J Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`(Qj Other:
`
`4)
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20220325
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/634,684
`Art Unit: 1728
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
`
`1.
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined underthe
`
`first inventor to file provisions of the AJA.
`
`Response to Amendment
`
`2.
`
`The amendmentfiled 7 March 2022 has been entered. Claims 1, 3, and 6-8 are pending in
`
`this application. The amendments to the Specifications have overcome each and every objection
`
`set forth in the previous Office Action.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`3.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which formsthe basis for all obviousness
`
`rejectionsset forth in this Office action:
`
`A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed inventionis 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 obviousbefore the effective
`filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinaryskill in the art to which the claimed
`invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the mannerin which the invention was made.
`
`4,
`
`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 priorart.
`
`2. Ascertaining the differences betweenthe prior art and the claimsat issue.
`
`3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
`
`4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or
`
`nonobviousness.
`
`5.
`
`This application currently namesjoint inventors. In considering patentability of the
`
`claims the examiner presumesthat the subject matter of the various claims was commonly
`
`owned asofthe effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidenceto the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/634,684
`Art Unit: 1728
`
`Page 3
`
`contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and
`
`effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly ownedasofthe effective filing date
`
`of the later invention in order for the examinerto consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C.
`
`102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
`
`6.
`
`Claims 1 and 3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Pei (US
`
`2011/0052948 A1) (as provided in Applicant’s Information Disclosure Statementfiled on
`
`February 14, 2020) in view of Park et al. (KR 20170087281 A) (references herein made with
`
`respect to English Machine Translation attached) and further in view of Mille et al. (US
`
`2017/0062778 A1).
`
`7.
`
`Regarding claim 1, Pei discloses a cylindrical lithium ion battery with a housing 70 (Figs.
`
`1-2, [0004], [0040]). Pei further discloses wherein the housing is sealed with a cap assembly
`
`comprised of a rupture plate 40, a stripper contact plate 80 disposed on an innerside of the
`
`battery with respect to the rupture plate, and an insulative gasket 60 with an annular main body
`
`602 (Fig. 1, [0029], [0036]). Pei further discloses that the cell cap assembly has a desirable
`
`safety performancethrough the use of a current interruption device ([0041]-[0042]). Pei fails to
`
`provide details regarding an electrode group and anelectrolyte.
`
`8.
`
`Pei further discloses that the rupture plate and the stripper contactplate are in electrical
`
`connection with each other via welding spots at the recessed portion [0016]. Pei fails to provide
`
`details regarding the material the plates are composed of.
`
`9.
`
`It would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date to
`
`select metal as the material for the stripper contact plate of Pei with a reasonable expectation of
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/634,684
`Art Unit: 1728
`
`Page 4
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`success in providing a plate capable of forming an electrical connection in a conventional current
`
`interruption devicein a lithium ion battery. It is within the ambit of one of ordinary skill in the
`
`art to select a known material based onits suitability for its intended use. See MPEP 2144.07.
`
`10.
`
`Modified Pei therefore reads on the claim limitation:
`
`“a cylindrical battery comprising a battery can (housing 70) and an openingsealing
`
`body (cap assembly) that seals an opening of the battery can,
`
`the opening sealing body including a valve member(rupture plate 40), a metal plate
`
`(stripper contact plate 80) disposed on an innerside of the battery with respect to the valve
`
`member, and an annular insulating member (insulating gasket 60) interposed between the
`
`valve memberand the metalplate (insulating gasket main body 602 is interposed between the
`
`valve memberand the metalplate),
`
`wherein the valve memberandthe metalplate are connected to each otherat
`
`respective central portions.”
`
`11.
`
`Pei further discloses wherein the rupture plate has an annular groove 403 configured such
`
`that if a gas pressure in the battery exceeds a predetermined pressure value, the rupture plate will
`
`be ruptured around said groove 403 to release the gas pressure and ensure battery safety (Fig. 1,
`
`[0033]). Modified Pei therefore reads on the claim limitation “the valve member has an
`
`annular thin-walled portion which is deformable when an internal pressure of the battery
`
`increases” because the grooveis a thin-walled portion of the metal plate.
`
`12.
`
`Pei further discloses wherein the metal plate has a gas hole 810 andthe insulating
`
`member has a hole which communicates with the gas hole, as depicted in Fig. 1 ({0037]).
`
`Modified Pei therefore reads on the claim limitation “the metal plate and the insulating
`
`memberhave respective holes which communicate with each other.”
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/634,684
`Art Unit: 1728
`
`Page 5
`
`13.
`
`Pei further discloses wherein the annular main bodyofinsulative gasket 602 covers a
`
`surface of the metal plate on the valve memberside (Fig. 1 [0036]). Furthermore, the side wall
`
`604 of the insulative gasket abuts the ring portion 802 of the stripper contact plate (Fig. 1,
`
`[0039]). Modified Pei therefore reads on the claim limitation “the insulating member has a
`
`section P1 that covers a surface, on the valve memberside, of the metal plate, and a section
`
`P2 that is provided subsequent to the section P1 and covers an inner lateral surface of the
`
`hole of the metal plate” because the main body 602 correspondsto the claimed section P1 of
`
`the insulating member, and the side wall 604 correspondsto claimed section P2 wherein P2 is
`
`taught to be provided subsequent to PI and covers an innerlateral surface of the hole in the
`
`stripper contactplate.
`
`14.
`
`Park teaches a cap assembly for a secondary battery including a current interruption
`
`device (CID) and a secondary battery with said assembly. Park further teaches an electrode
`
`group, an electrolyte (electrode assembly 110 and the electrolyte, pg. 2 para. 3), and a battery
`
`can that housesthe electrode group andthe electrolyte (the can 120 housesthe electrode
`
`assembly 110 and the electrolyte, pg. 2 para. 3).
`
`15.
`
`It would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of
`
`the claimed invention to combine the secondary battery of Park, including the electrode group
`
`and electrolyte, with the cap assembly of Modified Pei with a reasonable expectation of success
`
`in providing a conventional secondary battery with electrode connections in operation with a
`
`current interrupting device as commonly knownintheart.It is likely to be obvious to combine
`
`prior art elements when the combination yields no more than predictable results (a conventional
`
`secondary battery with a conventional electrode and electrolyte assembly). See MPEP
`
`2143(I1)(A).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/634,684
`Art Unit: 1728
`
`Page 6
`
`16.
`
`Modified Pei therefore reads on the claim limitation wherein the cylindrical battery is
`
`further comprised of “an electrode group; an electrolyte; and a can that houses the electrode
`
`group andtheelectrolyte.”
`
`17.
`
`Pei further discloses a grommet20 defining a closed end 203 for sealing the cap
`
`assembly and serves as another insulating feature ([0030], Fig. 1). Modified Pei fails to disclose
`
`wherein the insulating memberhas a section subsequentto section P2 that covers a surface of the
`
`metal plate on an innerside of the battery.
`
`18.
`
`Mille teaches an electrochemical cell with a can in a cylindrical shape and a cap
`
`assembly,i.e. diaphragm, for sealing the can and creating a current interruption device (CID)
`
`({0026], [0048]). Mille further teaches in one embodiment wherein the battery cell includes an
`
`insulator 214 disposed on a rupture plate for insulating the plate from the cap assembly [0039]
`
`and a gasket 216 for sealing the opening of the can and the cap assembly as well as protecting
`
`against short circuiting during interconnect welding (an insulating function) ([0040], Fig. 2).
`
`Mille notes that although this embodiment hasthe insulator and the gasket as two separate parts
`
`[0041], in another embodiment, the gasket and the insulator can be madeofan integrated
`
`structure (gasket 502 with an integrated insulator 504, Fig. 5, [0052]).
`
`19.
`
`It would therefore be obvious to one of ordinary skill to modify the battery of Modified
`
`Pei such that the grommet20 and the insulating gasket 60 were madeintegral, as taught by
`
`Mille, with a reasonable expectation of success in providing an integrated insulating memberthat
`
`seals the can and the cap assembly in addition to providing suitable insulation properties. The
`
`Courts have held that it is obvious to one of ordinary skill to make parts integral wherein the
`
`integrated structure does not render the device inoperable. See MPEP 2144(V)(B).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/634,684
`Art Unit: 1728
`
`Page 7
`
`20.
`
`Modified Pei therefore reads on the claim limitation “wherein the insulating member
`
`has a section P3 that is extended from the section P2 and covers a surface of the metal
`
`plate, said surface of the metal plate facing towardthe electrode groupin a thickness
`
`direction of the metal plate” because the portion of the grommet 206 covering a surface of the
`
`innerside of the stripper contact plate would be integral with the insulating membersuchthat it
`
`extends from P1, which further extends from P2, and is corresponding the claimed section P3.
`
`21.
`
`Regarding claim 3, Modified Pei makes obvious the cylindrical battery of claim 1 as set
`
`forth above. Modified Pei accordingly an insulating member with sections P1 and P2, as
`
`discussed above. However, Pei fails to disclose wherein the insulating member further has a
`
`section P4 that is provided subsequentto the section P1 and covers a circumferential end face of
`
`the metalplate.
`
`22.
`
`Park additionally teaches a deformation preventing rib 133b formed along the periphery
`
`of the circular ring of the insulator that covers a circumferential end face of middle plate 134
`
`(Fig. 5), which reads on the claim limitation, “wherein the insulating memberof the cap
`
`assembly further has a section that covers a circumferential end face of the metal plate”. Park
`
`teaches that the deformation preventing rib ensures torsional rigidity and prevents deformation of
`
`the insulating member(pg. 5, para. 6).
`
`23.
`
`It would additionally be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective
`
`filing date of the claimed invention to modify the cap assembly of Pei such that the insulation
`
`memberhasa section that covers a circumferential end face of the metal plate, as taught by Park,
`
`with a reasonable expectation of success in ensuring torsionalrigidity and preventing
`
`deformation of the insulating member.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/634,684
`Art Unit: 1728
`
`Page 8
`
`24.
`
`Modified Pei therefore reads on the claim limitation “wherein the insulating member
`
`further has a section P4 that is provided subsequent to the section P1 and covers a
`
`circumferential end face of the metalplate.”
`
`25.
`
`Claims6-7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Pei (US
`
`2011/0052948 A1) (as provided in Applicant’s Information Disclosure Statementfiled on
`
`February 14, 2020) in view of Park et al. (KR 20170087281 A) (references herein made with
`
`respect to English Machine Translation attached) further in view of Mille et al. (US
`
`2017/0062778 A1), as applied to claim 1, and further in view of Hwanget al. (KR 20170075658
`
`A)(references herein made with respect to English Machine Translation attached) and in view of
`
`Elia et al. (US 2010/0178539 Al).
`
`26.
`
`Regarding claim 6, Modified Pei makes obvious the cylindrical battery of claim 1 as set
`
`forth above. Modified Pei accordingly discloses annular grooves 403 on the rupture plate
`
`configured such that if a gas pressure in the battery exceeds a predetermined pressure value, the
`
`rupture plate will be ruptured around said groove 403 to release the gas pressure and ensure
`
`battery safety (Fig. 1, [0033]). The grooves form a recess portion on the side facing the outside
`
`of the battery, i.e. away from the insulating member 60, and result in a thin-walled portion of the
`
`rupture plate.
`
`27.
`
`Hwangteaches a secondary battery cap assembly with a current interruption device
`
`configured to rupture whengas pressuresrise in the battery due to abnormal operation [0006].
`
`Hwangfurther teaches wherein the current interruption device is comprised of a sub-plate 240
`
`comprised of a number of grooves 250 configured to be the rupture part of the plate ((0026[, Fig.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/634,684
`Art Unit: 1728
`
`Page 9
`
`1). The grooves 250 are shaped such that the recess is formed facing the inside of the battery and
`
`result in a thin-walled portion of the plate where the rupture will occur.
`
`28.
`
`It would therefore be obvious to one of ordinary skill prior to the effective filing date of
`
`the claimed invention to modify the grooves 403 of Modified Pei such that the recesses face the
`
`inside of the battery, as taught by Hwang, with a reasonable expectation of success in providing a
`
`rupture plate with suitable rupturing properties.
`
`29.
`
`Elia teaches a secondary battery with a current interruption device comprised of a rupture
`
`disc configured to rupture when a gauge pressure reaches a predetermined value between 4
`
`kg/cm? and 9 kg/cm? [0012]. Elia further teaches wherein the rupture disc ruptures via a conduit
`
`48 defined by an insulating ring and the rupture plate, corresponding to the groove of Modified
`
`Pei (Fig. 5, [0008]). Elia further teaches that the rupture disc has a groove andthat the insulating
`
`ring has a lip 44, correspondingto the claimed rib, that becomesessentially flush with the
`
`surface of the rupture disc, thereby defining a channelandatleast a portion of the conduit where
`
`the plate will rupture [0008]. These channels that define at least a portion of the conduits provide
`
`fluid communication of gas pressure from oneside ofthe rupture plate to the other, i.e. through
`
`rupturing the plate [0045].
`
`30.
`
`It would therefore be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the insulating
`
`member of Modified Pei such thatit had a lip extending to the groove of the rupture plate,
`
`thereby becoming flush with the rupture plate, as taught by Elia with a reasonable expectation of
`
`success in providing a channelfor the built-up gas to rupture the grooves 403 of Modified Pei.
`
`Modified Pei therefore reads on the claim limitation “wherein a recessed portion is formed by
`
`the thin-walled portion on the insulating member opposingside of the valve member, and
`
`the section P1 has a rib to be housed in the recessed portion” because the recessed portionis
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/634,684
`Art Unit: 1728
`
`Page 10
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`formed on the insulating member opposing side of the valve member, as taught by Hwang, and
`
`the insulating membersection of P1 is extended to havea lip, i.e. rib, housed in the recessed
`
`portion by defining the channelto the groove.
`
`31.
`
`Regarding claim 7, Modified Pei makes obvious the cylindrical battery of claim 6 as set
`
`forth above. Modified Pei accordingly discloses wherein the lip extending to the groove, has an
`
`area which coversparts of the holes defined by stripper contact plate 80, as clearly depicted in
`
`Fig. 1 of Pei. Thelip, i.e. rib, would accordingly be included in that area covering the hole
`
`defined by the plate. Modified Pei therefore reads on the claim limitation “wherein the section
`
`PI has an area which coverspart of the holes of the metal plate, and at least part of the rib
`
`is provided in the area.”
`
`32.
`
`Claim 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Pei (US
`
`2011/0052948 A1) (as provided in Applicant’s Information Disclosure Statementfiled on
`
`February 14, 2020) in view of Park et al. (KR 20170087281 A) (references herein made with
`
`respect to English Machine Translation attached) further in view of Mille et al. (US
`
`2017/0062778 A1), as applied to claim 1, and further in view of Nakabayashi (US 2010/0104941
`
`Al).
`
`33.
`
`Regarding claim 8, Modified Pei makes obvious the cylindrical battery of claim 1 as set
`
`forth above. Pei further discloses wherein the insulative gasket 60 is set on the ring portion 802
`
`of the stripper contact plate 80 [0039]. Furthermore, the side wall 604 of the insulative gasket
`
`abuts against the ring portion 802 to prevent the stripper contact plate from being movable
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/634,684
`Art Unit: 1728
`
`Page 11
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`relative to the insulating gasket [0039]. Pei fails to disclose where the insulative gasketis
`
`integrated with the stripper contact plate by adhesive bonding.
`
`34.
`
`Nakabayashi teaches a secondary battery comprised of a sealing body with a cross-linked
`
`ionomergasket that exhibits good insulating properties in addition to good sealing properties
`
`[0012]. Nakabayashi further teaches wherein the secondary battery includes a metal plate in the
`
`electrode terminals and in the sealing body [0022]. Nakabayashi further teaches that the gasket
`
`may be heat or pressure bonded onto a surface of the metal plate under pressure conditions
`
`between 1 to LOMPa and temperature conditions between 200°C and 300°C, providing adhesion
`
`to the metal plate with a peel strength of 1ON/15mm ({0015], [0115]. This peel strength allows
`
`the gasket to absorb deformation caused by thermal expansion and shrinkage associated with the
`
`metal plate [0116].
`
`35.
`
`It would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date to
`
`substitute the gasket material of Modified Pei for the gasket material of Nakabayashi and to
`
`further bond the gasket under heat and pressureto the stripper contact plate, a metal plate, of
`
`Modified Pei, with a reasonable expectation of success in providing a gasket with suitable
`
`insulation and sealing properties. Modified Pei therefore reads on the claim limitation “wherein
`
`the insulating memberis integrated with the metal plate by adhesive bonding”because the
`
`insulating member comprised of the cross-linked ionomer of Nakabayashi is adhesively bonded
`
`the metal plate of Modified Pei, integrating the gasket to the metal plate.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/634,684
`Art Unit: 1728
`
`Page 12
`
`36.
`
`Applicant's arguments filed 7 March 2022 have been fully considered but they are not
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`persuasive.
`
`37.
`
`Applicant argues that the combination of Pei in view of Park and further in view of Mille
`
`would not result in an insulating member wherein “a section P3... is extended from the section
`
`P2 [which covers an innerlateral surface of the hole of the metal plate]” and said section P3
`
`“covers a surface of the metal plate, said surface of the metal plate facing toward the electrode
`
`group in a thickness direction of the metal plate,” as recited in amended claim 1.
`
`38.
`
`This argumentis not persuasive because the section P3 that results from modifying
`
`Modified Pei in view of Mille would include the grommet portion 206 which covers a surface of
`
`the metal plate 80 toward the electrode group, included in the body of the cylindrical battery in
`
`light of the teachings of Park. This section additionally extends from section P1 which further
`
`extends from section P2. This relationship may additionally be understood as the section P3
`
`extending from the section P2 via section P1, which reads on the claim limitation “extended
`
`from the section P2.” The innerlateral surface of the hole of the metal plate includes the surface
`
`covered by insulative portion 604 of Pei, corresponding to insulating section P2 of the claimed
`
`invention (Fig. 1).
`
`39.
`
`Additionally, Applicant asserts that the art of record does not provide a motivation for a
`
`skilled artisan to alter the suggested combination.
`
`AO.
`
`However, the teachings of Mille suggest that the integrated grommet and insulating
`
`memberstructure provides a suitable alternative to distinct grommet and insulative members,
`
`such as disclosed in the original Pei disclosure with distinct grommet20 and insulating member
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/634,684
`Art Unit: 1728
`
`Page 13
`
`60. The examiner recognizes that obviousness may beestablished by combining or modifying
`
`the teachings of the prior art to produce the claimed invention where there is some teaching,
`
`suggestion, or motivation to do so found either in the references themselvesor in the knowledge
`
`generally available to one of ordinary skill in the art. See Jn re Fine, 837 F.2d 1071, 5 USPQ2d
`
`1596 (Fed. Cir. 1988), In re Jones, 958 F.2d 347, 21 USPQ2d 1941 (Fed. Cir. 1992), and KSR
`
`InternationalCo. v. Teleflex, Inc., 550 U.S. 398, 82 USPQ2d 1385 (2007).
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`Conclusion
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`Al.
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`THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time
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`policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
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`A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE
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`MONTHSfrom the mailing date of this action. In the eventa first reply is filed within TWO
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`MONTHSof the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after
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`the end of the THREE-MONTHshortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period
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`will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuant to 37
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`CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event,
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`however,will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHSfrom the mailing
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`date of this final action.
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`42.
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
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`examiner should be directed to Justin C King whose telephone numberis (571)272-1750. The
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`examiner can normally be reached Monday- Friday: 7:30am - 4:30pm.
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`Examinerinterviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using
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`a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicantis
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/634,684
`Art Unit: 1728
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`Page 14
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`encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR)at
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`http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
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`supervisor, Matthew T Martin can be reached on (571) 270-7871. The fax phone numberfor the
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`organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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`Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be
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`obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available
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`to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit:
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`https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more
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`information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about
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`filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC)
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`at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service
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`Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA)or 571-272-1000.
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`/J.C.K/
`Examiner, Art Unit 1728
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`/MATTHEW T MARTIN/
`Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1728
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`